Professional Writing

BACHELOR OF ARTS

What do Game of Thrones, The Avengers, TMZ, The New York Times, Amazon, and every web site you visit including this page have in common? They all rely on professional writers to craft their narratives, scripts, informational copy, and promotional content.

CAREER VERSATILITY

There is perhaps no degree more versatile than Professional Writing. Writers work in every industry, government agency, and influential institution. They are behind the content and branding of all entertainment media. They write news stories, technical documents, podcasts, user manuals, games, novels, poetry, social media, screenplays, grants, reviews, analyses, and so much more. During every waking hour of every day we’re surrounded by skillfully crafted language produced by professional writers.

CHOOSE YOUR WRITING PATH

Professional Writing majors at Kutztown University begin their careers with WRI 100—Reading and Writing in the Professions, building a solid foundation in critical analysis, drafting, and editing. Next, they take core classes in copy editing, technical writing, journalism, and creative writing. From there, they choose electives from a wide array of specialty areas like public relations, information design, magazine writing, investigative journalism, and fiction writing that blend practical acumen with creative dynamism.

Professional Writing majors are encouraged to further hone their writing skills with minors and coursework in related fields like English, Public Relations, Communications, Social Media Studies, Marketing, History, Political Science, and modern languages like Spanish, French, and German. The result: writers who approach a broad range of professional writing situations with confidence and skill.

PROFESSIONAL WRITING EXPERIENCE

Because hands-on experience in a professional setting is essential to a professional writer’s development, the professional writing degree culminates in a directed internship. Supported by hands-on advisement, you’ll work alongside professionals in business, publishing, journalism, nonprofit, and other organizations where writers are in demand, producing content, articles, promotional materials, reports, and other exemplary writing artifacts to utilize later in your job search; gaining hands-on editing experience; and making valuable connections that can lead to employment opportunities.

KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY WRITING COMMUNITY

Kutztown is home to a community of writers contributing to the vibrant intellectual and social life on campus. Professional Writing majors are drivers of that community, participating as leaders in extracurricular campus organizations like:

• The Keystone Newspaper: Daily newspaper written and edited by student journalists.
• Her Campus Kutztown:  Platinum-level chapter of a national women's interest media site, which publishes opinion, reporting, and creative writing by students.
• Essence: Student-edited annual fine arts and literary magazine that publishes student visual art, poetry, and very short prose pieces.
• Shoofly: Student-edited annual literary magazine that publishes student poetry and short fiction.
• KU Writing Center: Venue where professional writing students sharpen their skills by assisting writers from other majors.
• Student Media Advisory Board: Group that coordinates the shared interests of all student media on campus.

Student Learning Outcomes