The
Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Scientific and Technical Writing will focus
on preparing students to clearly communicate science, health care or technology
topics to the public.
The Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Professional Writing and Editing is well suited for students interested in the needs of an increasingly global society who want to make a difference as writers or editors for nonprofits, government agencies and businesses.
“More and more, people in a wide range of industries are realizing the importance of hiring writers who are informed by humanities perspectives,” said Gaziano Family Legacy Professor and associate professor Jennifer Sano-Franchini. “These are the people who can not only help organizations meaningfully and thoughtfully connect with communities, but they are also able to raise critical questions that can help organizations do better by the people who are impacted by their work.”
Students take courses designed to hone writing skills in a variety of genres including grant writing, multimedia composition, medical and scientific rhetoric and more. Many courses also offer opportunities to hone their skills while working with clients in real-world settings. Both degrees also prepare students for writing and research skills they need to pursue advanced academic work.
“We are excited to add these two new majors to our portfolio of offerings here in the Department of English. Both the BA in Professional Writing and Editing and the BS in Scientific and Technical Writing majors respond to a documented market need that we believe our students can fill,” Brian Ballentine, professor and chair of English, said.
The degrees are responsive to national labor market trends. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, technical writing positions are projected to grow over 7% in the next decade, faster than the average for all occupations combined.
Find more information on the new undergraduate degrees.
This article is republished from MOUNTAINEER E-News — read the original article.
