This course is the required core course in the Master of Arts in Professional Writing (MAPW) program. It introduces students to the three program concentrations—applied writing, composition and rhetoric, and creative writing—by focusing on key issues, theories, and research methods specific to each field as well as those that cut across all three concentrations. The course provides the necessary foundation of knowledge, skills, and practice—through a variety of readings on contemporary issues and through discussion, critique, and application of research methodologies—for students to complete MAPW requirements and coursework within their concentration and support areas.

The study of writers describing their ways of writing and/or how others' writing has influenced writers. This course studies the works listed as influential and then examines the application of such influence in later texts. Readings will vary, but will include literature, drama, poetry, essays, journalism, and scientific and professional texts.

A study of the ways context, stylistic choices, and audience influence all areas of writing in action, whether in the workplace, on the Internet, in publishing, or in the classroom. Course will focus on the creation of specific texts, many by the students themselves, with attention to the rhetorical traditions behind all spoken and written acts.

The study of corporate communication, including written, visual, and online materials. Emphasis on writing for varied corporate purposes and business audiences.

The study and practice of business and technical editing in texts found in corporate, engineering, government, high-tech, and scientific settings, including reports, proposals, manuals, company newsletters, and Internet web pages. Editorial responsibilities for document development, copyediting, and proofreading will be explored. Practice of electronic editing and hard copy editing will be stressed.

Study and practice in public service writing--that is, writing for nonprofit and community organizations and government agencies on local, state, and federal levels. Students will learn rhetorical strategies, together with genre analysis and the study of ethics, that can be applied in producing a wide variety of public service documents. Students will learn how to analyze texts and contexts within an ethical framework and to develop approaches for producing public service documents, from grants and proposals for government funding to the many writing requirements of government agencies. The course will also focus on a study of organizational writers at work and the latest technology being implemented in public service writing.

The study of the concept of writing as a process and its implications for professional writers in various creative, workplace, and instructional situations. This course will focus on such questions as What happens when we write? Can the processes by which individuals shape written texts be observed, documented, and theorized? How does social context affect writing processes? How does understanding writing as process affect the teaching of writing?

The study of the principles and processes of news reporting and feature writing techniques, including editorial writing, promotional communications, and informative newspaper and magazine article writing.

The study and practice of professional and academic (trade, professional, educational, and scholarly) editing for magazines, journals, books, and textbooks. Editorial divisions of labor and approaches and responsibilities of editors, along with the introduction to text development, acquisition, and line editing.

Workshop course in the writing of fiction, poetry, and drama, with attention to using creative writing as a means of teaching composition skills.

Workshop course in the writing of fiction. Short stories and novellas may be studied. Small-group critique, one-to-one conferences, and peer revision techniques may be used

Workshop course in the writing of poetry. Study of traditional, free verse, haiku, and experimental forms by means of small-group critique, one-to-one conferences, and peer revision.

Workshop course in the writing of drama. Study and practice in writing monologues and dialogues, presenting stage directions, and the production of one-act and multi-act dramatic works.

Workshop course in writing for cinema, radio, and television. Study and practice in effective screenplay writing techniques, on-air report writing, on-screen news writing, and the principles of script writing, evaluation, and promotion will be examined.

An investigation into the theories and practices that have shaped writing instruction over the past thirty years. Students will examine student-centered instruction, writing process theories, current methods of assessment, technologies of writing, and other important advances in order to produce curricular design for high school and college writing classes.

Readings from and writing in creative or literary nonfiction, including the personal essay, biography, travel writing, the research essay, and the nonfiction novel. Attention to the history and development of the genre and its subdivisions and to the markets for its manuscripts.

Principles and practice in computer-aided publishing. Examine word processing and desktop publishing capabilities, develop graphic and text design experience, explore the skills needed to produce professional quality newsletters, brochures, reports, pamphlets, and books.

An overview of approaches for studying and shaping literacy in a range of social contexts, including workplaces, instructional settings, and the literary marketplace. This course will explore competing definitions of literacy and their implications for professional writers with students learning to use research about literacy to enhance their work as professional writers.

An introduction to the uses of computer technology in professional writing. Starting from communication modes such as email and online chat, the course explores Internet research methods, basic webpage design, virtual communities, and hypertext to study how technology is changing reading and writing processes in school, the workplace, and society at large.

The study of the theories and practices in the teaching writing to ESL writers. Emphasis will be placed on second language acquisition of writing skills and ESL composition techniques and principles for various ESL writing situations.

A study of the unprecedented growth of English on a global scale. Course will examine the current state of English in the world and the cultural/social factors that have given rise to a number of different varieties of English in the world. These varieties, attitudes towards them, and implications for various written media of communication will be explored.

The first half of the course will survey components that make up the literature field and introduce the student to the management concerns in selected components. The survey will inform the student about professional and organization infrastructures that support the literary arts in the United States and give the student theoretical and practical knowledge concerning arts management. The second half of the course will focus on the writer’s personal management. Grantsmanship and fellowship writing as well as submissions-and-publications procedures, literary promotions, and time management will be discussed.

Study and practice of techniques for appealing and effective web pages in writing for advertising, education, business and public service organizations, as well as political and charitable organizations. Topics will cover writing for the web by using basic and more complex software including hypertext markup language, constructing graphics and search boxes, multimedia implementation (such as adding streaming video and real audio), corporate intranet design, accessibility for disabled users, and international considerations.

A study of written communication across cultures. Course will use a case-studies format to explore principles for effectively communicating in English across different cultures. Topics will include document design for international audiences, rhetorically sensitive strategies, issues of translation and contrastive rhetoric. Students will be able to study a specific type of written communication in a specific region or regions of the world according to their interests and need.

Advanced workshop course in either fiction, poetry, play, literary nonfiction, or screen and television writing. Open only to students who have already reached a fairly high level of accomplishment in the genre.

1-6. Prerequisite: Admission to the MAPW program and permission of Graduate Program Director and/or faculty supervisor.

Guided and supervised practical experience in one concentration of the MAPW Program.

Exploration of a specifically designed topic.

An intensive, advanced investigation of selected topics deriving from individual course of study. The content will be determined jointly by the instructor, the student, and the student’s advisor. The proposed course of study must be submitted to the Graduate Director by a deadline published each term for MAPW Committee approval.

A project, accompanied by a rationale for its purpose and design, that involves electronic and/or print media and is relevant to the student's concentration in professional writing. After submitting an approved practicum proposal, the candidate works under the direction and advice of two faculty members to produce the project. The candidate must submit the practicum at least two weeks before either 1) a discussion about the practicum with the faculty committee, or 2) a public presentation about the project for an audience of faculty and peers. The candidate will consult with the practicum committee chair and committee member about which option to choose.

A collection of original writing samples that demonstrates the candidate's writing expertise. After they have approved a portfolio proposal, two faculty members evaluate and offer revision advice on portfolio materials. The candidate must revise and submit the portfolio at least two weeks prior to either 1) a discussion about the contents of the portfolio with the faculty committee, or 2) a public reading of a part of the portfolio for faculty and peers. The candidate will consult with the portfolio committee chair and committee member about which option to choose.

A critical investigation of writing theory, pedagogy or practice leading from work examined in the MAPW Program or a manuscript of creative work. After submitting an approved thesis proposal, the candidate works under the direction and advice of two faculty members to write, revise, and produce original research or previously unpublished creative work. The candidate must submit the thesis at least two weeks before either 1) a discussion about the thesis with the faculty committee, or 2) a public reading of a part of the thesis for an audience of faculty and peers. The candidate will consult with the thesis committee chair and committee member about which option to choose.