Certificate in Writing and Publishing
About the Program
The certificate in Writing and Publishing (CWP) offers currently enrolled Drexel University students the opportunity for both professional and personal development through a combination of available courses in professional writing, creative writing, and publishing. The certificate enhances employment opportunities, opening a broad range of professional choices in cooperative employment and in the post-degree job market as skills are acquired. The CWP improves on-the-job performance as the student develops writing skills and associated professional knowledge.
The program develops core competencies through the synergy of writing and publishing courses. The courses develop the student's skills in writing and publishing both through theory and practical application.
General Requirements
The certificate in Writing and Publishing allows students to achieve certification in one or more of the following tracks:
- Professional writing and publishing (with a focus in business communication, technical communication, or journalism)
- Creative writing and publishing
- Entertainment writing and publishing
- Comprehensive writing and publishing (This track is no longer accepting new students.)
Each track requires the completion of a minimum of six courses (18.0 credits). Tracks can be designed to meet the professional needs and personal interests of the individual student.
Prospective students should meet with their advisor or contact Daniel Driscoll dwd27@drexel.edu for more information.
Professional Writing and Publishing Track
18.0 quarter credits
The Professional Writing and Publishing track is useful for business majors or students in technical or science areas who want to highlight their acquisition of writing skills. For students majoring in the humanities, it provides an opportunity to develop areas of writing and publishing competencies in the professional arena.
This track offers three focus options:
- Business Communication and Publishing: for students interested in a career in business.
- Technical Communication and Publishing: for students interested in engineering, science, information science, and technology and careers in higher education.
- Journalism: for students interested in global journalism, communication, and international affairs.
Program Requirements
Business Communication and Publishing
| Required Courses | ||
| COM 270 [WI] | Business Communication | 3.0 |
| COM 350 [WI] | Document Design and Evaluation | 3.0 |
| or COM 375 | Grant Writing | |
| or WRIT 312 | Writing for Target Audiences | |
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
| Science Writing | ||
| Special Topics in Communication Theory | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
| Digital Publishing | ||
| Modern Desktop Publishing | ||
| Graphic Design Seminar: Advanced Media (Bookmaking) | ||
| Literary Editing & Publication | ||
| Writing in Cyberspace: Writing for/about the Web | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6.0 | |
| Introduction to Journalism | ||
| Investigative Journalism | ||
| Food Writing | ||
| Honors Colloquium * | ||
| The Peer Reader in Context | ||
| Creative Nonfiction Writing | ||
| Creative Writing | ||
| Writing Poetry | ||
| Writing Fiction | ||
| Writing Humor and Comedy | ||
| Writing About the Media | ||
| Writing for Target Audiences | ||
| Special Topics in Writing | ||
| Total Credits | 18.0 | |
- *
By Director's permission only.
Technical Communication and Publishing
| Required Courses | ||
| COM 310 [WI] | Technical Communication | 3.0 |
| COM 375 [WI] | Grant Writing | 3.0 |
| or WRIT 312 | Writing for Target Audiences | |
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
| Science Writing | ||
| Document Design and Evaluation | ||
| Special Topics in Communication Theory | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
| Digital Publishing | ||
| Modern Desktop Publishing | ||
| Graphic Design Seminar: Advanced Media (Bookmaking) | ||
| Literary Editing & Publication | ||
| Writing in Cyberspace: Writing for/about the Web | ||
| Select any two additional Certificate in Writing and Publishing courses, including but not limited to the following: | 6.0 | |
| Introduction to Journalism | ||
| Investigative Journalism | ||
| Food Writing | ||
| Honors Colloquium * | ||
| The Peer Reader in Context | ||
| Creative Nonfiction Writing | ||
| Writing Poetry | ||
| Writing Fiction | ||
| Writing Humor and Comedy | ||
| Writing About the Media | ||
| Writing for Target Audiences | ||
| Special Topics in Writing | ||
| Total Credits | 18.0 | |
- *
By Director's permission only.
Journalism
| Required Courses | ||
| COM 160 [WI] | Introduction to Journalism | 3.0 |
| COM 261 [WI] | Advanced Journalism | 3.0 |
| COM 315 [WI] | Investigative Journalism | 3.0 |
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
| Digital Publishing | ||
| Modern Desktop Publishing | ||
| Literary Editing & Publication | ||
| Writing in Cyberspace: Writing for/about the Web | ||
| Select any two additional Certificate in Writing and Publishing courses, including but not limited to the following: | 6.0 | |
| Business Communication | ||
or COM 310 | Technical Communication | |
| Science Writing | ||
| Grant Writing | ||
| Food Writing | ||
| Honors Colloquium * | ||
| Graphic Design Seminar: Advanced Media (Bookmaking) | ||
| The Peer Reader in Context | ||
| Creative Nonfiction Writing | ||
| Creative Writing | ||
| Writing Poetry | ||
| Writing Fiction | ||
| Writing Humor and Comedy | ||
| Writing About the Media | ||
| Writing for Target Audiences | ||
| Special Topics in Writing | ||
| Total Credits | 18.0 | |
- *
By Director's permission only.
Creative Writing and Publishing track
18.0 quarter credits
This track is designed for students who want to develop their creative writing skills either for personal development and expression, or because they recognize that creative writing develops imagination; sharpens clarity of expression; and enhances sensitivity to other people. Creative writing is a good pre-professional concentration for pre-law, pre-med, and the social sciences. The importance of creative writing has been recognized for engineering and for business.
| Select three of the following (one of which must be a 200-level course): | 9.0 | |
| Creative Nonfiction Writing | ||
| Creative Writing | ||
| Writing Poetry | ||
| Writing Fiction | ||
| Writing Humor and Comedy | ||
| Writing About the Media | ||
| Special Topics in Writing | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
| Digital Publishing | ||
| Modern Desktop Publishing | ||
| Document Design and Evaluation | ||
| Graphic Design Seminar: Advanced Media (Bookmaking) | ||
| Literary Editing & Publication | ||
| Writing in Cyberspace: Writing for/about the Web | ||
| Internship in Publishing * | ||
| Select any two additional Certificate in Writing and Publishing courses, including but not limited to the following: | 6.0 | |
| Introduction to Journalism | ||
| Advanced Journalism | ||
| Business Communication | ||
| Technical Communication | ||
| Investigative Journalism | ||
| Science Writing | ||
| Document Design and Evaluation | ||
| Grant Writing | ||
| Food Writing | ||
| Honors Colloquium ** | ||
| The Peer Reader in Context | ||
| Writing for Target Audiences | ||
| Total Credits | 18.0 | |
- *
WRIT 405 must be taken twice if no other publishing course is taken.
- **
By Director's permission only.
Entertainment Writing and Publishing Track
18.0 quarter credits
Entertainment Writing and Publishing is designed for students in any major who want to highlight their acquisition of writing skills. For students majoring in any entertainment field it provides an opportunity to develop areas of writing and publishing competencies in the professional entertainment field.
The track is designed for students who want to pursue writing either for personal development and expression as a personal or creative pursuit or profession. The Entertainment Writing and Publishing track will give students a strong multidisciplinary introduction to writing for a variety of entertainment professions including screenwriting, sports journalism, food writing, game writing, grant writing, and more. This track is designed for both students already studying any of the entertainment fields (such as Entertainment and Arts Management), as well as other students who are interested in exploring the field.
| General Requirements | ||
| WRIT 306 | Writing About the Media | 3.0 |
| or WRIT 226 | Writing in Public Spaces | |
| WRIT 312 [WI] | Writing for Target Audiences | 3.0 |
| or COM 375 | Grant Writing | |
| Select two of the following: | 6.0 | |
| Audio Journalism | ||
| Sports Journalism | ||
| Food Writing | ||
| Media Merchandising I | ||
| Literature and Other Arts | ||
| Honors Colloquium * | ||
| Writing TV Comedy | ||
| Writing TV Drama | ||
| Writing Comics | ||
| Screenwriting I | ||
| Writing the Short Film | ||
| Game: Universe & Story | ||
| Writing Humor and Comedy | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
| Digital Publishing | ||
| Modern Desktop Publishing | ||
| Graphic Design Seminar: Advanced Media ((Bookmaking)) | ||
| Literary Editing & Publication | ||
| Writing in Cyberspace: Writing for/about the Web | ||
| Internship in Publishing ** | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
| Introduction to Journalism | ||
| Business Communication | ||
| Science Writing | ||
| The Peer Reader in Context | ||
| Creative Nonfiction Writing | ||
| Creative Writing | ||
| Writing Poetry | ||
| Writing Fiction | ||
| Special Topics in Writing | ||
| Total Credits | 18.0 | |
- *
By Director's permission only.
- **
WRIT 405 must be taken twice if no other publishing course is taken.
Comprehensive Certificate track
18.0 quarter credits
The Comprehensive Track is designed for students whose majors and minors include writing courses (either as electives or required courses) and whose schedules allow for the additional credits to obtain certification.
| Select two of the following: | 6.0 | |
| Digital Publishing | ||
| Modern Desktop Publishing | ||
| Graphic Design Seminar: Advanced Media | ||
| Literary Editing & Publication | ||
| Writing in Cyberspace: Writing for/about the Web | ||
| Internship in Publishing * | ||
| Select two of the following: ** | 12.0 | |
| Creative Writing | ||
| Track A | ||
| Creative Nonfiction Writing | ||
Any 300-level writing (WRIT) course | ||
| Track B | ||
| Creative Writing | ||
Any 300-level writing (WRIT) course | ||
| Professional Writing | ||
| Track A | ||
| Technical Communication | ||
| Grant Writing | ||
| Track B | ||
| Business Communication | ||
| Grant Writing | ||
or COM 350 | Document Design and Evaluation | |
| Journalism | ||
| Introduction to Journalism | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Investigative Journalism | ||
| Food Writing | ||
| The Peer Reader in Context *** | ||
| Total Credits | 18.0 | |
- *
WRIT 405 must be taken twice.
- **
Students select two of the following course sequences from at least two different categories.
- ***
By Director's permission only.
Writing-Intensive Course Requirements
In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.
A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.