Professional and Technical Writing Certificate - Online
This program will prepare students to utilize technical writing in a variety of professional, technical, and non-technical industries, including but not limited to the business, human resources, education, medical, government, legal, computer, science, technology, and engineering industries. This program is ideal for individuals who seek a career in technical writing. This course is also appropriate professional development experience for anyone who is interested in acquiring professional writing skills to maintain an edge in the job market or bring a new skill to his or her career.
Students will gain practical writing experience, strong rhetorical skills, and will focus on writing clear and effective technical, persuasive, informative, and instructional documents. Further emphasis will be on diction, tone, voice, audience, and precision. A student who has successfully completed his or her certificate may use the instructor as a professional reference. The student will complete a writing portfolio that may be used for job application supplemental.
Course Outline
In the beginning, you will view various lessons and complete assignments to have a better understanding of the complexities of structural composition and how grammar and punctuation can alter the meaning of a phrase. Additional lessons and assignments on diction, connotation, and denotation will be provided. Then, you will have an introduction to the professional writing style, its parameters, and its uses. Various lessons include stylistic effects, such as voice, tone, and audience, as well as how to effectively craft the newsletter, brochure, and cover letter. In the advanced module on technical writing, you will learn how to write meeting minutes, descriptions, memorandums, grant proposals, a research proposal, APA format, abstracts, literature reviews, the annotated bibliography, and promotional materials for persuasive writing. You will also produce a video in providing clear and effective technical instructions or information on a topic of your choice. These skills are transferrable to any technical writing task. At the end of the course, you will produce a portfolio of your writing (a great supplement for job applications) and a personal assessment. Students will be graded on a pass/fail scale.
For detailed assignment and program information, please view the syllabus.
"This professional and technical writing course has greatly improved my skills. I have already begun to use what I have learned throughout this course. I was able to learn something from every module..." Read More >
Sarah Sahota, Biomedical Scientist, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.
Date: Open enrollment. Start anytime - up to 6 months to complete.
Prerequisites
This certificate is open to anyone with a grasp of the English language. It is not meant to teach basic language or workforce skills, but to advance previously existing skills and career options. Therefore, a Bachelor degree in any field is strongly recommended before beginning this program. Students who do not have a conferred Bachelor degree are strongly recommended to complete and pass, with a C or higher grade, a college-level English course prior to enrolling in this program. You could also choose to take Professional Writing for the Workplace, a more beginner friendly writing course.
Online, 80 hours to complete. No text book required. Certificate is graded on complete/incomplete scale.
Course Code: UPTW 500
Certificate Price: $1,799, 8 CEUs
