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.

Joshua W. Jones has a conversation with someone in a meeting room.

Grady College and SPIA graduate leaves transformational $1.5 million estate gift

The University of Georgia is honored to announce a generous gift of $1.5 million from the estate of the late Joshua W. Jones, a proud alumnus and distinguished professional in […]

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

Headshot of Jake Strickland

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

Headshot of Sydney Branton

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.

A former case of Saturday Night Live and title Peabody Awards Institutional Award.

The Peabody Awards honors Andrea Mitchell and “Saturday Night Live”

The Peabody Awards Board of Jurors announced that NBC News’ vaunted Chief Washington and Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell will be honored with the Peabody Career Achievement Award, and […]

Four Grady College students present at CURO Symposium

Four students from Grady College will be among the 723 participants presenting their research at the 2025 CURO Symposium. On April 7 – 8, 2025, four Grady College students will […]

Felix Scheyer posing with camera in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

Profiles of Tenacity: Felix Scheyer

Felix Scheyer is a third year journalism student with a minor in anthropology from Augusta, Georgia. With a passion for journalism, Felix is an active student within the UGA Visual […]

Samantha Hurley took the TEDxUGA stage on March 28, 2025 to share her message on defining perspectives (Photo/Samantha Hurley).

Samantha Hurley speaks at TEDxUGA 2025

For fourth-year journalism and Spanish double major, Samantha Hurley, choosing to share about redefining perspectives was no coincidence. As a legally blind photojournalism student, Hurley has brought a unique perspective […]

Headshot of Sanders Hickey with Grady Fellowship title.

Grady Fellowship Profile: Sanders Hickey

Congratulations to Sanders Hickey, an honoree who will be inducted into the Grady College Fellowship during Grady Salutes on April 25, 2025. Hickey has been working in radio more than […]

Carmical Sports Media Institute students cover March Madness through USA TODAY partnership

Sixteen students in the Sports Media Certificate program at Grady College are covering NCAA Tournament action, from first-round games to the women’s Final Four in Tampa, through a new partnership […]

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.