Fall 2026- Professional Writing Core Courses
Please note that many of our instructors are dedicated to writing & composition classes for incoming students during the Fall quarter. For that reason, the majority of our PWM courses are offered in the Winter and Spring each year.
Professional Writing: Digital Writing and Web Literacy
English Composition 130A / Prof. Samuelson
| Emphasis on writing for digital environments such as websites, blogs, newsletters, and social media. Common professional settings for these skills include journalism, political campaigns, Internet marketing, and corporate communication. |
Professional Writing: Nonprofits and Public Engagement
English Composition 130D / Prof. Swanger
| Development of the ability to write persuasively and effectively in the nonprofit and public sectors. Writing genres include mission and vision statements, grant proposals, public service announcements, and outreach campaigns. |
Fall 2026- Professional Writing Electives in English or English Composition
Westwind Journal
Undergraduate Practicum in English
English M192.1 / Prof. Wilson
| This course is for the staff of Westwind, UCLA’s Journal for the Arts. If you are interested in joining the Westwind staff, please familiarize yourself with the journal at www.westwind.ucla.edu, and come to the first Spring meeting (time and day posted in the Schedule of Classes)! |
Public Readers, Public Writers: Writing About Books for a 21st Century Audience
English 110C / Prof. Stephan
| In this course, students will learn the art and craft of literary criticism for a general (rather than for a specifically academic) 21st-century audience. We will look at reviews of literary texts from the 18th century to the present and examine the recent developments in literary and cultural criticism that have led to the emergence of internet publications dedicated to those forms, including sites like Public Books and the Los Angeles Review of Books, as well as the ways in which national and global periodicals have successfully adapted their book review sections to reach a wider internet-based audience. Finally, we will examine the ways in which contemporary book reviews encompass other forms of culture, especially visual and digital culture. Students will compile a portfolio of criticism and other writing culminating in a final pair of reviews of recent works, as well as a critical analysis of the role of book reviews and cultural criticism in historical and current contexts.
This course counts as an elective for the Professional Writing minor. The course requisite is ENGL 4W. Students in the Professional Writing minor who have completed alternate Writing II credit may contact the English undergraduate advising office to enroll. |
First-Person Creative Nonfiction
Variable Topics in Professional Writing
English 110V / Prof. Allmendinger
| This course will prepare students to submit first-person writings to journals and magazines that publish works for college students and young adults. Such works include memoirs and autobiographies, humor, opinion pieces, reviews, and cultural criticism. We will explore the literary marketplace to determine which publishing venues are best suited to each individual’s work. We will also learn how to submit one’s writing to publishers, how to write a cover letter, and how to develop relationships with editors. Most importantly, we will spend the quarter writing and revising potential submissions, with the goal of submitting a piece to the students’ chosen venues by the end of the quarter. Several editors will visit the class, offering advice about the publishing process. Requirements: 2-3 pages of writing each week, participation in student critiques, and attendance.
This course counts as an elective for the Professional Writing minor. The course requisite is ENGL 4W. Students in the Professional Writing minor who have completed alternate Writing II credit may contact the English undergraduate advising office to enroll. |
Fall 2026- Professional Writing Extra-departmental Electives
Please consult the reference list of eligible extra-departmental electives here, then refer to the UCLA Schedule of Classes for availability.
Should you wish to petition for a course not listed above, contact the PWM advising team and be prepared to provide the course syllabus.
Fall 2026- Professional Writing Capstone Requirement
The PWM capstone seminar, EngComp M185, is offered in the Spring quarter only. If you will be graduating in Fall 2026 or Winter 2027, please speak to a PWM advisor as soon as possible about your plans for the capstone.
SENIORS: Please click here to review the Winter 2026 PWM Capstone Workshop to learn how to prepare for EngComp M185.
Students who acquire an internship with professional writing duties in the junior or senior year may apply for ENGL 195CE capstone credit via the Center for Community Engagement. Professional Writing minors are encouraged to enroll early: Fall 2026 enrollment will be available during mid-August. To learn more about ENGL 195CE enrollment for the 26 – 27 academic year, consult the Center for Community Engagement website.