We, the undersigned, support the development of a major in Professional Writing
at UC Davis.
Professional writing is the study of writing--how it is created, disseminated,
understood, and used--in private, public, and academic contexts. It is a
disciplined, theoretically grounded practice, rooted in an understanding of
communication not only as a professional skill, but also as a rhetorical act and a
force for sociocultural, environmental, and political change.
The professional writing major would help students to develop advanced writing
skills, with an emphasis on writing for/in diverse disciplines, communities, and
cultures and on writing in both print and digital environments (e.g., web
authoring, multimedia writing, social media writing).
The major would prepare students for successful careers as writers and
communication specialists in a range of fields, such as law, medicine, consulting,
technical communication, publishing, journalism, editing, community advocacy,
public relations, and education. The major would also prepare students for
graduate study in rhetoric and composition, professional writing, or technical
communication.