Program Overview

Program Overview

The Professional Writing program is a 2-year Master of Arts (MA) degree that requires a minimum of 31 credits.

Program Structure

The program consists of several components:

• Required Courses (10-15 credits)
• Theory Course (3 credits)
• Technology Course (6 credits)
• Genre Courses (6 credits)
• Professional Writing Electives (6 credits)

Required Courses

The following courses are required for all Professional Writing (PWRT) MA students:

• PWRT7001: Introduction to Professional Writing (3 credits)
• PWRT7045: Principles and Practices of Web Design (3 credits)
• PWRT7030: Internship (1-6 credits)
• PWRT7095: Professional Writing Capstone (3 credits) For PWRT Teaching Assistants (TAs) only:
• PWRT7002: Teaching Technical and Professional Communication (TPC) (3 credits)

Theory Course

Students must select one of the following theory courses:

• PWRT7035: Professional Writing Theory (3 credits)
• PWRT7040: Rhetoric and Texts (3 credits)
• PWRT7041: Technology and Professional Writing (3 credits)
• PWRT7046: Topics in Rhetoric (3 credits)
• PWRT7048: Rhetoric of Health and Medicine (3 credits)

Technology Course

Students must select two of the following technology courses, with only one 6000-level course counting for credit:

• PWRT6021: Instructional Design (3 credits)
• PWRT6025: Information Design (3 credits)
• PWRT6026: Designing and Writing User Experience (3 credits)
• PWRT6028: Publishing and New Media (3 credits)
• PWRT6029: Creating Accessible Content (3 credits)
• PWRT7028: Online Publishing and Documentation (3 credits)
• PWRT7029: Content Management for Professional Writers (3 credits)
• PWRT7044: Document Design and Production (3 credits)
• PWRT7047: Communication Technologies in Health and Medicine (3 credits)
• PWRT7049: Advanced Principles and Practices of Web Design (3 credits)

Genre Courses

Students must select two of the following genre courses:

• PWRT6022: Promotional Writing (3 credits)
• PWRT6023: Grant and Proposal Writing (3 credits)
• PWRT6024: Editing Professional Documents (3 credits)
• PWRT6027: Current Topics in Professional Writing (3 credits)
• PWRT7003: Research for Professional Writing (3 credits)
• PWRT7004: Advanced Writing and Editing of Professional Documents (3 credits)
• PWRT7042: Environmental Writing (3 credits)
• PWRT7043: Science and Health Writing (3 credits)
• PWRT7093: Topics in Professional Writing (3 credits)
• PWRT9098: Independent Study In Professional Writing (1-6 credits)

Professional Writing Electives

Students can choose electives with permission from their advisor or the PW program director, including courses from other departments:

• PWRT6XXX+: PWRT Graduate Course (3 credits)
• PWRT6XXX+: PWRT Graduate Course (3 credits)

Credit Hours

The minimum number of credit hours required for the program is 31, but this can vary based on previously earned credits and placement into required coursework.