Professional Writing

The Professional Writing (PW) program at Gaylord College helps students develop the skills needed to succeed in the publishing industry. Those skills, which include the ability to communicate clearly, think logically, manage large-scale projects and craft a compelling narrative, are critical to virtually all careers. PW majors are in the business of writing; learning how to pitch a story, marketing themselves as an author and preparing for careers as freelance authors of books, short stories, magazine articles and screenplays, both fiction and nonfiction, in print and online. Who knows, you could be the next New York Times Best Seller or win an Academy Award for Best Screenplay! 

Gaylord Hall has more than 100,000 square-feet of high-tech classroom, presentation, studio and computer lab space. Gaylord Hall includes four computer classrooms, two complete digital broadcast studios, 14 video editing bays, classrooms and two state-of-the-art open multimedia labs available for all students. 

PW students typically have interests in:

• Writing/editing
• Reading
• Fiction/nonfiction
• Grammar and style
• Creative expression
• Communication skills
• Multimedia

High school preparation could include journalism, creative writing, broadcast production or yearbook. 

Thousands of books in all genres of fiction and nonfiction have been published by faculty and former students in the PW program including novelists Deborah Chester, J. Madison Davis, Jim Butcher, Louis L'Amour, Ross Thomas, Carolyn Hart and Tony Hillerman. Gaylord College has built an incredible alumni network that exists to help yOU! With graduates in PW all over the world, alumni look forward to meeting with, donating and awarding internships to Gaylord students. Advisors and faculty encourage and help supplement traditional classroom experience with on-the-job training. With opportunities like career fairs, networking events, premier student organizations, faculty guided trips and tours and study abroad opportunities, there’s no limit to the possibilities with a PW degree. 

There are numerous organizations PW students can be a part of. Check them out:

PW students have the chance to study abroad with:

• British Media Study Abroad in the United Kingdom
• Communicating Culture: Travel writing in Puerto Rico 
• International Advertising to either Europe or Asia
• Summer Program in Communication at Erfurt (SPICE) in Germany
• Summer in Washington, D.C.  
• JMC: Professional Media Program in OU in Arezzo, Italy
• Students also have the opportunity for Club Trips in Austin, Dallas, New York City and San Francisco

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The Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication is a founding member of the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The college has had continuous accreditation since 1948. A professional writing student graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism degree. Master of Professional Writing degrees are also available.