Professional Writing, Certificate
Dr. Kavita Surya, Coordinator
Professional Writing, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
The Professional Writing certificate will provide students with skills in writing for today’s complex workplace environments. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, written communication skills rank highly in desirable attributes for prospective employers in 2021, with almost three-quarters of employer respondents (73.4%). The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021) also predicts a higher-than-average growth rate for technical writing positions from 2020 – 2030.
Students will prepare for careers as professional or technical writers, or enhance writing, editing, design, and collaborative abilities needed for other positions by achieving the following outcomes:
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Compose in a variety of professional writing genres for diverse audiences.
- Acquire expertise in designing digital and print texts.
- Engage in meaningful collaborations to write, edit, and design texts.
- Develop a portfolio of professional writing texts to share with employers.
Program Requirements
- The certificate is designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited international institution.
- Students will be required to complete 15 course credit hours from a select menu of courses.
- The certificate is offered 100% online and can be completed in one year. These credits may not include any required graduate courses in students’ degree programs. Electives in students’ graduate degree program may count toward the certificate.
- Since students in the program are considered non-degree seeking, financial aid is not available.
- Students are expected to observe School of Graduate Studies and University Graduate Rules, Regulations and Academic Policies. Students are expected to maintain Good Academic Standing, which is defined as a minimum institutional GPA of 3.0.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 6 | |
| ENGL 5900 | Professional Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 5045 | Digital and Multimedia Writing | 3 |
| Electives (Choose three courses from the following): | 9 | |
| ENGL 5230 | Grammar for Professional Writ. | 3 |
| ENGL 5910 | Professional Editing | 3 |
| ENGL 5050 | Advanced Document Design | 3 |
| ENGL 5650 | Writing for Nonprofits | 3 |
| ENGL 5240 | Grant Proposal Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 5025 | Writing Creative Nonfiction | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 | |
Admissions
Beginning the application process for a certificate is simple:
- Graduate Application
- $50 application fee
- One official transcript showing bachelor's degree awarded