Ready to take ideas from the brain to the boardroom? Professional communication is crucial to a successful workplace. Think about it. When people have big goals and dreams but do not know how to tell people about them, they rarely become reality. With the ability to effectively communicate, people can make their awesome ideas real.
Professional communication also is a great skill to have to prevent problems and issues in the workplace. Did you know that employers consider communication one of the most important skills to have in the workplace? It is because communication allows employees to talk with their coworkers about plans, problems and processes. With effective communication, employees can streamline their workflows and ensure that every person on their team is on the same page.
At Ivy Tech, the Professional Communication program gives you the tools to be hirable. From learning how to write with professionalism to having the confidence to present research to an organization, this program can teach you how to put your best foot forward every single day. This program is offered in a variety of class formats including a 100% online option.
Career Options
The Associate of Science in Professional Communication degree program is designed for students who wish to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Our students save upward of $10,000 by completing their first two years at Ivy Tech and then transferring!
Once graduates go on to complete their bachelor's degree, they can apply their newfound skills to a variety of workplaces. From working as an administrative assistant in a large organization to becoming the Director of Communications at a company, this program can be used to make you a better communicator and employee wherever you may work.
Examples of jobs you can get in the professional communications field include:
Administrative Assistant
Call Center Representative
Communications Specialist
Copywriter
Editor
Front Desk Receptionist
Guest Service Agent
Public Relations Specialist
Writer
Degree Types Offered
Credential Type
Associate Degree – Transferable Degree
Short-Term Certificate
– known as a Certificate (CT)
Note: Program availability varies by location and not all program tracks are offered at each campus/location.
Associate Degree – Transferable Degree
Communication is the key difference maker in teams and organizations. Great communication leads to successful projects and efficiency while poor communication leads to problems and missteps in processes. With an Associate of Science in Professional Communication, you can have the skills to effectively communicate with teammates and coworkers to success in your organization.
Students save upward of $10,000 by completing their first two years at Ivy Tech and then transferring, and we've designed the curriculum to transfer as easily as possible to many four-year universities.
Our Professional Communication program is even part of our Guaranteed Admissions program, which gives graduates of the program automatic acceptance to pursue a bachelor's degree at our partnering universities. All programs have varying partners, but the Professional Communications program currently has a partnership with Purdue University Global for interested students.
Whether you'd like to transfer through the Guaranteed Admissions pathway or standard transfer methods, talk to our transfer advocates for information about continuing your education after completing your associate degree at Ivy Tech.
Time to Complete
An Associate of Science in Professional Communication degree can be achieved in 4 semesters, or about two years.
Required Courses
Graduates must complete a total of 60 credit hours:
Short-Term Certificate
known as a Certificate (CT)
The Certificate (CT) in Professional and Community Communication is a great way to add a communication credential to your resume. Whether you are looking to improve your communication skills or wanting to shift into a career in communications, this short-term certificate can help you reach your career goals by making you an effective communicator.
Professional Communication is offered at 17 Ivy Tech locations in Indiana. Each location offers a unique combination of certificate and degree options:
Is not having everyone on the same page a pet peeve of yours?
Do words come to you easily?
Do you want to gain a skill that nearly all employers are looking for right now?
Does This Sound Like You?
If you thought "yes" to any of the questions above, a career in professional communication may be just what you are looking for! Take the next step to get started or speak with your local advisor to learn more.
Prerequisite Courses for Professional Communication
Students coming to Ivy Tech with their high school diploma or equivalent can start straight into the degree program without completing any prerequisite courses as long as they are considered college ready by the knowledge assessment.
No Expiration of Credits
There is no expiration date for course credits that were earned in previous years from Ivy Tech Community College.
Transfer Credit for Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisite courses completed at colleges other than Ivy Tech will only be considered for general education selection points if transfer credit has been awarded and courses appear on the Ivy Tech transcript prior to the application deadline.
TR grades are not recognized by the online application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that transfer credit has been awarded and that TR grades are updated to transfer letter grades (TA, TB, TC) on their Ivy Tech transcript.
It is recommended that college transcripts be submitted to the Registrar’s office for evaluation and transfer credit at least 4 weeks prior to the program application deadline to ensure adequate time for processing.
Professional Communication Courses
Descriptions of communications courses can be found in our course catalog. View required classes and course descriptions for:
See when specific classes will be offered by searching our class list in Schedule Builder. First, select the semester you’re looking for and then enter the name of the class in the search bar.
If you’re a current student, upcoming classes are easy to find in Schedule Builder in MyIvy.
Class Formats
Students in the Professional Communication program have the flexibility to take classes in a variety of formats including online, hybrid and on-campus.
How to Apply
Applying to Ivy Tech is free and easy. Start by completing the online general application. After you're accepted, you’ll receive information about setting up your student account and completing the tasks you need to enroll, including course placement, registering for classes, and paying tuition.
Visit our How to Apply page for complete application and enrollment steps.
Professor Stepp was nominated for Ivy Tech's statewide Gerald I. Lamkin Award for Excellence in Instruction in 2015.
Questions About the Program?
Future Students
If you’re not yet an Ivy Tech student, contact us at 1-888-489-5463 and we’ll be happy to help.
Current Students
Contact your academic advisor, who can answer any questions you have about the Professional Communication program and your certificate and degree options.
Find Local Advising Contact Info
Don't see a nearby location?
Call 1-888-489-5463 and we'll get you started.
Walk-In, No Appointment Needed Tuesday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
New Students can visit us during our weekly Tuesday Walk-In hours or make an appointment with their Enrollment Specialist.
Current Students can meet with their academic advisor by logging into MyIvy and clicking the "Schedule an Appointment" button or visiting during weekly Tuesday Walk-In hours.
Advising Team Ginny Leonard, Senior Director for Academic Advising and Student Success Advisor for: Exploratory/Undecided students vleonard5@ivytech.edu
Dee Denton Advisor for: Nursing Interest and Health Science ddenton@ivytech.edu
Jake Brunsman Advisor for: General Studies, Liberal Arts and Education programs jbrunsman2@ivytech.edu
Will Parshley Advisor for: School of Public and Social Services, School of Information Technology and Psychology-AS TSAP wparshley@ivytech.edu
Zech Saenz Advisor for: School of Business, Logistic and Supply Chain Management, School of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Applied Science zsaenz@ivytech.edu
Madison Advising Center
590 Ivy Tech Drive
Madison, IN 47250
Fax 812-803-1953
Zoom Video Calls Call 812-803-1953 to make an appointment for a meeting via Zoom or join virtual drop-in hours as shown below.
Advising Team Tricia Miracle 463-207-5972 tmiracle2@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 812-510-3844 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Wednesdays 9:00am-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00pm-5:00pm Zoom Link
Olivia Bruce 463-231-5073 obruce1@ivytech.edu Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Mondays 1:30pm-4:30pm & Tuesdays 8:30am-11:30am Zoom Link
Monday Virtual Office Hours Mondays 5:00pm-6:00pm Zoom Link
1 Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2024 State Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Indiana. (2025). Lightcast™, lightcast.io. Occupational Overview for Indiana, 2024-2025
2 Associate degree cost is determined by tuition for an in-state, full-time student. Certificate and technical certificate costs are determined by tuition for an in-state, part-time student. Additional fees may be applied. Visit the Tuition & Fees page to learn more.
