Writing Degrees

What is writing?
Writing skills are critical to every kind of career. Some professional writers work as journalists, magazine editors, speechwriters and teachers. Other people with strong writing skills find that their abilities translate into solid careers in finance, marketing and advertising. While some institutions offer specialized writing degrees, many others offer general liberal arts degrees that include writing courses.

While anyone specializing in the humanities or social sciences will get significant exposure to writing, students of science and engineering too are generally required to take many courses that develop skills in both technical and non-technical writing.

What are the most commonly offered degrees in writing?
Many institutions offer specialized degrees in journalism that are aimed at those who wish to enter the sector right after graduation. These degrees will give you experience in formal writing and drawing upon skills in media, reporting and historical analysis. Such degrees usually have an important internship component.

Another common degree is related to creative writing. Students of creative writing often get a chance to interact with well known authors who pass on tips on how to develop original content whether prose or poetry.

Other institutions may offer degrees in technical writing to those who plan to work in the documentation industry or other positions that require refined writing skills.

Specializations in writing
Specializations in creative writing may focus on poetry or prose. Poetry classes may involve the study of existing poetry or the development of new forms of verse. Prose classes may involve studying existing fiction to develop a sense for common techniques. They may also involve workshops and exercises in producing short stories, plays and novels.

There are more specializations available in technical writing. One of the most common is related to technical writing for those who may want to work in industries like software where writing technical documentation is a technical task requiring significant training. Others may want to be technical writers in hospitals or laboratories.

There are also technical specializations focused on people who want to work in advertising and business and need the skill to develop precise slogans and write-ups on short notice.

Career opportunities and salaries in writing careers
The demand for writing skills is high in all sectors. The average annual salary for a writer may start at $35,000 and gradually build from there based on experience and achievements. Writers are not just employed in writing agencies, many of them work in the media sector where their skills may be used to improve content being distributed.

Writers also find employment in marketing and finance agencies that rely on clear prose to communicate with clients and employees. Marketing agencies in particular are looking for people who have a flair for witty and precise writing. While significant training can occur on the job, those who demonstrate an aptitude for completing writing-oriented projects have an edge at the time of hiring.

Many people with an interest in writing find that they are most interested in consulting or even publishing their own work.

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Source: bls.gov