MWSONLINE: Master of Writing Studies Online AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE NATION

MWSONLINE: Master of Writing Studies Online PROGRESS REVIEW PROGRAM & ADMISSIONS One Start Per Year in Fall Transition from 7 Week Term Adopt SHU 16 Week Term “Best of the Old School” Online Information Sessions Support: Michael Dooney Support: David Feeney

MWSONLINE: Master of Writing Studies Online PROGRESS REVIEW CREDITS & COURSES 30 Credits Across 11 Courses One 1-Credit Residency (F2F) Nine 3-Credit Courses (ONL) One 2-Credit Thesis (ONL) “97% Online Program” Support: David R. Feeney Support: Michael Dooney

MWSONLINE: Master of Writing Studies Online PROGRESS REVIEW ONE 1-CREDIT RESIDENCY At Beginning of Term Weekend FRI/SAT/SUN Hosted on SHU Main Campus Welcome & Orientation Instruction & Community Support: Cinque Pace

MWSONLINE: Master of Writing Studies Online PROGRESS REVIEW CURRICULUM FOCUS “We would prefer focusing on the writing studies area and not add electives (creative writing, media studies, etc.)” “We are open to rethinking if the market suggests that option will not be attractive to enough people.”

MWSONLINE: Master of Writing Studies Online EAB MARKET DEMAND REPORT RESEARCH BASIS Writing Studies top employers, skills, titles, and occupations for in NJ, CT, DE, and PA. Interviews of 10 Writing Studies MA Programs at Chatham U, George Mason, NYU, Rutgers, Saint Joseph’s, U of Illinois, UTexas, and more.

MWSONLINE: Master of Writing Studies Online EAB MARKET DEMAND COLLABORATOR DR. DEREK MUELLER Eastern Michigan University Masters Degree Consortium of Writing Studies Specialists National Survey of WS Programs Hours of Phone Consults Dozens of substantive emails

MWSONLINE: Master of Writing Studies Online AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE NATION THE VALUE PROPOSITION Growth in Writing Studies Increasing Professional Demand Dynamic, “Ready” Faculty & Staff A Unique Moment in History: First to Market with an Online Program “A Master of Writing Studies Online would be the first and only program of its kind in the nation.”

INC Website National Commission on Writing

MWSONLINE: Master of Writing Studies Online EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW: POINT 1 “Develop writing studies curricula with flexible time-to- completion and modality options to attract students who work full time.” Master’s-level writing studies programs continue to attract mostly working professionals who demand flexible curricular options for course delivery and interactions with peers. Time-to-completion and modality options suitable for working professionals include online, evening, and weekend courses as well as opportunities for part-time study.

MWSONLINE: Master of Writing Studies Online EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW: POINT 2 “Integrate real-world internships and publishing opportunities into writing studies curricula to develop more competitive graduates on the job market.” Applicants with writing portfolios or internships enjoy advantages in job application and employment. Long-term projects that students research and publish demonstrate experience to future employers. Research contacts also offer students internship or networking opportunities through the invitation of local professional writers and alumni to program events.

MWSONLINE: Master of Writing Studies Online EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW: POINT 3 “Include the keywords “rhetoric” and/or “composition” in the proposed writing studies program title.” Programs with keywords “writing studies” tend to focus on professional writing. Programs with keywords “rhetoric” and “composition” focus on academic writing and research. Seton Hall University may consider “rhetoric” or “composition” in the program name to clearly communicate program purpose.

MWSONLINE: Master of Writing Studies Online EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW: POINT 4.1 “Regional and nationwide employers seek writing studies professionals with a combination of medical and technical writing skills.” Successful graduates demonstrate a command of medical and technical writing skills as well as grant and proposal writing skills. The top regional and nationwide occupations for writing studies professionals also correlate with top skills demanded by employers. These top occupations include ‘technical writers’ and ‘editors.’

MWSONLINE: Master of Writing Studies Online EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW: POINT 4.2 “Regional and nationwide employers seek writing studies professionals with a combination of medical and technical writing skills.” Students currently express the most demand for professional writing concentrations, such as medical, grant, and proposal writing, to satisfy high employer demand for those skillsets. Other top titles in demand highlight academic and communications positions, such as ‘professor of communication’ and ‘communications specialist.’

MWSONLINE: Master of Writing Studies Online EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW: POINT 5.1 “Offer multiple concentrations or course options in rhetoric, digital media studies, and professional writing to increase graduates’ employment success.” Programs fall into three categories: rhetoric programs, which focus on research methodologies and academic writing, digital media and writing studies programs, which focus on writing in digital and visual contexts, and professional writing programs, which focus on business and technical writing.

MWSONLINE: Master of Writing Studies Online EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW: POINT 5.2 “Offer multiple concentrations or course options in rhetoric, digital media studies, and professional writing to increase graduates’ employment success.” Employer demand and interviews with program contacts suggest that more jobs are available to graduates with skills in professional writing. Contacts note that as a result, students currently demand concentrations in professional and technical writing, even in writing studies programs which aim to primarily train students in academic or creative writing.