Graduate Studies

Professional Writing at Purdue is known nationally for its innovative and highly published faculty, its doctoral students' areas of research, and its creative and cutting-edge approach to writing and publishing in the digital age. Our Professional Writing classes help graduate students cultivate expertise in writing for the digital workplace, use visual rhetoric effectively, produce work suitable for both digital and print publishing, and learn project management skills by working with undergraduates on collaboration and community service. Doctoral students have the opportunity to teach undergraduate professional writing courses.

PhD Secondary Areas in Professional Writing

Graduate studies frequently link their interests in rhetoric and composition with Professional Writing by selecting one or both secondary areas that relate to it.

Rhetoric, Technology, and Digital Writing

This area of specialization explores issues of technology and writing. Three other courses are required: at least one must be technology intensive and at least one must stress issues that connect theory and pedagogy with technology and communication.

A secondary research area focused on rhetoric, technology, and digital writing will appeal to students interested in the affordances of and issues with technology and writing. Coursework in this secondary will address technology and pedagogy, distance education, and cultures of technology. This secondary blends cultural theory, teaching, writing, and administration.

Technical and Professional Writing

This area of specialization explores skills and strategies related to professional writing theory, visual rhetoric, empirical research, and the qualitative and quantitative methodologies related to them.

A secondary research area focused on technical and professional writing will appeal to students wanting to gain further expertise in teaching and researching computer-based writing, industry-academia collaboration, instructional design, and the overlap between rhetorical theory and professional writing practice. Graduate students in English desiring formal credentials in technical and professional writing may be interested in choosing this secondary area.This secondary blends an academic and industry focus.

Internship Opportunities

Internship opportunities are available to graduate students on the editorial board of Peitho Journal. Graduate students in PW regularly work in Purdue’s famous Writing Lab and on the OWL. These professional development opportunities are excellent ways to network with professionals in the field while learning valuable skills in print and electronic publishing.