2021-2022 Course Catalog
Master of Professional Writing
As of January 1, 2022, the MPW program is not accepting applications for the 2022-2023 academic year. All currently enrolled students will continue progress through the program to completion. Students interested in this program should explore our Master of Communication program.
Chatham University’s Master of Professional Writing (MPW) program is a broad-based course of study that leads to a unique, professional degree. Students will explore the practice of writing in a variety of professional contexts, including technical writing, political writing, business and financial writing, writing for electronic media, web design, and critical writing. By bringing together students from a variety of different backgrounds, the MPW program offers an educational experience that more accurately reflects the realities of today’s shifting and expanding business world.
The MPW program consists of 30 credits completed in the online format. Students will gain experience working in a variety of business formats and will be prepared to assume positions that demand highly-developed communication skills. Chatham University’s MPW program allows students to complete a focused Professional Writing Degree or to pursue a concentration in Web-Content Design or Technical Writing.
Admission Requirements
This Program is a rolling admission Program, there is no formal application deadlines. You can begin courses Fall (2 options), Spring (2 options), or Summer (1 option).
If a Student has below a 3.0 GPA, please feel free to apply if you show extreme promise through other achievements. Additional Admissions documents may be requested.
- Online application
- Curriculum vita or resume
- One letter of recommendation
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Admissions Materials may be submitted to
Chatham University
Office of Graduate Admission
Woodland Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Fax: (412) 365-1609
Email: graduate@chatham.edu
For specific questions about the Program, please reach out to Rachel Fiscus at 412-365-1141 or at r.fiscus@chatham.edu.
Integrated Degree Program
Chatham University undergraduates applying through the Integrated Degree Program (IDP) must complete all requirements outlined on their respective admission or track tab on the IDP Portal Site. All IDP applicants should work closely with their academic advisor to ensure they are meeting all requirements according to their IDP course of study.
Learning Outcomes
- Professional Writing—Students have the basic knowledge of the basic elements of the genre in which they are writing and are able to read with some degree of sophistication within the genre
- Genres and Media—Students have knowledge of the context and recent history of the genre and medium in which they are writing.
- Critical Insights—Students are able to read and respond effectively to other students’ work in the workshop situation.
- Critical Perspectives—Students have a sense of why they write the way they do, and what they want to accomplish within their works.
- Professional Skills—Students are able to comfortably and effectively present and read their work in classroom setting.
- Information Literacy—Students are able to locate and define their own theoretical position in relation to sources.
Web Content Development Concentration Program Outcomes
After completing the MPW Web Content Development concentration, the student will be able to:
- Knowledgeably discuss the evolution from old to new media, including Web 2.0 and social media concepts, and the impact of those on communication
- Identify and analyze an audience, incorporating the notions of community and collaboration
- Consider the essential parts of web structure through wireframes and storyboards and retrievability
- Assess the effectiveness and usability of user interface design
- Understand the impact of visual design and interactions on the overall user experience
- Architect large amounts of information, ensuring it is well-organized, user-friendly, findable, and employs modern methods of classification
- Build a conceptual framework for analyzing new applications in the constantly evolving realm of digital media
- Develop Web applications, focused on clean, effective content and design
- Apply methods and concepts of communication appropriate to the different applications of web content