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Program Description
MS in Professional Writing students develop their creative abilities with a focus on dynamic careers across a range of industries and evolving fields. Our curriculum encourages students to leverage new technologies while they confidently craft content that has measurable impact. Our master’s degree prepares graduates for full-time, part-time, and freelance writing careers in sectors that include: technology, education, finance, nonprofit/fundraising, marketing/advertising, government, medical/healthcare/wellness, science/environment/energy, and corporate communications.
Fully online and 36 credits, the MS in Professional Writing pairs the convenience of learning from any location with the quality of an NYU graduate degree. Real-world assignments in core and elective courses allow students to build a comprehensive, digital writing portfolio before they graduate. Every class has multiple real-world assignments that could be included in a digital writing portfolio.
Mirroring the increasingly digital, global, and collaborative work environment of today’s professional world, the MS in Professional Writing brings together faculty members, students, and guest lecturers as part of an interactive, online educational community. Our master’s degree in professional writing offers a weekly guided structure that keeps students on track through our flexible workshop-model curriculum.
Admissions
All applicants to the School of Professional Studies (SPS) are required to submit the general application requirements, which include:
- Application Fee
- College/University Transcripts
- Résumé
- Statement of Purpose
- Degree Requirements
- Recommendations
- Kira Talent Assessment
- Degree-Specific Requirements
- English Language Assessment
- Pearson Versant English Placement Test
- International Transcript Evaluation
- International Student Visa Requirements
See degree specific application requirements for instructions specific to this program.
Program Requirements
The program requires the completion of 36 credits, comprised of the following:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| PWRT1-GC 1000 | Principles of Professional Writing | 3 |
| PWRT1-GC 1005 | Writing for Digital Media | 3 |
| PWRT1-GC 1010 | Business and Organizational Writing | 3 |
| PWRT1-GC 1015 | Style and Rhetoric | 3 |
| PWRT1-GC 1020 | Document Design and Media Presentation | 3 |
| PWRT1-GC 1025 | Principles of Information Architecture | 3 |
| 12 |
| Writing for the Health Professions | |
| Promotional Writing | |
| Independent Study in Professional Writing | |
| Technical Writing for the Information Professions | |
| Writing for Science and the Environment | |
| Writing Proposals and Grants | |
| Writing for Finance | |
| Digital and Organizational Storytelling | |
| Media Production for Professional Writers | |
| Writing and Social Science Research | |
| Persuasive Public Policy Writing | |
| PWRT1-GC 3900 | Portfolio/Thesis Requirement | 3 |
| PWRT1-GC 3905 | Internship | 3 |
| or PWRT1-GC 3910 | Directed Study |
| Total Credits | 36 |
Core Requirements
Core courses build your professional writing foundation by focusing on writing and editing skills; design and digital contexts; and reaching target audiences while measuring your impact.
Electives
Elective courses provide an extensive and nuanced understanding of industry specific styles, supporting your personal, professional writing goals.
Internship or Directed Study
You can opt to complete either a professional Internship or a mock-freelance directed study as part of your required course work.
Thesis Project and Digital Writing Portfolio
In your final semester, you will complete a thesis project and a digital writing portfolio. Both assignments showcase your applied writing skills and proven abilities.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:
- Plan, craft, and revise targeted copy that incorporates writing principles and techniques, including consideration for style, tone, rhetoric, grammar, information hierarchy, clarity, cohesion, and consistency.
- Produce content and documentation across a variety of digital and traditional formats that maintains professionalism and aligns to various industry standards and expectations.
- Develop and adhere to style guides and best-practices for a range of original content (self-editing), including copyediting, graphical editing, narrative storytelling, and persuasive presentation of information.
- Articulate and advocate for style guide and best-practices for a range of content produced by others (editing existing content), including copyediting, graphical editing, narrative storytelling, and persuasive presentation of information.
- Draft, revise, and advocate for linguistic and rhetorical shifts to best reach niche and novice audiences.
- Track and evaluate the impact of communication projects before making revision/recommending alternate strategies for improving effectiveness.
- Write clear and cohesive narratives that accurately report data and research findings across a range of document types.
- Employ rhetorical strategies to increase persuasiveness and motivate audience response/action.
- Articulate and apply professional writing practices to visual and verbal design processes.
- Produce multimodal documents and media that demonstrate appropriate design sensibilities and information hierarchy/architecture.
- Serve as project lead and group member in various collaborative communication projects, including setting project deadlines for self and others; managing universal edits and version control; arranging to work with subject matter experts; and adjusting to unexpected delays.
Policies
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
School of Professional Studies Policies
Additional academic policies can be found on the School of Professional Studies academic policy page.