Applied & Professional Writing

Write for a living in any field you can imagine.

Recent national surveys state employers evaluate new graduates, regardless of their degree, for their writing and communication skills.

Other national surveys show that English graduates’ salaries are rising quickly because of a shortage of English majors in the workforce.

That's where our Applied and Professional Writing program comes in.

At WSU, you'll learn from the best. Your professors have industry experience and publications in science and business writing, marketing, web and technical writing, as well as literary, non-literary, and digital publishing.

Program at a Glance

The Applied and Professional Writing major consists of 40 credits and the minor consists of 21 credits.

You'll learn how to write for different cultures and communities and how to edit in a variety of industries.

You'll also complete coursework and projects in technical writing, grant writing, digital technologies, and social media.

Write for Clients & Companies

As an Applied and Professional Writing major, you’ll complete an internship with a local or regional employer of your choice.

This internship provides excellent on-the-job experience in writing, document design, and working with clients.

You could find yourself interning for marketing agencies, publishers, or the Winona Post right in town.

Advanced courses in the program also offer opportunities to collaborate directly with regional businesses and non-profits, from Fastenal to Habitat for Humanity to Winona Health.

Online Graduate Certificate Available

An online graduate certificate is also available for students who want to pursue a post-graduate study in Professional Writing.

This graduate certificate explores many of the same concepts taught in the major program, only within a shorter credit load.

Get a Job in Any Field

Become a communication specialist in the private, public, or non-profit sectors.

Our program’s students have gone into many exciting areas to become:

• grant writers
• journalists
• marketers
• social media influencers
• technical writers
• web writers

Apply for This Program

Declare your major or minor in Applied and Professional Writing today!

(You’ll need your StarID to login.)

Questions?

Email Dr. Liberty Kohn at LKohn@winona.edu and Dr. Karen Schroeder at KSchroeder@winona.edu for more info.