Professional Writing
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On Campus
Write to Make a Difference
Professional Writing focuses on writing effectively for a range of careers, communities, and contexts. Engage with writing as action, learning to write in impactful, culturally responsive, and audience-centered ways. Write in print and digital genres, participate in community projects, explore leading-edge technologies, and develop nuanced approaches to the art of writing.
Contact Info
Get in TouchCurriculum and Courses
In this 36-credit major, you have the flexibility to tailor coursework to your interests. Choose from tracks in Digital & Technical Communication, Publishing in Professional Contexts, Public Writing & Rhetoric, and Intercultural Writing & Rhetoric. Course options include (and this is a partial list):
- Business Writing (BUS 284, ENG 315, ENG 407)
- Legal Writing (ENG 316)
- Grant Writing (ENG 413)
- Print & Digital Editing (ENG 216, ENG 412)
- eBook Publishing (ENG 426)
- Writing for Global Audiences (ENG 416)
- Writing for Healthcare (ENG 310B)
- Technical Writing (ENG 313)
- Environmental Communication (ENG 429)
- Usability & User-Experience Research (ENG 414)
- Digital Rhetoric & Social Media (ENG 224)
- Design & Data Visualization (ENG 222, ENG 285, ENG 411)
- Cultural Rhetoric (ENG 223, ENG 310J)
- Community Writing (ENG 415, create print & digital media for local organizations)
At Miami, there’s something for everyone
Course CatalogCareer Options
Professional Writing graduates enter a variety of fields, such as corporate and non-profit communications, advertising, social media, editing and publishing, education, healthcare, law, media, and technology. Our graduates work as copywriters, freelance writers, grant writers, content strategists, technical writers, editors, consultants, social media marketers, lawyers, teachers, librarians, UX designers, and more. Writing is a top-5 skill sought by employers according to the 2023 Job Outlook Survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Testimonials
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I am proud that in my senior year I worked with local organizations in two classes, helping them while also learning so much about working with a client. I’ve mentioned these project many times during the interview process, and I firmly believe these real-world experiences were one of the reasons I have my job upon graduation.
Alex Arend (’23)
Staffing Consultant, Beacon Hill Technologies
Testimonials
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My experience as a Professional Writing major prepared me for the variety of writing that the legal field requires. Understanding your audience is a foundational aspect of rhetoric, and the major helped me hone in on that skill early.
Michael Heavilon (’15)
Associate Attorney at DeFur Foran LLP
Facts and Stats
Your college experience here will be one of the most exciting times of your life. To make sure of this, we’ll provide you with a powerful support system.
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90%
First-to-second year retention
Miami University Data
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21st
Among Public Universities in the United States for Four-Year Graduation Rate
The Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac
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96%
of 2018-2019 graduates who were employed or furthering their education by fall 2019
Miami University Data
Testimonials
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So much of client work is rooted in being able to sell your ideas (not just produce them) which is why I chose to double major in Professional Writing. I learned rhetorical strategies that strengthened my ability to pitch myself and my ideas.
Allison Gnaegy (’15)
Vice President for Social Media, Spectrum Science
This is Where Your Journey to Miami University Begins.
Explore what it means to be a college student at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where students prepare to go anywhere and everywhere. We’ll be here to help every step of the way as you prepare for college admission, enrollment, and success.
Related Programs
Miami students are an eclectic mix of thinkers, doers, leaders and followers, introverts and extroverts, authors, painters, climbers, coders, pianists, philanthropists, and gamers. Just to name a few.
