College Degree in Writing: Career Options for Graduates with a College Degree in Writing

Published Aug 12, 2009

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Language is essential to any business, and writers are in the business of language. Many Writing career options exist for those who write skillfully and effectively, from a playwright for a community theater to a proposal writer at an engineering firm to a pharmaceutical copywriter. Whether you earn an associate's, bachelor's or master's degree in Writing, you can use your skills to gain employment in a number of fields. Continue reading to learn more about career options available to graduates of Writing degree programs.

Associate's Degree in Writing Career Summary

An associate's degree program in Writing is a quick way to develop the skills needed to write creatively and effectively. Students earning an associate's degree in Writing are introduced to genres such as fiction, journalism or nonfiction. They may move on to a Writing program at a 4-year college or pursue a Writing career as a freelance journalist, book author, copywriter or editor. Potential employers include advertising agencies, book publishers, communications departments, magazines, newspapers and public relations firms.

Bachelor's Degree in Writing Career Summary

There are two types of Writing programs at the bachelor's level: creative writing and professional writing. A degree program leading to a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing encourages students to develop their talents as writers of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, drama and screenplays. Many creative writing graduates pursue careers as writing instructors or editors at publishing houses and magazines, while some work exclusively as full-time authors. A bachelor's degree program in professional writing is more career-oriented. The curriculum prepares you to become a writing and communications specialist in a number of areas, such as government, finance, education, advocacy, journalism and corporate communications.

Master's Degree in Writing Career Summary

Students who earn a master's degree in professional and technical writing gain valuable skills in communication, design, project management and publication, according to the English department at the University of Houston-Downtown, which offers a Master of Science in Professional Writing and Technical Communication degree program. With a master's degree in professional or technical writing, you can pursue a Writing or editorial career with a science, technical or medical (STM) publisher; create documents such as proposals and technical manuals for engineering, science or technology firms; work in corporate communications or public relations professional; or cover the areas of science, technology or medicine as a freelance journalist.

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