Writing for the Professions Certificate

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In today’s business climate, employees have discovered that the ability to research, organize, and write various kinds of documents is a critical component of many positions, including those that are primarily technical in nature. Organizations expect employees to communicate clearly and effectively with both colleagues and non-expert stakeholders.

This 18-credit certificate provides participants with a strong foundation for developing these vital writing skills. You will learn techniques that are critical for producing clearly written documents-critiquing, analyzing, and researching-as well as the practical applications that build on this groundwork.

Who should participate:

Individuals for whom writing will be a major component of their job responsibilities, e.g., broadcasters, legal professionals, or reporters.

Upon completion of this certificate, participants will be able to:

• Identify and analyze audience traits and perspectives
• Determine a specific goal and/or purpose of a document, then organize and develop clearly written prose in support of that purpose
• Apply concentrated knowledge of a specialized communication topic

This certificate is applicable to such fields as print and online writing professions, health professions, and nonprofit organizations.

Admission requirements

Students must meet requirements for admission to the College of General Studies. A certificate application form must be completed and submitted to the College of General Studies online at https://www.cgs.pitt.edu/admission. To avoid a late fee, you should complete this process when registering for courses.

Obtaining the certificate

To receive the certificate, you must fill out an application with your academic advisor prior to completing your last term in the program. Check with your academic advisor for the application filing form and deadline, and be sure all requirements for the certificate have been met. To avoid a late fee, you should complete this process when registering for the term.