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.
2026 Certificate Program Registration: Opens in January
Registration for the next cycle of the Public Communication Certificate opens in January 2026. Check back in the new year for more information.
Program Overview
Certificate earners have completed a minimum of two requirements in each of three preparatory themes:
- Designing Your Content,
- Receiving Feedback
- 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.
Outcomes
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 insightful 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
Credentialing and Certification
Demonstrating Completion
To show that they have met each of the requirements, certificate earners track their activities and complete a self-reflection form that asks them to note which programs, workshops, consultations, and resources they utilized. The information on these reflections is then compared with our attendance records.
GSAS Transcripts
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.
Digital Certificate
All Certificate earners receive an official digital certificate via BC Diploma signed by the Executive Director of The Poorvu Center, Jenny Frederick, and GWL Associate Julia Istomina who directs the program.
Still Have Questions?
For additional information about the Poorvu Center’s Certificate for Public Communication, contact GWL Associate Director Julia Istomina.
We’re always available via the GWL’s main email address: grad.writing@yale.edu.
Explore GWL Programs
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Writing Consultations
Get 1-on-1 feedback at any stage of the writing process—from brainstorming to final edits.
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Workshops & Panels
Interactive opportunities to grow your academic writing knowledge or expand your toolkit of skills.
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Peer-Review Groups
Groups of 4–7 students who meet weekly to share feedback, make progress, and support one another on a common project.
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Writing Retreats & All Writes
Full-day and half-day events where graduate students set goals and write as a community in a quiet, supportive space.
