The ability to write clearly, carefully and effectively is an invaluable skill that contributes to success in any profession throughout life.
Since Fall 2019, Marshall University in Huntington, WV, has offered students a unique opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Professional Writing. In this major, students develop communication and information management strategies to write well in many contemporary professional fields including technical and scientific communication, business communication, editing and publishing, journalism and public relations, as well as emerging digital communication fields.
MU students who pursue a bachelor’s in Professional Writing degree will deepen their understanding of writing styles, rhetorical situations, compositional processes, research and media. A degree in Professional Writing enables students to develop professional portfolios by creating and working with a wide range of documents such as proposals, business plans and reports, while also learning to compose and communicate for digital environments.
Why Study Professional Writing at Marshall?
The B.A. in Professional Writing degree program at Marshall University prepares students for a variety of writing careers using various media and digital tools. Working professional writers require a range of writing skills that cross all fields and disciplines. They must write with clarity, purpose and a solid understanding of their audience. This takes training, and it’s the goal of the Department of English at Marshall University to prepare students to meet every writing challenge with skill and confidence.
In the Professional Writing major, students learn that professional writers can specialize in technology, science, healthcare, journalism, fundraising, grant writing, copywriting and many other areas to build a career portfolio.
Convenient and Affordable
The Professional Writing bachelor’s degree program is available in-person on Marshall’s Huntington campus or can be completed 100% online. Both formats offer a quality education.
Students who opt for online learning are able to work on the Professional Writing degree anytime, anywhere. Marshall’s online students benefit from a special distance tuition rate that is less than regular tuition costs, and out-of-state online students pay the same special in-state rate as West Virginia students. In addition, fully distance education students do not pay fees for on-campus services.
Special Learning Location
Marshall students have unique opportunities through the Professional Writing program to learn the writing, research and rhetorical skills necessary to contribute to positive change at our University and in the surrounding area of West Virginia.
Professional Writing students can intern with a small, independent local company called Mountain State Press, which promotes writing in Appalachia, with an emphasis on West Virginia works. Interns gain valuable real-world skills and an up-close view of how to run a successful nonprofit organization.
The Huntington area, as well as the state of West Virginia, are in the midst of major revitalization, driven by the success of the city’s and the University’s grant writers. Professional Writing students can intern with many of the governmental and nonprofit organizations that are at the center of this growth.
Advanced Professional Writing students have opportunities to represent the English Department as well as Marshall University by serving as social media ambassadors and thus developing an impressive professional portfolio in new and growing communication channels.
Career Outlook for Professional Writing Majors
Students graduating with a BA in Professional Writing are prepared to succeed in any field where excellent communication and collaboration skills are needed and valued.
Professional Writing skills are necessary in career fields across the spectrum. Here’s a sampling of the critical role that writing plays in supporting major sectors in our economy:
Business: Writing pitches, memos, reports, letters, memos, social media content, resumes, proposals and plans
The arts: Writing grant proposals, magazine articles, artist statements, blog and other online posts, professional website content and resumes
Engineering: Writing memos, project updates, reports and proposals
Health sciences: Writing patient referrals, grant proposals, promotional materials and web content
The sciences: Writing lab reports, memos, articles, social media and other web content, proposals, plans, and more
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in media and communication occupations is projected to grow 4 percent through 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations, and will result in about 46,200 new jobs. Demand for media and communication occupations is expected to arise from the need to create, edit, translate and disseminate information through a variety of different platforms.
Writing Jobs
Professional Writing majors develop a solid foundation to go on to careers in business, law and numerous other occupations where strong skills in writing and effective communication are critical to job success.
A major in Professional Writing can prepare you for a career in teaching, sales, human relations, customer service, social services, management, public relations, advertising, media, fundraising, law, politics, consulting and publishing. Here’s a closer look at two key professional pathways focused on writing: technical writer and public relations specialist.
Technical Writers
The employment of technical writers is projected to grow 7 percent through 2029, faster than the average for all occupations, the BLS reports.
Technical writers will be in demand, given the continuing expansion of scientific and technical products and growth in Web-based product support. Growth and change in the high-technology and electronics industries will increase the need for professionals who can write instruction manuals and communicate information clearly to users.
Employment of those skilled in writing and communication will continue to grow rapidly in professional, scientific and technical services firms.
Public Relations Specialist
Marshall graduates in Professional Writing will be prepared to enter the field of public relations, which is a vital function throughout businesses, government, education and nearly every area of the U.S. economy. The BLS says that employment of public relations specialists is projected to grow 7 percent through 2029, faster than the average for all occupations.
Public relations is critical for organizations to maintain and enhance their reputation and visibility. Public relations specialists respond to news developments by composing and writing press releases and other online content to maintain and enhance their organization’s reputation.
The expansion of social media also is an important channel for public relations specialists to appeal to consumers and the general public in new ways. Public relations specialists also are important to help their employers and clients understand how to effectively use social media and take advantage of newly emerging platforms.
Writing Salaries
The median annual wage for media and communication occupations was $61,310 in May 2020, which was higher than $41,950, the median annual wage for all occupations, as reported by the BLS. The median (or midpoint) annual wage for public relations specialists was $62,810 in May 2020. Within the salary range for public relations specialists, the lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,350, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $118,210 The median (or midpoint) annual wage for technical writers was $74,650 in May 2020. Within the salary range for technical writers, the lowest 10 percent earned less than $45,510, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $119,040.
Opportunities for Professional Writing Majors
Hands-on Resources
The Marshall University Writing Center — where students can work with specially-trained writing tutors -is a tremendous resource for Professional Writing majors to sharpen their writing skills. Advanced Professional Writing students also can apply to tutor at the Writing Center, gaining valuable professional experience.
Research Opportunities
Students in Professional Writing work on a variety of research projects both independently and in collaboration with Professional Writing and English Department faculty.
These projects often involve real world situations, with students either exploring and writing about relevant, contemporary concerns in the field, or partnering with organizations, businesses or community members. These projects give students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience that will prepare them for active careers while learning from experienced Marshall faculty and other experts in the field.
Internships
Professional Writing majors at Marshall have access to many internship opportunities. In recent years, interns have worked with several local businesses and organizations to use and develop their skills in research and writing for an array of audiences and in a variety of forms. Here are a few examples of where Professional Writing majors completed their internships:
Branches Domestic Violence Shelter
Developmental Therapy Center
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Cabell County Public Library
Student interns at Mountain State Press, a West-Virginia based publishing company, perform such tasks as writing for social media and the website, assessing manuscripts for possible publication, assisting with the editorial and marketing processes, and interacting directly with authors.