Professional Writing
Professional writing, one of the five majors offered in the ONU Department of English, offers a practical option for those interested in a career of English. This versatile major trains students to work as writers and editors in a variety of professional settings. Articulate writers are needed in public relations, advertising, editing, screenwriting, online writing, science writing, magazine writing, technical writing, publishing, cultural criticism and more. Students build a strong English foundation through a core curriculum of literature, language, critical thinking, rhetoric and writing. They polish their skills by working on departmental publications and completing the Senior Seminar capstone. In addition, professional writing majors are required to expand their career possibilities through a professional internship. Professional writing requires 59 credit hours in English, along with a secondary major, minor or concentration.
Distinctive Features:
- Professional experience through a required internship
- Opportunity to develop original work appropriate for publication in the Senior Seminar Capstone
- Training in desktop publishing software, including Adobe Photoshop and InDesign
- Participation in Sigma Tau Delta, an award-winning national,honor society that sponsors professional and social activities
- Exposure to cultural events and speakers through enrichment programs
- Study-abroad options
- Required secondary concentration allows students to customize their major to a future career
- Advanced seminars with intensive faculty mentoring
- Exposure to varied writing syles and formats, including business, legal and technical writing
- Computer classrooms, wireless classrooms and computer labs with print, and Web-publication software
