• Writing and editing to achieve specific purposes and address specific audiences,
• Producing different types of documents, including instructional manuals, reports, and proposals,
• Using writing as a tool for learning,
• Working collaboratively to solve problems, and
• Evaluating the findings of empirical research.

Graduate courses in Professional Writing are regularly offered in Document Design, Editing, Research Methods, Corporate and Legal Writing, Writing Technical Manuals, History of Composition, Composition Theory, and other topics. Many courses incorporate computer use to build students' skills in using multimedia applications, web pages, and other internet applications.

Students in the Professional Writing area are encouraged to do a one-semester internship for which they receive course credit, and possibly pay. Some University of Memphis interns have served with national and international companies such as MS Carriers Inc., Wright Medical, AutoZone, and Federal Express.

Graduates in Professional Writing have been in demand by local businesses where they work as editors, as writers of policy and procedural manuals, and as managers of the publication process. Some of our graduates are currently pursuing Ph.D.s in Professional Writing at the University of Memphis and at other universities.

For more information:

English Gradbook
Graduate Catalog
Video Introduction to Composition and Professional Writing Concentration (YouTube)
Internship Information