Public Relations

Business Communication

Effective communication skills can help you go places. This versatile business program provides practical information and easily applied strategies to help you become a confident communicator in any industry.
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Crisis Communication for Public Relations Professionals

The online Crisis Communication for Public Relations Professionals micro-certificate gives you the expertise to develop, implement and evaluate effective crisis communication plans for your organization. You will emerge as a resilient communication, armed with the knowledge and skills to navigate a crisis.
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Public Relations

The online Public Relations diploma program gives you the theory, skills and credential you need to set yourself apart in the competitive public relations and communication industry. This program is beneficial to those working in the public or private sector, and can be an excellent professional development option for virtually any career level.
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Skill Building for Public Relations

This program will give you job-ready skills for a public relations profession. You will explore the fundamentals including public relations writing, social media, communications planning, media relations, leadership and more.
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Strategic Public Relations Leadership

Build on your existing public relations training and gain high-demand leadership skills in areas like strategic communication, organizational success, strategic community engagement, crisis communication and more. Designed for mid-to-senior PR professionals or aspiring leaders, this program boosts your leadership abilities so you can thrive in today’s field of public relations.
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A reflective look at British Columbia and the Yukon, exploring their geography, diverse cultures, history, and the importance of shared national understanding.

UVic instructor Julie Gathercole brings 20+ years of crisis communication expertise to her micro-certificate course. Students gain theoretical foundations and practical skills using hands-on exercises and mock training sessions. The course covers crisis planning, media training and stakeholder engagement.

Hear from instructor Hillary MacEachern and her students on how our Skill Building in Public Relations micro-certificate transforms careers by teaching practical writing skills, strategic communication planning and hands-on PR expertise for emerging professionals.

Discover how giving back through mentorship and knowledge-sharing can shape stronger, more resilient professional communities.

Explore how reflective thinking empowers allied professionals to lead with insight, drive innovation, and contribute to the greater good.

Steve Hamilton, a Diploma in Public Relations graduate, recently received the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his outstanding community contributions. A passionate conservation advocate and active volunteer, he uses effective communication planning and media relations to drive environmental change.

On Notice, hosted by Tanya Appleby and her friends, is an award-winning podcast that brings unspoken women’s conversations into the open with humour and honesty. Tanya, a UVic Public Relations student, combines her creative spirit and adventurous background to foster connection through raw, relatable storytelling.

Effective communication and high-quality content production are vital for career advancement, says Kim McLean-Fiander, who emphasizes clear writing and copyediting for professional success across industries. Read more about her communication insights.

In an ocean of information polluted with misinformation, questioning everything becomes paramount. Fraud, whether intentional or unintentional, permeates every sector of society, from finance to academia, from politics to personal beliefs.

Daniel Fainstein, a current student in the Diploma in Public Relations (PR) program with Continuing Studies at UVic, was recently awarded the 2023 Denis Racine Bursary.

Alanna is a recent graduate of a Diploma in Public Relations with Continuing Studies at the University of Victoria. We asked her a few questions about her experience in the PR program here at Continuing Studies at UVic.

There are consequences to advancing communication technology. We can sometimes predict the effects that we call “progress.” Other times we cannot. Fortunately, some books help explain the changes we face.

A recent study by the Harvard Business Review shows that "quiet quitting" is not about the work ethic of individual employees, but a response to the relationship (or lack thereof) with their employers. Leaders in today's workplaces must work harder than ever to maintain an engaged team, and traditional leadership skills are no longer enough.

Filling your resume with a long list of technical skills is no longer enough to impress potential employers. Instead, soft skills such as problem solving, critical thinking and time management have become just as important to make your resume stand out amongst a pile of applicants.

Sports enthusiast Sarah MacNeil found herself working in the field of recreation from 2012 to 2017. It seemed to make the most sense for her at the time after getting an undergraduate degree in recreation management and with her diverse background in sports. 

Communication skills add value to individuals consuming and disseminating messages; when individuals become better communicators, they become better in all areas of decision-making.

As a new public relations (PR) graduate, your first position with an organization may include the responsibility of reviewer and editor. In this role, you’ll be responsible to provide editorial support for all corporate material before it is published, including reports, presentations, letters, etc.

Allison Boyd is a recent graduate of the Public Relations diploma program. We asked her a few questions about her experience in the PR program here at Continuing Studies at UVic.

Paula Duncan is a recent graduate of the Public Relations diploma program. We asked her a few questions about her experience in the PR program here at Continuing Studies at UVic.

Kate McKenna is a recent graduate of the Public Relations diploma program and winner of the CPRS/CISION 2020 Student Excellence Award. We asked her a few questions about her experience in the PR program here at Continuing Studies at UVic.

Read articles by Public Relations instructors and graduates and find out important PR program news.

In PR, storytelling is important because it allows us to connect with our audience and potentially influence their emotions and ideas. A good story is more persuasive than purely factual content because stories are engaging; listeners and readers always find ways to relate to and empathize with characters in a story.

A public crisis places tremendous pressure on nearly all internal structures of an organization. Being prepared with some key guiding principles in hand will empower you to show leadership exactly when it is most crucial, but also the most dangerous. 

When you land in your first leadership role, you will likely find yourself tempted by some of the common snares that can befall an emerging leader. In this article we explore five of the most common mistakes made by emerging leaders. 

The weeks leading up to the convocation ceremonies are always exciting at Continuing Studies at UVic, as we celebrate the accomplishments of our many graduates.

Influencer marketing has exploded over the last couple of years. If you are not familiar with this term, it is basically about promoting your brand through a selection of influencers, hoping that these influencers will in turn promote it to their own extensive networks. Sounds like a quick and simple way to reach a wide and targeted audience, right? The catch is in doing it properly. 

Would you like to have more influence in your professional or personal life and impress others with the merits of your ideas?  Are you ready to master the art of persuasion?  How many times have you presented an idea in a team meeting only to have your idea fall flat? Have you ever pitched an idea to your boss and got a blank stare?

Public Relations really chose me more than I chose it. Throughout my life I’ve always been an outgoing and gregarious person who enjoys bringing diverse personalities together. From a career perspective I’ve naturally gravitated to roles that allow me to interact with the public and work with people to achieve mutual understanding and consensus.

My career in communications began in 1987 upon graduation from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. I graduated with a degree in communications and was lucky enough to secure a coveted internship at KATU Channel 2 (an ABC affiliate) working as assistant producer of a local children's television show.