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Professional Writing Certificate

This certificate is aimed at students who have good English oral skills, but are failing to communicate effectively in their writing. These classes will help you to master the grammatical foundations of the English language. You will learn to develop and enhance your English writing proficiency for business and academic studies.

Please click here for a complete program brochure.

Registration and Tuition
The Professional Writing Certificate consists of 6 required courses and 2 electives. Tuition is $2,200 plus a one time $20 registration fee, or you can register for each course individually, with a $20 registration fee per semester. To register for courses please click on the Course Browser/RegistrationNote: Courses can be taken in any order.

Note for students who registered before Summer 2013: There are 4 required and 2 electives courses to complete the Professional Writing Certificate: Grammar Essentials, How to Write Anything Well, Business Writing, New Media: Writing for the Web and Beyond and two electives

Note for those who register and pay in full online: Please call/come in to our office at 212.650.3850 to register and choose your class schedule per semester. If you wish to do a  Payment plan , please come to our office E1022 ( Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).

 

Spring 2013 Semester
Course Day Time Dates
Electives
Writing for Professionals, S2 Wednesday 6:15-8:15pm 4/10-5/22
Advanced English Writing for Job Readiness Tuesday 7:40-9:40pm 4/9- 5/14
Summer 2013 Semester
Courses Day Time Dates
Grammar Essentials Tue. & Thu. 6:00-7:50pm 6/4- 6/20
English Composition
Wednesday 5:30-7:30pm
6/5- 7/10
Business Writing Wednesday 7:40-9:40pm 6/5- 7/10
Introduction to Technical Writing Saturday 3:00-5:00pm 6/1- 7/6
Editing & Publishing Workshop Saturday 9:30am-12:30pm 6/1- 6/29
New Media: Writing for the Web & Beyond Saturday 9:30am-12:30pm 7/13- 8/10
Electives
English Grammar & Composition Tuesday 1:30-3:30pm not available this semester
Writing for Professionals
Wednesday 6:15-8:15pm 6/17- 8/22
How to Write Anything Well Thursday 7:00-8:30pm 6/27- 8/8 skips 7/4
Basic English Grammar for Job Readiness Tuesday 5:30-7:30pm 6/4- 7/9
Basic English Writing for Job Readiness Tuesday 7:40-9:40pm 6/4- 7/9

General Description of the Certificate Program:

Grammar Essentials $350
Formerly offered as “A Basic Review of Grammar & Writing I and II”, this combined course is a comprehensive mix of both basic and advanced material. Through hands-on practical lessons and mini-writing workshops that focus on sentence structure, learn to apply essential grammar rules to everyday writing. Confusing grammar issues will also be examined. This course is ideal for anyone who needs a “brush-up” for school, work or test preparation.

English Composition $300
This course will help you build the strong foundation in writing skills essential for you to write in any area of your life. It accomplishes this by focusing on the basic composition skills including proper essay organization, paragraph development, sentence structure and grammar. necessary to meet the requirements for college level coursework. After practicing the composition skills taught in this class, you will have the confidence to write anything and become a successful student and business professional.

Business Writing $300
In this course, students will analyze, practice, and improve their skills in written business communication, including business letters, reports, memos, summaries, and email messages. The course will also address grammar and specialized business terminology to enhance professional communication.

Introduction to Technical Writing $300
This class will teach you: Defining Technical Writing; Types of Writing; Writing Inventory; Understanding Your Role as a Technical Writer; Ethics; Communication Dilemma; The Communication Triangle: The Recipe for Establishing Common Ground With the Audience; Choosing a Topic; Determining the Purpose for Writing; Analyzing an Audience; Evaluating Common Ground; Types of Technical Correspondence; The Seven Principles of Good Writing; Writing as a Process; Preparation: A Way to Generate Ideas; Research: The Access to Support; Organization: The Key to Logical Paragraph Development and a Coherent Outline; Writing Topic Sentences; Formulating Supporting Details; Rough Draft: From Outline to Paragraphs; Writing an Introduction Paragraph; Writing Body Paragraphs; Writing a Conclusion Paragraph; Revising and Editing; Pitfalls to Avoid; Practices to Employ; The Final Word on Technical Writing.

Editing & Publishing Workshop $400
The role of the editor and proofreader is invaluable. One missed error can cost a company tens of thousands of dollars. In this course students will learn basic copyediting and proofreading skills that they can take into the work world as a freelance or full-time editor or proofreader. You will also learn the importance of style sheets and how to draft a good one, how to think like an editor, and how to query authors. Assignments will include editing articles from the print media, creating headlines that fit specific formats, and choosing photos that best illustrate your manuscript. By the end of the class students will have a solid foundation to interview for a job as an editor or proofreader in a variety communication specialties.

New Media: Writing for the Web and Beyond $400
Social networking is a booming internet industry that can be utilized for business growth and promotion by even the most technologically challenged. This course will explore the advantages of internet outlets, such as blogging and Facebook, and teach students how to use these tools for the benefit of their business no matter the individual’s level of online communication knowledge. By the end of the course, students will have prepared web-based publications, learned the fundamentals needed to create dialogue, and grown familiar enough with sites like Twitter to effectively build a community around their business.

Electives:

English Grammar and Composition $300
It is easy to rely on electronic grammar and spelling assistance in today’s world; however, these tools only help with the most basic of errors, and they often give incorrect advice. Whether you are writing a resume and cover letter, a memo to your boss, or a proposal for a project, it is important that you represent yourself well on paper. This course is designed to teach you the grammar and composition skills you need to succeed in the workplace as well as in higher education.

Writing for Professionals $290
In this course, students will analyze, practice and improve their skills in written business communication, including business letters, reports, memos, summaries, email messages, and meeting minutes, while reviewing and correcting necessary English grammar.

How to Write Anything Well $250
There’s nothing mysterious or mind-boggling about writing well. All it takes are some basic rules of grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and practice using all correctly and effectively. This course offers all that without boring you to death.

Basic English Grammar for Job Readiness $300
Good English grammar is essential for any kind of job today. Without grammar, a person cannot be understood on the job and become successful. In this course, we will be concentrating on the basic elements of grammar such as simple sentence structure and parts of speech necessary to get and keep a good job. We will be using the grammar in work related conversation practices and written exercises. Come join us and get the key grammar points that will result in your job success.

Basic English Writing for Job Readiness $300
Good English writing is essential today to get and keep a good job. We live in a world today where we have to write professionally whether it be writing an e-mail or taking down an order or message over the phone. In this course, we will be concentrating on the basic elements of writing necessary to be successful on the job including sentence structure variety, paragraphs, e-mails and basic letters.

Course Status
If enrollment for a course does not reach a required level, the course will be canceled. However, when maximum enrollment is reached, the course will be closed immediately and the names of interested registrants will be put on a wait list and notified on a “first come” basis if an opening occurs. Please register early to avoid disappointment.

Grades
Students’ progress is measured through examinations, research and writing assignments, and classroom participation. A grade of A, B, or C is required in each course certification. A passing grade is 73=C.

Attendance Requirements
Students are required to attend all the classes and be on time. If absence occurs, the student is responsible for making up missed assignments. The instructor maintains and submits attendance records for each student.

Retake Policy
If a student fails a course, CE will send him or her a letter to retake the course, free of charge, within one year. This privilege can only be exercised once for the duration of the program. If a student is unable to complete or has to drop a course, please state the reason in writing and send to Continuing Education. With all retakes, the registration fee must be paid, if applicable, when registering.

Continuing Education’s certification programs are offered for no college credit. A certificate is awarded to students who successfully meet the requirements explained in the CE bulletin.

 

Note: Continuing Education Certificate Programs are part-time non-credited courses and therefore we do not issue student visas. To apply for a student visa, students must be enrolled in a full-time credited college program or an ESL studies program. For more information on Continuing Education's ESL program please click here: International English Language Institute