Check out the following links and resources as you navigate the professional writing minor. Thanks to Sarah Spearman for putting together this great list!

Explore Professional Writing at UC Davis!

The professional writing minor offers a variety of exciting opportunities for students, but it can be hard to begin gathering important information to succeed in the minor. Delve into the resources below to learn about important deadlines and forms, securing internships, helpful writing support, and writing-related activities and internships.

General Information

• Minor Declaration
• Minor Requirements
• Contact Information
• Course Schedule 
• Course Descriptions
• College guidelines for unit requirements and limitations:
  • College of Agricultural and Environmental Science
  • College of Biological Sciences
  • College of Engineering
  • College of Letters and Science
• Quarter Deadlines

Internships

• Request for Approval of Internship for Academic Credit. Complete this form as soon as you have located an internship to gain approval of internship units.
• Aggie Handshake. Use Aggie Handshake to search for writing-related job or internship opportunities. 
• Internship and Career Center (ICC). Visit the ICC to learn how to build networks, practice for and develop job interview skills, and draft an engaging resume. 
• Internship Directory. Email uwppeeradvisor@ucdavis.edu to request access to the internship directory provided by the Professional Writing Program. 

On-Campus Writing Resources

• The Writing Support Center. Visit the Writing Support Center and learn from a variety of experienced instructors. Services include tutoring, the Writing Studio, classes, and workshops. 
• Aggie Grammar Guide (AGG). Refresh and practice your grammar skills with this online grammar guide provided by the Academic Assistance and Tutoring Center (AATC) at UC Davis.
• Citation Style Guide. Learn about different citation styles and how to use them.

Get Involved!

• Prized Writing. Read other students’ writing! This publication showcases outstanding writing pieces from UC Davis undergraduates.
• The California Aggie. Stay up-to-date with campus and city news. This student-run newspaper also offers volunteer opportunities for students to get hands-on experience with writing and editing for a publication.  
• Peer tutoring for Entry-Level Writing courses. Tutor and help fellow UC Davis students who are taking Entry-Level Writing courses. Tutors can receive UWP 197 credit (this is not the same as UWP 192 credit). 
• Writing Ambassadors. Get experience teaching and helping teachers in a K–12 setting. Interns can receive UWP 197TC credit (this is not the same as UWP 192 credit).
• University Writing Program (UWP) Facebook page
• Professional Writing Minor Facebook group

Explore the Field of Professional Writing!

The field of professional writing includes a wide range of careers and writing specialities. Whether you are interested in technical editing, medical writing, or user experience (UX) writing, there are graduate programs and career opportunities that will allow you to pursue your passions. Professional associations in the field also provide support for writers and editors in different specialty areas.

Career Paths for Professional Writers

Visit the following pages to learn more about potential career paths in the professional writing field. 

• Careers in Professional Writing
• Career Resources
• Careers in Professional Writing and Communication
• Career Options 
• The Technical Communication Body of Knowledge (TCBOK). Browse through TCBOK to learn about technical communication, a big branch of professional writing. This introductory resource provides information about different career paths within technical communication, journals, research, and professional associations within the field.

Graduate School Opportunities

Explore the many options to study in a professional writing graduate program! Students will develop skills to be a flexible professional writer in a variety of fields, build networks, and advance their careers. Many graduate programs also offer students teaching assistantships, which generally come with free tuition and a stipend. 

• Advising. Speak with a UC Davis undergraduate advisor for guidance as you plan your next move, whether it’s towards a career or graduate school. 
• Master’s Degree Consortium of Writing Studies Specialists. Use this helpful directory of graduate programs in writing studies across the country. Writing studies encompass a variety of specializations, such as professional and technical communication, rhetoric and composition, scientific communication, information design, and more.  
• Academic Database from the Society of Technical Communication (STC). Check out this guide to different universities that offer graduate programs in technical, scientific, and professional communication (may need to be updated).  
• Graduate Schools in Journalism.

Resumes and CVs

Craft an accurate and attractive resume that will highlight your skills and experiences. When searching for a job, resumes, CVs, and cover letters are among the first things employers will read about you, so it’s crucial to make a good first impression. The following advice and guides from UC Davis, OWL Purdue, and other universities will help clarify how to create a good and clear introduction from yourself to your future employers. 

• Addressing Qualifications, Transferable Skills, Action Verbs
• Resumes and CVs
• Resumes, CVs, Portfolio (from UC Davis ICC)
• CVs (guide from Marquette University)
• Resumes (video guide from NC State)
• Resumes and CVs (from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Career Planning & Resource Center)

Professional Associations

Stay connected with fellow writing professionals and remain updated about new developments in your field! There are numerous professional associations that support professionals as they progress in their writing/editing/communication careers. Many associations have annual conferences, publications/journals, and the chance to earn research grants.

• American Association for Applied Linguistics
• American Communication Association
• American Medical Writers Association (AMWA)
• Association for Business Communication (ABC)
• Bay Area Editors Forum
• Editorial Freelancers Association: Northern California Chapter 
• Institute of Professional Editors
• International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
• International Federation of Journalists
• National Association of Science Writers
• National Communication Association (NCA)
• Professional Communication Society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (PCS IEEE) 
• Society for Technical Communication (STC)
• Society of Professional Journalists
• Special Interest Group on Design of Communication (SIGDOC)

Scholarships and Awards

• Dr. Kenneth M. Gordon Memorial Scholarship. Ask a UWP advisor, at uwpadvisor@ucdavis.edu, for more information about this annual, regional scholarship. 
• STC Scholarship Committee

Career Information Databases

• America’s Career Infonet
• Occupational Outlook Handbook

Coming Soon

• Professional Writing Minor Alumni Spotlights
• Professional Writing Faculty Spotlights