Graduate Certificate
The certificate program in Professional Writing is geared primarily toward working professionals who seek to extend their writing and publishing skills and to gain a more solid academic foundation for their current practices. The certificate can make working professionals more competitive in today’s job market by building upon their knowledge and introducing them to a wide variety of career opportunities.
The professional writing programs at UC are designed for flexibility. All graduate certificate has a small set of required fundamental courses. Beyond these, you can choose from a broad variety of classes and experiences that meet your interests and advance you toward your professional goals.
Classes are small, enabling lively dialogue and effective collaboration. You’ll also work closely with dedicated faculty who will give you the individualized attention you need to develop new skills, explore career opportunities, or advance in the profession you have already chosen. You will discover what kind of writing you want to do and how to do it well.
Finally, you will gain experiences that will give you an edge in the job market. Most graduate courses include real-world projects for local businesses and non-profit organizations. Internships and capstone experiences will enable you to build your resume and take charge of entire projects from concept to deliverables. You will gain a polished portfolio of project samples that reflect the realities of today’s shifting and expanding business world. You will be prepared to assume positions that demand highly developed communication skills.
Certificate students who decide to pursue Professional Writing track in the MA program may apply to complete that degree instead. If the application is accepted, all certificate hours will count toward the Master of Arts Program.