Public and Professional Writing (Certificate) Program Requirements for 2023-2024

To earn the certificate in public and professional writing, the student must complete each course declared to be part of the program with a grade of at least a “C” (2.00). A student may transfer only two courses from another institution to be applied to the certificate, and the internship course may not be transferred.

All students pursuing the certificate in public and professional writing must complete 13 credits, distributed as shown below.

Writing Electives – 9 credits

Choose THREE courses from the list below (including one at the 300 level).

  • COMM 195 – Journalism (3)
  • COMM 253 – Business Communications (3)
  • ENGL 259 – Argument and Persuasion (3)
  • ENGL 271 – Legal Writing (3)
  • ENGL 2102 – Community-Based Writing (3)
  • ENGL 2190 – Science Writing for Public (3)
  • ENGL 2260 – Reading & Writing for Social Power (3)
  • ENGL 2376 – Intercultural Communication (3)
  • ENGL 355 – Professional Writing (3)
  • ENGL 356 – Editing and Publishing (3)
  • ENGL 361 – Writing with New Media (3)

Internship – 3 credits

  • DEPT 490 – Internship (3)*

Seminar – 1 credit

  • ENGL 307 – Writing Portfolio Seminar (1)**

Total: 13 credits

*The internship may be taken through the student's major or minor department, or through the English department. The internship must involve a substantial written component, allow the student to generate at least one significant portfolio piece, and be approved in advance by the program director during the semester before the internship is taken, regardless of other requirements for the department in which it is listed. Students enrolling in an independent research experience that contains both a substantial formal written component and a substantial experiential learning component may, with permission of the program director, count this toward their internship requirements.

**All students should enroll in ENGL 307 – Writing Portfolio Seminar, overseen by the PPW Director and taken in conjunction with the internship. Students select and workshop three writing samples and submit a portfolio composed of work that has been completed in their certificate classes and internship.

Note: The program requirements listed are for the current academic year. Past and future program requirements may differ.