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.

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.

The English program offers certificates in Creative Writing, Professional Writing, and Copyediting & Publishing; plus Literary Journalism jointly with the Department of Journalism; and English courses play a role in the curriculum requirements of several interdisciplinary certificates, including Medical Humanities, Digital Engagement, and Film & Media Studies.

Students who pursue a certificate in Professional Writing should desire to build on their strengths in writing, reading, and critical thinking. The undergraduate Professional Writing (PW) certificate prepares you to write, edit, and design projects in your field and complements any major or career. Courses in the program incorporate elements of communications, marketing, journalism, and web development and offer students experiential learning opportunities as well as access to industry professionals. 

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.

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

In addition to studying language and a focus on writing, you will learn how to write and edit professional documents, manage publication products, design print and web-based materials, and work with corporate and non-profit clients. You will learn a unique set of skills that will allow you to design, write, and edit content for a variety of purposes, such as publishing, web design, marketing, public relations, and corporate training. You will also be exposed to a variety of technologies that enable the writing and design process. The faculty in the program are all award-winning and experienced faculty who will provide individual attention to help you achieve your personal and professional goals. 

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.

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.

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.

The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Contact Information

Teresa Cook
248 Arts & Sciences Hall
Cincinnati, OH 45221
(513) 556-6503
foxwortl@ucmail.uc.edu

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Program Code: 15CRT-PWRT-C2