Professional Writing and Communications
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Program Overview
Humber’s Professional Writing and Communications graduate certificate is uniquely positioned to future-proof your career in writing with employable skills for the digital communications world. With a focus on multimedia storytelling and writing for digital and social media, this is where writers come to launch careers in digital content, communications and social media-type positions across an infinite number of industries. Transform your existing writing skills into storytelling skills and expand your career in the digital communication universe. Be ready to go when you graduate through the building of your personal website and multimedia communications portfolio while in class. Gain experience in storytelling, design, pitching, interviewing and research skills, as well as bringing ideas to your target audience through social media management and strategic marketing campaigns. Gain real-world project management experience through real-world projects with real-life clients.
Focus on communicating to diverse audiences (including editing writing by Indigenous writers and about Indigenous issues), as well as learning strategies that leverage technology for maximum impact. Its robust, full-time work placement provides the experience and skills highly valued by employers in corporate communications, non-profit writing and publishing.
This program introduces you to a community of writers that is nurtured through collaboration, networking, professional development and publication.
Our program provides a supportive environment where you can learn from experienced, expert faculty and guest speakers who will show you how to take your writing to the next level. You’ll also get to work with a group of peers who have diverse backgrounds in English literature, journalism, public relations, science and technical writing and so much more. By practising and experimenting with different styles, forms and modalities of writing, you’ll build the skills, discipline and confidence you’ll need to excel in the digital communications market.
Courses
At Humber, courses are delivered in a variety of formats:
In-Person - An in-person course is delivered fully on campus.
Online Asynchronous (A) - An online asynchronous course has no fixed class schedule and allows students to engage with the course at different times according to their needs. Faculty provide modules, which are completed independently by the students according to established deadlines.
Online Synchronous (S) - An online synchronous course is delivered fully online and requires faculty and students to participate in real-time according to a fixed schedule. Classes are scheduled for a specific day and time.
Hybrid - A hybrid course is a combination of in-person and online classes and follows a set schedule. Students must be available to attend in-person classes at scheduled times during the semester.
The chart below outlines the delivery options available for each course in this program, by campus. For some academic terms, there may be more than one delivery option available. You’ll be able to select your preferred options when building your course schedule during open enrolment. Preferences for course delivery will be considered on a first come, first served basis. Some Humber programs are also delivered fully online, where all courses are delivered online.
International students: the impact of studying from outside of Canada on Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility differs significantly based on when you start your program. Please review the PGWP eligibility before choosing your program and course delivery.
| Course code and Name | Delivery Type by Location | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Code | Course Name | North | Lakeshore | IGS | DL/Online |
| Semester 1 | |||||
| PWRT 5000 | Writing Principles | N/A | Hybrid | N/A | N/A |
| PWRT 5002 | Communicating through Digital and Social Media | N/A | Hybrid | N/A | N/A |
| PWRT 5003 | Storytelling and Narrative | N/A | Hybrid | N/A | N/A |
| PWRT 5004 | Writers as Researchers | N/A | Online (S) | N/A | N/A |
| PWRT 5005 | The Writer's Identity | N/A | Hybrid | N/A | N/A |
| PWRT 5505 | Professionalism: Work Placement Preparation | N/A | Hybrid | N/A | N/A |
| Semester 2 | |||||
| PWRT 5001 | Editing for Writers | N/A | In-Person | N/A | N/A |
| PWRT 5500 | External Communications | N/A | In-Person | N/A | N/A |
| PWRT 5501 | Strategic Writing | N/A | In-Person | N/A | N/A |
| PWRT 5502 | Communicating through Digital and Social Media: Campaigns | N/A | Hybrid | N/A | N/A |
| PWRT 5504 | Project Management and Collaboration | N/A | Hybrid | N/A | N/A |
| PWRT 5506 | Multimedia Storytelling | N/A | Hybrid | N/A | N/A |
| Semester 3 | |||||
| PWRT 5900 | Field Experience - Professional Writing and Communications | N/A | TBD | N/A | N/A |
Work-Integrated Learning
Students complete a twelve-week allowing them to gain valuable practical and professional skills.
We work with a number of industry partners to place students in positions that align with their interests and employment goals. This includes the possibility of an international internship with one of our global partners.
The Humber Advantage
Is This Program Right for You?
Are you an amazing storyteller who loves to write and wants to find a way to turn those passions into a viable career? Are you a good solid writer who wants to help curate content to grow a business? Do you want to work within a start-up, corporation or start your own freelance business?
If this sounds like you, come study with like-minded creative writers and launch your career with skills that are highly sought after in the digital career landscape.
Watch the "Power Up Your Credential!" Info Session to learn more about the Professional Writing and Communications program.
Joining the World of Professional Writing
In today's increasingly virtual and text-based world, writing is everywhere. Yet not everyone can create documents with both accuracy and readability. Your job as a writer is to become very good at language skills such as grammar, style and mechanics. Communications directors and hiring managers are always looking for writers who understand the foundations of writing and editing and who can quickly learn the subject matter of their businesses.
Advisors
The Professional Writing and Communications program is delighted to have the following professionals on its advisory committee.
Career Overview
Graduates of this program may find employment as
- Communications specialists or coordinators
- Freelance writers
- Web copywriters
- Editors
- Social media managers
- Social media marketing specialists
- Report writers
- Proposal writers
- Grant writers
- Project Managers
- Journalists
Note: This is a post-graduate certificate. You must already have a bachelor's degree or the equivalent from a university or college.
Awards
Professional Writing and Communications Specialist Entrance Scholarship
One entrance scholarship is available. For more information about how to apply, please visit the website.
Scholarship Value: $1000
Academic Excellence Award in Professional Writing and Communications
This annual award is presented to the graduate of the Professional Writing and Communications Postgraduate Program who has achieved the highest overall GPA.
Award Value: $500
Excellence in Professional Writing
This annual award is presented to a graduate of the Professional Writing and Communications Postgraduate Program who has demonstrated both academic excellence and leadership in the program.
Award Value: $500
Expert Faculty
Expert Faculty
You will learn from expert professors with advanced degrees. Our professors are committed to providing you with practical, hands-on as well as the theoretical knowledge necessary to help you achieve the career you want. Learn more about our people by browsing through the profiles of full-time faculty members:
David Miller
David (D.D.) Miller is the program coordinator of the Professional Writing and Communications graduate certificate program. He received undergraduate degrees in English literature and creative writing at Mount Allison University and the University of Victoria before completing his MFA at the University of Guelph. Miller has published articles and stories in a number of academic and literary journals and anthologies and is the author of a collection of short fiction, David Foster Wallace Ruined My Suicide and Other Stories (W&W: A Buckrider Book, 2014), and a book of sports social history focusing on women’s roller derby, Eight-Wheeled Freedom (Wolsak & Wynn 2016). Within Humber’s English Department, Miller is the co-editor of The Humber Literary Review, where he also writes profiles of Canadian authors, and is co-chair of Humber@TIFA, an annual interdisciplinary academic conference held in conjunction with the Toronto International Festival of Authors. Miller, who is of English, Scottish and Nbisiing Anishinaabe descent and is a member of Nipissing First Nation, regularly presents on strategies for indigenizing English and writing curriculums, including at the annual Ontario College Association of Language and Literacy (CALL) conference. In addition to serving as the PWC program coordinator, Miller also teaches the program’s course on editing for writers.
Your Career
Communication remains an essential skill sought by employers, regardless of discipline or field of study. According to the Conference Board of Canada, the ability to communicate is one of the essential employability skills that employers require. The ability to read carefully, write effectively and think critically provides the foundation to obtain, keep and progress on a job.
Graduates are able to find employment in a variety of industries such as finance, hospitality and health services, as well as in government, not-for-profit organizations, corporate communications, publishing and digital media.
Program Availability
| START | DELIVERY | LOCATION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | Online | Online | Open |
| Jan 2025 | Condensed Week | Lakeshore | Open |
| START | DELIVERY | LOCATION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | Online | Open |
| START | DELIVERY | LOCATION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | Online | Online | Not Available |
| Jan 2025 | Condensed Week | Lakeshore | Open |
| START | DELIVERY | LOCATION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | Online | Suspended |
Humber is a publicly funded institution. International students graduating from a PGWP Eligible program at Humber are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
International students in Canada could be eligible for an automatic scholarship*. Apply now!
Check out the step-by-step Admissions Road Map for helpful information and additional resources.
| START | DELIVERY | LOCATION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | Online | Online | Not Available |
| Jan 2025 | Condensed Week | Lakeshore | Open |
| START | DELIVERY | LOCATION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | Online | Suspended |
Humber is a publicly funded institution. International students graduating from a PGWP Eligible program at Humber are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
International applicants outside of Canada can apply through Humber International. Check out the step-by-step Admissions Road Map for helpful information and additional resources.
Upcoming Recruitment Events
Every attempt is made to ensure that information contained on this website is current and accurate. Humber Polytechnic reserves the right to correct any error or omission, modify or cancel any course, program, fee, timetable or campus location at any time without prior notice or liability to users or any other Person.
