Communications – Professional Writing (CMPW) is a one-year Post-Graduate Certificate that embraces the vast communications field by providing students with the opportunity to explore several diverse areas, such as technical writing, visual design, web copywriting, project management, eLearning, and more. Through coursework, various methods of assessment, and the expertise of the Professors who work within the field, this program allows the freedom for students to explore their interests while better preparing them with practical skills required in the workplace.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the program made its way from the classroom to the computer screen. However, Kelly McConvey, Program Coordinator & Professor for CMPW, says this has been a positive experience so far. “The transition online has gone really well, as we’ve had requests for an online version of the program since the program started. A lot of my own educational background has been online, so I am a big believer in the effectiveness of it, and I think it provides incredible opportunities and accessibility to people who would otherwise not be able to access further education,” she says. Due to the nature of the curriculum, the switch to an online structure wasn’t challenging. Kelly notes “Throughout my entire career, I’ve worked virtually with teams all over the world, so learning the same way you’re going to be working makes a lot of sense. Especially as a writer, you’re going to be working online, so learning that way ingrains those skills and teaches those best practices earlier on.”
Much of what was taught within in-person lectures has remained the same for students taking the program online this year. However, as with any course that makes a major change like this, there have been some necessary alterations. “The courses, the learning outcomes, and even the assignments are all the same, but the way that we get to that endpoint is really different.” Since each course is set up asynchronously, students can log-in as many times as they would like, which Kelly says allows them to read through the material, watch the videos, look through the assignments, and focus on the content side of it all. As a way to bring it all together, students are able to collaborate during what Kelly describes as virtual office hours. “Once a week students log on to an optional hour-long call with the faculty member, where they can ask questions, discuss content, bring up examples, ask them to take a look at their assignments, or talk through any group work issues they’re having.”
In the future, once restrictions are eventually lifted, Kelly says ideally both an in-person and online option would be best going forward. “Our students have come to us in the past with issues around not wanting to quit their full-time job or to have a more flexible schedule, so the more opportunities we can offer them to complete the program, and the more flexible we can be, I think the better off everyone is,” she explains.
As the pandemic has carried on, it is apparent that the digital communications field, along with virtual work, has expanded. Kelly says, “I think the need for clear, accessible communication has never been more obvious to the public. COVID has been an exercise in misinformation and bad communication skills for many people and businesses, so my instinct is that organizations are going to be valuing their communicators more than they ever have, and that’s not an area that’s going anywhere.” Working within the AI and machine learning industry, Kelly has first-hand noticed the value of this type of work. “While we have lots of people who can do the engineering side of it, we have very few people who can explain it well. Where I think the program is strongest and where we’ll continue to see growth in this industry, are those people who can translate complicated information to the public and explain it really clearly. That’s not only a good area to be in as a writer, it’s also really a public service. We can’t exist as a society without clear communication, and our communicators are a key element to that.”
Below are what some graduates have to say about the learning opportunities within this program, as well as what they are doing now after graduating.
“I applied for CMPW because I felt it was exactly what I had been looking for – I wanted a career in writing but had no idea where to start. The great thing about the program is the variety of skills students learn and gain relevant experience in – it’s not studying textbooks; it’s getting your hands dirty and building portfolio pieces that will help you stand out when you apply for writing jobs. I am now working as a freelance proofreader and copyeditor. I gained a ton of experience in this while looking over the (seemingly endless) work of my fellow CMPW students, and the Editing class taught me what I needed to know to excel in what I’m doing now. The program allowed me to test drive a lot of different faucets of the writing industry before I found what I was most passionate about.”
– Julia O’Leary, 2020 Graduate
“I never knew what to do with my life (still don’t), but I’ve always loved writing! That’s what drew me to the CMPW program—the idea of building a career out of what I thought was just a passion. A couple of years later, I’m now a freelance technical writer with some major experience under my belt! As a graduate program, what you get out of CMPW will depend on what you put in. I learned that I would need to ask the right questions, hone the right skills, and look for the right ways to practice, without anyone holding my hand. I think my independence and openness to learning is what helped me succeed and move forward with my career goals. Because it’s a broad program, you should have a good idea of what you want to focus on, but also be willing to learn outside of your interest bubble.”
– Alex Knoll, 2018 Graduate
“The CMPW program exposed me to a variety of career options that I wasn’t familiar with before. I started the program with an interest in marketing but discovered eLearning as a viable field. I learned both the instructional design and graphic design aspects of eLearning. The program allowed me to experiment with different software and walk away with enough knowledge to produce professional quality training.”
– Sherryn Vykunthanathan, 2019 Graduate
“From the beginning of the program, I knew that I made the right decision enrolling in CMPW. Each course prepared me for a different aspect of working as a professional writer. We learned about writing for social media, eLearning, and Marketing, among a number of other industries. I used the skills I gained in the Instructional Design and eLearning for the Workplace courses to complete my placement at SickKids. Now, I’m working as a technical writer thanks to the skills I learned in the Technical Writing course. I’m now confident in my ability to meet my employer’s expectations, while also being able to build my own freelance writing business. Along with the writing skills I learned in the program, I gained some useful experience with graphic design, HTML, time management, and working with a team.”
– Bianca Estrela, 2020 Graduate
Despite the move online, the fundamental elements of this program remain strong. To get a closer look at the CMPW program, check out the program’s blog.
By: Alexandra Few