University of Pittsburgh

Certificates Writing for the Professions: Undergraduate In today's business climate, employees have discovered that the ability to research, organize, and write various kinds of documents is a critical component of many positions, including those that are primarily technical in nature. Organizations expect employees to communicate clearly and effectively with both colleagues and nonexpert stakeholders. This 18-credit certificate provides participants with a strong foundation for developing these vital writing skills. You will learn techniques that are critical for producing clearly written documents "“ critiquing, analyzing, and researching "“ as well as the practical applications that build on this groundwork. Who should participate:

Individuals for whom writing will be a major component of their job responsibilities, e.g., broadcasters, legal professionals, or reporters

Upon completion of this certificate, participants will be able to:

Identify and analyze audience traits and perspectives
Determine a specific goal and/or purpose of a document, then organize and develop clearly written prose in support of that purpose
Apply concentrated knowledge of a specialized communication topic

This certificate is applicable to such fields as:
print and online writing professions, health professions, nonprofit organizations.

Admission requirements Students must meet requirements for admission to the College of General Studies. For admissions guidelines and application, click here . A certificate application form must be completed and returned to a Learning Solutions/College of General Studies academic advisor. To avoid a late fee, you should complete this process when registering for courses. Fees and Tuition

If employed, check with your company's human resources office to see if you qualify for company tuition benefits. Current tuition rates are available at http://www.ir.pitt.edu/tuition/ . Financial Aid information is available at www.pitt.edu/~oafa/fahome.html . Information about billing and payment options is available at www.bc.pitt.edu/students .

Curriculum (18 credits)

Many courses are offered in the evenings, on Saturdays, and at off-campus locations. Click here to check the University schedule of classes for courses offered each term. (Not all courses are offered every term.)

For course schedule and descriptions
For most undergraduate classes offered by the School of Arts and Sciences, College of General Studies, and College of Business Administration, visit:
http://www.courses.as.pitt.edu/

Obtaining the certificate
To receive the certificate you must fill out an application with your academic advisor prior to completing your last term in the program. Check with your academic advisor for the application filing form and deadline, and be sure all requirements for the certificate have been met. To avoid a late fee, you should complete this process when registering for the term.

Required Courses

Required courses (9 credits)

Introduction to Journalism
ENGWRT 0550
This course introduces students to the reporting and writing skills basic to all nonfiction writing. The course examines such topics as the nature of news, differences between news, feature and magazine writing, the stylebook, reference sources, lead writing and the inverted pyramid, rewriting the press release, quotations and attribution, and interviewing.

Written Professional Communication
ENGCMP 0400
This course explores the methods of inquiry, analysis and composition characteristic of written communication in professional settings. The course will examine such writings's specialized use of language, conventions and formats, permises, motives and purposes. By preparing letters, resumes, proposals, reports, etc, students will get a feel not lny for what "professional" communication is, but also for how and why it does, or can, or should function.

And choose one of the following two courses.

Mass Communication Process
COMMRC 0320
This course is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of Mass Communication Research and to the history and development of various media (TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, etc.).

Nonfiction I
ENGWRT 1330
This course introduces students to the basics of magazine writing--finding ideas, researching, analyzing markets, reporting, writing and rewriting. Students criticize both class-produced and professionally written work, assess markets and adjust their writing to the needs of those markets.

Electives

Elective courses (9 credits) Choose three courses from the following.

Special Topics: Media Relations
COMMRC     1732

Special Topics: Health Communications
COMMRC     1732

Writing Arguments
ENGCMP     0301

Writing in the Legal Professions
ENGCMP     0410

Writing for the Public
ENGCMP     0420

Topics in Public/Professional Writing
ENGCMP     0550

Grant and Proposal Writing
ENGCMP     1400

Writing the Review
ENGWRT     1391

Sports Writing
ENGWRT     1393

Public Relations Writing
ENGWRT     1395

Topics in Nonfiction: Newspaper
ENGWRT 1399

Topics in Nonfiction: Magazine
ENGWRT 1401

Topics in Nonfiction: Electronic Media
ENGWRT 1403

Learning Solutions

Learning Solutions provides adult and continuing education programs that are designed to address changing employer and student needs. The high-quality, flexible programs include degree completion, certificates and enrichment courses. Learning Solutions provides a single point of access to innovative programs and services of the College of General Studies and other schools of the University of Pittsburgh that both enrich lives and promote the economic health of the region.

The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.