The Professional Writing major helps students prepare for careers that require precise writing skills and expertise in computer-based document design and production. The major includes a series of specialized writing courses, an individually-tailored set of support courses, and a solid humanities foundations.

Because employers want people with strong communication skills, especially writing, the Professional Writing major provides students with a flexible program of study. Students can explore the practice of writing in a variety of professional contexts, including technical writing, grant writing, businesss correspondence, writing for electronic media, report and critical writing. Students may also incorporate courses which build their abilities as creative writers, while retaining a professional focus.

Majors will also benefit from a strong core of classes chosen out of the disciplines which make up the Humanities--art, linguistics, literature, music, philosophy, and theatre. By exposing students to the wealth and variety of human thought and expression offered by the humanities tradition, the Professional Writing major helps students develop the critical and creative writing skills essential to real-world problem-solving. With a strong humanities foundation, students not only learn to write with clarity and precision but also with reflection, sensitivity, and intelligence, giving them a key competitive edge in a diverse global economy.

In addition, with careful planning, students can combine major program components in Creative Writing, Professional Writing, and Literature into dual majors, building their own, tailor-made educations. All of these Humanities programs provide excellent preparation as well for graduate study or law school.

Professional Writing Curriculum
Credit Distribution
Bachelor of Arts

Career Component		Credit Hours
WRT 260	Professional Writing I: Persuasion and Promotion	3
WRT 320	Introduction to Critical Theory	3
WRT 360	Professional Writing II: Products and Processes	3
WRT 420	Publication Workshop	3
WRT 477	Writing Field Experience	3
1LIT (Any)	Literatue Elective	6
1(300 or 400 level)	Literature Electives	6
MCO (Any) or MMS (Any)	Media/Communications Electives Multimedia Studies Electives	9
WRT 250 or Above	Writing 250 or Above	3
	Minimum Career Credit Hours	36
1Note: LIT 350, LIT 400, LIT 410, LIT 416, LIT 450 may be taken more than once under different subject headings.

Humanities Component
FRE 101 or SPA 101	Elementary French I or Elementary Spanish I	3
FRE 102 or SPA 102	Elementary French II or Elementary Spanish II	3
HUM 300	Literature and the Arts	3
SPE 130	Fundamentals of Public Speaking	3
WRT 175	College Writing II	3
WRT 200	Analytical Writing	3
Choose three courses from the following: ART, HUM, LNG, LIT, MUS, PHI, SPE, THE		9
(300 or 400 level) Choose two courses from the following: ART, HUM, LNG, LIT, MUS, PHI, SPE, THE		6
	Minimum Humanities Credit Hours	33

Social Sciences Component
Choose two courses from the folloiwng: APY, ECO, GEO, HIS, POL, PSY, SOC		6
(300 or 400 level) Choose one course from the following: APY, ECO, GEO, HIS, POL, PSY, SOC		3
	Minimum Social Sciences Credit Hours	9

Mathematics/Science Component
MAT 114 or Above	Mathematics 114 or Above	3
MAT 201	Statistics and Society	3
Science Elective (May include any BIO, CHE, PHY course)		3
	Minimum Mathematics/Science Credit Hours	9

General Education Component
*GEN 110	Ideas and Experience: Introduction to Critical Thought and Expression	3
GEN 220	Colonial N. America: Case Study in Cultural Interaction	3
GEN 230	Creative Expression	3
GEN 240	Scientific Discovery	3
GEN 410	Baccalaureate Capstone I	3
GEN 411	Baccalaureate Capstone II	3
	Minimum General Education Credit Hours	18

Free Elective Component (May include any college course)

15

TOTAL

120

 

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Medaille College, 18 Agassiz Circle, Buffalo, NY 14214

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email: Academic Affairs