Effective writing and communication skills are consistently ranked among the top skills employers look for in new hires.
Gain the credentials and skills you need to get ahead in a competitive job market; add Honours Minor degree in Professional Writing to your resumé.
A Professional Writing Honours Minor degree will enhance any Bachelor of Arts degree. The Minor’s degree requirements afford you maximum flexibility to tailor the degree to your interests, with just one required course in the second year (AP/PRWR 2006 3.00).
Example pathways through the Minor:
It is possible to tailor your course choices to develop a focused set of skills in a particular area of professional writing. The following example degree pathways show ways to develop expertise in particular areas of professional writing.
Let us know what areas of professional writing you’re interested in, and we can recommend the best courses for you. Contact us at lapswrit@yorku.ca
Click through the tabs below for example pathways through the minor!
Develop expertise for writing in industry and organizations
Create clear, concise, effective documents that address issues, build networks and achieve results
| Requirement | Recommended Courses |
|---|---|
| Six credits at the 1000-level | PRWR 1003 6.00 Professional Writing: An Introduction |
| Six credits at the 2000-level, including AP/PRWR 2006 3.00 | PRWR 2007 3.00 Rhetoric Strategy and Application |
| Six credits at the 3000-level | PRWR 3003 3.00 Introduction to Corporate/Organizational Writing PRWR 3010 3.00 Practical Studies in Damage Control |
| Six credits at the 4000-level | PRWR 4003 6.00 Organizational Writing Practicum |
| Six elective credits in WRIT or PRWR | PRWR 2710 3.00 Grammar & Proofreading PRWR 3810 3.00 Digesting Technical Information PRWR 3013 3.00 Race, Culture and Professional Writing PRWR 4000 3.00 Activist Rhetorics |
Note: Students who use a course in the AP/WRIT 1700 series (e.g., AP/WRIT 1700 9.00, AP/WRIT 1701 9.0, AP/WRIT 1702 6.00, or AP/WRIT 1703 6.00) to satisfy the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies General Education requirement cannot also use the course to satisfy the 1000-level requirement of the Honours Minor BA.
Use the Minor in Professional Writing to develop expertise in digital writing
Create visually and sonically rich digital texts with high impact.
| Requirements | Recommended Courses |
|---|---|
| Six credits at the 1000-level | PRWR 1003 6.00 Professional Writing: An Introduction |
| Six credits at the 2000-level, including AP/PRWR 2006 3.00 | PRWR 2004 3.00 Writing in Digital Cultures |
| Six credits at the 3000-level | PRWR 3001 3.00 Intermediate Digital Authoring PRWR 3012 3.00 Programming for Professional Writers |
| Six credits at the 4000-level | PRWR 4001 6.00 Digital Authoring Practicum |
| Six elective credits in WRIT or PRWR | PRWR 3013 3.00 Race, Culture and Professional Writing PRWR 3014 3.00 Professional Writing and the Senses: Composing with Beer, Food and Beyond PRWR 4000 3.00 Activist Rhetorics PRWR 4103 3.00 Video Game Rhetorics |
Note: Students who use a course in the AP/WRIT 1700 series (e.g., AP/WRIT 1700 9.00, AP/WRIT 1701 9.0, AP/WRIT 1702 6.00, or AP/WRIT 1703 6.00) to satisfy the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies General Education requirement cannot also use the course to satisfy the 1000-level requirement of the Honours Minor BA.
Develop expertise in periodical writing
Become a sought-after writer for magazines, blogs, newsletters, and websites.
| Requirements | Recommended Courses |
|---|---|
| Six credits at the 1000-level | PRWR 1003 6.00 Professional Writing: An Introduction |
| Six credits at the 2000-level, including AP/PRWR 2006 3.00 | PRWR 2100 3.00 Studies in Non-Fiction |
| Six credits at the 3000-level | PRWR 3011 3.00 Reading the News PRWR 3002 3.00 Introduction to Periodical and Publishing Writing |
| Six credits at the 4000-level | PRWR 4002 6.00 Periodical Writing and Publishing Practicum |
| Six elective credits in WRIT or PRWR | PRWR 3014 3.00 Professional Writing and the Senses: Composing with Beer, Food and Beyond PRWR 3013 3.00 Race, Culture and Professional Writing PRWR 4000 3.00 Activist Rhetorics PRWR 4005 3.00 Travel Writing & the Professional Writer PRWR 4102 3.00 Sports Writing |
Note: Students who use a course in the AP/WRIT 1700 series (e.g., AP/WRIT 1700 9.00, AP/WRIT 1701 9.0, AP/WRIT 1702 6.00, or AP/WRIT 1703 6.00) to satisfy the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies General Education requirement cannot also use the course to satisfy the 1000-level requirement of the Honours Minor BA.
Use the Minor in Professional Writing to develop expertise in editorial processes and publications
Prepare, market and publish fiction, non-fiction, or anthologies of varied works
| Requirements | Recommended Courses |
|---|---|
| Six credits at the 1000-level | PRWR 1003 6.00 Professional Writing: An Introduction |
| Six credits at the 2000-level, including AP/PRWR 2006 3.00 | PRWR 2710 3.00 Grammar & Proofreading |
| Six credits at the 3000-level | PRWR 3910 3.00 The Mechanics of Style PRWR 3004 3.00 Books and Bookmaking in the 21st Century |
| Six credits at the 4000-level | PRWR 4004 6.00 Book Publishing Practicum |
| Six elective credits in WRIT or PRWR | PRWR 4801 3.00 Multimedia Authoring and Practices PRWR 2100 3.00 Studies in Non-Fiction |
Note: Students who use a course in the AP/WRIT 1700 series (e.g., AP/WRIT 1700 9.00, AP/WRIT 1701 9.0, AP/WRIT 1702 6.00, or AP/WRIT 1703 6.00) to satisfy the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies General Education requirement cannot also use the course to satisfy the 1000-level requirement of the Honours Minor BA.
Use the Minor in Professional Writing to develop expertise in editorial processes and publications
Design, coordinate, and edit publications that engage with readers on both textual and visual levels.
| Requirements | Recommended Courses |
|---|---|
| Six credits at the 1000-level | PRWR 1003 6.00 Professional Writing: An Introduction |
| Six credits at the 2000-level, including AP/PRWR 2006 3.00 | PRWR 2710 3.00 Grammar & Proofreading |
| Six credits at the 3000-level | PRWR 3730 3.00 Substantive Editing PRWR 3910 3.00 The Mechanics of Style |
| Six credits at the 4000-level | PRWR 4800 3.00 Visual Information & Document Design PRWR 4000 3.00 Activist Rhetorics |
| Six elective credits in WRIT or PRWR | PRWR 3013 3.00 Race, Culture and Professional Writing PRWR 2007 3.00 Rhetoric: Strategy and Application PRWR 2100 3.00 Studies in Non-Fiction |
Note: Students who use a course in the AP/WRIT 1700 series (e.g., AP/WRIT 1700 9.00, AP/WRIT 1701 9.0, AP/WRIT 1702 6.00, or AP/WRIT 1703 6.00) to satisfy the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies General Education requirement cannot also use the course to satisfy the 1000-level requirement of the Honours Minor BA.