To view a tentative list of planned Winter/Spring course offerings, click here.
Winter 2027- Professional Writing Core Courses
Professional Writing: Science and Technology
English Composition 130C / Prof. Rubinson
Emphasis on communicating complex technical concepts and scientific research findings in clear and accessible way to non-specialist audiences.
Professional Writing: Community-Engaged Professional Writing for Nonprofits and Public Engagement
English Composition 130DX / Prof. West
Development of ability to write persuasively and effectively in both nonprofit and public sectors. Writing genres may include mission and vision statements, grant proposals, public service announcements, and outreach campaigns. Community engagement is integrated and sustained through meaningful work off-campus and/or remote with nonprofit partners selected by the instructor, as well as ongoing critical reflection on that work.
Professional Writing: Arts and Entertainment
English Composition 130E / Prof. Westrup; Prof. Davis
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 2027- Professional Writing Electives in English or English Composition
Undergraduate Practicum: Westwind Journal
English M192 / 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)!
Writing in the English Major for 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 in relevant majors. 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.
Careers in Humanities
English M191P / Prof. Stephan
This course is designed to help students craft their personal and professional narratives for success in the 21st-century workplace. We will explore a wide range of careers, including more and less obvious fields that value the skills humanities majors bring to the table. Using self-assessment, thoughtful and eclectic readings, and a variety of personal and professional writing assignments, students will begin to determine what paths might be best for them. They will develop confidence and community as they build a strong professional dossier in preparation for life after graduation. Recent UCLA alumni guest speakers will share stories and advice from their real-life employment and job-search experience, and students will receive guidance and support from UCLA’s own career advisors about the best ways to approach the job search.
Open to students majoring or minoring in the Humanities.
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. May be taken independently for credit.
Specialized Writing: Sports Writing
English Composition 131F / Prof. Cavanagh
Offers foundation of genres and experiences crucial to successfully navigating a career in writing for sports media. Study of variety of concepts and perspectives related to sports. Investigation of developments in the sports media complex. Development of practical skills in oral and written communication within sports media. Students engage with a range of sports content and cultural trends in order to spark new interests and gain breadth of knowledge. Examination of what constitutes successful sports writing in genres such as game previews and recaps, fantasy sports analysis, athlete profiles, sports debate shows, and podcasts; and application of these conventions in writing. Focus on improving writing skills through collaboration, feedback, and revision.
Topics in Writing for Multimedia Environments
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.
Academic Science Writing
English Composition 134A / Prof. Cairns Watson
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
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.
Topics in Creative Writing
English Composition M138.2 / Prof. Kipen
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. Only non-fiction topics taught by the instructors listed on this page may count for PWM credit.
Winter 2027- 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 2027- Professional Writing Capstone Requirement
The PWM capstone seminar, EngComp M185, is offered in the Spring quarter only. If you will be graduating in 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: Winter 2027 priority enrollment for PWM students will be available November 16 – December 4. To learn more about ENGL 195CE enrollment for the 26 – 27 academic year, consult the Center for Community Engagement website.