Professional Writing Undergraduate Certificate online

This course will help students develop knowledge of and capability in various approaches to business writing contexts, as well as the forms and styles of business writing. Students will study and produce different products typical in business writing, including such items as reports, letters, proposals, and analyses. This is a writing intensive course.

Writing, Rhetoric, and Communication in a Digital Age explores the dynamic and multifaceted nature of how we communicate in a rapidly changing world. This course focuses on developing the ability to critically analyze communication practices, cultural contexts, strategies, and principles across written, visual, digital, and oral modes. We will delve into how these diverse forms of discourse-from persuasive speeches and essays to social media campaigns-construct knowledge and shape our understanding of the world. We will examine different communication forms and analyze their effectiveness across different contexts, modes, and media, understanding how audiences engage with messages in various settings. Through practical application and critical analysis, the course will demonstrate effective expression, engaging with audiences through different modes of communication (verbal and nonverbal). This includes understanding the art of persuasive speaking, crafting compelling written arguments, and designing impactful visual and digital content. We will explore contemporary theories and practices of rhetoric and communication, with a focus on academic, civic, and professional discourse.

Media writing is a course designed to introduce students to the forms, limitations and potentials of writing for and about the various media, including writing for radio, television, film, and print journalism.

The course examines styles, techniques and strategies for writing and producing content for online and traditional audiences. Students explore the differences between writing for online versus traditional linear forms. Students will gain an understanding of how to research, plan, write, and develop content effectively for a variety of online and traditional platforms and strategic purposes including: online news and lifestyle media, blogs, corporate web sites, advertising, public relations, marketing and social media. Prerequisite(s): COMM 2100

Intensive work on the elements of successful technical writing through such forms as the expanded definition, instructions, the informative abstract, and the long technical report. This course is both writing and technology intensive.

Develops skills in the basic techniques of editing books and magazines. Designed for those interested in a publishing career and for the general reader and writer. Prerequisite(s): ENG 1500

The study of the contemporary American English sentence in its historical and sociolinguistic contexts, with attention to the structure of the sentence, editing problems for writers, the role of Standard English, and variation for stylistic effect. Prerequisite(s): ENG 1100

This course focuses on designing and creating content for digital spaces. Students will learn to analyze and to write, both individually and collaboratively, in digital genres for various audiences. Students will explore methods of writing and editing for online publication, from site architecture analysis and design strategies to content development and line editing. Students will understand how the arrangement of content and the choice of digital genre impact writing effectiveness, and they will learn to use editing strategies and tools employed by professional writers in a wide range of digital situations. This course is UCC Writing Intensive and UCC Technology Intensive.