Yale Center for Teaching and Learning

Poorvu Public Communication Certificate Program

Certificate for Public Communication with an illustrated podium and microphones on top of the podium

To help graduate students expand the impact of their scholarship, Yale’s Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning sponsors the Public Communication Certificate. The program provides graduate students with resources, skills, and a platform for sharing their research. Certificate earners craft a compelling story, grow their oral communication skills, develop compelling visuals, and become stronger peer-to-peer collaborators as they draft and deliver a polished 3-minute speech based on their research.  

Certificate earners have completed a minimum of two requirements in each of three preparatory themes: (1) Designing Your Content, (2) Receiving Feedback, and (3) Polishing Your Presentation. They have also practiced and received feedback on their speech in our public speaking studio. To complete the requirement, eligible participants must deliver their speech in Yale’s 3-Minute Thesis competition in the preliminary rounds. Participants ineligible for the 3-Minute Thesis competition record and submit a video presentation.

Upon completion of the program participants have spent 25–40 hours developing their ability to

  • Synthesize the findings, methods, scope, and impact of their research
  • Convey complex ideas with brevity and power
  • Apply rhetorical strategies that build interest and momentum and communicate impact
  • Connect with a broad audience using minimal jargon
  • Design effective and engaging visuals
  • Project an authentic and energetic speaking presence
  • Incorporate feedback on their content, visuals, and delivery
  • Share their cutting-edge research with the world   

The Poorvu Public Communication Certificate is recognized as a Certificate in Training by the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and appears in The Graduate School’s Programs and Policies (P&P) Bulletin. The Certificate will be noted on GSAS students’ official transcripts upon completion.

All Certificate earners receive an official digital certificate via BC Diploma signed by the Executive Director of The Poorvu Center, Jenny Frederick, and the Associate Director of the Graduate Writing Lab who administers the program, Julia Istomina.

Now Enrolling for the Spring 2025 Cycle!

 

For questions about the Certificate program, please email Julia Istomina at julia.istomina@yale.edu.