Rhetoric and Professional Writing Department
The professional world moves quickly, and those who stand out are clear, adaptable communicators. At SVSU, professional and technical writing prepares students to enter the workplace as confident, capable professionals with skills that transfer across industries. From boardroom presentations and recruitment campaigns to technical manuals, policy documents, and strategic reports, students learn to apply precision and creativity in meaningful, real-world contexts.
As Cardinals, students benefit from focused faculty mentorship and hands-on learning experiences that help them stand out from day one. Faculty support students’ goals, challenge their thinking, and help them turn ideas into impact—laying the foundation for success after graduation.
The Department of Rhetoric and Professional Writing (RPW) balances theory and practice to prepare technologically adept, civic-minded professionals. RPW students learn to manage information projects and design communication for diverse, interdisciplinary, and global audiences. Coursework explores the rhetorical, cultural, and professional dimensions of writing and information design across multiple genres and media, including print, digital, video, and multimedia formats.
Graduates of the RPW program are prepared for careers in publishing, government, nonprofit organizations, education, law, medicine, journalism, and product- and information-driven industries. Some students continue their education through graduate study in fields such as technical communication, rhetoric, composition, journalism, cultural studies, law, and English.
The Department of Rhetoric and Professional Writing supports student success by:
- Providing a strong theoretical framework for understanding both historic and emerging communication technologies
- Developing critical thinkers and effective communicators
- Fostering collaboration and engagement across campus and in the broader community
Students may earn a Bachelor of Arts degree or a minor in Professional and Technical Writing through the Department of Rhetoric and Professional Writing.
Meet A Cardinal
Kylie Wojciechowski is a gifted writer and served as a leader on campus. From her work as a Honors scholar to her service as a writing tutor and an executive board member for TedXSVSU, Kylie was an advocate for users and adapting rhetorical tools to serve final consumers, readers, etc. SVSU was the ideal context for Kylie to find her voice and her place as a campus leader and valued member of her college community.
Course of Study
SVSU’s professional & technical writing major focuses on developing critical thinking, applying theoretical communication concepts and developing your skills in communicating with a range of audiences. Your courses will relate to four core areas of knowledge: writing, design thinking, communication tools and theory. The learning you receive in the classroom will extend beyond it as you apply key concepts to field work and internships.
Student Opportunities
Professional and technical writing students are strongly encouraged to join the Association of Professional & Technical Writers at SVSU. APTW hosts an annual conference on themes related to communication and leveraging words and images effectively in the professional world. In addition, many of our students serve on conference leadership teams (such as TedX) and in the SVSU Writing Center, bringing their skills with content development and strategy to serve the campus community as a whole.
Career Options
Jobs for Technical Writers are "projected to grow 15% from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average growth rate for all professions" (Bureau of Labor Statistics).