Professional Writing and Communication
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The Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional Writing and Communication at Our Lady of the Lake University is designed to prepare graduates to take on professional writing positions in a variety of industries. Technical communicators and professional writers take complex information and present it in a way that is more easily understandable by consumers and field-specific professionals. Their skills are in demand in a variety of fields.
Students in the program gain skills in:
- Audience Analysis
- Technical Editing and Writing
- Project Document Design
- Publication Management
- Writing for the Web
- Newsgathering
- Public Relations Writing
- Principles of Social Media
- Grant Writing
Students also have the option to select from the following areas of focus:
- Legal Writing
- Writing for STEM
- Writing Business Communications
- Sports Writing
- Professional Technical Communications
Career Outlook
The technical and professional writing field is expected to grow 7 percent in the next decade, faster than the average for all occupations according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). BLS reports that the median salary for technical writers was $80,050 in May 2023.
Technical writers prepare instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal and newspaper articles and other supporting documents. Technical writers can be found in many fields but are most sought after in computer, scientific and technological industries. Grant writing and journalism are other areas where technical writers find employment.
Double Major
Students in the Professional Writing and Communication program also can take advantage of OLLU鈥檚 unique double major/double minor opportunity. The university has designed its curriculum to make it easier for students to earn two majors (or a major and two minors) in the about the same time it takes to earn one major at other schools. This allows students in the Professional Writing and Communication major to add other areas of study that will help differentiate them in the technical writing field.
Biliterate Certification
Spanish-speaking students can earn a degree with dual-language emphasis (English/Spanish) through the university鈥檚 Biliterate Certificate Program. Students take specialized courses taught in Spanish and fulfill a portion of their major requirements by completing a practicum or learning experience in a Spanish-speaking setting. Earning the certificate certifies that a student is proficient in both English and Spanish.
New Four-Year, Tuition-Lock Guarantee 鈥� Today's Price, Tomorrow's Degree
Take advantage of OLLU鈥檚 one-to-one, private education without worrying about a price increase during four years of consecutive undergraduate study.
The Today鈥檚 Prices, Tomorrow鈥檚 Degree tuition lock is just one of the many ways the university provides you a great value to help you access a private education. You will not be a statistic at OLLU, but instead will receive individual guidance and mentorship on your path to a four-year degree, all with the reassurance that your tuition rate will not increase.
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