Graduate School – MEMORANDUM

The Professional Writer’s Path to Graduate School

By Andrew Faustmann

screenshot of a google search for professional writing graduate programs — Looking for graduate schools

Many students attend graduate school to further concentrate their skills and knowledge for their future career; however, not every school is going to have the curriculum that supports your personal goals. So, instead of wasting two years of school and several thousand dollars, make sure to research each school carefully before applying.

Where Should You Attend?

When searching school programs that will further your professional writing skills, you need to be aware of the various names for each program. A majority will either be called “Rhetoric and Composition” or “Technical and Professional Writing.” However, you will sometimes find the term “Communication” instead of “Writing.”

This process is quite similar to searching for a job, so persistence is key. Depending on your proximity of school searches, the website Gradschools.com may be of assistance for a more national search. If you are restricted to only a handful of localized schools, you can jump straight to each school’s website.

You may want to look for a school that employs professors who share a similar background to your own. Many professors typically had or still have jobs as a professional writer with a corporation. This will open up networking opportunities and also knowledge from first-hand experience.

Go to the faculty page on the English department’s website and rummage through all of the professor’s profiles.

Typically, most professors will provide a short bio, recent courses, relevant publications and even their own website, but you may even have to dig a little deeper. You can either email those professors directly or research their names in scholarly databases, such as CompPile, JSTOR, or Proquest.

While specific areas of research may not be 100% relevant to your career pursuits, their individual research will inform you more of their academic and professional interests, which will help you decide on the most suitable courses.

What Financial Assistance Do Graduate Schools Offer?

Many schools offer financial support in the form of assistantships, scholarships and conference funding.

The assistantship typically includes full tuition remission and a stipend to survive on while you complete your degree in two years—unfortunately, the stipend typically ranges from $8,000 to $15,000 per year. While each school has different programs set up, you could be working for the school as a tutor, research assistant and/or teaching assistant. This opportunity not only allows you to receive a fully-funded education but also to gain experience working at the university.

The assistantship is not for everyone, as a great full-time job is not to be given up lightly. In this case, many English departments and graduate schools offer scholarships to assist with the cost of tuition.

It is also encouraged that you present at conferences related to your field of study. Even though conferences are directed towards those who wish to publish academic research, the experience gained from presenting is transferable to any workplace. When contemplating this, see if the schools offer conference funding for travel costs.

Go Start Applying

Pursuing a graduate degree to advance your success as a professional writer is a great decision, yet you must make sure that the school you attend has a program that will help you build the skill set to achieve your goals.

Therefore, search for programs, professors and courses that will help advance your skills and knowledge while also noting the multiple options regarding how you are going to pay for that education.

From Undergrad to Grad at UAB: Teresa Davis’ Transition

By Kayla Light

four people standing behind a podium — Davis’ Undergrad Thesis Defense Day (pictured left to right: Professor Vines, Dr. Chris Minnix, Teresa Davis, Dr. Jaclyn Wells)

Let’s face the facts—graduation will happen. Whether you’re like many of the undergrads who are still frantically searching for answers, or if you’re like the ones who nonchalantly “swagger” their way into the unknown, graduate school has probably crossed your mind.

So, how exactly does a UAB student studying rhetoric and technical writing advance their education? What are some of the myths and facts about that advancement? Well, after asking around, I found the perfect student to answer these questions: Teresa Davis, a recent UAB undergrad who is transitioning into UAB’s graduate program.

About Davis and How Her Decision Could Help You

Davis graduated from UAB in December of 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in Professional Writing and Public Discourse. As the fall began, she felt the pressure to make some big decisions: to stay at UAB to pursue her education or to leave and experience a new school with a new atmosphere. After much thought and consideration, she picked UAB, and this is why:

UAB’s Cost and Practicality

UAB’s graduate program offers a package deal to exceptional, hardworking students who are seeking higher education in the English field. This package is referred to as their Assistantship program. The Assistantship program offers students tuition remission, an $8,500 yearly stipend, and the opportunity to tutor at the Writing Center and teach English Composition 101 and 102.

For Davis, this plan meant being able to balance her busy family life and would save her time and money. Some schools only have limited teaching positions while others offer them after a period of time. UAB’s competitive stipend can greatly reduce, or even eliminate student debt.

Davis not only saw their financial aid as a huge bonus, but she also felt particularly partial to UAB’s program because of the close-knit faculty.

UAB’s Family Atmosphere

Davis found the transition from the undergraduate to the graduate program to be a fluid process because she was already familiar with the program and the professors in the department. She describes this familiarity as a family atmosphere and attributes that atmosphere to the fact that UAB has a smaller graduate program.

When talking about the advantages of a smaller program, she says, “Most [returning students] drop out because balancing school with work and family is hard, and we’re very much out of practice.”

Davis reflected on her decision to return to UAB after being in the workforce for 15 years. She has been living near Birmingham with her husband, Terry Davis. They will celebrate their 7 year anniversary in June of 2016.

When Davis was faced with the question to relocate their family, she gave it much consideration. Her answer is easily summed up in her final statement on UAB’s program: “I know that at UAB, I have the support to help me succeed.”

Davis’ plan to attend UAB to further her education was a difficult decision, but in the end, she knew she wanted a school that was able to provide her with a competitive stipend and a close-knit atmosphere that allowed her the time and flexibility to be with her family.

To learn more about the UAB’s graduate program, visit their webpage.

Grad Programs: Things to Consider

Grad school can be a great alternative to entering the career field after college. It not only contributes to a higher starting salary in jobs, but it can also serve as a more gradual transition from student to working adult. But choosing a graduate program can seem daunting. Where do you even begin? How do you know what you’re looking for? Is this even what you want? Here are the top three factors to consider when researching technical writing graduate programs.

Master of Science or Master of Arts? As you look through various tech-writing programs, pay attention to whether the degree offered is a Master of Science or a Master of Arts. The difference in distinction will affect they way the courses are structured. Think about your background, the knowledge and skills you bring to the table, and what you hope to gain through your post-graduate studies. Compare course requirements and descriptions of the two, and research hiring statistic of a Master of Science versus a Master of Arts. Knowing more about these distinctions could help you define your goals and narrow your program contenders.

Online or On Campus? It’s also important to note whether or not the program can be completed online or if you are required to complete a certain amount of the program hours on the campus. Online programs allow you to avoid relocation, and even give opportunity for pursuing a career alongside continuing education. However, if you are drawn to studying under a specific professor or desire to build mentoring relationships during your graduate studies, it might be more beneficial to complete your degree on campus. Researching who’s who of technical writing education can help you determine your goals in this area and guide your decision making process.

In-state or Out? The biggest consideration for most is the cost. And just as with undergraduate degrees, graduate school tuition will usually vary drastically between in state and out of state rates. It’s a good idea to determine your budget based on your remaining debt from undergrad and your earning potential after completing a master’s program. Ultimately, it’s important to go where you believe you’ll be most fulfilled. Any graduate program is going to require huge emotional, mental, and financial investment; adding the stress of wondering if you made the right decision will only detract from all that the experience could potentially be.