Undergraduate ProgramsProfessional Writing Minor

Spring 2026 Courses

Spring 2026- Professional Writing Core Courses

 

Professional Writing: Business and Entrepreneurship

English Composition 130B / Prof. Battle

Emphasis on developing written, oral, and visual communication skills for entrepreneurial settings. Common tasks including pitching idea, seeking funding for startup, or promoting product or service.

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.

 

Spring 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)!

Specialized Writing: Law and Politics

English Composition 131A / Prof. Samuelson

Advanced writing course designed to help students develop stylistic, formal, and argumentative sophistication in various rhetorical contexts, including different sections that emphasize rhetorical values of major professions and research areas.

Specialized Writing: Medicine and Public Health

English Composition 131C / Prof. Deuel

Advanced writing course designed to help students develop stylistic, formal, and argumentative sophistication in various rhetorical contexts, including different sections that emphasize rhetorical values of major professions and research areas.

Specialized Writing: Travel Writing

English Composition 131E / Prof. Deuel

Advanced writing course designed to help students develop stylistic, formal, and argumentative sophistication in various rhetorical contexts, including different sections that emphasize rhetorical values of major professions and research areas.

Science Writing for Public Engagement and Community Science Projects

English Composition 134XP / Prof. Watson

 Students learn methods of communicating with diverse public audiences, participate in community-engaged science work, and write about and for a partner organization. Introduction to the fields of science relevant to the collaborating organization being served. Emphasis on accountable conduct toward other students, the instructor, and organization members. Includes intensive writing.

Practical Writing and Editing

English Composition 136 / Prof. Hartenberger

Focus on developing grammatical precision and rhetorical range in professional writing, combined with experience proofreading and editing one’s own writing as well as that of others.

Writing for Public Speaking

English Composition 137 / Prof. Mattenson

Emphasis on careful preparation, rehearsal, and delivery of professional presentations including design of effective visuals in variety of multimodal forms. Student performances videorecorded for extensive self, peer, and instructor feedback.

Topics in Creative Writing – Creative Non-Fiction

English Composition M138.1 / Prof. Wartanian

Introductory workshop in genre(s) of instructor choice, that may include mixed genres, playwriting, screenwriting, literary nonfiction, or others.

Spring 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.

Spring 2026- Professional Writing Capstone Requirement

The PWM capstone seminar, EngComp M185, is offered in the Spring quarter only. Spring 2026 degree candidates in the minor will be contacted via email about M185 placements. If you will be graduating in Summer or Fall 2026, please contact Sara Hosegera at shosegera@humnet.ucla.edu as soon as possible to coordinate capstone options.

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: Spring 2026 enrollment will be available during Weeks 8 – 10 of Winter quarter. To learn more about ENGL 195CE enrollment for the 25 – 26 academic year, consult the Center for Community Engagement website.