Professional Writing Courses

Engl. 301-3. Advanced Composition.

Continues the practice of writing essays, focusing on logical argument, style, and more sophisticated techniques of writing. Prereq: Engl. 131 & 141

Engl. 307-3. Business and Administrative Writing.

For all students and especially for business and science majors who foresee the need for proposal writing, report writing, letter and memo writing, data collection, and presentation. English 307 is offered as a traditional on-campus course and online. Prereq: Engl. 131

Students may take either Engl. 307 or Engl. 309 towards the PW Program but not both.  Should they take both courses, one will count as as elective credit.

Engl. 309-3. Technical Writing & Presentation.

This course is designed to teach students how to present technical information effectively both through written reports and through oral presentations. It is taught in an networked classroom with access to software tools for the design of both written and oral presentations. Prereq: Engl. 131

Students may take either Engl. 307 or Engl. 309 towards the PW Program but not both.  Should they take both courses, one will count as as elective credit.

 Engl. 311-3. Advanced Grammar.

Provides a theoretical, historical and practical study of grammar and the rules governing language use, particularly as they apply to professional writing. The emphasis is on the standard conventions of grammar, usage, mechanics, and syntax. Student will practice a variety of techniques for applying these skills to their own writing. Prereq: Engl. 131

Engl. 312-3. Technical Editing & Style.

Focuses on editing strategies for improving the stylistic features of professional writing. In particular, it is concerned with a document's organization, clarity, conciseness, consistency, completeness, and accuracy. Student practice a variety of techniques for applying these skills to their own writing. Prereq: Engl. 131 & Engl. 311 or instructor consent.

Engl. 313-3. Web and Print Document Design.

Concerned with procedures for designing, writing, editing, evaluating, and revising informational and instructional documents, both print and online. Students practice analyzing audience, designing text for readability, integrating graphics and media, testing usability, and presenting text and media in a package designed for a specific audience. Prereq: Engl. 131 & Engl. 307 or Engl. 309 or instructor consent.

Engl. 314-3. Managing Writing Projects for Business & Industry.

Provides a theoretical framework for managing writing projects; provides practice in working collaboratively in self-managed teams. Students work collaboratively on writing projects, participating as managers, writers, editors, and integrators of other media.  Prereq: Engl. 131 & Engl. 307 or Engl. 309 or instructor consent.

Engl. 315-1 to 3. Professional Writing Internship.

Gives students an opportunity to apply writing theory to a work environment and to gain practical experience of writing on the job. The student submits an internship contract and completes 40 hours to 120 hours of writing-related duties (40 hours for 1 credit, 80 hours for 2 credits, 120 hours for 3 credits) over the course of a semester for a participating organization. Interns are evaluated by a supervisor at the host organization and write a report to the course supervisor, summarizing their internship experience.   Prereq: Engl. 131 & at least 9 credits in Professional Writing coursework.

Engl. 316-3. Tools for Technical Writers.

Designed to provide students with experience in using FrameMaker, Adobe Acrobat, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, Frontpage, PaintShop Pro and other software tools critical to technical writers in print and online documentation. Students will build a writing portfolio of instructions for and reflections on the software tools they learn to use. Prereq: Engl. 131 & Engl. 307 or Engl. 309 or instructor consent.

Engl. 375-3. Grant and Proposal Writing.

IThis course introduces students to the rhetorical process of grant and proposal writing: identifying a problem, generating ideas to solve the problem, finding potential sponsors, analyzing requests for proposals, and planning, developing, and submitting the grant proposal itself.  Prereq: Engl. 131 & Engl. 307 or Engl. 309 or instructor consent.

Engl. 385-3. Advanced Topics in Professional Writing.

In this course, students intensively study selected topics in professional writing. Topics and instructors vary from semester to semester. Prereq: Engl. 131 & Engl. 307 or Engl. 309 or instructor consent.

Other Courses Applicable To The Program

Upon approval from the Program Director, 3 credits may be applied towards completion of the Program from among the following courses:

• CS 107-3      Principles of Computer Science
• VA 210-3       Introduction to Computer Art
• JOUR 290-3 Writing for the Media
• INFS 380-3   Web Development
• ENGL 480-3  Peer Tutoring

Students may not apply one of these courses both to the Program and to another requirement they may need to fulfill.