Our Professional Writing major prepares students to work in numerous fields by developing their skills in research, drafting, and copy editing to meet the needs of both corporate and nonprofit employers through courses like Copywriting and Editing, Technical Writing, News Writing, Advertising and Public Relations Writing, Writing for Nonprofits, Literary Publishing, etc.
The Writing major has been a staple at Lakeland University for more than three decades and has evolved to meet the needs of employers seeking associates with excellent communication skills for both the print and digital world.
Graduates of the program enjoy careers in advertising, journalism, publishing, computer programming, radio, and much more.
Lakeland also offers a BFA in Creative Writing, which is unlike anything offered in the entire state of Wisconsin.
Lakeland’s experienced Writing faculty takes great pride in working one-on-one with all students. While the primary instructors are well-versed in all facets of the written word, Madeleine Wattenberg is an award-winning poet who has published dozens of works and done numerous readings. Her debut poetry collection, I/O, was a finalist for the 2021 Miller Williams Poetry Prize, and Jodie Mortag, an expert in fiction and nonfiction, has work in numerous literary magazines--Ruminate, North Dakota Quarterly, Counterclock, Fourteen Hills, Barnstorm, Stoneboat, among others.
*Data provided by Job Center of Wisconsin's Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics for Technical Writers.
Cooperative Education is all about hands-on learning outside the classroom. Students learn more by doing. They gain real-world knowledge and earn academic credit for hands-on professional work experience. Lakeland students explore their interests and, when they graduate, feel confident they will find a career in which they are passionate.
Students pursing the Professional Writing degree can gain hands-on experience through our online newspaper The Mirror serving as reporters, editors, photographers, and web designers.
In addition, Professional Writing Majors often times serve as social media content creators for majors in the School of Fine Arts & Humanities, help organize on campus writing events and festivals, and practice their skills through various writing projects with community partners like Nourish Farms and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center.
You may apply at any time as Lakeland University operates on a rolling admission basis with 6 start dates throughout the year. Applications will be reviewed until about two weeks before the start of each term.
Once your application is received, your Lakeland University admissions counselor will be in touch.
*Exceptions to the above admission criteria may be granted for students with a cumulative GPA range from 1.75 to 1.99 if the academic experience that resulted in the less than 2.0 GPA was more than two years ago. Furthermore, typically students with a cumulative GPA range from 1.50 to 1.75 will only be considered if the poor academic performance experience that resulted in the less than 2.0 GPA was more than five years ago. Students receiving an exception will be admitted conditionally.
Assistant Professor of Composition
Executive Vice President / Vice President for Academic Affairs
