Designing a Master of Arts Program in Professional Writing for Employed Adults.

Abstract

There is an increasing need in professional settings for individuals who are skilled communicators, yet there are fewer than twelve Master's level programs in technical or professional writing in the United States. None of these programs is designed for employed adults, who might like further training but can not afford to leave their jobs to return to the campus. The Whitehead Center for Lifelong Learning, an external degree college of the University of Redl and s in California, asked me to design an M.A. in professional writing, to be piloted in Southern California, starting in 1983. This report documents my research into the field of professional writing, proposes a program design, and offers a resource guide for the faculty and administrators of the proposed program. It is designed to serve as a guide in establishing the M.A. program, and as a discussion of issues involved in planning curricula, for administrators at other schools who are seeking to establish similar programs. The report includes discussion of: the needs of adult learners; existing M.A. and M.S. programs in professional writing; skills a communicator uses; teaching methodology; program and course design. It presents a thorough discussion of topics covered in the proposed courses, the relation of course structure to learning quality, and several sample syllabi. The Resource Guide includes listings of professional organizations, conferences, journals, and a broad-ranging bibliography of books and articles.