At the same time, theory courses provide the necessary background to help students understand and appreciate the larger issues surrounding the writing and reading of texts.

As a liberal arts degree, the Professional Writing major is appropriate for students who wish to develop a set of applied communication skills to prepare for a wide range of professional positions or for graduate or professional schools. The degree differs from most current English majors in at least three ways:

• a practical orientation prepares graduates for employment, in addition to post-graduate English studies
• a multidisciplinary focus integrates courses from the liberal arts, business, and information technology
• a required internship ensures that students actively apply their skills