Certificate in Business Writing (Online at your own pace)
Begin by understanding the format, construction, and successful techniques of writing good business reports and proposals. Improve your skills with editing and proofreading. Discover what good journalists know and learn how to write a news story, press release, or other publicity notice that stands out in the workplace. Enhance your career by mastering critical communication skills that will help you move forward and stand out in your organization.
Courses (click link for details):
- Business Writing
- Effective Copywriting
-
Writing News and Press Releases
Courses are online and asynchronous, meaning students may login to the classroom anytime during the course session, day or night, 24/7. For more information, go to our Online Professional Development Certificates & Courses FAQ
Class details:
| Business Writing | ||
Unit 1: Writing as a process
Outlining for Successful Writing Organization Models (Choosing a Model that Works) Principles of Business Communication |
Unit 2: Written communication in the workplace
Drafting and Revision Writing the First Draft |
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Unit 3: Writing a proposal
Writing Effective Content Safeguarding Users Ethical Considerations |
Unit 4: Collaborative writing and research
Collaborating Across Departments Working Through Conflict |
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| Effective Copywriting | ||
Unit 1: Copywriting essentials
The art of the perfect sentence Developing your message Crafting your document roadmap Adapting your style to the audience and message |
Unit 2: Getting to the point
Active vs. Passive Voice Cutting the clutter Using concrete examples and avoiding unwarranted superlatives |
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Unit 3: Self Editing
Avoiding common grammar mistakes and punctuation pitfalls Subject, verb and object agreement Fact checking The benefits of having an in-house style guide |
Unit 4: Creating attention-grabbing press releases
Setting the right tone Language to use and language to avoid Writing a great headline |
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| Writing News and Press Releases | ||
Unit 1: The skills good journalists have
How to think like your audience Kinds of publicity notices Keys to successful publicity notices |
Unit 2: Writing a good news story
The 5 Ws and H How not to bury the lead Writing a good headline for your story |
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Unit 3: Creating the successful press release
Quotes, how many to use, who to quote and how How and where to highlight your organization and contact Avoiding the direct sales pitch |
Unit 4: Distributing your press release
Email press releases Print press releases Getting attention |
William A Draves
Instructor
William A. Draves is one of the foremost authorities in the world on teaching online. More than 6,000 faculty and teachers have taken this course. He did his graduate work in education, with an emphasis on adult education, from The George Washington University in Washington DC.
Draves has taught for over thirty years, including teaching at the graduate level. His books include "How to Teach Adults," the most popular book ever written on the subject, and "Energizing the Learning Environment."
He has been interviewed by Wired.com, The New York Times, NPR, NBC Nightly News, Washington Post, Virtual University News, Chronicle of Higher Education and other national media.
Draves is author of the book, "Advanced Teaching Online," which is used as the text book for this course. This course is part of the Certified Online Instructor (COI) designation, the most recognized certification for online teaching in higher education.
Dionne (Dee) Felix
Instructor
Dionne (Dee) Felix is an experienced educator, mentor, and presenter with experience in instruction, course development, and face-to-face and online education. Dee has conducted highly engaging workshops in business writing, education, and faculty and professional development. She has helped traditional and non-traditional learners transform their approach to, and success in, writing. Dee currently teaches in higher education, both the English and Education disciplines.
Kathryn Lynch-Morin
Instructor
Kathryn Lynch-Morin is a professional writer, editor and content curator. She specializes in social media, content creation and inbound marketing as project coordinator for a national organization. She also spent five years working for Michigan’s largest news and information source, MLive.com, where she won a number of awards for her writing and reporting. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Journalism.
OE-21170d-ugc
Online registration is overInstructors:
- William A Draves
- Dionne (Dee) Felix
- Kathryn Lynch-Morin
| Date | Time | Location |
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| Tue, Sep 2nd 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Sep 3rd 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Sep 4th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Sep 5th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sat, Sep 6th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sun, Sep 7th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Mon, Sep 8th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Sep 9th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Sep 10th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Sep 11th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Sep 12th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sat, Sep 13th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sun, Sep 14th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Mon, Sep 15th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Sep 16th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Sep 17th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
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| Mon, Oct 13th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
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| Tue, Oct 28th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
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| Wed, Nov 12th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Nov 13th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Nov 14th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sat, Nov 15th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Sun, Nov 16th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Mon, Nov 17th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Nov 18th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Nov 19th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Nov 20th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Nov 21st 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
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| Sun, Nov 23rd 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Mon, Nov 24th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Tue, Nov 25th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Wed, Nov 26th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Thu, Nov 27th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |
| Fri, Nov 28th 2025 | 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM | Online |