Hone your writing
When you choose a major in professional writing, you’ll stand out. Hone your writing skills, while learning more about the publishing industry and technical writing.
What to Expect
- Develop your knowledge in editing and presenting written work effectively.
- Hone your writing skills for business, science and industry, as well as fiction, poetry, playwriting and other creative genres.
- Apply your skills in internships or research projects as well as take advantage of publication and teaching opportunities.
Courses
The core curriculum gives students a solid base in the professional writing discipline, with classes on technical writing, grammar, style and editing, publishing and marketing and writing for visual media. Students can pick from a swath of electives — everything from creative, food and travel writing, to 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
Careers
More than 70% of employers are looking for strong writing skills in their new hires. 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
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.
