Program highlights
- Two related fields. One focused credential. The professional and technical writing graduate certificate brings together professional writing and technical communication. It helps students build practical skills in writing, editing, visual rhetoric and digital communication.
- Asynchronous online format. Complete the certificate online whenever it’s convenient for you – a great flexible format for working professionals.
- Focused 12-credit credential. Build specialized expertise in professional writing and technical communication in just four graduate-level English courses.
- Multiple pathways. Pursue the certificate as part of BGSU’s M.A. in English or as a stand-alone credential.
Public university in Ohio for career prep
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Career opportunities
The professional and technical writing graduate certificate prepares students for writing, editing and communication roles in business, technology, science, education, public service and other professional settings.
The certificate is especially relevant for students who want to work as professional writers, technical writers, editors, communication specialists or writing instructors. Graduates develop skills in audience analysis, document design, revision, inclusive communication and writing for multiple professional contexts.
Career paths
- Technical writer
- Professional writer
- Technical editor
- Web content writer
- Documentation specialist
- Content strategist
- Communications specialist
- Writing instructor
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Curriculum
The professional and technical writing graduate certificate is a 12-credit program offered asynchronously online.
The curriculum’s four courses emphasize how to:
- Write and edit professional and technical documents
- Create effective visual and digital communication
- Adapt content for multiple audiences and contexts
- Apply theories of rhetoric and technical communication
- Develop communication strategies attentive to accessibility, diversity, equity and inclusion
- Write for web-based platforms and professional digital environments
Program courses
- Writing for the Web
- Visual Rhetoric
- Technical and Professional Communication
- Professional and Technical Editing
Flexible certificate options
The professional and technical writing certificate can be completed as a standalone credential or paired with another BGSU graduate degree.
Students may:
- Complete the certificate on its own
- Apply credits toward an MA in English at BGSU
- Complete the certificate alongside another approved graduate degree at BGSU
With permission from their original graduate degree program, students in programs outside of English may also earn the certificate as a complementary credential.
BGSU is one of only a handful of universities in the nation — and the only one in Ohio — to earn the Quality Matters Online Learner Support certificate for all of our online programs. This recognition reflects our commitment to providing the critical support and academic services that online students need to succeed.
The professional and technical writing graduate certificate is a program within the English Department of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Updated: 08/13/2026 01:37PM