Program Description
The Professional & Strategic Writing program prepares students to write — and lead — the professional fields of tomorrow. Students will develop expertise in strategic thinking and leadership; learn valuable, adaptive skills in writing and critical thinking; and apply those thinking and writing skills in real-world workplace situations.
Students will graduate with a set of flexible skills desired by a broad range of employers and required by numerous careers. Internship opportunities provide experience in workplace writing, preparing students for exciting professional opportunities.
Graduates will be prepared to work in a variety of professions including marketing, public affairs, education, medical writing, technical writing, science writing, fundraising and development and more. This program is also an excellent foundation for students looking to pursue their graduate degree in fields such as education, law, public policy and journalism.
Learning Goals/Outcomes
- Recognize and apply appropriate rhetorical strategies for various audiences and contexts, with particular attention to professions, media, cultural competencies, and sensitivities.
- Apply rhetorical writing and communication strategies to ethically intervene in interrelated disciplinary, personal, social, civic, and professional issues.
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Recognize gaps in knowledge and communication and select and apply appropriate research strategies and rhetorical concepts to close those gaps.
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Explain the relevance of writing studies and rhetoric as they relate to and inform students' overall course of study and intended professional paths.
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Articulate, reflect on, and address the impact of inequities inherent in rhetorical situations.
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Recognize, reflect on and apply appropriate processes of composition to generate and/or refine insights.
Curriculum: 4 year, 121-124 credits
| First Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| FYS 100 | Pathways Seminar | 1 |
| WRIT 101 | Writing Sem I: Written Comm. | 3 |
| MATH1XX | 3-4 | |
| SCI 1XX | 3-4 | |
| MTH/SCI/STAT | 3-4 | |
| AVIS 101 | American Visions | 3 |
| PSW 101 | Intro to Prof & Strat Writing (Introduction to Professional and Strategic Writing) | 3 |
| COMS 102 | Introduct to Public Speaking | 3 |
| PSW 100 | Creative Writing | 3 |
| PSW 200 | Cultural Myth and Memory | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 31-34 | |
| Total Credits | 31-34 | |
| Second Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ADIV 1XX | 3 | |
| GDIV 1XX | 3 | |
| WRIT 201 | Writing Seminar II:Multi Comm | 3 |
| ETHC 1XX | ||
| PSW 203 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| PSW 2XX | PSW Course (Rhetorics of Race and Gender) | 3 |
| PSW 300 | Peer Tutoring | 3 |
| COMS 306/PSW 2XX RHETORIC OF SOCIAL MEDIA | Social Media Strategies | 3 |
| PSW 2XX | PSW Course (Visual Rhetorics) | 3 |
| MINR 1XX | 3 | |
| ELEC 1XX | 3 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
| Third Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| GCIT 2XX | 3 | |
| CGIS 300 | Contemporary Global Issues | 3 |
| ISEM 3XX | 3 | |
| PSW 305 | Narrative Nonfiction | 3 |
| PSW 3XX | PSW Course (Organizational Communication) | 3 |
| PSW 3XX | PSW Course (Writing at Work) | 3 |
| PSW 3XX | PSW Course (In-House Internship) | 3 |
| Designated Electives | 3 | |
| Designated Electives | 3 | |
| MINR 1XX | 3 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
| Fourth Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 499 | Philosophies of the Good Life | 3 |
| PSW 4XX | PSW Course (Professional and Strategic Writing Capstone) | 3 |
| Designated Electives | 3 | |
| MINR 1XX | 3 | |
| Designated Electives | 3 | |
| MINR 1XX | 3 | |
| ELEC 1XX | 3 | |
| ELEC 2XX | 3 | |
| ELEC 3XX | 3 | |
| Credits | 27 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Professional and Strategic Writing Designated Electives
- COMS 307 Media Writing
- PSW 305 Poetry
- COMS 322 Writing for Nonprofit
- LAW 304 Media, Law and Society