For a tentative list of 2024-2025 course offerings, click here. Please note that the courses listed for Spring 2025 are not final and are subject to change. Please see below for detailed descriptions for Winter 2025.
Winter 2025- Professional Writing Core Courses
Professional Writing: Science and Technology
English Composition 130C/ Prof. Hartenberger
| Emphasis on communicating complex technical concepts and scientific research findings in clear and accessible way to non-specialist audiences. |
Professional Writing: Nonprofits and Public Engagement
English Composition 130D/ Prof. West
| Development of ability to write persuasively and effectively in both nonprofit and public sectors. Writing genres include mission and vision statements, grant proposals, public service announcements, and outreach campaigns. |
Professional Writing: Arts & Entertainment
English Composition 130E/ Prof. Davis / Prof. Westrup
| Emphasis on the ability to write professionally about creative material and performances in areas such as film, television, theater, music, art/design, podcasts, and video games. Writing genres include critical reviews, recaps, promotional materials, treatments, and profiles |
Winter 2025- Professional Writing Electives in English or English Composition
Specialized Writing: Law & 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. |
Topics in Writing for Multimedia Environments: Video Game Rhetoric and Design
English Composition 133/ Prof. Manojlovic
| Special topics in professional writing exploring current developments, issues, or debates within art, entertainment, social media, or video game industries. |
Topics in Science Writing: Communicating our Climate Crisis to Elicit Climate Action
English Composition 134/ Prof. Christensen
| Special topics in professional writing exploring current issues, developments, or debates within specific field of science or technology. |
Academic Science Writing
English Composition 134A/ Prof. Cairns Watson
| Requisites: course 3 and three upper-division courses in the life or physical sciences or engineering. Writing academic science and engineering research articles, and other professional genres, such as reviewer comments and letters to the editor with resubmissions. Introduction to and practicing of methods to communicate about science and technology with attention to the conventions of genre, consideration of academic audiences, identifying and meeting goals, and writing with clarity. Introduction and discussion of current issues, developments, and debates related to science publishing and professionalism. Designed for students working in science and engineering laboratories or planning to enter PhD or MD/PhD programs. |
Practical Writing and Editing
English Composition 136/ Prof. Hartenberger
| 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 |
Nonfiction Essay in Journalism
Topics in Creative Writing
English Composition M138.2/ Prof. Deuel
| Introductory workshop in genre(s) of instructor choice, that may include mixed genres, playwriting, screenwriting, literary nonfiction, or others. Enrollment in more than one section per term not permitted. |
Creative Non-Fiction
Topics in Creative Writing
English Composition M138.3/ Prof. Wartanian
| Introductory workshop in genre(s) of instructor choice, that may include mixed genres, playwriting, screenwriting, literary nonfiction, or others. Enrollment in more than one section per term not permitted. |
Writing in the English Major: Transfer Students
English 110T / Prof. Stephan
| This course provides instruction in critical writing about literature and culture specifically for English major transfer students at UCLA. Its goal is to help students improve their skills and abilities at literary and cultural analysis. It’s a workshop for discovering richer literary questions, developing more nuanced analyses of complex texts, sustaining arguments, and developing your own authoritative voice. The course assumes writing is a process, so students write, rewrite, and workshop all writing assignments. Requirements include a number of low-stakes shorter writing tasks (1-3 pages) and a final paper (6-8 pages). Grades will be based 35% on your final paper (including notes, prewriting, and drafts) and 65% on other written assignments and your class participation.
Enrollment is limited to transfer students majoring in English or American Literature & Culture. Eligible transfer students may contact the English undergraduate advising office via MyUCLA MessageCenter to enroll.
Not open for credit to students who have previously taken ENGL 110A with Dr. Stephan. |
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 Winter meeting (time and day posted in the Schedule of Classes)! |
Winter 2025- 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.
Winter 2025- Professional Writing Capstone Requirement
The PWM capstone seminar, EngComp M185, is offered in the Spring quarter only.
Declared minors will be invited to a capstone information session in their junior or senior year (click here to view the most recent info session slides.)
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. To learn about ENGL 195CE enrollment for the 24 – 25 academic year, consult the 195CE Quick Guide for AY 24.25.
Graduating in Winter 2025? Contact Sara Hosegera at shosegera@humnet.ucla.edu.