About

ECU is the region’s premier destination for studying professional writing and information design, offering the only fully online program of its kind and pairing accessibility with exceptional academic quality.

Program Overview: Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science program in professional writing and information design, students will be prepared for careers in writing and designing information, including AI-assisted strategies, for industry, science, technology, engineering, government and health contexts; editing and publishing; user experience and usability; information design; documentation; content creation; and document management.

These information professionals are in demand by tech sector companies; product design and machinery production distributors; the pharmaceutical, medical and financial services industries; and government and nonprofit agencies, to name a few.

ECU Advantage

Our curriculum is taught by nationally recognized faculty who bring deep expertise in technical communication, UX content, digital rhetoric and information design. With ECU’s commitment to affordability, students gain high-impact, career-ready skills without the financial burden often associated with specialized programs. And for those eager to accelerate their professional trajectory, our BS–MA pathway provides a streamlined route to advanced credentials, allowing motivated students to earn both degrees faster and more efficiently. ECU is where flexible learning, expert mentorship, and forward-thinking design education come together.

What You Will Study

Program Co-Coordinators:

The Professional Writing and Information Design, BS will prepare students for careers in writing and designing information for industry, science, technology, engineering, government, and health contexts; editing and publishing; user experience and usability; information design, documentation, content creation, and document management.

Technical communicators and information designers bridge the gap between subject matter experts (e.g., scientists and engineers) and those who must understand or implement their ideas. These information professionals are in demand by software, hardware, consumer electronics, pharmaceutical, and financial services industries.

In the program, students will study concepts and practices in writing and digital literacy; multimedia composition; documentation; editing and publishing in print and electronic media using a range of editorial and citation styles; document design, production, and management; user experience, usability, and accessibility of information; web-based writing, management, and design. Graduates will leave the program knowledgeable in these fields' important concepts and with skills focused in one or more related areas.

Visit the Department of English BS in PWID for more information. 

Minimum degree requirement is 120 s.h. as follows:

1. General education requirements - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

    2. Core - 46 s.h.
      a. Persuasive and technical/professional writing - 33 s.h.
      • ENGL 2885 - Writing and Document Design
      • ENGL 3030 - Introduction to Rhetorical Studies
      • ENGL 3040 - Introduction to Professional Writing
      • ENGL 3050 - Introduction to Information Design
      • ENGL 3835 - Persuasive Writing
      • ENGL 3870 - Introduction to Editing and Publishing
      • ENGL 4780 - Technical Writing
      • ENGL 4900 - Professional Practices in Professional Writing and Information Design
        • Choose three courses from the following:
        • ENGL 2815 - Introduction to Creative Writing
        • ENGL 2830 - Writing and Style
        • ENGL 3810 - Advanced Composition
        • ENGL 3820 - Scientific Writing
        • ENGL 3860 - Introduction to Creative Nonfiction Writing
        • ENGL 3875 - Introduction to Writing Studies
        • ENGL 3880 - Writing for Business and Industry
        • ENGL 3895 - Topics in Technical and Professional Writing
        • ENGL 4785 - Project Management in Professional Communication
        • ENGL 4825 - Writing, Rhetoric, and Social Movements
        • ENGL 4885 - Digital Writing
      b. Language - 6 s.h.
      • LING 2050 - English for Global Communication OR
      • LING 3720 - Writing Systems of the World
        • Choose one course from the following:
        • LING 2700 - Introduction to Language Studies
        • LING 2710 - English Grammar
        • LING 2720 - Invented Languages
        • LING 2740 - Language in the USA
        • LING 2760 - Afro-Caribbean Language and Culture
        • LING 3700 - History of the English Language
        • LING 3730 - The Structure of English: Phonology and Morphology
        • LING 3740 - The Structure of English: Syntax and Semantics
        • LING 3750 - Introductory Linguistics
        • LING 3770 - Language and Cognition
        • LING 4730 - Language and Society
      c. Professional development - 7 s.h.
      • ENGL 4890 - Practicum: Careers in Writing
      • ENGL 4891 - Practicum: Careers in Writing
      • ENGL 4999 - English Professional Seminar
    3. Electives - 15 s.h.

    Choose ENGL, FILM, or LING electives (exclusive of writing foundations courses [GE:EN]). Note: Qualified undergraduates may take 5000-level ENGL courses as electives.

      4. Minor and/or electives to complete requirements for graduation
        For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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