Undergraduate Certificate in Science Communication
Are you interested in science and passionate about communicating to, and collaborating with, the public? The Science Communication Certificate at Iowa State University provides an excellent opportunity for students from any major to develop the skills needed to engage broad audiences around complex and sometimes controversial scientific topics.
As a Science Communication certificate student, you will develop communication skills essential for collaborating across multiple disciplines and sectors, which will position you well as competitive candidate for any industry.
Whether you aspire to become a science journalist, a science educator, a public relations specialist, or work in science policy, the Science Communication Certificate can give you the skills and expertise to succeed in your chosen field.
Certificate requirements
12 credits of core courses
| Course | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JL MC/P R/ADVRT 260X | Media Controversies in Science | 3 |
| PHIL 206 | Introduction to Logic and Scientific Reasoning | 3 |
| ENGL 312 | Communicating Science and Public Engagement | 3 |
| JL MC 347 | Science Communication | 3 |
9 credits of electives
These credits address Science in Practice, Science and Society, and Communication in Practice. (With approval, one of these electives could be an internship or research experience.)
A final portfolio
For the final portfolio, each student will select three public-facing projects completed as part of their course assignments and will compile them into a final e-portfolio with an accompanying reflection component. This online portfolio could be created through WordPress, Wix, Weebly or other sites. Listings on existing professional or other sites, such as LinkedIn, do not count. Public-facing projects are those produced specifically to engage the public, rather than present research at events where the public is invited to attend along with researchers. For example, in JLMC 347, students are required to create four written articles about science for the public, and in ENGL 312, students complete a “Science with Cyclones” project to engage fifth graders. Students may also use projects they produced to engage the public in a research experience or internship. Students will submit their e-portfolios to the Science Communication Steering Committee using this submission portal.
Resources for students and faculty
Questions
If you have a question for an advisor, please contact Tyler Schoh at tvschoh@iastate.edu
For questions about the certificate for the Steering Committee, please email sciencecomm@iastate.edu
Request research experience/internship as elective
Submit final portfolio
For faculty: Propose an elective
Have a question for the Science Communication Certificate team? We’d love to hear from you: sciencecomm@iastate.edu.