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.
Big Dreams? Go for Honors
If you're motivated and want a more robust, personalized academic experience, consider enhancing your associate degree in Professional Communication by pursuing an Honors pathway. Honors courses are fully virtual with opportunities to meet and network with honors students and faculty across the state. The coursework is designed to support a student’s spirit of inquiry and intellectual growth, as well as foster multicultural awareness and leadership. View eligibility requirements
Graduating with a Professional Communication degree with an Honors pathway can help you stand out as a high-achieving college student, boost your resume, and help you land an acceptance letter to a top four-year college or university.
The Ivy Tech application is free and easy—you don’t need a certain test score, GPA, or class rank to get started at Ivy Tech. Applying takes about 10-15 minutes and can be completed entirely online.
No Application Deadlines
Ivy Tech does not have a deadline for admission. Our 8-week class sessions start throughout the year—in January, March, June, August, and October—and there is no hard deadline for applying for any of the start dates. It's important, though, to apply early enough that you'll be able to complete all the degree planning, financial aid, and registration activities that need to happen before your first day. We recommend you apply about one month before you intend to start classes. See upcoming start dates
Steps to Apply
(1) Apply to Ivy Tech
If you’ve never applied to Ivy Tech Community College before (or if it’s been two years since you last attended classes here), your first step is to apply to Ivy Tech. You can apply online or in person. To apply in person, reach out toyour local admissions team and arrange a meeting. Or, stop by any campus on any Tuesday for Tuesdays@TheTech to receive personal assistance with applying and registering for classes.
After you submit your application, you'll be asked to upload documentation—such as SAT/ACT/PSAT scores or high school and college transcripts—that can assess your readiness for college-level coursework and help us make sure you are taking classes that are the right fit for you. How to upload assessment documents
If you don't have your scores or transcripts at your fingertips, don’t worry. Go ahead and submit your application. You can go back to upload assessment documents at any time until the end of the term for which you applied.
(3) Look for a Confirmation Email
Once your application is processed, you will receive a confirmation email at the email address provided on your application. Typically the email will arrive within 1-2 business days of submission, but during peak processing periods (April-June) could take up to 5-10 business days.
The email will contain instructions on how to register for classes, as well as important information regarding your Ivy Tech student portal (MyIvy account), tuition, payment options, and more.
(4) Create an Account in MyIvy
MyIvy is Ivy Tech's online student portal. Students use MyIvy to check e-mail, register for classes, pay tuition, manage financial aid, get the latest news and announcements, and much more. MyIvy also contains "QuickLinks" to the Ivy Tech websites and online tools you will use most often. Learn more about MyIvy
Before you can register for classes you will need to submit documentation or complete an assessment test. Your test scores can help us determine the best English and math starting classes for you. See the Test Score Course Placement Chart
If you submitted assessment documentation during the application process, your advisor will likely be able to work with those documents to determine course placement and you won't need to take any further steps. If you don't have any of those documents or the scores don't meet minimum thresholds, don’t worry! Your advisor will direct you to complete our freeKnowledge Assessment to help develop your customized learning path to better prepare you for courses.
(6) Register for Classes
Once you have completed the steps above, you may register for classes. Ivy Tech students register for courses using the Schedule Builder tool which can be accessed withinMyIvy. If you are a new, first-time Ivy Tech student, we recommend that you meet withyour advisor who will help you develop your Academic Completion Plan and help you sign up for courses that are the best fit for you.
For a complete list of registration steps, including detailed registration steps, deadlines, and information about holds, withdrawals, waitlists, and refunds, visit our Registration 101 page.
(7) Pay Your Tuition
After registering for your courses, your bill can be viewed in yourMyIvy account > Student Dashboard- > View/Pay Balance. Payments can also be made in your MyIvy account. For complete information about payments, including payment options, payment plans, how to make immediate payments, due dates, information about refunds, and more, visit our Payments page.
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.
Madison Advising Center
590 Ivy Tech Drive
Madison, IN 47250
Fax 812-265-4028
Zoom Video Calls Available by appointment only. Call 812-256-2580, ext. 4502 to make an appointment.
Advising Team Tricia Miracle 812-265-2580 ext. 4137 tmiracle2@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 812-510-3844 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Wednesdays 9:00am-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00pm-5:30pm Zoom Link
1 Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage estimates: Indiana.(2023). Lightcast™, lightcast.io. Occupational Overview for Indiana, 2023-2024
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.
