ASU Department of English - Writing Certificate Program

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Requirements for the Writing Certificate

Introduction
Each student must apply for admission to the program. After successfully completing 15 hours of required courses as well as an internship and a portfolio pro-seminar, the student will receive the Certificate.

Admission requirements
The student must have completed the First Year Composition sequence (101/102 or 105 or 107/108 or their equivalent) with a grade of B or better. The student must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or better. (If the prospective student is not enrolled in a degree program, this requirement may be waived).

Submit an application packet to Elizabeth McNeil, Undergraduate Academic Advisor, or to the English Department office.

The Application Packet
Complete an "Application to the Writing Certificate Program." Submit it along with the following:

application essay (1-2 pages, explaining how your experience and training--within and outside the university--have prepared you for the program, indicating your career goals and explaining how these goals relate to the Writing Certificate Program)
critical paper or research paper (5-10 pages, written for a recently completed course; or a workplace writing sample)
letters of recommendation (from two teachers or supervisors who address your aptitude for advanced writing and potential for success in the program)
official transcripts (from all colleges and universities you have attended). This is important because we must verify completion of the English 101/102 sequence and your GPA of 3.0

The Writing Certificate Internship
The Internship (ENG 484) places you in a work environment in which you will gain professional experience in writing. You may work with professional writers and public information experts in a corporate communications department, nonprofit organization, publishing house, public utility, health care organization, research consulting firm, or government agency. You will submit progress reports and a final report that describes and evaluates your internship experience. (To participate in the internship, you must have maintained a 3.0 GPA in the courses of your Writing Certificate Program of Study.)

The Writing Certificate Portfolio
When you have completed your course work, you will take Pro-Seminar ENG 498 and submit a portfolio of your best writing from a wide range of assignments. You will also include an essay which analyzes stylistic, substantive, and cultural components of writing in your field. Contact the Director of the Writing Certificate Program to register for ENG 498.

The Courses for the Writing Certificate
To earn a Writing Certificate, you must complete 15 hours of advanced writing instruction, 3 hours of Internship credit, and 1 hour of Portfolio credit. You will choose most of your classes from a list of courses offered by the ASU English Department. You may include electives from other departments with permission of the Writing Certificate Program Director. Consult with the English advisor to prepare a Program of Study which may be designed to suit individual needs. Note: Credit for First-Year Composition courses are not included in the total hours required.

In general, the Program of Study includes a 16 hour core of English writing courses and 3 additional hours chosen either from English writing courses or from courses related to writing and design from other departments on campus.

Each student must complete all core courses. Students may complete one course from List B or they may take one course from another department. An elective from another department must be approved by the Director of the Writing Certificate Program.

A. Complete all core courses

ENG 216 Persuasive Writing on Public Issues or ENG 412 Creative Nonfiction
ENG 301 Writing for the Professions
ENG 372 Document Production
ENG 472 Rhetorical Studies
ENG 484 Writing Internship
ENG 494 Pro-Seminar: Portfolio (1 credit hour)

Also required is an additional 3-credit-hour writing course in English (see suggested list below) or a writing or design course (3 credit hours) from another ASU department. The latter requires approval from the Director of the Writing Certificate Program. All students are required to submit a portfolio before receiving the certificate.

B. Additional English courses

ENG 212 English Prose Style
ENG 215 Strategies of Academic Writing
ENG 217 Writing Reflective Essays
ENG 218 Writing about Literature
ENG 374 Technical Editing
ENG 494 Magazine Writing
ENG 494 Review Writing
ENG 494 Writing for Non-Profit Organizations
Note: ENG 494 courses may be repeated for credit.