Plan of Study – Professional and Technical Writing **

Note: A Semester Hour (s.h.) is a unit of academic credit representing an hour of class (such as lecture class) or three hours of laboratory work each week for an academic semester. Most courses are two, three or four semester hours.

Professional and Technical Writing Post-Bac: Cert Comp | Professional and Technical Writing: Minor

Professional and Technical Writing Post-Bac: Certificate of Completion

Certificate Courses (Minimum of 20-24 semester hours required.)

JRN 4010 Mass Communication (BCA/COM/JRN*) (3 s.h.)

Theory of behavior in communications in general and the mass media in particular. The design and evaluation of public opinion studies and research topics in communications with emphasis on the effects that the various media have had on consumers.

JRN 2050/JRN 2860 Option (Choose from: JRN 2050 or JRN 2860.)

JRN 2050 Public Relations Writing (3 s.h.)

Acquaints student with functions of public relations in our society and explains basic theories and principles in publicity writing and placement.

JRN 2860 Editorial Writing and Feature Writing (3 s.h.)

Study of feature and opinion writing strategies; principles and ethics for print and digital media; the means of persuasion; nature, structure, and function of editorial and opinion articles. Prerequisite: JRN 1320 or departmental approval.

JRN 3570 Editing and Design (3 s.h.)

Principles of editing, headline writing, page design, use of graphics in print and digital publications. May include an academic service-learning experience. Prerequisite: JRN 1320 or departmental approval.

WRT 2440 Technical Writing (3 s.h.)

Theory and application of technical writing principles. Topics include an introduction to the technical communication environment, ethical and legal considerations, the basics of writing and analyzing technical documents, collaborative writing, and design principles for documents and Web sites. Students create a variety of technical documents for inclusion in their final e-portfolios. Prerequisite: WRT 1020 or equivalent.

WRT 3440 Advanced Technical Writing (3 s.h.)

Continued study and application of technical writing principles. Topics include communicating persuasively, designing documents and Web sites, using graphics, evaluating and testing documents and Web sites, and learning key applications for creating a variety of technical documents. Introduction to technical communication software. Students create a variety of technical documents for inclusion in their final e-portfolios. Prerequisite: WRT 2440 or equivalent.

Electives (Minimum of 5-9 semester hours required. Choose from: AGE 4010, BCA 3030*, JRN 2050, JRN 2860, MIS 2850, WRT 1320, WRT 3260, WRT 3490, and WRT 4750. *BCA/JRN 3030 requires a prerequisite of BCA/COM/JRN 2610, Television Production I, 3 s.h.)

AGE 4040 Proposal Writing and Grant Administration (AGE*/EM/SOC/SW) (3 s.h.)

Students learn about the role of grants in agency funding and develop the basic skills needed to write a successful proposal to compete for funds from outside sources. Topics include: generating program ideas, researching funding sources; establishing and maintaining collaborative partnerships; proposal planning and development; and the establishing and analyzing program metrics, administration, reporting, and accounting for funds and program deliverables.

BCA 3030 Writing for Radio, TV, and Film (BCA*/JRN) (3 s.h.)

Theory and practice of writing scripts for radio, television, and film. Introduction to the techniques of storytelling, storyboarding, production tracking, and budgeting. Prerequisite: BCA 2610.

JRN 2050 Public Relations Writing (3 s.h.)

Acquaints student with functions of public relations in our society and explains basic theories and principles in publicity writing and placement.

JRN 2860 Editorial Writing and Feature Writing (3 s.h.)

MIS 2850 Web Design for Business Applications (3 s.h.)

Study of the evolution, design, and development of Internet web sites. An introduction to HTML coding and the use of GUI software for the development and maintenance of web sites and web pages. Investigation and determination of what constitutes an acceptable web site.

JRN 1320 News Reporting (JRN*/WRT) (3 s.h.)

Organization of the modern news organization; news values and news sources; structure of the news story; practical training in gathering and writing news stories for print and digital distribution.

WRT 3260 Business and Professional Writing (BUS/WRT*) (3 s.h.)

A study of the strategies and stylistic devices which lead to clear, concise, and complete business writing. Various types of business letters, memoranda, proposals, and reports are examined and developed. Prerequisite: WRT 1020.

WRT 3490 Publication Software for Technical Writers (3 s.h.)

In-depth learning in the use of technical communication software with multi-channel, multi-device publishing capabilities: developing standards-compliant content, publishing this content in various formats, working collaboratively on writing projects, incorporating images, and adding demos and simulations. Students create a variety of technical documents, using principles and strategies learned in the technical writing course sequence, for inclusion in their final e-portfolios. Prerequisite: WRT 3440.

WRT 4750 Topics in Writing (1 s.h. (Not To Exceed 4 s.h.))

Advanced writing experience focusing on a single genre. Includes writing experience, the study of professional texts, participation in small-group writing workshops, and individual conferences with instructor. May be repeated in new topic for credit. Prerequisite: WRT 2050 or departmental approval.

Professional and Technical Writing: Minor

Minor Courses (Minimum of 24-27 semester hours required.)

JRN 4010 Mass Communication (BCA/COM/JRN*) (3 s.h.)

JRN 2050/2860 Option (Choose from: JRN 2050 or JRN 2860.)

JRN 2050 Public Relations Writing (3 s.h.)

Acquaints student with functions of public relations in our society and explains basic theories and principles in publicity writing and placement.

JRN 2860 Editorial Writing and Feature Writing (3 s.h.)

JRN 3570 Editing and Design (3 s.h.)

WRT 2440 Technical Writing (3 s.h.)

WRT 3440 Advanced Technical Writing (3 s.h.)

WRT 3490 Publication Software for Technical Writers (3 s.h.)

Minor electives (Minimum of 6-9 semester hours required. Choose from: AGE 4040, BCA 1010, BCA 3030*, COM 2140, ENG 2620, ENG 2700, JRN 2050, JRN 2860, MIS 2850, WRT 1320, WRT 2050, WRT 3100, WRT 3260, WRT 4750, WRT 4910, WRT 4930, and WRT 4950. *BCA/JRN 3030 requires a prerequisite of BCA/COM/

AGE 4040 Proposal Writing and Grant Administration (AGE*/EM/SOC/SW) (3 s.h.)

BCA 1010 Survey of Broadcast, Film, and Digital Media (BCA*/JRN) (3 s.h.)

An overview of the telecommunications industry, its technical and economic nature, and its consideration as both a product of social forces and as a social force itself.

BCA 3030 Writing for Radio, TV, and Film (BCA*/JRN) (3 s.h.)

Theory and practice of writing scripts for radio, television, and film. Introduction to the techniques of storytelling, storyboarding, production tracking, and budgeting. Prerequisite: BCA 2610.

COM 2140 Argumentation and Persuasion (3 s.h.)

The study of argument as a process of inquiry and advocacy and the communicative means to change attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, as well as motivate people to action. Practical experience in: evidence, analysis and reasoning; organization and case-building; refutation and cross-examination; and audience analysis. Students apply theory to a variety of topics and contexts.

ENG 2620 Language and Culture (3 s.h.)

A study of how and why people communicate in the ways they do. Habitual talking, listening, and writing behaviors of individuals and groups, as well as the influences of home, community, and culture on the language structures and language uses of individuals. Culture, as it influences linguistic preference, is considered, along with methods of semiotic and discursal analysis.

ENG 2700 Critical Writing and Literary Analysis (3 s.h.)

An introduction to critical writing and literary theory and criticism. Addresses the major frameworks of literary criticism that have emerged in Western critical theory. Prerequisite: WRT 1020. Recommended during second year in major and minor.

JRN 2050 Public Relations Writing (3 s.h.)

Acquaints student with functions of public relations in our society and explains basic theories and principles in publicity writing and placement.

JRN 2860 Editorial Writing and Feature Writing (3 s.h.)

MIS 2850 Web Design for Business Applications (3 s.h.)

JRN 1320 News Reporting (JRN*/WRT) (3 s.h.)

Organization of the modern news organization; news values and news sources; structure of the news story; practical training in gathering and writing news stories for print and digital distribution.

WRT 2050 Creative Writing (3 s.h.)

Writing and study of poetry, fiction, and plays at an introductory level. Includes discussion, writers’ workshops, and regular conferences with the instructor. Students contribute to the production of a class electronic publication. Prerequisite: WRT 1020.

WRT 3100 Advanced Composition (3 s.h.)

Advanced study and application of the rhetorical elements of invention, form, and style in nonfiction writing. Emphasis on strategy and style in appealing to a variety of audiences. Class meetings include writers’ workshop format. Prerequisite: WRT 1020.

WRT 3260 Business and Professional Writing (BUS/WRT*) (3 s.h.)

WRT 4750 Topics in Writing (1 s.h. (Not To Exceed 4 s.h.))

WRT 4910 Cooperative Education in Writing (1 s.h. (Not To Exceed 3 s.h.))

On-campus or on-the-job experience (paid) with professional writing assignments. Includes bi-monthly discussion of co-op experiences with peers and regularly scheduled consultations with the instructor. Prerequisite: WRT 3440.

WRT 4930 Writing Practicum (3 s.h.)

On-campus or on-the-job experience (unpaid) with professional writing assignments. Includes bi-monthly discussion of co-op experiences with peers and regularly scheduled consultations with the instructor. Prerequisite: WRT 3440.

WRT 4950 Senior Seminar: Writing for Publication (3 s.h.)

Advanced course in freelance and literary writing for authors working on all types of manuscripts: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. A guided but individualized study of the student’s chosen literary form. Includes advanced study of effective writing techniques, marketing information, and strategies for publication. Must be taken in final twenty hours of the degree program.