Course Requirements

The professional writing minor requires 18 credit hours, distributed as seen below. In parentheses, please note the semesters in which each course is typically offered. When registering for courses, students should confirm this tentative schedule with the professional writing minor coordinator to ensure course availability.

Required Foundations Course (3 credits)

English 2005: Writing in Technology and the Sciences. (Fall/Spring)

OR

English 2035: Writing for Public Forums (Fall/Spring)

Program Courses (6 total credits)

Students in the minor take two of the following courses:

English 4010:  Technical Writing in the Professions (Fall/Spring/Summer)

English 4020:  Editing for Publications (Spring)

English 4025:  Writing for the Web (Fall)

English 4050:  Writer's Workshop: Magazine Writing (Fall)

English 4075:  Writing for Non-Profits (Fall/Spring)

English 4970:  Writing Internship (Fall/Spring/Summer)

Elective Courses (6 total credits)

The minor requires 6 credits of elective courses. The list includes some examples of courses that students have used in the past or that would otherwise serve as suitable electives for the minor. This list is not comprehensive. Elective courses should be writing intensive courses that align with students' professional objectives and should be chosen in consultation with the professional writing minor coordinator. 

NOTE: Students may also select additional Program Courses from the list above to fulfill the Elective requirement.

Sample Course Electives

AGEC 3400: Agricultural Law

ACCT 4600: Ethics and Professionalism (WC)

EDST 3000: Teacher as Practitioner (WB)

ESS 3480: Environmental Change (WB)

FCSC 4127: Directing Preschool and Daycare Programs (WC)

GEOG 4051: Environmental Politics (WC)

NURS 4250: Leadership in Nursing

Required Capstone Course (3 credits)

English 4000: 21^st Century Issues in Professional Writing (Spring)

---

Check the current detailed course descriptions. All courses in the minor must be completed with a C or better. For more information about course listings or to set up an advising appointment about the professional writing minor, contact Michael Knievel at mknievel@uwyo.edu.

Mission Statement

The Professional Writing Minor introduces students to the compositional processes and rhetorical situations surrounding texts that do work in the world—the print and digital texts that enable communication in contemporary professional and societal settings. The minor is designed to complement students' work in any major while also providing a strong introduction to professional writing theory and practice as it applies to a wide range of writing-focused careers.

Our goal as a program is to prepare students to be conscientious communicators who are able to critically, capably, and ethically engage public and professional writing tasks. To do this, the minor connects liberal arts training to the demands of professional and non-profit worlds, emphasizing a strong foundation in rhetoric and research and an understanding of ethics and design in multimedia communications. We strive to create opportunities for students to gain both academic and real-world experience in a range of communicative contexts featuring diverse audiences and purposes.

Learning Objectives

Through their coursework, Professional Writing Minor students will learn how to think through the complexities of writing professional documents, including researching, writing, designing, and distributing effective professional discourse. Students who minor in professional writing will:

1. Write and edit professional-quality documents for diverse forums and audiences.

2. Analyze and apply the writing conventions of various discourse communities and genres.

3. Develop a broad repertoire of research skills needed for a wide range of writing projects.

4. Refine knowledge of grammar, usage, and stylistic choices.

5. Sharpen understandings of visual elements of document design.

6. Polish oral presentation and communication skills, including the ability to work collaboratively.

7. Acquire experience with the technologies used for professional writing.

For more information, contact Michael Knievel at mknievel@uwyo.edu.