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Rhetoric and Professional Writing, Undergraduate Certificate

Coursework covers such topics as rhetorical techniques, persuasive strategies, writing for specific disciplines/social venues, and recognizing rhetorical tactics in the writing of others.

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Requirements Accordion Open

  • To receive an undergraduate certificate (at least 15 units) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject matter areas with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.
     

    Federal financial aid is not available for some certificates if the certificate is pursued and completed as a stand-alone certificate (i.e., not completed concurrently with a degree program). See the "Details" tab for additional information.

Overview Accordion Closed

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion15
Major GPA3.0

Purpose Statement

The Certificate in Rhetoric and Professional Writing emphasizes the importance of critical reading, reflection, writing, digital media, and spoken language to educate knowledgeable citizens who understand and appreciate their civic, professional, and personal responsibilities in an increasingly global community. Certificate courses prepare students for intercultural and interdisciplinary communication practices in digital and traditional work and community settings. Students gain experience with rhetorical theory and persuasive argumentation, global communication practices, social media literacy, digital literacies and multimedia writing, and professional and public discourse conventions through theory-based application projects. Certificate courses provide students from all disciplines with excellent foundations for workplace writing as well as for graduate programs in rhetoric, writing, digital media, communication, and composition studies.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who receive an undergraduate certificate in Rhetoric and Professional Writing will work with text, images, and/or media to:

  • Develop a systematic understanding of how arguments function in particular contexts and of the ethical dilemmas involved in persuasion and communication, building on historical and contemporary rhetoric and composition theory sources.
  • Evaluate and investigate how societal, historical, and economic factors influence literacy and communication practices across global communication efforts.
  • Analyze and apply processes for writing, designing, and communicating via text, image, and/or visual media to effectively negotiate academic, professional environments.
  • Organize sentences, choose words, and orally deliver arguments in ways that demonstrate understanding of the rhetorical significance of phrases and sentences.
  • Research, evaluate, and incorporate multiple information resources, use appropriate citations in a paper or project, and question current norms and dominant cultural assumptions expressed in text and digital media.
  • Apply research on significant issues related to global learning, diversity, and sustainable educational and environmental practices to textual and digital projects.
  • Demonstrate the depth and breadth of knowledge acquired in discipline-based and liberal studies coursework by identifying, analyzing, and engaging in important local, national, and global discussions from multiple interdisciplinary viewpoints, with an understanding of the interdependence of civic, political, economic, environmental, and/or social systems.

Details Accordion Closed

Certificate Requirements
  • Take the following 15 units with a cumulative GPA of 3.0:

    • A maximum of 6 units of lower-division coursework may count toward this certificate.
      • Select two courses from: ENG 110, ENG 118, ENG 120, ENG 210, ENG 211, ENG 218 (6 units)
    • A minimum of 9 units of upper-division work must count toward this certificate.
      • Select three courses from: ENG 302W, ENG 305W, ENG 310W, ENG 313W, ENG 410C, ENG 411C (9 units)
  • English Education majors may only use 6 units from the major toward this certificate.

  • This certificate may only be pursued and completed concurrently with a degree program. This certificate is not available as a stand-alone certificate.

  • Students enrolled in this certificate may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

    • English, BA
    • English, Minor
Additional Information
  • Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

Availability Accordion Closed

  • Flagstaff

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Nancy Guerra Barron
Professor
Department of English
Nancy.Barron@nau.edu
+1 928 523-0456
Liberal Arts , room 126
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Laura A Gray-Rosendale
Professor
Department of English
Laura.Gray-Rosendale@nau.edu
+1 928 523-0956
Liberal Arts , room 106
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Sibylle Gruber
Professor
Department of English
Sibylle.Gruber@nau.edu
+1 928 523-8369
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Kim Hensley Owens
Professor
Department of English
Kim.HensleyOwens@nau.edu
+1 928 523-6745
Liberal Arts , room 102
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Alana Marta Kuhlman
Associate Teaching Professor
Interdisciplinary Writing Program
Part-Time Faculty
Undergraduate Research
Alana.Kuhlman@nau.edu
Riles , room 308
The Undergraduate Certificate in Rhetoric, Writing, and Digital Media Studies emphasizes the importance of critical reading, reflection, writing, digital media, and spoken language to educate knowledgeable citizens who understand and appreciate their civic, professional, and personal responsibilities in an increasingly global community. Certificate courses prepare students for intercultural and interdisciplinary communication practices in digital and traditional work settings. Students gain experience with rhetorical theory and persuasive argumentation, global communication practices, social media literacy and multimedia writing, and professional and public discourse conventions through theory-based application projects. Overall, certificate courses provide a foundation for workplace writing and MA programs in rhetoric, writing, digital media, communication, and composition studies. 

Certificate availability

The certificate in RWDMS is available to non-English majors at the Flagstaff Mountain Campus. English majors can receive an RWDMS emphasis.

Length of program

Students enroll in the certificate program as part of their undergraduate careers at NAU.

Employment after graduation

Students completing our undergraduate RWDMS certificate program use their certification for career advancement opportunities in their fields of study and in a variety of areas:
  • technical and professional writer
  • grant and proposal writer
  • science writer
  • editor
  • publishing assistant
  • social media writers
  • communication specialist
  • advertising and marketing specialist
  • academic advisor
  • study abroad program coordinator
Learn more about our faculty (https://rhetoricwritingdigitalmedia.wordpress.com/faculty-comments/) and keep up with program-related events (https://rhetoricwritingdigitalmedia.wordpress.com/blog/).
Department of English
Location
Room 140 Building 18
Liberal Arts
705 S. Beaver Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6032
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 6032
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6032
Email
english@nau.edu
Phone
928-523-4911