Why study Professional Writing?

The Certificate in Professional Writing is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in professional writing, or who are headed to careers that require an advanced level of professional writing skills. In any field today—health, engineering, science, technology, business, education—writing is gaining in importance. Move ahead in your job with your choice of courses in web authoring, multimedia writing, technical writing, desktop publishing, and instructional design. Whether writing in your field or about your field, whether editing an article or preparing a proposal, be more certain of your skills and more competitive in today’s job market with the Professional Writing Certificate.

Career Possibilities

Our Professional Writing curriculum emphasizes in-depth understanding of communication processes that bridge disciplines and industries and enables our graduates to consider numerous career opportunities. We incorporate theory with practice into all our classes, considering issues of effectiveness, consequence, and responsibility. Students advance their skills in writing, editing, design, project management, and technology. A certificate in Professional Writing helps to prepare students to work in such areas as science, technology, business, non-profit management, civic affairs, technical communication, editing and publishing, web development, medicine and healthcare, and environmental writing.

Major Maps

• Guide: Professional Writing Certificate Curriculum

Advising

Contact the program director, whose name and information appear on this screen.

UC Advantages and Special Opportunities

Students in the UC College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-extensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, Tristate location offers exciting opportunities for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.

Special Programs

Experiential learning

English students can intern with local businesses, nonprofits, university offices, state agencies, media outlets, and more, and earn college credit while developing reading and writing skills. Students can also gain valuable experience by taking research-intensive or service learning courses, by studying abroad, and by entering their work in the department’s writing contest each year.

 Our Professional Writing program takes an innovative approach to experiential learning that incorporates service learning through client-based projects and internships. The service-learning element stresses students’ reflection on their experience in terms of being a professional consultant—a role that significantly affects the nature of the work performed and raises special ethical issues.

 Internship program

The Professional Writing track offers a robust internship program. Students who apply for and secure an internship take two courses and earn six credit hours for internship work. In addition, many classes in Professional Writing complete client-based projects such as websites and publications.

Renowned faculty

Rhetoric & Professional Writing faculty are experienced professional writers and editors with many years of experience in fields such as business, medicine and healthcare, science, technology, social sciences, and technical and environmental writing.

Admission Requirements

Students already pursuing a degree in any college at UC can add the certificate to their program. Be sure to submit a declaration of the certificate program using our online form.

In addition, you must meet with the program director so that they are aware that you are pursuing the certificate and can advise you appropriately. Do this early enough to avoid delay in obtaining your certificate.

Students not currently pursuing a degree may declare the certificate after establishing non-matriculated status.

Graduation Requirements

Make sure that you have declared the certificate program online. Next, make sure that the certificate program director is aware of when you are finishing the program. If you are pursuing another bachelor's degree, then your certificate will be reviewed at the time that you submit your separate degree application.

Accreditation