Public and Professional Writing

Program Type
Undergraduate Certificate
Credential
Undergraduate Certificate
Modes of Study
Blended;In person
Department
Department of English

Tuition & fees

Costs include tuition, fees, & other costs such as books. See cost details

Credit hours

9 required credit hours. Most courses are equal to 3 credit hours. Browse course list

Program duration

Finish in as little as 1 year. Explore program requirements

Admissions

Rolling admissions. Begin program in fall, spring, or summer. View application process & deadlines

Program Highlights

  • Develop your skill set to write for a wide range of business and non-profit fields, including business, sports, health sciences, legal practice, journalism, technical and grant writing, and more.
  • Gain real-world communications experience in a diverse range of public and professional environments through our internships and guest lecture series.
  • Learn from accomplished faculty including Fullbright and National Endowment for the Humanities recipients, Mellon Fellows, and Distinguished and Trustee Professors.
  • Tailor our program to your goals – choose from specialized courses for training in specific fields.
  • Take advantage of a flexible schedule: Many of our courses are offered online.
  • Make progress toward a future degree: Apply course credits from your certificate toward a current or future USM bachelor’s degree.
Students sit around a table and write in a notebook together.

Program requirements

We provide essential instruction in the foundations of professional writing, followed by specialized training in a field of your choice – all to prepare you for a variety of careers or even a potential degree.

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Creativity in practice

Our award-winning, widely published faculty cover a diverse range of subjects and expertise. Along with active roles in campus literary life and research, they are producing new work in a multitude of genres and mediums.

Meet our faculty
Next steps

Our helpful admissions counselors are here to answer your questions about the admissions process, our academic programs, and student support services. We also invite you to explore the many ways to visit campus or to engage with us through online experiences.

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