Certificate in Professional Writing : Electives

With the approval of the Program Director, you may select 12 units of electives toward the Advanced Certificate.

Electives in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing Studies include:

RWS 501: Editing
What does an editor do? How is a document assessed and prepared for publication? This class prepares students for basic professional editing.
The functions of an editor are explored, as well as document design and development, style and style guides. Students learn how to effectively use editing tools and technologies in appropriate ways, as applicable to a variety of documents. Effective methods for working with writers efficiently and effectively are addressed and analyzed. By the end of the semester, students become adept at applying a systematic approach to preparing a text for publication and production.
RWS 507: Professional Communications in Nonprofit Organizations
This course is unique in its specific orientation to the non-profit field. Non-profits encompass a wide range of focuses, but they all require specific knowledge and skills in regard to their extensive communications needs.
The class addresses the special technical communication skills that employment in the non-profit sector demands. All aspects of non-profit documentation are included, such as proposals, mission statements, advertising, member surveys, and capital campaigns.

Other features of the non-profit field that are addressed are the promotion of volunteerism, interacting with non-profit boards, and adherence to state and federal regulations. The course covers specific technical communication skills for nonprofit organizations, types of nonprofit documentation, the promotion of volunteerism, interaction with nonprofit boards, adherence to regulations, and other topics.
RWS 508: Scientific Writing
RWS 508 develops the writing skills necessary for scientific amd medical research and communication. It introduces the scientific documentation process and covers adherence to standards and regulations. It is intended for majors in the sciences and professional scientific writers. Documentation covered includes the research article, research proposal, case report, review, abstract, and promotional material.
RWS 511 Literacy, Rhetoric and Technology
RWS 506 Writing Internship