Professional and Public Writing Minor

Do you want to improve your effectiveness as a writer in preparation for your career? Do you want to learn the kinds of approaches that skilled writers use to persuade their audiences and communicate their positions in a savvy way?  Writing is among the most important skills to have as you enter the workforce.  In fact, written communication was ranked among the top four “Must-Haves” by employers who evaluate the career-readiness of new hires.

Montclair State’s Professional and Public Writing minor is the perfect complement to any major. Employers want to hire people with excellent written communication skills, making students with a background in professional writing strong job candidates. With this minor, you will learn about the various forms of writing that you are likely to encounter in the workplace and how to adapt your writing to different audiences and purposes. In the minor you will create professional documents, including proposals, reports, presentations, websites, client correspondence, and digital media. Courses include a range of offerings such as Digital Writing, Co-authoring and Collaboration, Workplace Writing, Strategies for Argumentation, and Grant Writing. With experience in professional writing, you will position yourself as someone who understands the complexities of writing in the 21^st Century.

What others are saying:

“Without the Professional and Public Writing minor, I’m not sure that I would have gotten a job as quickly as I did after graduating. Every employer I interviewed with was intrigued by the idea of professional writing, and it was a great way to assure them of my written communication skills. It made me a unique candidate.”

–Meghan Hauser, Media Research Associate for the Meltwater Group

“In my current profession, I interact with high-value clients. The minor has helped me understand their perspective and maintain a professional tone while considering the intricacies of each individual’s wants and needs.”

–Matt Kinsel, Property Coordinator at Fieldstone Insurance Group

“Professional and Public Writing can benefit everyone. Whether you’re a Psychology major, Criminal Justice major, or Physical Therapy/Physiology major, it is key to be able to communicate through the written word.”

–Nina Rodriguez, Communication major

Interested in learning more?

Dr. Caroline Dadas, director of Professional and Public Writing, is happy to speak with you about how to pair the minor with your major.</p

• E-mail: dadasc@montclair.edu
• Location: Dickson Hall, Room 134