Professional Writing (Graduate Certificate)

The Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing provides knowledge and experience composing in a wide range of professional and technical genres for a wide range of audiences (both print and online) as well as in document design, editing, and collaborating with others in creating texts for business, government, and technical purposes. This 15-hour graduate certificate program prepares students for positions as professional or technical writers and provides the opportunity for professionals in business, government, and technical positions to greatly enhance their writing, editing, and document design abilities. The program is designed to be an additional credential or enhancement, not a substitute for a graduate degree. Students completing the five-course program will earn a graduate certificate that will appear on their permanent transcripts.

Admissions Requirements

An applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university prior to acceptance into the Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing Program. 

An applicant should submit the following items for admission:

• Graduate School Application
• Non-Refundable Application Fee
• Official Transcript providing proof of baccalaureate degree from an accredited university
• Statement of Purpose
• Non-native speakers must also submit current, official TOEFL or IELTS scores. TOEFL scores below 550 on the written examination or below 79 on the Internet-based exam are not considered satisfactory.  IELTS scores below 6.5 are not considered satisfactory.

Students can be admitted to the program for Fall, Spring, or Summer enrollment, but Spring enrollment is discouraged, particularly for students on the 16-month plan (see Duration below).

Program Duration

This program offers 16-week courses in the Fall and Spring semesters as well as 8-week courses in the Summer session. The program can be completed in twelve or sixteen months.

• 12-Month Plan: Students who schedule two courses in the Fall and Spring semesters will be able to complete the program in twelve months with a Summer internship.
• 16-month Plan: Students who prefer to schedule one course per semester will be able to complete the program in sixteen months with an internship concurrent with their final semester.

Fall Courses:  ENGL 472: Professional Writing and ENGL 474: Document Design will be offered each Fall semester.

Spring Courses:  ENGL 473: Professional Editing and ENGL 462: Special Projects in Professional Writing will be offered each Spring semester.

Summer Courses:  ENGL 462: Special Projects in Professional Writing will be offered as an 8-week Summer session course.

Internship:  ENGL 463: Professional Writing Practicum will be offered each semester.

Course Requirements

Students must successfully complete the five (5) courses listed below with a grade of "B" or better to receive the Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing:

Courses

• ENGL 472: Professional Writing (3 Credits)
• ENGL 473: Professional Editing (3 Credits)
• ENGL 474: Document Design (3 Credits)
• ENGL 462: Special Projects in Professional Writing (3 Credits)
• Note: ENGL 464: Special Topics in Rhetoric and Composition or ENGL 556: Seminar in Rhetoric may be substituted for ENGL 462 with the permission of the Department Head of English.       

Internship

• ENGL 463: Professional Writing Practicum (3 Credits)

Contact

Visit the English Department website for more information.