Professional and Technical Writing Minor

In the Professional and Technical Writing Minor, we approach writing with a fundamental belief that effective communication is accessible to its intended audience and that writers have a responsibility to their audiences to communicate ethically. The program is a vibrant hub for writers from all degree paths to develop innovative written communication using a variety of technologies. Students in the program study all kinds of writing: from push notifications, to political speeches, to signs in your doctor’s office, to legal briefs, to business memos, to science reports on the importance of vaccines, to the online argument about those same vaccines. Students gain real-world experiences composing in digital and print environments and prepare to thrive in a wide range of professional opportunities in industry, nonprofit, and public
sectors.

A minor in Professional and Technical Writing will complete a minimum of 19 units of coursework, at least 6 units of which must be at the upper-division (300-400) level.

Student Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to

1. Identify effective document design and practices of ethical use of technology based on principles of audience-based composing.
2. Apply writing conventions, norms, and expectations to the social constructs of discourse communities.
3. Examine accessibility and responsibility in writing as integral parts of social justice activism within professional environments and community organizations.
4. Design an accessible and professional writing portfolio for a public audience that embodies a professional ethos founded upon equity.