Description of the skills professional writing students develop in the University of Louisiana @ Lafayette's Professional Writing Program.

1. Professional Writing
@ the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Professional Writing (PW) provides knowledge and experience composing in a wide range of
professional and technical genres for a wide range of audiences (both print and online) as
well as in document design, editing, and collaborating with others in creating texts for
business, government, and technical purposes.
Professional Writing Students Learn
To Work in a Professional Organization
Professional writing students learn what it takes to work in a professional organization. They
develop 1) time­management and project management skills by creating work plans and
schedules and 2) working as a team . They learn to 3) write clear and concise internal
communications in the form of memos and reports.
Technical Writing Skills
Professional writing students develop technical writing skills. They learn to 1) analyze
audiences and read contexts before producing a document. They develop the ability to 2)
translate difficult subject matter into clear and concise text that suits a range of audiences.
They 3) write in technical genres , creating white papers, instructions, analytical reports, and
proposals. They learn to 4) write and follow style guides .
New Media Skills
Professional writing students develop new media skills. They learn 1) visual design
principles to translate difficult subjects into image­based compositions. They learn 2)
graphic design and video­editing software to create infographics, screen­capture tutorials,
and digital stories. They learn to 3) create a social media plan and write creative/informative
content to fulfill the plan.
Analytical Skills
Professional writing students learn to analyze documents and work contexts. They learn
how to 1) conduct usability studies to test the effectiveness of documents and interfaces.
They learn 2) qualitative research methods to inform their writing.
Programs Offered @ UL Lafayette
Undergraduate: Minor in PW | BA in English with a concentration in PW
Graduate: Graduate Certificate in PW | MA in English with a concentration in PW
For more information contact:
Randy Gonzales, Director, Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing
Office: 337­482­5486 | Cell: 985­445­4154 | randy.gonzales@louisiana.edu