Professional Writing combines liberal and professional education with a strong foundation in rhetorical studies. While based firmly in the liberal arts tradition, the major has a strong career orientation and is specifically designed to prepare students for successful careers as writers and communications specialists in a range of fields: publishing, government, journalism, law, community advocacy, the non-profit sector, education, corporate communications, finance, and the arts. The major is designed to develop articulate and reflective writing professionals with both the professional skills needed to negotiate current work contexts (including writing for the web and for multimedia) and the analytic and problem-solving skills needed to understand and keep pace with cultural and technological change.

careers as writers and communications specialists in a range of fields: publishing, government, journalism, law, community advocacy, the non-profit sector, education, corporate communications, finance, and the arts.