Professional Writing Frequently Asked Questions

Effective writing is a valuable skill that is necessary to succeed and advance in most professions. Individuals are recognized for their ability to successfully communicate their ideas to leadership, clients, and coworkers.

If you are unsure about your ability to write, our Professional Writing courses will improve your skills and boost your confidence.

Writing Principles

The student will refresh and refine their writing skills by learning about style, structure, and grammar. The course focuses on adapting skills connected to writing styles, writing structures, the technical aspects of writing, and new writing tasks and audiences. Students will leverage their current writing skills and learned skills to new situations. Implementing the techniques that you learn in this class will prepare you to successfully communicate in writing for many different circumstances.

Writing for Digital Media

Students learn to differentiate between digital media types, formats, and platforms, and explore ways to identify and interact with an audience for a chosen topic. Students will conceptualize and write digital media content, and publish their work in a digital writing portfolio that can be shared with a target audience, as well as with potential employers and clients.

There are no prerequisites required. Students do not need to hold a college degree nor have specific work experience.

Since this is a noncredit certificate, you do not need to complete a formal admissions application. You simply need to register at www.msudenver.edu/professionalwriting.

The cost for each course is $425, plus a $35 transaction fee per payment. There are no textbooks required.

Many employers may pay for their employees to take a class in professional development. Payment can be made by the student and reimbursed according to your employer’s rules, or the employer can pay directly for the certificate on your behalf.

Discounts for multiple students from the same organization may apply. Please contact us for more information before registering.

You will receive an automatic receipt via email once you complete the registration.

Noncredit courses and certificates at MSU Denver do not qualify for financial aid.

The program is designed for students to be able to take individual courses.

Unfortunately, we do not offer course waivers based on upon education or experience. You must successfully complete all required courses to receive an MSU Denver Certificate.

No, you can take the courses in whatever order you would like.

The courses are offered in each Fall and Spring semester. Each course is six weeks long.

No, there are no textbooks nor materials required. All material is available within the online course.

Each course is delivered entirely online, six weeks long, and delivered in a self-paced format. You work through the course material as quickly or as slowly as needed. The course material is asynchronous and does not require you to login at a certain time.

Students determine the amount of time needed to master the material provided in each module. The instructor provides assistance when needed.

The course is conducted through Canvas Leaning Management System.

Refund Policy: Students can receive a 100 percent refund minus a $35 registration fee if the course is dropped before the course start date. There will be no refunds after the course begins, but students can request a deferment (postponement) to the next semester.

To request a refund, email Brandy Schooler at [email protected]. If students request a refund within the policy timeframe, documentation does not need to be provided.

Deferment (postponement) Information: If a student is unable to complete a course due to unforeseen or extenuating circumstances (see below), the student will be offered a deferment of registration to the immediately following semester before a refund is issued. If the registration deferment is not a feasible option for the student, a refund will be given if the below documentation can be provided.

To request a deferment after a class begins, email Brandy Schooler at [email protected] with an explanation and the official documentation – see the list below (copies will be accepted).

Documentation examples

A refund will be automatically denied for the following reasons:

• Student stopped attending before the extenuating circumstance timeline and or never engaged with the course content.
• Disputing course material, grade, or instructor.