English

Eng 502: Advanced Technical Writing. Analysis and practice of skills used by professional technical writers: audience analysis, rhetorical strategy, document navigation and usability; treats both print and online documents.

Eng 503: Written Communication in Organizations. The influence of written communication on professionals in both government and the private sector; strategies for increasing the effectiveness of writing within an organizational context (not online).

Eng 517: Professional Editing. Editing both online and print documents. Topics include: comprehensive editing, Website navigation, visual design, copymarking, copyediting, electronic editing, grammar and punctuation.

Eng 522: Rhetoric and Writing in Professional Communities. Intensive study of written discourse typical of professional communities in education, business, industry, and government.

Eng 526: Advanced Professional Writing. This course studies the research and writing processes in both academic and professional settings. Topics include establishing a valid and useful problem for study; effective research design and method; data analysis; and effective writing of clear, concise, and publishable reports or manuscripts.

Eng 549: Information Design and Usability Testing. Document and Website design, layout, and navigation, and systematic processes for testing and evaluating these, especially Websites and online hypertext documents.

Eng 569: Project Management and Document Development. Study of and practice with the complex business and publishing processes through which both print documents and Websites are produced, both by individuals and by teams.

Eng 599: Contemporary Developments. Various topics. Recently the topic was academic entrepreneurship.

Eng 605: Proposal Writing. This course develops proposal strategy and writing processes through proposal design, development, revision, editing, and review processes, as practiced in the working worlds of business, industry, government, and education.

Eng 606: Issues in Technical and Professional Writing. Intensive analysis of a single topic in professional communications. Topics vary, such as ethics, gender, producing documents for non-native English speakers, writing for specific industries (computer, aerospace, environment).

Eng 608: Fieldwork Experience. Professional work focusing on writing, editing, or design for either print or Web format.

See Professor Rothfork's homepage for syllabi of most of these courses. 

To apply for the Certificate in Professional Writing complete the online Graduate School application.  Select “Search by Program” and select “Professional Writing Certificate” to navigate to the correct application page.  You can upload all materials directly on this online site.

Materials you will need to upload include are your:

• letter of application in which you explain your interest in earning the Certificate
• a current resume
• a writing sample of 4-6 pages (this can be a work-related document or an academic paper)

Apply for entry into the Certificate program before you complete nine graduate hours of course work.

Articulation with MA programs

• If you later decide to pursue an MA, you must apply for admission to the MA program. Even though the courses you take for the certificate program will count towards an MA in English or the Master of Administration, the Professional Writing Certificate program is a discrete program. You must make a separate application for each degree or certificate you hope to earn.
• When the above materials are received, your file will be reviewed by the faculty. If admitted to the program, you will be notified in writing.
• You must be admitted to the certificate program before registering for the last 9 hours of the certificate.

Your adviser will review your Program of Studies with you. Any changes in your program should be approved in advance by your adviser, who must also approve any Petition for Transfer of Credit.

Admission to the Professional Writing Certificate Program

Because students come to graduate programs with different academic and professional experiences, three different avenues for admission are considered.

• You must have an undergraduate degree with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. If you have done graduate work, it must average 3.0 or higher. Conditional admission will be considered for applicants with GPAs of 2.5 or higher;

Or

• You must have an undergraduate degree with the last 60 semester hours graded 3.0 or higher. If you have done graduate work, it must average 3.0 or higher;

Or

• As a non-degree student, you must complete 9 approved graduate hours from Northern Arizona University with a 3.3 or higher grade point average. Contact the English Department when you have completed 9 hours of approved coursework. Alternatively, you may send a letter to the English Department requesting a change of status from provisional to regular status.

The admission committee will use these criteria, along with a review of your letter, resume, and writing sample to determine admission.