Rhetoric and Professional Writing, Undergraduate Certificate

In addition to University Requirements:

• Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion	15
Major GPA	3.0

Purpose Statement

The Certificate in Rhetoric and Professional Writing emphasizes the importance of critical reading, reflection, writing, digital media, and spoken language to educate knowledgeable citizens who understand and appreciate their civic, professional, and personal responsibilities in an increasingly global community. Certificate courses prepare students for intercultural and interdisciplinary communication practices in digital and traditional work and community settings. Students gain experience with rhetorical theory and persuasive argumentation, global communication practices, social media literacy, digital literacies and multimedia writing, and professional and public discourse conventions through theory-based application projects. Certificate courses provide students from all disciplines with excellent foundations for workplace writing as well as for graduate programs in rhetoric, writing, digital media, communication, and composition studies.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who receive an undergraduate certificate in Rhetoric and Professional Writing will work with text, images, and/or media to:

• Develop a systematic understanding of how arguments function in particular contexts and of the ethical dilemmas involved in persuasion and communication, building on historical and contemporary rhetoric and composition theory sources.
• Evaluate and investigate how societal, historical, and economic factors influence literacy and communication practices across global communication efforts.
• Analyze and apply processes for writing, designing, and communicating via text, image, and/or visual media to effectively negotiate academic, professional environments.
• Organize sentences, choose words, and orally deliver arguments in ways that demonstrate understanding of the rhetorical significance of phrases and sentences.
• Research, evaluate, and incorporate multiple information resources, use appropriate citations in a paper or project, and question current norms and dominant cultural assumptions expressed in text and digital media.
• Apply research on significant issues related to global learning, diversity, and sustainable educational and environmental practices to textual and digital projects.
• Demonstrate the depth and breadth of knowledge acquired in discipline-based and liberal studies coursework by identifying, analyzing, and engaging in important local, national, and global discussions from multiple interdisciplinary viewpoints, with an understanding of the interdependence of civic, political, economic, environmental, and/or social systems.

Certificate Requirements

• Take the following 15 units with a cumulative GPA of 3.0:

  • A maximum of 6 units of lower-division coursework may count toward this certificate.
    • Select two courses from: ENG 110, ENG 118, ENG 120, ENG 210, ENG 211, ENG 218 (6 units)
  • A minimum of 9 units of upper-division work must count toward this certificate.
    • Select three courses from: ENG 302W, ENG 305W, ENG 310W, ENG 313W, ENG 410C, ENG 411C (9 units)

• English Education majors may only use 6 units from the major toward this certificate.

• This certificate may only be pursued and completed concurrently with a degree program. This certificate is not available as a stand-alone certificate.

• Students enrolled in this certificate may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

• • English, BA
  • English, Minor

Additional Information

• Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

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