Careers

• UX/UI writer
• Copywriter
• Public relations content creator or manager
• Audience and community engagement editor
• Social media editor or manager
• Journalist
• Technical writer or editor
• Media entrepreneur

Course Descriptions

JPW 500 – Foundations of Professional Writing

Students will learn the fundamental principles of rhetoric, esthetics, law and ethics that underlie all genres of professional and technical writing. They will also be introduced to research in digital rhetoric, cognitive science and applied linguistics that shape our understanding of persuasion and media functions and effects. Students will draw upon research literature in public relations, journalism, emerging communications technologies, advertising and technical writing to analyze media artifacts and communications campaigns for effectiveness, ethics and legality. Students will also learn or reinforce skills essential to conducting research at the graduate level. This course fulfills a requirement for the Certificate program in Professional and UX/UI Writing and is open to students in that program or others by permission.

JPW 502 – Writing and Production for Digital Media

 Students will develop or improve their proficiency at creating content using digital tools for creating visual, aural, video, interactive and XR content. Students will create a portfolio of media artifacts that demonstrate both technically-proficient storytelling and effective, ethical communication. This course fulfills a requirement for the Certificate program in Professional and UX/UI Writing and is open to students in that program or others by permission. (May be taken as a co-requisite with: Foundations of Professional Writing or permission of the instructor)

JPW 503 – Audience and Community Engagement

Students will become conversant with the growing field of audience and community engagement in professional communication contexts. Students will design, execute and evaluate audience engagement campaigns that reflect a mastery of digital rhetoric.As a culminating exercise, students will present their campaigns and underlying research in a public forum. They will also author a report on a current issue in social media policy for a professional audience. This course fulfills a requirement for the Certificate program in Professional and UX/UI Writing and is open to students in that program or others by permission.(May be taken as a co-requisite with: Foundations of Professional Writing or permission of the instructor)

JPW 504 –  UX/UI Writing

Students will deepen their understanding of audience analysis, information architecture, and writing for user experience and usability. They will apply this understanding to the creation of a range of web, mobile, and interactive artifacts. Students will propose and execute a portfolio project relevant to their professional field. This course fulfills a requirement for the Certificate program in Professional and UX/UI Writing and is open to students in that program or others by permission. (May be taken as a co-requisite with: Foundations of Professional Writing or permission of the instructor)

Application Requirements

• Application
• Essay
• Earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and official transcripts (Advanced undergraduates or non-matriculated students may be permitted to take some classes with instructor and chair permission, consistent with TCNJ policy.)
• Current resume
• Application fee
• Two letters of recommendation
• National standardized admission test score (waivers are available)
• Additional documents from international applicants seeking to study in the United States

Letter of Recommendation

Two letters of recommendation: One letter of recommendation from a current or former supervisor and one letter from someone who can speak to your academic skill set. The recommenders should:

• Download the Common Letter of Recommendation (LOR) PDF.
• Complete the template offline and save a final version to his or her computer (with file name “[Applicant Last Name, Applicant First Name]”).
• Directly email the LOR PDF to the Office of Graduate Studies.

Tuition and Costs

The College of New Jersey provides a high-quality education at a lower-than-average cost compared to other schools of similar quality.

Financial Aid

Students pursuing a graduate degree at TCNJ may be eligible for some types of student financial assistance, including but not limited to student loans and assistantships. Graduate students must follow the same steps as undergraduates in applying for federal loan assistance.

Graduate students must be enrolled in at least 5 credit hours at the 500 level or above to be eligible for student loan assistance and for TCNJ to certify enrollment for a loan repayment deferment.

Semester Enrollment Requirements for Graduate Students**

Full-time status = 9 or more credit hours

Half-time status = 5 credit hours

**These requirements pertain to individual summer session enrollment as well.

» Learn more about financial aid at TCNJ.