Graduate Certificate in Technical and Professional Writing

The TPW graduate certificate offers graduate-level instruction for graduate students and working professionals seeking to transition to, advance in, and develop skills relevant to technical and professional writing careers. 

Courses train students in the field’s core areas (technical writing, digital writing, science and medical writing, usability, and editing) and allow students to specialize in career-specific skills.

As a student in the program, you will apply research-driven approaches to create and adapt content to solve complex problems in technical communication workplaces. You will connect with workplace professionals through client projects, virtual teamwork, mentorships, and internships. 

TPW Certificate at a Glance

  • Can be completed online or on campus
  • ​12 credits
  • Open to enrolled students and non-degree seeking students
  • ​​​Credits are "stackable" - courses taken for your major, Core, etc. can also count toward the certificate

TPW Certificate Perks and Career Advancement

  • Connect with CU Denver’s English Careers Advisory Board of TPW professionals. All certificate students are invited to networking events, panels, and workshops (virtual and in-person) with our network of TPW professionals
  • Receive one-on-one mentorship with faculty and TPW industry professionals
  • Get connected with internship opportunities
  • Gain hands-on practice by taking high impact client-partnered TPW courses (you complete real world technical writing projects for industry and community partners; client-partnered courses are remote or in-person)
  • Work with faculty, career advisors, and TPW mentors to focus your job searches, build your TPW portfolio, optimize your resume, and practice interviews

Program Delivery 

  • This is an online, on-campus, or hybrid program.

How to apply

Eligibility:

  • CU Denver graduate students in any discipline can apply to the program at any point in their graduate studies.
  • ​Non-degree-seeking students who have a bachelor's degree in any discipline are welcome to apply.

To Apply: 

Your certificate

  • The Certificate may be earned as a stand-alone University certificate, or it can be applied to a current or future degree program.
  • ​The approved certificate will be recorded on your transcript, after final grades are posted for the semester.

Program Requirements

  • Students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of required courses chosen from the approved courses in each cluster. Students must complete at least one course in each of the two clusters. 
  • Students must earn a minimum grade of B (3.0) in all courses that apply to the certificate.
  • ​Students must complete all credits applied to the certificate with CU Denver faculty.

Course requirements

Students must take 12 credits across both clusters. Students must take at least one course in each cluster.  Students also have the option to enroll in a TPW-focused internship for credit. 

Cluster 1: Technical & Scientific Writing

Students should take at least ONE of the following courses:

These foundational courses introduce students to technical or scientific writing. Students can expect to gain an academic grounding as well as hands-on experience in technical or scientific writing.

  • ENGL 5175: Writing in the Sciences

  • ENGL 5190: Advanced Topics in Writing in approved topics (such as medical writing, usability and UX, accessibility in professional writing)

  • ENGL 5177: Technical Editing

  • ENGL 5140: Writing and Editing with AI

  • COMM 5500:  Health Communication  

  • COMM 5558: Digital Health Narratives

  • COMM 5575 - Designing Health Messages

  • HIST 5261 / COMMM 5261: Working With Data

Cluster 2: Professional Writing

Students should take at least ONE of the following courses:

These courses offer students an opportunity to develop their TPW skills in a specific field or industry. Courses focus on the unique TPW skills and situations called for when writing for business, nonprofit, community, journalistic, or grant-writing contexts.

  • ENGL 5280: Proposal and Grant Writing

  • ENGL 5088: Literary Editing, Copper Nickel

  • ENGL 5177: Technical Editing

  • ENGL 5140: Writing and Editing with AI

  • ENGL 5190: Advanced Topics in Writing & Digital Studies in approved topics (such as podcasting, humor writing, creative nonfiction writing)

  • ENGL 5701: Multimedia in the Community

  • HIST 5260 // COMM 5081: Introduction to Digital Studies

Internship (optional)

For this elective, students should work with the certificate director to enroll in an internship for credit related to professional and technical writing. Students complete the internship in conjunction with the following course:

  • ENGL 5939 - Internship

Who can I contact for more information?

Please reach out to the program director, Dr. Kari Campeau at kari.campeau@ucdenver.edu.