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With our Catholic liberal arts heritage and over 100 degree programs, including nursing and marine biology, from bachelors through PhDs, we've got your options covered. Focus on arts and sciences, business, education, social work, communication, nursing, medical sciences, theology, or law. Take things further with personalized research and experiential learning opportunities, on and off-campus. Enhance your prospects with hands-on internships at some of the country's top organizations.

Colleges and Schools

Academic Support

Barry University Students

The Career and Experiential Learning Team educates students and alumni on the essential job searching and life skills to propel them to succeed in the increasingly competitive global marketplace.

Service-learning integrates relevant community service with course work and critical reflection to enrich the learning experience, foster social responsibility and civic engagement, and strengthen communities.

Service-Learning

The Honors Program at Barry is designed to challenge, enrich, and prepare especially motivated students to pursue their fullest potential. By participating in a rigorous curriculum rounded out by an array of edifying and interactive events, students explore crucial issues that we face in our daily lives. Students are given the space for discussion and debate and the opportunity to learn from experts in their fields. The Office of Financial Aid can assist with determining eligibility for the Honors Program.

The Monsignor William Barry Memorial Library is located in the center of the beautiful Miami Shores campus of Barry University. The Library is named in loving memory of Monsignor William Barry, one of the founders of Barry University and an inspirational figure in the Catholic Church within the Archdiocese of Miami. The extensive Library research collections include more than 950,000 physical items, over 40,000 print and on-line journal subscriptions, and several thousand on-line books and streaming video resources.

At Barry University, you will experience a small community atmosphere where you can always rely on our administrators and faculty for advice, encouragement and personal attention. We take great pride in giving individual attention from the very beginning. You can start building a personal relationship with one of our admissions counselors who will help answer any questions, and guide you through the entire admissions and enrollment process.

Bucky and student at Open House

Continuing Education (CE) offers a variety of courses and non-credit programs designed to respond to the diverse educational interests and lifelong learning needs of individuals of all ages. We offer certificate, credential exam preparation, and licensure programs for professional and personal enrichment.

High school students: Get a jump-start on your college education with dual enrollment courses from Barry University! You can earn high school and college credit at the same time, right at your own school.

Dual Enrollment

Barry University is committed to provide you with a dynamic and flexible approach to your degree pathway through our online courses and degree programs. We understand that balancing academics, work, and personal commitments can be challenging. That's why our online offerings are designed to fit seamlessly into your busy schedule, allowing you to pursue your educational goals without compromising on other important aspects of your life.

Distance Education

We are committed to providing programs and services that are guided by Barry University's rich educational mission and intended to enhance your Barry experience. Through partnerships with others in the university community, we aim to create experiences that will help transform you into leaders for a just and humane world.

Portrait of students at event on campus

We are an NCAA Division II school and a member of the Sunshine State Conference with 12 varsity teams, including men's baseball, basketball, golf, soccer and tennis; and women's basketball, golf, rowing, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. So far, we've won 24 NCAA championships, had 338 All-Americans, 413 Scholar All-Americans, and nine NCAA "Women of the Year" finalists, the most of any Division II school. Not bad at all, but we're going for more.

Campus Life

For students currently enrolled in classes at Barry, we have a wealth of resources you can tap into to bring ease and efficiency to your university experience. Get the help you need with administrative or financial questions, or check out course catalogs to help plan your schedule by semester. All the information you need to excel is at your fingertips.

Professional Writing Specialization

English (BA)

Professional Writing Specialization

As professional writing specialists, students explore various forms of writing styles including fiction, technical writing, persuasive writing, multimedia writing, screenwriting, business writing, and desktop publishing. The program also integrates computer technology, allowing students to create web pages, design Internet publications, and learn about current software applications. At Barry University, experience with technology will not only enhance student writing proficiency, but it will also provide students with a competitive and marketable advantage in the workplace.

The Professional Writing specialization at Barry University is a career-oriented program for English majors who are interested in pursuing an array of professional fields including:

  • Journalism
  • Public Relations
  • Advertising
  • Editing
  • Technical Writing
  • Business
  • Law
  • Teaching

Program Highlights

Writing and Editing

Throughout the program, you will continually work on creating your own writing portfolio, which will consist of polished writing samples, Web pages, blogs, publication clips, and internship material.  We also encourage students to write for university-sponsored publications such as the Barry Buccaneer, our student-run newspaper, and Barry Magazine, our university publication.  We also produce a literary journal, What Oft Was Thought, and students are welcome to submit their writing samples for consideration.  Finally, we encourage our students to professionalize themselves by attending conferences and participate in professional and student organizations.

Technology and Communication

Students will be trained in technical and professional writing. You will create Web pages, design Internet publications, and learn up-to-date software applications (such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop).

Internship Program

After students complete their extensive academic training, they will be required to participate in the Professional Writing Internship Program. Internships provide an opportunity to apply research, writing, editing, layout, design, and technological skills in a professional environment. Writing and research produced at your internship site will be incorporated in your writing portfolio.  Students have interned at The Miami Herald, Modern Luxury Brides, Sony Music, Onboard Media, Miami New Times, Boardroom Communications, Miami Sports Tribune, and many other sites within South Florida.

Professionalization

Whether you are enrolled in the Professional Writing Specialization or a Minor, you will receive one-on-one career counseling from faculty. You will learn to create a résumé, write query letters, and market your skills to prospective employers. Additionally, Barry provides you with the opportunity to interact with accomplished industry professionals by inviting local editors, publishers, and digital media specialists to make presentations on campus.

Professional Writing faculty

The Professional Writing faculty at Barry University are devoted scholars and teachers who have extensive professional experience working as writers, journalists, and editors.   They are committed to providing a supportive atmosphere that you can hone your writing skills.  

Contact Info

If you are interested in our dynamic program, please contact the Department of English and Foreign Languages at 305-899-3410, or contact Dr. Laura Alonso-Gallo.

Curriculum

The Professional Writing specialization requires the 12-credit core and a minimum of 21 credit hours in professional writing elective courses, plus the internship (3 or 6 credits).

Core Courses (12 credits)

Students choose 1 course from Traditional Canons, 1 course from Diverse Literatures, and 2 courses from Writing and Rhetoric.

After all core requirements are fulfilled, students may take any course under traditional canon and diverse literature as electives. This rule does not apply to the Professional Writing specialization. Courses cannot satisfy both core and elective requirements simultaneously.

  • Students choose 1 from the following: 

    • ENG 324: Major American Writers 
      • Survey of major American authors from the colonial period to the present.
    • ENG 332: Major British Writers 
      • Historical survey of the literature of England to the present day.
    • ENG 407: Shakespeare 
      • In-depth study of selected Shakespearean plays and poems. Emphasis on the author's artistic development. Same as TH 407.

  • Students choose 1 from the following: 

    • ENG 336: Latino/a Literature 
      • Study of poetic and narrative works representing distinct Latino groups. Texts are examined within their socio-political and historical contexts. Latino/a writers bring together the Hispanic and U.S. literary traditions and provide a new literary perspective based on their history, migratory experience, and cultural diversity. Issues such as race, class, and gender, as well as ethnic and national identity, are thoroughly examined. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210.
    • ENG 340: Women in Literature 
      • Study of literary works by women or themes concerning women in literature. Analysis of readings from the aesthetic and other theoretical points of view. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210.
    • ENG 348: Caribbean Literature 
      • Examination of texts that reflect political, social, and cultural issues related to Caribbean life and culture. Students will read literature by Caribbean authors residing both inside and outside of their countries. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210.
    • ENG 352: Survey of African American Literature 
      • An examination of the major works of African American writers from colonial times to the present. (Formerly ENG 245). Prerequisite: ENG 112 or 210.
    • ENG 338: Environmental Literature  
      • This literature course explores and analyzes themes, styles and issues endemic to the emerging genre of environmental writing through an analysis of fiction, essays, travel journals and poetry. It encourages thoughtful analysis of contemporary environmental concerns while promoting an interdisciplinary approach to the literature of nature and the non-human world. Prerequisite: ENG 302.

  • Students chose from 2 of the following: 

    • ENG 350: Theories of Rhetoric & Public Discourse
      • Examination of the role of rhetoric in all aspects of public life. Students will explore the uses of persuasive discourse in the processes of uniting societies, in creating and pursuing their goals and desires, and in negotiating changes to and challenges of their traditions. The approach is fundamentally chronological beginning with Aristotle and surveying key figures in the development of Renaissance and 18th and 19th century rhetoric. The focus of the course is on contemporary thinkers and theories and the ways in which they influence current persuasive practices. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210
    • ENG 364: Multimedia Writing
      • Study of composition and journalism using a variety of media. Students will produce interactive multimedia documents within a hybrid genre in order to recognize the multiple ways in which narratives can be told. Same as JOU 364. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210
    • ENG 404: Persuasive Writing
      • Study of the science and art of using written language to promote information, gain or induce attitude change, and affect behavior. Beginning with Aristotelian concepts such as logos, ethos, and pathos, this course will provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to generate, arrange and write effective arguments. Psychological and sociological principles of persuasion will be examined and the various uses of argument in contemporary situations explored. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210
    • ENG 406: Rhetorical Analysis 
      • In-depth analysis of advertisement, speeches, film and literature as persuasive texts. Students will learn both the nature and scope of persuasion and be introduced to several different methods for analyzing the argumentative strategies of texts. Among these are the traditional, Burkeian, sociological, feminist and postmodern perspectives. Students will also consider the ethical, aesthetic, and political problems raised by texts designed to persuade an audience. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210 

Professional Writing Specialization (21 credits)

After all core requirements are fulfilled, students take a minimum of 21 credit hours in professional writing elective courses, plus the internship (3 or 6 credits). Students may take any course under Writing & Rhetoric as electives. This rule does neither apply to the English B.A. (general; no specialization) nor the Literature specialization. Courses cannot satisfy both core and elective requirements simultaneously.

  • Content to be determined each semester by the Department as requested by faculty and/or students to fill specified needs of interests. Students may repeat ENG 300 as long as course content varieswith each repetition. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210

  • Study of fiction models. Students will engage in exercises that explore the creative process and various modes of fiction. Students will write and revise fiction, to compile a portfolio of the semester's work. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210

  • Study of models of classic and contemporary poetry. Students will engage in exercises that explore the creative process and various poetic forms. Students will write and revise poems to compile a portfolio of the semester's work. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210

  • Study of editing materials for publication. Students will explore questions of correctness and style, while also addressing the mechanics of proofreading. Students will learn how to create prose that is correct in syntax, usage, and punctuation; how to adapt prose style to fit a variety of audiences and situations; and how to edit manuscripts in preparation for printing. (Formerly ENG 244). Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210

  • This course engages in a study of creative nonfiction models. Students will engage in exercises that explore the creative process and various modes of nonfiction. Students will write and revise nonfiction, to compile a portfolio of the semester's work. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210.

  • An advanced course for students interested in learning to write for popular periodicals. The class explores the differences between magazine articles and newspaper journalism. Students learn how to analyze magazines, research articles, interview subjects, write articles and prepare them for publication. Same as JOU 362. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210

  • Study of organizational patterns, navigation systems, and Internet etiquette. Teaches students basic skills for creating hypertext and hypermedia documents. Students in this course distinguish traditional text documents from e-texts (electronic texts) and hypertexts (text including hyperlinks and text encoded with hypertext markup language), examining the stylistic consequences of these formal distinctions from a humanistic perspective. The class emphasizes the sense that traditional notions of authorship and authority are reconstituted by the contemporary writing environment and students apply their findings via the creation of original hypertext documents both individually and in collaboration with their peers. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210

  • Study and practice of the kinds of internal and external writing used in different organizations- utilities, for-profit corporations, non-profit organizations, and others. Practice in the researching, writing and editing of letters, memos, reports, market analysis, promotions, product descriptions, grants, proposals, etc. Relevant ethical issues will be included. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210

  • An advanced writing course designed for students interested in learning how to write scripts for film and television. Students learn the various forms, genres, techniques and styles of writing for film and television. The course will require students to write both a teleplay and a full-length screenplay. Same as COM 446. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210

  • This course offers instruction in effective technical research, writing, and editing for a variety of audiences, purposes, and clients. Students work with manuals, grants, proposals, instructions, descriptions, and job application materials. Through real-world projects, students will also learn about technical prose; document usability, visual rhetoric, cross-cultural technical communication; online and electronic technologies; and, ethics. Social media management and software applications will be used with applications to business, engineering, and writing for non-profits. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210

  • Practical experience within a professional setting, where students apply skills in rhetorical literacy or literary writing, critical thinking, and/or the use of multimedia technologies. Students demonstrate these skills through the creation of a professional portfolio. Pre-requisite: Senior status (90+ credit hours); 2.50 overall GPA. All paperwork must be completed before the end of the semester preceding the internship. Prior approval of Department Chair and Dean required. Prerequisite: ENG 112 or ENG 210.

  • Advanced instruction and practice in researching, reporting, and writing complex news stories. Examines the ethics of reporting in multi-cultural communities. Prerequisites: ENG 111, COM 207

Internship Opportunities

Students in Barry University's Professional Writing Program are required to complete an internship.  Internships allow students the opportunity to improve their professional skills as editors, researchers, and writers in a professional work environment.  This invaluable work experience enhances students’ marketability and their ability to succeed in their chosen professions.

Barry English majors have interned with the following organizations:

  • The Miami Herald
  • Miami New Times
  • Miami Sports Tribune
  • Modern Luxury Brides magazine
  • Ocean Drive magazine
  • Sun-Sentinel
  • MTV Latin America
  • Sony Music
  • Biscayne Blvd. Times newspaper
  • South Florida law firms
  • Onboard Media
  • Boardroom Communications

Students in the Professional Writing program receive one-on-one attention from Barry's distinguished faculty. All faculty members serve as academic advisors as well as instructors and will provide you with expert guidance as you plan your coursework, internship, and future career.

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Barry University does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, familial status, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability status or veteran status. This policy applies to students, employees, applicants and trustees with respect to participation in any program, benefit, activity or student/employment opportunity offered by the University. Every member of the University community is expected to uphold this policy as a matter of mutual respect and fundamental fairness in human relations. Every student of this institution has a responsibility to conduct himself/herself in accordance with this policy as a condition of enrollment. Further, every University employee has an obligation to observe Barry University policies and implementation of federal and state law as a term of employment. No person shall be retaliated against for reporting violations or concerns about prohibited discrimination or bias through appropriate University channels.

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