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Professional Writing Major

Hone your writing skills

When you choose a major in professional writing, you’ll stand out. In addition to honing your core writing and editing skills, you’ll explore content creation, technical and scientific writing, digital publishing and visual communication. This program prepares you for professional roles in business, media, marketing, government, education and beyond.

Professor providing guidance to a student on a writing assignment during class.

What to Expect in the Professional Writing Program

  • Develop your knowledge in editing, revising and presenting written work effectively across multiple platforms.
  • Gain experience in business, scientific, technical, and creative writing, including fiction, poetry and playwriting.
  • Apply your skills through internships, research projects, and opportunities in publication and teaching.

Courses in Professional Writing

The core curriculum provides a solid foundation in professional writing, covering areas such as technical writing, grammar, style and editing, publishing, marketing, and writing for visual media. Electives allow you to explore creative writing, food and travel writing, and teaching writing.

Introduction to Professional Writing
PWR-201

Introductory course that introduces students to a range of rhetorical principles and practices in professional genres that they will explore in future coursework and in their careers. 

Technical Writing
PWR-312W

Advanced writing course in composing reports, proposals, instructions, brochures, digital information and more. Principles of document design, strategies for incorporating graphic elements into texts and methods of editing are also emphasized.

Creative Writing
PWR-311

Intensive workshop providing an opportunity to gain deeper insight into literary techniques and practices through the production of original short and longer works of fiction, poetry and drama, as well as creative expository forms.

Specific requirements for this major can be found in the College Catalog.

Required Courses Meet the Faculty

Professional writing major student smiling while working on a laptop.

Careers with a Professional Writing Degree

Strong writing skills are in high demand, with over 70% of employers seeking proficient communicators. A degree in professional writing will prepare you for a variety of careers such as editing, journalism, government, law, marketing, public relations, sales and writing.

Chart your path

Learn more about employment and advancement in technical and science writing fields from the Society for Technical Communication and the National Association of Science Writers.

Research Opportunities

Assistant Professor of English Dr. Sam Hamilton and professional writing and computer science double major Rachel Cubbage ’23 worked together on a summer research project titled “Worldbuilding and Adventure Design in Table-Top Role-Playing Games.” Thanks to funding from The Research Experience @ Bridgewater (TREB), the pair studied world building for table-top role-playing games and designed their own adventure model that can be played by a large group of people.

Dr. Christian C. Sheridan

Questions? Contact Us!