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Public, Technical and Workplace Writing Undergraduate Certificate

Program Details

Next Start Date: August 17

Credit Hours: 12

Course Length: 15 weeks

Estimated Program Length: 1-2 semesters

Apply Now

Program Details

Next Start Date: August 17

Credit Hours: 12

Course Length: 15 weeks

Estimated Program Length: 1-2 semesters

Apply Now

Build career-relevant writing and communication skills that apply across various fields with the online Public, Technical, and Workplace Writing undergraduate certificate from the University of West Florida.

Why Study Public, Technical, and Workplace Writing at UWF?

Forbes Magazine has consistently reported professional communication as the top desired trait companies seek in candidates. The ability to articulate complex ideas effectively in an ever-changing world is a highly prized skill. Through the Public, Technical, and Workplace Writing online certificate program at UWF, students gain the fundamental knowledge in producing writing that aligns with their career aspirations and builds a competitive edge in today’s workplace.

Expert faculty guide students in designing professional profiles based on their intended profession and interests, finishing with a detailed portfolio that showcases learned skills, including effective communication for various audiences and how to write with purpose and clarity. This certificate program is designed with coursework and engagement opportunities that students can apply to careers in their field of interest—whether academic, creative, scientific, technological, medical, or a new, developing profession.

"The Public, Technical, and Workplace program at the University of West Florida profoundly transformed my writing journey and made a significant impact on my academic career. The ePortfolio project showcased my work and reflected my growth as a communicator, boosting my confidence in pursuing new opportunities.” — Joe DiFilippo, 2024 Certificate Graduate

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What You Will Learn

This certificate program equips students with strong writing skills applicable in a professional environment. Through analyzing and writing content from a range of public, technical and workplace environments, students develop strong writing skills that serve as valuable assets in achieving their career goals and long-term professional success.

By completing this certificate, you could be able to:

Design communication strategies that link an audience with the content's message
Produce public, technical and workplace documents, such as reports, memos, digital media, grants and presentations
Develop documents that adhere to ethical authorship practices

Courses

Courses & Requirements

UWF’s online Public, Technical, and Workplace Writing undergraduate certificate program is composed of 12 credit hours and meets the needs of employers in a variety of settings looking for students the professional writing skills applicable for the work environment.

Before beginning the certificate program, students are required to have completed the following courses:

ENC 1101 - English Composition I
ENC 1102 - English Composition II

Foundation courses (9 credit hours):

ENC 3416 - Digital Writing
ENC 3213 - Professional and Technical Writing
ENC 4940 - Writing and Editing Internship

Choose one of the following (3 credit hours):

ENC 3403 - Grant Writing
ENC 3455 - Writing for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Majors
LIN 3673 - Grammar for Professional Success

To be considered for admission to the University of West Florida’s online Public, Technical, and Workplace Writing undergraduate certificate program, you must be admitted to the University as an undergraduate degree or non-degree seeking student.

How to Apply

Once accepted as a degree or non-degree seeking undergraduate student, prospective students for this certificate must contact the undergraduate advisor from the Department of English to start the Declaration of Certificate process before the drop/add period of the semester of completion. Students must also complete the online Undergraduate Certificate Declaration Form on MyUWF.

Have questions about this program or the admissions process? Contact our undergraduate admissions team at admissions@uwf.edu. If you are a current UWF student, please reach out to the department’s academic advisor.

Full Course Descriptions Program Requirements

Careers & Outcomes

Upon completion of the online Public, Technical, and Workplace Writing undergraduate certificate, students will have gained highly-marketable writing and communication skills for roles across various career fields.

Job Titles

Corporate Communication Specialist (internal and external)
Grant Writer
Technical Writer
Social Media Writer
Policy and Procedure Writer
Documentation Specialist
Editor

Career Outlook

The median annual wage for technical writers was $91,670 in May 2024.
About 4,500 openings for technical writers are projected each year.

Source: BLS, 2026

Tuition Rate Per Credit Hour

Public, Technical, and Workplace Writing Online Undergraduate Certificate Tuition
Component	Cost	Total*
In-state Tuition	$218.98 per credit hour	$2,627.76
Full Out-of-state Tuition	$648.37 per credit hour	$7,780.44
75% Out-of-state Tuition	$341.67 per credit hour	$4,100.04

Tuition waivers cover up to 75% of the non-resident portion of your tuition and are available to non-Florida residents (including international students) admitted to online campus programs and registered for online courses in active pursuit of that degree or certificate. You must pay all other assessed tuition and fees. The renewal of Online Campus Out-of-State Tuition Waivers is not automatic. Waiver requests must be submitted every semester and are not retroactive for previous semesters. Review Tuition Waiver Information to learn more.

Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Fees are charged per semester unless otherwise noted.

Refer to UWF Cost of Attendance Estimates and Financial Literacy for more information on UWF costs and financial aid.

* Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Alabama, Military & Financial Aid

Alabama Differential Out-of-State Tuition

Residents of Alabama are eligible for Alabama Differential Tuition, a reduced out-of-state tuition rate. To verify residency status for tuition purposes, new undergraduate students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and new graduate students should contact the Graduate School. Current enrolled students should contact the Office of the Registrar. See more about Tuition Waivers.

Military & Veterans

The UWF Military & Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) serves as the campus advocate for military, dependents and veteran students. Contact the MVRC to learn more about the various military and veteran education assistance or tuition waiver opportunities and eligibility requirements.

UWF Financial Assistance

The University of West Florida provides eligible students with an alternative to paying the full amount of tuition at the beginning of each term in the form of an installment payment plan or a short-term loan. See more about Financial Aid and Education Funding Opportunities.