Undergraduate Program in Professional Writing

Students who enjoy writing or editing can specialize in professional writing at the undergraduate level in order to qualify for future jobs with titles such as these:

  • Writer, Document Designer, Website Designer, Information Design Specialist, Documentation Specialist, Communications Specialist
  • Copywriter, Grant Writer, Medical Writing, Science Writer, etc.
  • Editor, Technical Editor, Editorial Assistant
  • Publisher
  • Journalist
  • Public Relations Specialist, Media Specialist
  • Usability Testing Specialist
  • Project Manager

At UWM, you can develop credentials for these jobs by majoring in English with a specialization in Track Option G in Professional Writing. Our undergraduate program in professional writing is quite versatile, letting you be in control of where your degree can take you. Here are just a few skills you will learn in our undergraduate program:

  • Writing
  • Document and Web site design
  • Editing, Technical Editing, and Book Publishing
  • Research (observations, interviews, surveys, storyboarding, focus group testing, usability testing)
  • Audience, rhetorical, contextual, and ethical analysis
  • Planning and project management
  • Oral presentation of ideas and projects
  • Technology (software, hardware, multimedia)

Another way to build credentials in professional writing is to double major in both English (with a Track G option) and another subject area of interest to you, or simply to take one or more courses in professional writing. The following courses are offered regularly for undergraduate students:

205 Business Writing
206 Technical Writing
207 Health Writing
214 Writing in the Professions [e.g., Writing in Criminal Justice, Legal Writing]
425 Advanced Business Writing
431 Topics in Advanced Writing
433 Creative Nonfiction
434 Editing and Publishing
435 Professional and Technical Writing [Can be offered as a U/G course]
436 Writing for Information Technology [Can be offered as a U/G course]
437 Project Management for Professional Writers
439 Document Design
443 Grant Writing
444 Technical Editing
448 Professional Writing Theory and Practice
449 Internship in English

If you have questions, contact Dr. Dave Clark, Coordinator of the Undergraduate Program in Professional Writing, at dclark@uwm.edu.

Follow these links for more information:
English Track G Major
College of Letters and Sciences Requirements
English Department Requirements
Schedule of Classes