Professional Writing Concentration Added to M.A. in English

The College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce the launch of a new concentration option in Professional Writing within its Master of Arts in English program, effective Fall 2024.

Designed to meet growing industry demand for skilled communicators in technical and professional fields, the Professional Writing concentration will complement the program's existing concentrations in Literature, Writing and Creative Writing, offering students greater flexibility to align their academic studies with their career aspirations.

The Professional Writing concentration will include a new "Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing" course, as well as electives in American and British literature. Additionally, students will be required to complete a professional internship, providing real-world opportunities to apply their skills in industries such as publishing, healthcare and public relations.

Future electives may include electives in medical writing, legal writing, prompt engineering, digital content creation and more. One of the major aims of the program is to teach students how to write and edit prose that is distinctively superior to the unavoidably generic product of generative AI-writing that will distinguish them from artificial intelligence.

Interim Dean Jonathan Farina, Ph.D., who is both an English professor and former director of graduate studies for the program, emphasized the thoughtfulness of the new concentration, constructed with both current and prospective students in mind.

"Compelling storytelling is fundamental to business, medicine, law and even cybersecurity and data-all careers where people succeed only if they can translate ideas, data trends, and technical details into credible and interesting stories that motivate executives, boards, and consumers to act. The introduction of the Professional Writing concentration positions our M.A. in English to better serve students with a wider range of professional interests. Intentionally designed to support students looking to transition seamlessly into the job market or pursue advanced degrees in law, medicine, or business," Farina said.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a seven percent increase in demand for technical writers over the next decade, while U.S. News & World Report recently ranked technical writing as the second-best job in creative and media industries. Yet, despite this strong demand, no other university in New Jersey offers a graduate program in English focused specifically on technical and professional writing.

"It directly reflects the changing landscape of the workforce, where distinctive writing, creativity, cultural awareness and technical communication skills in specialized contexts are more valuable than ever. This degree allows students to indulge in some great stories but also to learn directly how to apply great writing to work in marketing, content creation, legal writing, technical writing or management," emphasized Farina.

Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies of the M.A. in English program Russell Sbriglia, added: "This track opens doors for a new group of students who may not have considered a traditional English master's degree, but are looking to apply their love for writing in a professional context. And, students often tell us that real-world experience is what sets them apart when they enter the job market, so the internship requirement ensures that students graduate with not only the theoretical knowledge but also the applied skills needed to transition seamlessly into becoming tomorrow's writers and communicators."

The M.A. English program is offered in a hybrid format with classes held in the evening, making it accessible to recent graduates and working professionals.

In addition, competitively funded teaching assistantship (TA) positions are available exclusively for M.A. in English candidates. With tuition benefits and an annual stipend, these positions incorporate unparallel mentorship and training with independent experience teaching at the university level.

Applications for the new Professional Writing concentration within the M.A. in English are now open. Interested students can visit the M.A. English program page or contact Associate Dean Michael Dooney for more information.

Categories: Arts and Culture, Education