Graduate Professional Writing Program Admission & Application Information

We seek candidates who demonstrate strong potential for successful careers as professional writers. If you believe you have the necessary skill and talent for professional success and wish to become a candidate, we encourage you to apply. You must have in hand (or be about to obtain) a Bachelor's degree (discipline open) from an accredited institution.

The admissions committee will assess your credentials in the following areas:

• A portfolio of your writing or evidence of a distinguished record in a technical field. Submit a 10-30 page portfolio; it can include excerpts from academic papers, reports, significant letters, policy documents, articles, and creative works
• Your personal statement explaining your goals and background as a writer, student, or employee
• Recommendations from at least three people familiar with you written work or potential as a writer
• Grades on an official undergraduate transcript
• Results of the Miller Analogy Test (MAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

Transferring Credits from Another Institution

You may request to transfer up to 6 credits from another program if the credits meet these criteria:

• The courses are at the graduate level
• They resemble courses in our professional writing program
• They were taken within three years of your request
• The course grades are A or B
• The courses were not used toward any degree

Registering as a Non-Degree Student

When space permits, individuals may enroll in graduate courses as non-degree special students without applying for admission to the graduate program. If you would like to register for coursework as a special student, first get an approval form signed by the Director of Graduate Programs or the Department Chairperson.

If you later apply and are accepted into the program, up to four courses you have taken as a non-degree student will be credited toward your degree.

General Admission Requirements

All graduate admissions are handled through the Office of Graduate Studies. General admissions requirements for graduate studies are listed in the Graduate Catalogue. You may request a catalogue from the Office of Graduate Studies at (508) 999-8604, or you may access the catalogue online.

Please note: the Graduate Catalogue displays in PDF format. To view the catalogue, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer.

Applying to the Professional Writing Program

You must complete a graduate admissions application in order to apply to the Professional Writing Program

You may obtain a graduate admissions application packet the following ways:

1. Request the application packet online from the university website.
2. Download the application packet in PDF format from the university website.To view and print this packet, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer.
3. Call the Admissions Coordinator, at the Office of Graduate Studies at (508) 999-8026.