Certificate in Professional English Communication

Learning to communicate professionally in English can be challenging—but it can also be one of the most valuable investments you make academically, professionally, and in your personal life.

Developed by the Tools for Clear Speech program at Baruch College, the non-credit Certificate in Professional English Communication is designed for multilingual English speakers who want to speak with greater clarity, impact and confidence.

(The Certificate in Professional English Communication is for NON-Baruch students only.)

Certificate Program Curriculum

The Certificate in Professional English Communication is broken down into three distinct instructional units—Appropriate Communication, Presentation Skills, and High-Stakes Interactions. Each unit develops essential communication skills for academic, professional, and everyday settings through practical strategies and real-world examples. Learners may enroll in and pay for each unit individually (see program cost structure below); however, all three units must be completed to earn the Certificate in Professional English Communication.

Detailed descriptions of each unit and the courses within can be found below. Click on each course title for more information.

Appropriate Communication

The Appropriate Communication unit helps you navigate everyday workplace interactions with confidence and professionalism.

Giving & Receiving Critical Feedback

By the end of this course, you will boost your awareness of how critical feedback is used in professional settings and recognize and apply various strategies in both giving and receiving critical feedback.

Making & Responding to Apologies

By the end of this course, you will develop a heightened awareness of the language and strategies for making and responding to apologies. You’ll also be able to confidently assess a situation and give an appropriate apology, and give a variety of responses to apologies.

Making Appropriate Requests & Refusals

In this course, you will boost your awareness of how making requests and refusals may differ depending on factors such as social status, familiarity, and severity. You will also recognize and apply critical request and refusal strategies.

Professional Idiomatic Language

In this course, you will learn how to use idiomatic expressions appropriately. By the end of this course, you will understand why idioms are used for effective communication, be able to recognize when and how to use them, and know common idioms used in a professional setting.

Presentation Skills

Our Presentation Skills unit helps you communicate ideas clearly, engage audiences, and present information effectively.

Engaging Presentation Skills Part I: Word Stress

In this course, you will learn how to appropriately stress words in English. By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the nature of word stress and how it’s crucial to being intelligible in English, learn how to stress and reduce syllables within words, and identify and use appropriate stress for all types of words.

Engaging Presentation Skills Part II: Rhythm & Thought Groups

In this course, you will learn how to speak with appropriate rhythm and thought groups in English. By the end of this course, you will be able to understand why sentence rhythm and thought groups are crucial for clear communication, understand the difference between content and function words, identify and use focus words to emphasize necessary information, and produce sentences with appropriate use of stress for contrasting, highlighting, and introducing new information in conversations.

Engaging Presentation Skills Part III: Intonation & Pacing

In this course, you will learn how to speak with appropriate intonation and at an appropriate pace in English. By the end of this course, you will understand how proper intonation and pace are crucial for clear communication, and be able to perceive and speak with proper intonation patterns,a s well as speak at an appropriate pace.

Presenting Visual Information

In this course, we will focus on the phrases and strategies professionals use to present key information through visual aids. By the end of the course, you will have a stronger command of the vocabulary, phrasing, and strategies needed to present charts, graphs, and other visual data with clarity and confidence.

High-Stakes Interactions

Our unit on High-Stakes Interactions prepares you for networking, interviews, negotiations, and other moments where communication and confidence matter most.

Handling Disagreements

This course highlights useful strategies and language for handling disagreements. By the end of this course, you will have learned language skills for five approaches to handling disagreements: accommodating, avoiding, competing, compromising, collaborating.

Negotiation

By the end of this course, you will have learned how to enter high-stakes negotiations with confidence and a clear strategy, build credibility with colleagues and clients, frame proposals to maximize persuasive impact, handle tough objections without becoming defensive, and close deals effectively while maintaining strong relationships.

Interview Skills

This course highlights useful strategies and language for the interview process. By the end of this course, you will have learned how to develop a personal elevator pitch, make small talk during an interview, effectively answer common interview questions, and ask good questions during an interview.

Small Talk

In this course, you will learn the skills necessary for successful and enjoyable conversations, and feel more comfortable and confident when making small talk.

Program Cost Structure

Please review the program cost structure below. While prospective learners can enroll in and pay individually for each of the three instructional units, we strongly recommend enrolling in the full program to maximize cost savings.

Learners must complete all three instructional units to receive the Certificate in Professional English Communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about our program below.

What is the Certificate in Professional Communication?

The Certificate in Professional Communication is a non-credit, online asynchronous program designed to help multilingual English speakers strengthen the communication skills that drive career advancement and personal growth. Through practical, real-world lessons, participants develop the confidence and strategies needed to communicate more effectively in workplaces, interviews, presentations, and everyday interactions.

Each of the three instructional units in this program is composed of several high-impact courses that target critical oral communication skills in academic and professional contexts.

Is this a degree program?

No. This is a non-degree, non-credit certificate program. Participants earn a Certificate in Professional Communication upon successful completion of the program (all three instructional units), but the certificate does not count toward a college degree.

How is the program delivered?

The program is delivered fully online through asynchronous coursework. This means you can access lessons, activities, and assessments whenever it is convenient for you. There is no time limit for completing the program, and there are no required live class meetings, allowing you to learn at your own pace and on your own schedule.

The complete certificate program is divided into three instructional units: Appropriate Communication, Presentation Skills, and High-Stakes Interactions. Each unit contains multiple courses. Although you can purchase and enroll in individual units, we strongly recommend that learners enroll in the full certificate program and complete all units. The Certificate in Professional English Communication will only be awarded after a learner successfully completes all three units.

Who should enroll in this program?

This program is ideal for multilingual learners of English—professionals, job seekers, international students, recent graduates, etc.—seeking to communicate more effectively and confidently in English. Whether your goal is to advance your career, excel in college, or strengthen your interpersonal skills, this program can help you achieve your professional English communication goals.

What level of English proficiency do I need to succeed in the program?

Though there is NO minimum requirement or test certification required, it is recommended that learners have a baseline intermediate level of English proficiency (approximately B1–B2 or higher CEFR level). Participants should be comfortable understanding everyday spoken and written English and expressing their ideas in English. The program is designed to help learners refine and strengthen their communication abilities rather than teach foundational English language skills.

How can stronger communication skills benefit my academic, professional, and personal life?

Communication is often the bridge between ability and opportunity. You may already possess the knowledge, talent, and ambition to succeed; effective communication helps others recognize those strengths.

Strong communication skills can help you participate more confidently in class discussions, collaborate effectively on projects, perform better in interviews, build professional relationships, navigate workplace challenges, and pursue leadership opportunities. Just as importantly, they can help you express yourself more authentically, build meaningful connections, and engage with greater confidence in everyday life. When people can clearly hear and understand your ideas, new opportunities often follow.

How much time should I expect to spend on the program?

The certificate consists of 12 self-paced courses, each designed to take approximately 90–120 minutes to complete. Most participants can therefore complete the entire program in approximately 18–24 hours of total learning time, though you are free to move at a pace that works for your schedule.

Because the program is fully asynchronous, you can complete courses whenever and wherever it is most convenient for you—whether that means finishing a lesson in a single sitting or working through it over several shorter sessions. Many participants appreciate the program’s flexible design, which allows them to build valuable professional communication skills without disrupting their academic, professional, or personal commitments.

Will I receive feedback on my progress?

The program includes knowledge-checks and assessments designed to help you monitor your progress and identify areas for continued growth. Participants will have opportunities to reflect on and apply communication strategies throughout the program.

Is the certificate recognized by employers?

The certificate demonstrates a commitment to professional development and communication excellence. While hiring decisions vary by employer, communication skills consistently rank among the most sought-after qualities in the workforce. The certificate signals that you have invested in developing the skills necessary to collaborate, lead, present, and communicate effectively in professional settings.

Can I complete the program while working or attending school full-time?

Yes. The flexible asynchronous format is specifically designed for busy students and professionals. Participants can complete coursework at times that best fit their personal, academic, and professional commitments.

How is this different from a traditional ESL or English language course?

Most traditional ESL courses—including those focused on TOEFL and IELTS proficiency—focus on grammar, vocabulary, reading, and writing. This certificate program addresses vital communication skills people need to succeed in real-world academic and professional environments. Participants learn how to navigate interviews, presentations, workplace conversations, networking opportunities, disagreements, negotiations, and other high-impact interactions.

The goal is not simply to learn English—it is to use English with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

Why choose Baruch College for professional communication training?

Baruch College has long been recognized for preparing students and professionals to thrive in diverse academic and workplace environments, and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading engines of opportunity. Ranked #1 in the United States for value by The Wall Street Journal and consistently recognized as a national leader in social mobility, Baruch has helped generations of students turn talent, ambition, and hard work into meaningful careers.

The Certificate in Professional English Communication builds upon that tradition, offering participants practical communication skills that can help unlock opportunities in the classroom, the workplace, and beyond. This certificate leverages the expertise of the College’s Tools for Clear Speech (TfCS) program, which has helped thousands of multilingual learners strengthen their communication skills. Participants benefit from a program specifically designed to bridge the gap between English proficiency and professional success.

What will I receive after completing the program?

Participants who successfully complete all program requirements will receive a Certificate in Professional Communication from Baruch College, recognizing their achievement and commitment to developing advanced communication skills for academic, professional, and personal success.

When can I register?

The registration for this program will launch in Fall 2026. As soon as the registration is live, a link will be sent to you.