Department Website
Program Description
A career in professional writing requires not only expertise in writing, but also communications, information technology, and digital media skills. Writers today need to be able to excel at developing communication and information strategies, and must be equipped to work effectively in a range of media. The Master of Science in Professional Writing offers an integrated program for students who aim to work as writers and as communication specialists. Companies, organizations, and government agencies need experts who are versatile and proficient in using new digital media and information technology, while specializing in a particular field of professional writing, including media, business, healthcare, science, fundraising, or promotional writing.
Three semesters of full-time study, entirely online, move you swiftly into a new career by preparing you to be a powerful writer, a skilled communication specialist, and an information designer who can take advantage of employment opportunities in a technology-driven marketplace.
Delivered by one of the world's most prestigious universities in the world, the program combines academic rigor with practical knowledge. You learn from and interact with faculty members who have both distinguished academic and hands-on industry experience, while drawing upon the support and inspiration of your peers.
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 |
Internship or Directed Study
You can select 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.