School of Humanities
Professional Writing and Public Discourse
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Professional Writing and Public Discourse (PWPD) Concentration
Mission
The Professional Writing and Public Discourse (PWPD) concentration provides English majors and minors with the opportunity to explore and focus on effective and ethical communication in a wide range of situations. Students will study, research, and analyze professional and public contexts. Additionally, students will create and use professional, public, and digital genres that will help develop written, oral, and visual communication skills. Students can expect to gain knowledge and experience in project management and collaboration; audience and genre awareness; ethical communication; textual, digital, and multimodal design; usability and accessibility; and editing. The PWPD concentration is designed to help students succeed in their disciplines and future professions.
Courses
The PWPD concentration allows students to choose courses they feel are appropriate for their academic and career goals. Students should consult with their academic advisors before enrolling. Students have the opportunity to choose from the following courses:
- English 301: Advanced Grammar (3 hrs)
- English 332: Advanced Composition (3 hrs)
- English 333: Technical Writing (3 hrs)
- English 335: Collaborative Learning and Tutoring Writing (3 hrs)
- English 365: Digital Literacies (3 hrs)
- English 430: Advanced Professional and Technical Writing Genres and Topics (3 hrs)
- English 432: Special Topics in Public Writing and Rhetoric (3 hrs)
Careers
Copywriter |
Scientific Technical Writer |
Grant Writer |
Blogger |
Freelance Writer |
Print Editor |
Communications Specialist |
Public Relations Manager |
Marketing Manager |
Brand Manager |
Lawyer or Paralegal |
Policy Analyst |
Political Strategist |
Healthcare Communications |
Non-profit Administrator |
Contact
For questions about the PWPD concentration, please contact Ms. Amy Carey, Composition Program Coordinator and Instructor of English at amy.carey@usm.edu.