Advanced Graduate Certificate in Science Communication
Jump start your career with specialized training in science communication.
Combine scientific preparation and expertise with specialized training in audience-centered
communication, to maximize the reach and impact of your research. In this certificate
you will learn to transform complex expertise into meaningful communication that builds
trust, inspires action, and drives lasting impact. Jointly offered with the Alan Alda
Center for Communicating Science, students will experience cutting-edge training in
the Alda Method®, the Alda Center’s signature communication training approach that delivers authentic,
human connections. The certificate is available exclusively to Stony Brook University graduate students, offering you a unique opportunity to experience the method that has reached tens
of thousands of researchers worldwide.
If you are interested in a standalone degree program, explore our Master of Science in Science Communication.
Learn More About the Program
Explore Coursework
A mix of in-person and online courses allow you to customize your schedule.
Review our course offerings and curriculum maps to find a plan of study that works best for you.
Meet the Faculty
Our faculty are leading experts in science and health communication.
Sample research areas include climate change, message processing, health equity, advocacy, and media.
Discover the Alda Center
A trusted global leader in science communication for 15 years.
Experience the Alda Method® in a graduate certificate jointly offered with the Alda Center for Communicating Science.
Span the boundary between science and society
The Advanced Graduate Certificate in Science Communication will prepare you to:
- Share scientific discoveries in ways that build trust, inspire action, and drive lasting impact.
- Understand how your experiences shape how you see and interact with individuals and societies.
- Convey professionalism and ethics in research presentations.
- Design targeted research presentations that respond to audience needs, values, and cultures.
- Lead professional projects that build bridges between science and society.
Program Director
Brenda Hoffman, PhD
brenda.hoffman@stonybrook.edu
Program Requirements and Coursework
Hybrid: In-Person and Online | 12 Credits
The science communication certificate can be completed in as little 1 year. The foundational required course must be completed in-person. All other courses are offered online. Online courses are delivered in a live synchronous format via Zoom so that students can still fully engage with their faculty and peers. Courses are typically offered in the afternoons and evenings.
Curriculum Maps
Customized plans of study that work with your schedule.
The curriculum maps below offer suggested course sequences for optimal completion of the certificate, based on full-time or part-time enrollment. Students may work with the graduate program director to adjust these sequences to best meet their needs. While it is suggested, students are not required to take courses in consecutive semesters.
Application Information
Our certificate students are enrolled in a variety of STEM and health sciences graduate programs at Stony Brook. Common programs include but are not limited to, Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Genetics, Marine Conservation and Policy, Physics, Microbiology, Clinical Psychology, Computer Engineering, Anthropological Sciences, and Ecology and Evolution. Please consult your primary graduate program director regarding your interest in the certificate before applying.
Please note that this program is only available to current Stony Brook University graduate students. If you are interested in a standalone degree program, explore our Master of Science in Science Communication.
Admissions Requirements
Enrollment in a STEM graduate program at Stony Brook University.
Application Materials
Approval letter from your primary graduate program director that includes the following:
Student Name
Student SBU ID Number
Certificate Program
Term Start
Approval letter from the certificate program director. Please email socj_grad@stonybrook.edu to indicate interest and obtain your letter.
Deadline to Apply
February 1: Fall Start
September 1: Spring Start
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Current SBU graduate students must declare the certificate no later than their second to last semester in their primary program.
Students who have already completed some coursework can transfer up to 6-credits into the program.
Additional Resources