Program Overview

College of General Studies

The College of General Studies offers a variety of programs, including certificates, majors, and minors.

Majors

• Dental Hygiene
• Health Professions
• Justice & Legal Studies
• Liberal Studies
• Natural Sciences
• Professional Communications
• Public Service

Certificates

• Accounting
• Communication
• Community Health Assessment
• Corporate/ Community Relations
• Digital Media
• Disability Studies
• Gender, Sexuality, and Womens Studies
• Information System Design
• Leadership
• Managing Health Services Programs and Projects
• National Preparedness and Homeland Security
• Nonprofit Management
• Writing
• Writing for the Professions

Minors

• Aerospace Studies Minor
• Law, Criminal Justice, & Society Minor
• Military Science Minor
• Public Service Minor

Writing for the Professions Certificate

A solid command of the written word is a valuable, marketable skill for many positions and industries. Businesses of all kinds need skilled writers to help communicate important messages internally and externally.

Program Description

The 18-credit certificate in writing for the professions offered by the College of General Studies will help enhance written communication skills. Students will have the flexibility to choose English and communication courses that make the most sense for their career goals. A wide array of electives include topics such as writing arguments, sports writing, grant writing, health communication, and public relations.

The CGS Difference

The certificate program can be a standalone professional development opportunity or completed in preparation for a bachelors or masters degree in a writing-related field.

Who Should Participate

Individuals for whom writing will be a major component of their job responsibilities, e.g., broadcasters, legal professionals, or reporters.

Program Expectations

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Identify and analyze audience traits and perspectives
• Determine a specific goal and/or purpose of a document, then organize and develop clearly written prose in support of that purpose
• Apply knowledge of a specialized writing/communication topic

Credit Requirements

• The writing for the professions certificate requires 18 credits, including nine credits of core classes and nine elective credits.
• Students must achieve a minimum grade of C (2.0) or better for all courses required for the program.
• Credits earned at other accredited educational institutions may be eligible for transfer. However, a minimum of nine credits must be earned at the University of Pittsburgh.

Required Courses

Complete both courses:

• ENGCMP 0400 - WRITTEN PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION
• ENGWRT 0610 - INTRODUCTION TO JOURNALISM AND NONFICTION And choose one of the following two courses:
• COMMRC 0320 - MASS COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETY
• ENGWRT 1330 - INTERMEDIATE NONFICTION: SCENE AND POINT-OF-VIEW

Electives

Choose three courses from the following approved electives.

• COMMRC 1182 - MEDIA RELATIONS
• COMMRC 1730 - SPECIAL TOPICS IN COMMUNICATION
• COMMRC 1732 - SPECIAL TOPICS IN MASS COMMUNICATION
• ENGCMP 0410 - WRITING IN THE LEGAL PROFESSIONS
• ENGCMP 0420 - WRITING FOR THE PUBLIC
• ENGCMP 0515 - PERSAUSIVE WRITING IN ADVERTISING
• ENGCMP 0520 - INTEGRATING WRITING AND DESIGN
• ENGCMP 0550 - TOPICS IN PUBLIC/PROFESSIONAL WRITING
• ENGCMP 0560 - WRITING ARGUMENTS
• ENGCMP 0600 - INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL WRITING
• ENGCMP 0610 - COMPOSING DIGITAL MEDIA
• ENGCMP 1103 - PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING
• ENGCMP 1111 - PROFESSIONAL WRITING IN GLOBAL CONTEXTS
• ENGCMP 1112 - PROFESSIONAL USES OF SOCIAL MEDIA
• ENGCMP 1400 - GRANT WRITING FOR NONPROFITS
• ENGCMP 1401 - WRITING FOR FUNDRAISING AND DEVELOPMENT
• ENGCMP 1420 - WRITING PROPOSALS FOR BUSINESS
• ENGWRT 0550 - FUNDAMENTALS OF NEWS REPORTING
• ENGWRT 1370 - JOURNALISM BOOT CAMP: WRITE NOW
• ENGWRT 1377 - MEDIA LITERACY: WRITING AND READING YOUR WAY THROUGH THE DIGITAL LANDSCAPE
• ENGWRT 1391 - WRITING THE REVIEW
• ENGWRT 1393 - SPORTS WRITING
• ENGWRT 1399 - TOPICS IN NON-FICTION: NEWSPAPER
• ENGWRT 1403 - TOPICS IN NON-FICTION: ELECTRONIC MEDIA
• ENGWRT 1750 - SENIOR SEMINAR IN NONFICTION

Program Planning Checklist

Download the Writing for the Professions certificate checklist to plan and track progress in the program.

Important: Course Overlap Rules

As you plan your certificate coursework, please review the CGS Course Overlap policy for information on how many courses can be double-counted if a student elects to pursue a CGS certificate in combination with other CGS and non-CGS majors, minors, and certificates.

Certificate at a Glance

Flexible Format

Study on campus and online.

How Many Courses

6 courses (18 credits)

Completion Time

Finish in as little as 2-3 terms or at a pace that fits your schedule.

How to Declare

Fill out an online application form with CGS.