Professional Writing M.S.
Degree: Master of Science
https://www.towson.edu/cla/departments/english/gradwriting/
Program Director: Michael Downs
Phone: 410-704-3695
Email: mdowns@towson.edu
The program provides advanced study in the theory of writing, 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 choose from tracks in writing for the public and private sectors, technical writing and information design, teaching writing, journalistic writing, scientific writing and creative writing.
Accelerated Bachelor’s-Master’s Program
Students may also earn an M.S. in Professional Writing through the Department of English's accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program. This program allows students to complete their undergraduate and graduate degrees in a shorter time frame. 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
- A 3.00 is required for full admission and 2.75 for conditional admission. All GPA calculations for admission are based upon the last 60 units of undergraduate and post-baccalaureate study.
- Based upon the applicant’s undergraduate transcript and the writing sample, the department reserves the right to require two specified preparatory undergraduate writing courses, passed with the grade of “B” or higher in each course, for admission.
Please complete the online application, including the following:
- Two letters of recommendation, preferably letters that speak to writing experience and capability.
- Personal essay of 750-1000 words in which you tell us about yourself and about your reasons for wishing to pursue this degree. You may include an additional example of your writing if you wish (10 pages or fewer), but this is not required.
NOTE: Upon admission to the program, the student must meet with the assigned adviser to plan a program of study.
Non-immigrant International Students
Program Enrollment: F-1 and J-1 students are required to be enrolled full-time. The majority of their classes must be in-person and on campus. See the list of programs that satisfy these requirements, and contact the International Student and Scholars Office with questions.
Admission Procedures: See additional information regarding Graduate Admission policies and International Graduate Application online.
**See Exceptions to Policy in Graduate Admissions.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| PRWR 611 | RHETORIC 1 | 3 |
| PRWR 612 | RHETORICAL GRAMMAR | 3 |
| PRWR 613 | THEORY OF EXPOSITION | 3 |
| PRWR 615 | STYLE | 3 |
| PRWR 617 | EDITING | 3 |
| PRWR 797 | INTERNSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL WRITING | 3 |
| Select 9 units of PRWR 600/700 courses, chosen with advisor, appropriate to track (electives may include 6 units of Thesis) | 9 | |
| Select one of the six tracks listed below. | 9 | |
| Total Units | 36 | |
Tracks
Writing for the Public and Private Sectors
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| GRANT AND COMMUNITY WRITING | ||
| BUSINESS WRITING | ||
| TECHNICAL WRITING AND INFORMATION DESIGN | ||
| CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTING | ||
| Total Units | 9 | |
Technical Writing and Information Design
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PRWR 623 | TECHNICAL WRITING AND INFORMATION DESIGN | 3 |
| PRWR 628 | DESIGNING CONTENT FOR THE WEB | 3 |
| PRWR 625 | DESIGN LAYOUT AND PRODUCTION | 3 |
| Total Units | 9 | |
Teaching Writing
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PRWR 621 | BUSINESS WRITING | 3 |
| PRWR 627 | MODERN RHETORIC | 3 |
| PRWR 633 | TEACHING COLLEGE COMPOSITION | 3 |
| Total Units | 9 | |
Journalistic Writing
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| LITERARY JOURNALISM | ||
| CRITICISM IN MASS MEDIA | ||
| MASS MEDIA LAW AND REGULATIONS | ||
| MEDIA AND POLITICS | ||
| WRITING CREATIVE NON-FICTION | ||
| FREELANCE WRITING | ||
| WRITING REVIEWS | ||
| SCIENCE AND ITS PUBLIC AUDIENCE | ||
| Total Units | 9 | |
Scientific Writing
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PRWR 623 | TECHNICAL WRITING AND INFORMATION DESIGN | 3 |
| PRWR 691 | METHODS AND RESEARCH FOR PROFESSIONAL WRITING | 3 |
| PRWR 731 | SCIENCE AND ITS PUBLIC AUDIENCE | 3 |
| Total Units | 9 | |
Creative Writing
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select 9 units from 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 | |
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.
Accelerated Bachelor's Degree in English and M.S. in Professional Writing
The accelerated Bachelor’s-Master’s degree program in English and Professional Writing is designed to allow students to complete the accelerated undergraduate and graduate degrees in a shorter time frame, including 6 units taken during summer terms. This program is open only to undergraduates pursuing the Writing track in English. For admission to this track on the undergraduate level, the student must apply to the Director of the Professional Writing Program before the second term of the junior year and meet the following criteria:
-
Completion of or current enrollment in 60 units (may include transfer credits)
-
Declaration of an English major in the undergraduate Writing track
-
Completion of (or current enrollment in) at least 12 units of the English major (3 of these units should fulfill the University’s Gen Ed. 1D requirement with a class from the English Department, ENGL 313, ENGL 315 or ENGL 316)
-
Achievement of an overall GPA of 3.3 or better and a GPA in English of 3.3 or better
-
Demonstration of a high degree of proficiency in writing, to be determined by the Director of the Professional Writing Program from the student’s PRWR Master’s program admissions materials
9 units taken at the 600-level after completion of the junior year will be double-counted toward fulfilling the 120 units required for the BS and the 36 units required for the M.S. See Undergraduate Catalog for stipulations pertaining to the completion of the bachelor’s degree.
- 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.