Public Affairs Professional Certificate

Public Affairs
Professional Certificate in Public Affairs communications

The Public Affairs Communications program provides students with specialized communications skills aimed at educating, shaping or changing public opinion on public policy, legislation, political candidates or issues.

Contact Us

Questions about the Public Affairs Professional Certificate?

Joseph Watson, Jr., Carolyn Caudell Tieger Professor of Public Affairs Communications
Joseph.Watson@uga.edu

Blog

Catch up on the latest news with the Public Affairs Professional Certificate.

Students and professor pose for a photograph

AdPR students explore Washington D.C.’s communications industry

The following recount was written by third-year public relations student Margot Murphy. She is involved in Grady College’s Public Affairs Professional Certificate as well as Terry College’s Institute for Leadership […]

Tieger Fellows outside the Grady College building.

Students named Tieger Fellows in Public Affairs Communications

The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication announced the selection of three new Tieger Fellows for the 2023-2024 academic year: Sydney Branton, Gracie Englund and Anna […]

PAC Students Celebrate Graduation

Graduating Public Affairs Communications students gathered to celebrate their experiences in the PAC program with a catered dinner at the Georgia Center on May 3, 2023. Program director Professor Joseph […]

PAC Alumni Spotlight: Maggie Martin

For Maggie Martin, a recent PAC graduate who double majored in public relations and political science, using communication to “help people accomplish their unifying goals” is her passion. Communicating is […]

PAC Student Spotlight: Sydney Branton

For Sydney Branton, joining the PAC program was the “perfect” way to combine her two majors. After Branton was accepted to the Grady DC Field Study & Internship Program for […]

#ProfilesofTenacity: Sarah Dorr

Fourth year public relations major Sarah Dorr can trace her love for public relations back to her time in pageants, which allowed her to create her first advocacy campaign. Now, […]

PRSSA’s annual D.C. Agency Tour returns

The following is a first-person reflection written by PRSSA Vice President and Public Affairs Communications Tieger Fellow, Sarah Dorr. Last month, eight Grady College students traveled from Athens to the […]

#ProfilesofTenacity: Jin Lee

Third year public relations major Jin Lee is passionate about learning on the go. Some of her highlights from her time at Grady include co-directing ADPR Connection, studying abroad in […]

Perspectives

“To students considering the PAC program: this program is one of a kind and will
provide you with the kind of skills that employers in the public affairs realm need.”

Caroline Kurzawa

AB ’22

Perspectives

“The PAC certificate has prepared me for my internship by strengthening my writing
skills, while also giving me insights into how to network with people.”

Jake Strickland

AB ’22 MA ’23

Perspectives

“My PAC experience has helped prepare me for this role, which sits at the
intersection of public and private sectors and has helped me better understand
how firms prepare to advocate for a position or cause with the foundations of PAC.”

Patrick Femia

AB ’21

Perspectives

“Coming into the PAC program, I knew that I wanted a career in public affairs
communications, however, I neither had the needed skillset or depth of knowledge.
I can honestly say that if it were not for Professor Watson’s dedication and the
support of my cohort, I would not have the professional experience, confidence or
expertise that I have today.”

Sarah Geary

AB ’21

Perspectives

“[PAC] inspired me a lot and motivated me to go out and seek those opportunities
more so than I think I would have without the program.”

Sydney Branton

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The Latest

Read the newest headlines, get updates and discover events happening at Grady.

Grady InternViews: Madison Courter

This is part of a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their internship experience.   Madison Courter is a fourth-year double dawgs digital marketing and emerging media student […]

Knox Gaines Internview Header Image.

Grady InternViews: Knox Gaines

This is part of a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their internship experience.   Knox Gaines is a fourth-year double dawg public relations and advertising student working […]

Grady College faculty member appointed to national COVID-19 committee

Glen Nowak, professor and associate dean for research and graduate studies at Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, has been appointed to a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and […]

Grady InternViews: Libby Hobbs

This is part of a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their internship experience.   Libby Hobbs is a fourth-year journalism major and reporter with Atlanta Civic Circle […]

Andy Johnston and Dink NeSmith hold certificates won for The Oglethorpe Echo.

Journalism students win statewide awards for work at The Oglethorpe Echo

Grady College journalism students working at The Oglethorpe Echo as part of their capstone coursework earned nine section and individual awards in the Georgia Press Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest […]

Students stand in front of a display and present their research.

Graduate Certificate in Crisis, Risk, and Disaster Communication approved for Fall 2024

The University of Georgia has been approved to offer a Graduate Certificate in Crisis, Risk, and Disaster Communication (CRDC), a program that will educate students in skills needed for proactive, […]

Apply To The Certificate

Applications for the PAC certificate are open every year in the spring. Visit the PAC Eligibility page for application dates and details.