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Northern Vermont University is now part of Vermont State University! Please visit VermontState.edu for accurate information.

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Northern Vermont University will join with Castleton University and Vermont Technical College to become Vermont State University on July 1, 2023.

Learn more about Academic Programs at Vermont State.

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Prepare for a career in professional writing, editing, publishing, and communications.

Northern Vermont University’s new degree in professional writing, editing, and publishing provides you with the skills you need for a successful career as a writer — whether you wish to become a journalist, communications specialist, author, or editor. This major includes courses from several disciplines, providing additional skills to advance in the professional world. While taking traditional courses in creative writing, practical grammar, and news publishing, you will also learn to use Adobe software programs like InDesign and Photoshop and develop web design skills.

Learning Objectives

Upon graduation, professional writing, editing, and publishing majors will be able to:

  • Demonstrate proficiency in editorial tasks such as copy-editing, line editing, proofreading, and submission management.
  • Apply HTML and CSS coding, social media marketing, and other digital skills to writing and communication projects.
  • Confidently layout and design news publications, magazines, and books in Adobe programs.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in editing fiction, poetry, and non-fiction for clarity, style, and publication.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in journalism, its ethics, history, and best practices in both print and web.
  • Develop stylistic versatility, being able to adapt voice to a variety of professional audiences and platforms.
  • Fully understand the production of fiction, poetry, and narrative nonfiction for publication.

MEET OUR FACULTY

Johnson’s Writing and Literature Department offers expert faculty who are published authors and leaders in their field.

A man with light hair and a beard, wearing glasses, looking into the camera.

Johnson’s professional writing program gave me the knowledge and confidence I needed to step into the newsroom as a professional….[It] taught me how to report the news, supplying the basic secrets of how to gather information and deliver it cleanly and accurately.

Tommy Gardner '00, News Editor, Stowe Reporter

APPLY TODAY. Do North.

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