College Writing: Theory and Practice (online)

BGSU's Graduate Certificate in College Writing: Theory and Practice can be earned completely online. The certificate requirements include six graduate courses (18 credit hours) total, made up of four required courses and two elective courses.

Required: Four core courses (12 credit hours). All required courses are already offered fully online one or two times per year, depending on demand.

• ENG 6020: Composition Instructors’ Workshop. (3 credit hours)
• ENG 6040: Graduate Writing. (3 credit hours)
• ENG 6200: Teaching of Writing. (3 credit hours)
• ENG 6220: Teaching Grammar in the Context of Writing. (3 credit hours)

Electives: Two elective courses (6 credit hours). Electives may be selected from regularly offered online courses in English such as:

• ENG 6070: Theory and Methods of Literary Criticism. (3 credit hours)
• ENG 6090: Teaching of Literature. (3 credit hours)
• LING 6150: Introduction to Linguistics. (3 credit hours)
• ENG 6320: Graduate Writers Workshop. (3 credit hours)
• ENG 6400: Professional/Technical Writing. (3 credit hours)
• ENG 6410: Resources and Research in Professional/Technical Writing. (3 credit hours)
• ENG 6420: Professional/Technical Editing. (3 credit hours)
• ENG 6430: Ethics in Professional/Technical Writing. (3 credit hours)
• ENG 6470: Topics in Professional/Technical Communication. (3 credit hours)*
• ENG 6800: Seminar in English Studies. (3 credit hours)*

* ENG 6800 Seminar in English Studies and ENG 6470 Topics in Professional/Technical Communication are “topics” course numbers, meaning that each offering of this course number will come with a specific title and topic. A student may take the same course number more than once, with each course counting as a separate elective each time, as long as the topic is different for each iteration of that course number.

Graduates of the College Writing: Theory and Practice program will be able to:

• Implement the writing processes that would be expected of students doing college writing.
• Evaluate current approaches to teaching writing that are informed by disciplinary best practices, research findings, and theories about writing.
• Integrate course concepts in developing curricula for teaching writing in specific contexts.

Stand-alone or Paired

This certificate can be completed alone or paired with another graduate degree program in a number of ways. A student can:

• Complete the College Writing certificate program as a stand-alone graduate certificate of 18 credit hours.
• Complete the College Writing certificate program and continue into an MA in English program at BGSU. Hours earned for the certificate can count concurrently with many of our MA in English programs.
• Complete the College Writing certificate program concurrently with other graduate degrees in English at BGSU.
  
• Enroll in a master's program at BGSU outside of English and earn the College Writing Graduate Certificate alongside their other degree, with permission of the student's original graduate degree program.

1. Go to BGSU Graduate College Admissions.
   
2. Read the instructions there, then click APPLY NOW OR RETURN TO AN EXISTING APPLICATION.
3. If you are new to the application system, start an application account. If you have an existing application account, log in.
4. Follow the steps in the application system. When you reach the Academic Interest page, choose:

Degree Type: Certificate
Program of Study: College Writing: Theory and Practice – Certificate
Intended Enrollment Status: can be Full-Time or Part-Time
Campus: MAIN
Start Term: can be fall, spring, or summer

Required Documents:

All required materials are submitted through the application system. For your application to the Graduate Certificate in College Writing: Theory and Practice, you will be required to submit the following documents:

• Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. These can be unofficial transcripts when first applying; if accepted to the program, official transcripts will be needed only from colleges and universities from which you earned a degree. Follow instructions within the application system.
• A Statement of Purpose that explains your academic preparation for the program, your purpose for enrolling in it, and your professional goals relevant to the program (roughly 2 pages, double-spaced).
• Three Letters of Recommendation from instructors who have taught you within the past three years, from employers, or from other individuals qualified to evaluate your potential for success in a graduate studies program. You will submit names and email addresses within the application system and the system will contact recommenders and give them directions for submitting letters of recommendation. Please ensure that you have communicated with your recommenders in advance and that they’ve agreed to write letters of recommendation.
• Application fee of $45. This does not need to be paid right away; you can complete and submit your application before paying.