Professional Writing

The English program coordinates a minor in professional writing (18 hours), designed to acquaint students with commercial non-fiction writing, Web writing and design, publishing, public relations, and the rhetoric and grammar for professional forums. Students may select from two distinct tracks: Professional Writing/Consulting or Design/Publication.

Visit the English department for more information about the program.

Program Goals

• Students will gain a working knowledge of writing, editing, and design in interdisciplinary media, including web creation, public relations, magazines, business marketing, and photojournalism.
• Students will create writing and design portfolios in the core courses in order to demonstrate skills for potential employers. 

Student Learning Outcomes

The professional writing program emphasizes developing rhetorical awareness and ability; therefore professional
writing minors will learn to understand and articulate key theoretical concepts pertinent to the study of rhetoric,
including verbal, visual, and multimedia rhetoric.  Professional Writing minors will also learn to assess and
respond appropriately to the needs of a given audience, to edit their work and the work of their peers given the
constraints of specific projects and media, to design documents using appropriate technological resources as
well as appropriate elements of design, to develop a critical-rhetorical lens through which they will analyze a
range of professional writing documents, and to also apply this knowledge to professional writing situations.  Lastly,
Professional Writing minors will learn to develop a digital portfolio that will assist in the pursuit of their professional
and academic goals.

Outcomes Assessment Activities

The Coordinator of the Professional Writing minor reviews student portfolios and evaluates the demonstrated level of student performance, tracks the placement of students in internships and relevant positions of employment, and administers a questionnaire to graduating minors keyed to the program goals and reports these results annually.

Specific Requirements for the Professional Writing Minor

Required Core Courses

Professional Writing/Consulting Track