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Degrees and Certificates
Professional and Technical Writing
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Certificate in Professional and Technical Writing
In the Professional and Technical Writing Certificate program, students learn the writing, research, technological, and analytical strategies necessary for proficient writing in the 21st-century workplace. Graduates will be able to express themselves efficiently, ethically, and with style in the genres and modalities used in professional and technical writing. Foundational concepts, knowledge, and practices are developed in an introductory course.
Students then tailor their program by selecting courses in technical writing, professional writing, editing, and other areas based on their career goals. The program is ideal for students whose career aspirations include grant writing, publishing and editing, public relations and marketing, administration, or technical writing.
The field of professional and technical communication encompasses a number of related disciplines that include:
The program consists of 12 credit hours taken from the following courses, all of which are three credit hours:
Required:
Select 3.
Why AUM?
Our differences are our strengths!
Award-Winning
AUM is honored to have received many national and regional awards over the years. U.S. News & World Report named AUM one of its Top Public Schools for 2021, and Yahoo! Finance honored us as one of the Most Affordable Universities for 2021.
Affordable
We think a high-quality, graduate education should be affordable. Tuition rates for many of our programs are lower than at comparable universities. In addition, scholarship or other kinds of tuition assistance may be available.
Close-Knit
AUM offers a close-knit community where students and faculty get to know each other by name and develop valuable professional networks. We are able to keep class sizes small to facilitate group projects and personalized learning.
Career-Focused
We understand that one of the main reasons you are here is to expand your career options. That’s why our programs are practical and often apply to your current work situation. You’ll also have the opportunity to get valuable career assistance.
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Quick Facts
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
At AUM’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, you will have powerful learning experiences, working side by side with professors who have real-world experience.
Our academic departments include Communication and Theatre, Criminal Justice, Economics, English and Philosophy, Fine Arts, History and World Cultures, Political Science and Public Administration, Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work, and Army ROTC. To help you pay for college, you might qualify for one of our scholarships.
Official Name of the Certificate
Certificate in Professional and Technical Writing
Modality
This degree requires students to meet on campus. Students in these courses enroll in a program to connect in a campus setting and to collaborate using a variety of technological and educational tools. Professors play an inspirational role in building relationships among teams and individuals in this setting. The criteria for many programs can only be met with In-Class coursework. Be sure to check with your advisor to understand the best route to take.
Contact Us
Need More Information?
Aaron Cobb
Chair, Professor of Philosophy | College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
I began working at AUM in 2010. Prior to that, I completed a Ph.D. in Philosophy at Saint Louis University, a M.A. in Philosophy from Western Michigan University, and a B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology from Greenville University.
My dissertation focused on 19th-century British philosophy of science. I was interested in debates among these philosophers concerning the role of experiment in the justification of scientific knowledge. Although my research focused in this area, my teaching experience at Saint Louis University focused broadly on applied ethics, the history of philosophy, and in philosophy of religion. Since coming to AUM, I have continued to teach courses in these areas. And my research interests have shifted to focus broadly on virtues and vices in both ethics and epistemology. I have written two books: A Virtue-Based Defense of Perinatal Hospice and Loving Samuel: Suffering, Dependence, and the Calling of Love, a philosophical and theological memoir on the life and death of his son. I’m currently working on a third book, under contract with Cambridge Elements series The Problems of God, tentatively titled Suffering, Virtue, and God.
In addition to my teaching and research within the Department of English and Philosophy, in 2017 I took on the role of coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Studies degree plan. In this role, I oversee all aspects of the program including advising students and teaching the Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone course.