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In our Masters degree in Written Communication program at Eastern Michigan University, we stress community and flexibility. As a student in this program, you join a community that offers social support, professional networking and friendly connections with faculty.
We have two emphases in our program. The Professional Writing emphasis focuses on the study and practice of professional and technical writing. You will learn about the nature of rhetoric and writing, develop skills with the tools professional writers use and practice strategies for handling workplace projects successfully. The Teaching of Writing emphasis focuses on the study and practice of teaching writing, particularly at the college level. you will develop strategies for generating enthusiasm for writing and also consider the rhetorical, historical and ideological dimensions of those strategies.
Both programs offer a balance of required and elective courses that allow you to tailor a program of study that suits your needs. You can take Written Communication from both the professional and teaching of writing emphases, along with graduate courses in other programs in our department and other departments on campus.
We also offer graduate certificates in Technical Communication and the Teaching of Writing.
If you want to learn more about Eastern Michigan University's the Written Communication Program Coordinator, Steven D. Krause (skrause@emich.edu).
Professional Writing prepares students for a variety of careers in technical writing, editing, and publishing, and many of our graduates also go on to Ph.D studies in rhetoric and composition. You will finish the program equipped with a better understanding of the field as a whole as well as common practices within the field of technical communication.
Required Courses: 18 hours
One course from the following:
One course from the following:
Elective Courses: 12 hours
Students in the Teaching of Writing emphasis take courses in composition and rhetoric with the goal of pursuing or furthering a career in teaching. The program also provides a thorough preparation for students interested in pursuing a Ph.D in composition and rhetoric. Besides being closely tied to the Professional and Technical Writing emphasis, the Teaching of Writing emphasis is also closely tied to the English Education program and the Eastern Michigan Writing Project, which offers school year and summer workshops for K-college teachers.
Required Courses: 21-23 hours
One course from the following:
One course from the following:
One course from the following:
Elective Courses: 9 hours
The Certificate in Technical Writing is for students trained in other fields who want to become technical communicators and who want to learn more about the field. Many of our students in the certificate program already have or are currently enrolled in another graduate degree program, and some of our students go on from the certificate program to the Masters program.
Required Courses: 15 hours
Three courses from the following:
One course from the following:
Note:
Students must take some combination of the above courses to obtain a total of 15 hours. Students may only take one advanced 400-level class for graduate credit; therefore, they cannot take both ENGL427 and ENGL428 for credit. They must take one or the other of these classes.
Required Courses: 15-17 hours
One course from the following:
One course from the following:
Note:
The Certificate in Teaching of Writing does not certify students to teach in elementary or secondary schools.
