Communication Skills for Engineers

Overview

Build a toolkit of communication skills that will give you the knowledge and confidence to be an effective engineering leader.

Engineers who want to advance in their profession need to be effective communicators. They need to clearly communicate complex ideas and technical project plans. They also need to be strong persuaders. Engineers who are good communicators get recognized by their supervisors and by their clients.    

In this three-course Communication Skills for Engineers Specialization offered by Coursera in partnership with Rice University, you will practice designing and giving strong, persuasive presentations; you will learn how to communicate across cultures, genders, and generations, how to create your personal brand and leadership presence, how to hold effective meetings with global teams; you will learn how to handle difficult conversations, and how to handle crisis communication; you will also learn writing skills immediately applicable in your daily activities. Courses are taught by faculty from the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL). RCEL is focused on developing engineering leaders within Rice University at the undergraduate, master's and PhD levels. It is home to one of a very few academically approved Certificates in Engineering Leadership.

Applied Learning Project

At the specialization level, each week you will complete a series of self-assessments leading to a development of a Personal Communication Improvements Plan. In the Oral Communication course, you will complete a series of assignments culminating in a real-life presentation on a topic important to your organization or you personally. In the Interpersonal Communication course, you will develop your Personal Brand pitch and a toolbox of technique to communicate with different people in different situations. In the course on writing, you will improve documents you distribute to your co-workers, supervisors, and clients.