Best Online Writing Programs

Expert communicators know how to use language, literature, and writing effectively to convey messages, deploy rhetoric, and construct persuasive arguments. Individuals who possess these skills can apply them in a variety of traditional and nontraditional positions.

This guide outlines how to choose a bachelor’s in writing program. The information provided includes admission requirements, common courses, and job prospects for graduates of writing programs.

Employers in all sectors value new hires who can effectively communicate and demonstrate mastery of the written word. While traditional writing fields such as journalism still offer a natural fit for writing majors, the field continues to evolve and offers fewer prospects than it once did.

Alternatively, technical writers often begin their careers as writing majors and enjoy positive job prospects. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that from 2023-2033 the number of technical writers will increase by 4%; these professionals made a median salary of $80,050 in 2023.

A writing major also gains the foundational training needed to enter other fields, including law, teaching, advertising and public relations, and an array of new media positions (e.g., content strategists and digital producers).

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Faculty at each school design the curricula for writing programs; therefore, the required coursework varies at each institution. However, the overall objective remains the same — to cultivate a cadre of writers with strong communication skills.

Some degree programs, such as a bachelor’s in creative writing, may focus solely on writing. Alternatively, other degree tracks may provide a blended curriculum that melds a classical education in English and literature with in-demand skills — such as technical writing — needed in today’s job market.

Some students earn a bachelor’s in writing to prepare for graduate school. At the graduate level, they can build on their degree by pursuing another major in the arts and humanities. Alternatively, some students may build on their writing degree by pursuing hands-on experience straight out of college, finding careers in journalism or digital media. Degree-seekers should establish clear career objectives as they examine the college options available to them.

Once students complete a bachelor’s in writing, they may qualify for entry-level positions at publications, media organizations, and public relations organizations. They can also pursue a graduate-level education.

However, a writing degree alone may not suffice in a competitive job market. Degree-seekers should always consider ways to begin building and expanding their resume. Paid or unpaid internships at relevant organizations provide hands-on expertise that employers value. Learners may seek opportunities such as summer internships that do not interfere with their schooling.

Students can also accrue experience by serving on a college newspaper or similar publications. While these positions generally do not pay a salary, they give learners experience and clips for a portfolio.

Graduates with a bachelor’s in writing may want to acquire specialized training through certificate programs in areas such as technical writing. They may alternately desire to advance their education and training by pursuing a writing or non-writing major in graduate school.