Like all English majors, students concentrating in professional writing are sharp critical and creative thinkers. As a professional writing student, you’ll hone your writing skills and learn to adapt to the changing demands of the marketplace, preparing for a career in a variety of fields, including marketing; public relations; print, broadcast and electronic media; technical writing; editing and publishing; creative writing and consulting; and work with non-profit and government agencies. Professional writing students also have the option to take several creative writing workshops throughout their program, focusing on fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama.

Program Requirements

To complete this Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree program, a total of 42 hours is required, including a minor, second major, or other approved program and general electives. Students must take at least 32 hours at the junior-senior level at WCU to satisfy general university degree requirements.

• Eight-Semester Plan for B.A. in English, Professional Writing Concentration
• Factsheet on Professional Writing

Foreign Language Requirements: 6 hours minimum
MFL 231-232; or MFL 240

The major requires 34 hours as follows:
16 hour core: ENGL 200, 302, 303, and 389 or 483. Two of the following:  ENGL 240, 241 or 242.
12 hours selected from: ENGL 304**, 305, 306*, 307**, 308*, 309*, 313**, 401, 405, 412, 493 or MPTP 310.
6 hours of English electives, taken at the junior/senior (3xx/4xx) level.

*ENGL 302 Prerequisite for ENGL 306, 308 and 309.
**ENGL 303 Prerequisite for ENGL 304, 307 and 313.
 
Contact Information

For more information about the Professional Writing concentration, contact program director Deidre Elliott.