If you want to strengthen your professionalism as a writer, editor, or teacher, if you are considering a career change, or if you want to explore writing for personal growth, our master of arts in professional and technical writing will meet your goals. The Department of Rhetoric and Writing at UA Little Rock offers diverse options for graduate-level study. We offer three concentrations for the M.A. and two graduate certificates.
Concentrations
- Editing and Publishing Concentration – Curriculum: Focuses on processes of editing digital and written text and working with authors to prepare their content for publication.
- Nonfiction Writing Concentration – Curriculum: Focuses on composition and rhetorical theory, essay and extended nonfiction writing, and a general application of writing skills, including the teaching of writing.
- Technical Writing Concentration – Curriculum: Focuses on writing for industry, science, business, and government.
Graduate Certificates
Applications Accepted Year-Round
We accept applications year-round. You can start taking classes in the fall, spring, or summer. Classes begin in January (for the spring semester), late May or July (for the summer), or August (for the fall). In some cases, you may be able to start a mid-term accelerated course in October or March.
We welcome applicants from any degree or profession. Extensive undergraduate coursework in writing is not required for admission and GRE scores are not required.
Flexible Schedule
Our flexible program allows you to take classes full-time or part-time. The M.A. and the Graduate Certificate in Business and Professional Writing can be completed entirely on campus, online, or a mix of both. The Graduate Certificate in Online Writing Instruction is either fully online or a mix of on-campus and online coursework. All of our on-campus required courses are taught in late afternoon or at night to accommodate students who work full-time.
Try Before You Commit
Would you like to try out a class or two before you commit? You can take courses as a post-baccalaureate student or as a non-degree-seeking graduate student. Courses taken as a non-degree-seeking grad student can be applied to a graduate certificate or M.A. degree once you are accepted to one of the programs.
Note: Some online courses for this program alternate between synchronous and asynchronous formats from semester to semester. Synchronous offerings may include required video conference meetings offered at various times, with most scheduled for evenings and weekends. Please contact the program coordinator for more information regarding course rotation.
