Professional Writing M.S.
Degree: Master of Science
https://www.towson.edu/cla/departments/english/gradwriting/
Program Director: Sarah Gunning
Phone: 410-704-3139
Email: sgunning@towson.edu
The program provides advanced study and practice in writing techniques and style, principles/techniques of editing, and the functions of written communication within the professional/occupational setting. Courses aim to develop the communication skills of people seeking to enter or to advance in occupations requiring extensive writing and/or the analysis and reporting of data. Students may choose from tracks in creative writing, journalistic writing, technical writing and scientific communication, teaching writing, and writing for the nonprofit sector. Students who would rather design their own route through the program may choose "no track."
Accelerated Bachelor’s-Master’s Program
Students may also earn credit toward an M.S. in Professional Writing through the Department of English's accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program. This program allows students to take graduate courses as undergraduates and have the units count toward both degrees. Prospective applicants should contact the program director for details.
Please see the Undergraduate Catalog for information on the accelerated bachelor's-master's program.
Admission Requirements
Application deadlines and a full listing of materials required for admission can be found on the website.
Degree Requirements
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
PRWR 611 | RHETORIC | 3 |
PRWR 612 | RHETORICAL GRAMMAR | 3 |
PRWR 617 | EDITING | 3 |
PRWR 797 | INTERNSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL WRITING | 3 |
Select one from the following: | 3 | |
STYLE | ||
TECHNICAL WRITING AND INFORMATION DESIGN 1 | ||
THEORY OF CREATIVITY | ||
METHODS AND RESEARCH FOR PROFESSIONAL WRITING | ||
Electives: 12 units of PRWR 600/700 courses, chosen with advisor (may include 6 units of thesis) | 12 | |
Track coursework or additional electives (tracks listed below) | 9 | |
Total Units | 36 |
- 1
Students may use PRWR 623, Technical Writing and Information Design, to fulfill only one program requirement: for the common core, the track, or as an elective.
Tracks
Declaring a track is optional. Students should consult with the Program Director if they wish to change their track.
Creative Writing
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
Select three of the following: | 9 | |
WRITING POETRY (3-6 units) | ||
WRITING SHORT FICTION (3-6 units) | ||
WRITING THE NOVEL (3-6 units) | ||
WRITING CREATIVE NON-FICTION (3-6 units) | ||
Total Units | 9 |
Journalistic Writing
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
Select three of the following: | 9 | |
DESIGN LAYOUT AND PRODUCTION | ||
WRITING CREATIVE NON-FICTION | ||
FREELANCE WRITING | ||
WRITING REVIEWS | ||
SCIENCE AND ITS PUBLIC AUDIENCE | ||
LITERARY JOURNALISM | ||
Total Units | 9 |
Technical Writing and Scientific Communication
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
Select three of the following: | 9 | |
TECHNICAL WRITING AND INFORMATION DESIGN | ||
FOUNDATIONS IN TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION | ||
DESIGN LAYOUT AND PRODUCTION | ||
DESIGNING CONTENT FOR THE WEB | ||
SCIENCE AND ITS PUBLIC AUDIENCE | ||
Total Units | 9 |
Teaching Writing
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
Select three of the following: | 9 | |
BUSINESS WRITING | ||
DESIGN LAYOUT AND PRODUCTION | ||
CULTURAL RHETORICS AND LITERACIES | ||
TEACHING COLLEGE COMPOSITION | ||
Total Units | 9 |
Writing for the Nonprofit Sector
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
Select three of the following: | 9 | |
GRANT AND COMMUNITY WRITING | ||
BUSINESS WRITING | ||
DESIGNING CONTENT FOR THE WEB | ||
CONTENT STRATEGY AND WRITING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE | ||
PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS | ||
Total Units | 9 |
Portfolio
All students in Professional Writing are required to complete a written master’s degree portfolio as a qualifying exam. The portfolio must be submitted between completion of 12 to 18 units of degree work. If deemed unsatisfactory, the portfolio may be resubmitted once. A second failure results in dismissal from the program.
- Demonstrate ability to focus on a topic, deliver sound, reasonable evidence to support or develop that topic; clearly and logically organize the work and show evidence of craft.
- Demonstrate flexibility in a range of writing styles as well as sentence and paragraph-level command of language.
- Demonstrate line-level competence with grammar, punctuation and vocabulary.