The Minor in Professional Writing works with majors from across the university. We help students who want to become reflective and articulate writers in professional, academic and public spaces, and we prepare them to contribute effectively to the ever-changing needs of twenty-first-century workplaces.
The program’s four courses and the capstone internship give students a competitive edge in the work world by offering:
- meaningful, hands-on writing experience in the work world
- assignments to build their professional writing portfolios
- contacts to develop professional references
- opportunities to network with Columbus professionals and other students who have a passion for writing
Minor Requirements: Pre-Autumn 2023
If you started at Ohio State before Autumn 2023, please see the PDF below for requirements for the Minor in Professional Writing:
Minor Requirements: Autumn 2023 and after
If you began at Ohio State during or after Autumn 2023, see the tabs below for requirements for the Minor in Professional Writing.
Steps to Complete the Minor in Professional Writing
Step 1: Declare the Minor
WHEN: As soon as you hear about and are interested in the Minor.
Declare online, or talk to your major advisor. If you declare online, an English advisor will follow up to guide you in selecting courses in the correct order.
Step 2: Take at least two electives and English 4150
WHEN: Anytime before you want to do the capstone internship.
You can take your electives toward the minor in any order, but to be eligible to enroll in the capstone internship, you must have completed at least 2 electives and English 4150. You must also apply for the capstone internship and be approved with an eligible workplace partner (see next step for details).
If you want to talk to someone about which electives will prepare you for particular areas of professional writing, contact the program coordinator at hashlamon.1@osu.edu.
Elective Options
You must take three elective courses. One course must be from Group A, and one must be from Group B.
For more information and course choices, check out the electives information below.
Step 3: Apply for the Capstone Internship
WHEN: You begin English 4150.
In Week 1 of the course, the coordinator of the MPW will visit you, and you’ll learn about the application process and how to craft your writing portfolio. Applications are typically due around Week 3-4 of the semester—See the MPW website for the deadline each semester.
When you apply for the capstone internship, you submit a writing portfolio, have a portfolio review and placement interview, and are approved in an eligible writing internship with an MPW workplace partner.
Go to our FAQ to learn about the application process. Learn more about how to prepare your portfolio at the “apply for the capstone internship” site.
Step 4: Complete Portfolio Review, Placement Interview and Get Matched with an MPW Workplace Partner
WHEN: Over 6-8 weeks the semester before you want your internship
During the semester, meet with coordinator one or more times to discuss your writing portfolio, career interests and placement options.
If your portfolio is approved, you will discuss your top internship choices with the coordinator and be matched with a workplace, who will read your portfolio. You’ll then interview with one or more placement options.
During the placement process, you’ll learn specific details about the internship duties at each workplace.
Step 5: Complete Capstone Internship
Work: 8 hours/week at your internship site
- Hear from other interns about their experiences
- Read about what other interns have done in their writing internships
- Learn about a few sources of financial support for internships that are unpaid
Class (English 4189): 2 hours/week (usually Monday meetings, either morning 10:10-11:55 a.m. or afternoon, 2:10-3:55 p.m.)
In class you’ll learn from your peers about professional writing in 19 other internships and continue to hone your writing skills across voices and styles
Step 1: Declare the Minor
WHEN: As soon as you hear about and are interested in the Minor.
Declare online, or talk to your major advisor. If you declare online, an English advisor will follow up to guide you in selecting courses in the correct order.
Step 2: Take at least two electives and English 4150
WHEN: Anytime before you want to do the capstone internship.
You can take your electives toward the minor in any order, but to be eligible to enroll in the capstone internship, you must have completed at least 2 electives and English 4150. You must also apply for the capstone internship and be approved with an eligible workplace partner (see next step for details).
If you want to talk to someone about which electives you need to graduate or which ones fit with your major or the GEL/GEN, contact your advisor or english@osu.edu to talk to an English advisor. If you want to talk to someone about which electives will prepare you for particular areas of professional writing, contact the coordinator at martin.1667@osu.edu.
Elective Options
You can fulfill your electives in one of two ways:
- Choose one elective each from Group A and Group B
- OR choose two electives from Group A
For more information and course choices, check out the electives information below.
Step 3: Apply for the Capstone Internship
WHEN: You begin English 4150.
In Week 1 of the course, the coordinator of the MPW will visit you, and you’ll learn about the application process and how to craft your writing portfolio. Applications are typically due around Week 3-4 of the semester—See the MPW website for the deadline each semester.
When you apply for the capstone internship, you submit a writing portfolio, have a portfolio review and placement interview, and are approved in an eligible writing internship with an MPW workplace partner.
Go to our FAQ to learn about the application process. Learn more about how to prepare your portfolio at the “apply for the capstone internship” site.
Step 4: Complete Portfolio Review, Placement Interview and Get Matched with an MPW Workplace Partner
WHEN: Over 6-8 weeks the semester before you want your internship
During the semester, meet with coordinator one or more times to discuss your writing portfolio, career interests and placement options.
If your portfolio is approved, you will discuss your top internship choices with the coordinator and be matched with a workplace, who will read your portfolio. You’ll then interview with one or more placement options.
During the placement process, you’ll learn specific details about the internship duties at each workplace.
Step 5: Complete Capstone Internship
Work: 8 hours/week at your internship site
- Hear from other interns about their experiences
- Read about what other interns have done in their writing internships
- Learn about the status of internships
Class (English 4189): 2 hours/week (usually Monday meetings, either morning 10:10-11:55 a.m. or afternoon, 2:10-3:55 p.m.)
In class you’ll learn from your peers about professional writing in 19 other internships and continue to hone your writing skills across voices and styles
Coursework
The Minor in Professional Writing’s 15 hours of coursework include a variety of writing courses that can be taken across several departments. You must take three elective courses (12 credit hours), with at least one course from Group A and one from Group B below. These courses prepare you for the final capstone internship (English 4189), which gives you a hands-on writing experience at a local business, nonprofit, government agency or other professional organization. Three courses (one of which is English 4150) must be completed before the capstone internship.
Group A electives
At least one elective must come from this group.
- ENGLISH 2269: Digital Media Composition
- ENGLISH 3304: Business and Professional Writing
- ENGLISH 3305: Technical Writing
- ENGLISH 3405: Special Topics in Professional Communication/Technical Editing
- ENGLISH 3467S: Issues and Methods in Tutoring Writing (cross-listed as CSTW 3467S)
- ENGLISH 4567S: Rhetoric and Community Service: A Writing Seminar
Group B electives
You must complete a total of three credit hours in this elective group, which may require taking more than one course. If you have taken one of these classes as a requirement for your major, that course may also count toward the minor.
Agricultural communication
- AGRCOMM 4130: Publication Design & Production
- AGRCOMM 5135: Agricultural Feature Writing (5 hours)
Agricultural systems management
- AGSYSMT 2305: Professional Development 1 (2 hours)
Aviation
- AVN 2200: Aviation Communication
Communication
- COMM 2221: Media Writing & Editing
- COMM 2321: Writing for Strategic Communication
- COMM 2511: Visual Communication Design
- COMM 3334: Strategic Message Design
- COMM 3404: Media Law & Ethics
- COMM 3629: Language & Social Interaction
- COMM 4202: Feature Writing
- COMM 4511: User-Centered Communication Design
Construction systems management
- CONSYSM 2305: Professional Development 1
English
- ENGLISH 2268: Writing of Creative Nonfiction 1
- ENGLISH 2276: Arts of Persuasion
- ENGLISH 2367.05: Writing about the U.S. Folk Experience
- ENGLISH 2367.07S: Literacy Narratives of Black Columbus
- ENGLISH 3011: Digital Activism
- ENGLISH 3020: Writing about Sustainability
- ENGLISH 3271: Structure of the English Language
- ENGLISH 3468: Intermediate Creative Writing: Special Topics in Creative Nonfiction
- ENGLISH 3662: An Introduction to Literary Publishing
- ENGLISH 4568: Writing of Creative Nonfiction 2
- ENGLISH 4569: Digital Media and English Studies
- ENGLISH 4572: Traditional Grammar & Usage
- ENGLISH 4574: History & Theories of Writing
- ENGLISH 5191: Promotional Media Internship in English Studies
Environment and Natural Resources
- ENR 2367: Communicating Environmental and Natural Resources Information
Linguistics
- LINGUISTICS 3000: Writing for Linguistics
Pharmacy
- PHR 2367.01/2367.02: Drug Use in American Culture
John Glenn School of Public Affairs
- PUBAFRS 2367: Writing and Communication in Public Affairs
Theatre
- THEATRE 5331: Screenwriting
- THEATRE 5961: Playwriting
Capstone Internship
We work closely with workplace partners to ensure that your internship experience includes mentoring, direction and substantial professionalization of your writing. There are two components to the capstone experience, an internship with a workplace partner and a weekly class.
The Classroom
In English 4189, you learn from peers in other internships and continue to improve your writing skills, hone your professionalism, and learn to tackle new genres.
The Workplace
You work 8 hours per week at your internship, contributing meaningful projects to an organization. What follows is just a partial list of our workplace partners, organized by industry and writing type.
Note: Not all partnerships are available every semester. Students will learn about specific opportunities after they interview for placement during a particular semester.
Nonprofits, culture and community work
Work for nonprofits ranges from generating internal business documents to grant writing to public-facing marketing for the organization. Over one-third of our partners are nonprofits dedicated to a cause you can support with your writing skills.
- 2nd and 7 Foundation
- Columbus Museum of Art
- Economic Community and Development Institute
- Heritage Ohio
- Ohio History Connection
- Ohio State Urban Arts Space
- Benefactor Group
- Godman Guild
- Local Matters
- Wexner Center for the Arts
- YWCA
Marketing and public relations
A few of our partners are small marketing and public relations agencies, but even more are marketing and communications departments within larger companies, such as Wexner Medical Center Marketing and Communications and M+A Architects.
- Beauty Boost
- Creative Spot
- Mix Talent
- Ohio Travel Association
- Versatile Words
- Xcelerate Media
- Ohio State Office of Advancement, College of Education and Human Ecology
- Ohio State Office of Student Life
- Ohio State Athletics Communication
- Ohio State Wexner Medical Center Communications and Marketing
Law, government and advocacy
Want to learn about legal fields, advocate for individuals through legal channels or contribute to local government? Contribute to the Ohio State Bar Association's media presence via press releases and print and digital articles. Write blog posts to promote the work of the city of Hilliard. You can also contribute to the cause of Disability Rights Ohio, a statewide advocacy organization that promotes the legal rights of individuals with disabilities.
- Adult Advocacy Services
- Advocacy and Protective Services, Inc.
- Disability Rights Ohio
- Ohio Statehouse
- Affinity Consulting
Publishing and media
Want to be a part of radio shows or a final published product? Contribute copy for radio stations or podcasts, or help write and edit pieces to be published in magazines or books. Work in publishing and media often includes doing research, editing and drafting compelling copy.
- Craft: Exploring Creativity
- CityScene Media Group
- Great Lakes Publishing
Scientific research and technical writing
Interested in contributing to research across disciplines or scientific innovation? You will often translate complex scientific text into engaging and compelling materials for print materials and the web.
- Ohio State Center for Automotive Research
- Ohio State College of Medicine
- Ohio State Energy Services and Sustainability
Other internships
If you have already found a writing internship that meets the pedagogical goals of the program, you should apply and then talk to the Coordinator during the interview process about the possibility of counting your internship for the capstone experience. The Coordinator will review your portfolio, interview you and then talk to your supervisor to determine whether the position works with the Minor in Professional Writing.
Wherever you complete an internship, you will learn about writing in the workplace, the industry of your specific worksite and, above all, about yourself and what you want out of a professional career after graduation. You will also walk away having practiced a wide range of professional writing and having built your portfolio for future applications.
The Minor in Professional Writing seeks writing interns who have completed required prerequisites* and are enrolled in or have completed English 4150 to contribute excellent writing skills to a local Columbus-area organization in a capstone writing internship for eight hours per week.
Successful candidates may contribute any of the following writing types to a workplace, depending on workplace needs:
- Write press releases for media contacts to promote workplace events
- Write pitches for public relations firm
- Develop feature articles to promote in-depth interest in organization
- Organize and implement social media campaigns to promote business
- Follow AP style
- Produce marketing copy that appeals to potential clients, investors or attendees of an event
- Translate technical/specialized information of a research organization for a broad audience
- Creatively tell a story to indirectly sell an experience or product
- Write creative, engaging and easy-to-read-aloud scripts for radio shows
- Edit and proofread copy to ensure error-free prose
- Produce professional internal business correspondence such as emails, memos, slide decks, grant proposals and/or RFPs
Successful candidates may also contribute any of the following writing-related skills:
- Interview individuals associated with the organization to gather compelling information and craft a human-interest story
- Research, consolidate, and/or summarize information for marketing or internal business correspondence purposes
- Work within (or coordinate) a group
- Work on a tight deadline, such as a 24-hour turnaround
- Write concisely
- See a large project from conception through development to final edits
[pdf] - Some links on this page are to Adobe .pdf files requiring the use of Adobe Reader. If you need these files in a more accessible format, please contact profwriting@osu.edu