Writing Courses at Douglas College
A Review of the Two-Year Print Futures: Professional Writing Program
Sep 17, 2008
The program gives aspiring writers of all genres a chance to enhance their skills and receive a diploma in professional writing. While the program is geared toward business writing, creative writers should not be deterred. No matter what genre you write, the broad range of courses in Print Futures will improve not only your writing, but also your confidence, interpersonal skills and your knowledge of the industry. The program also provides a bundle of networking connections that will benefit you in the future.
About the Program
Print Futures is an intensive two-year program available at the New Westminster campus. In each of the four semesters (in the fall and winter of each year), the students must take the required four to six courses.
For those with full-time jobs or other commitments, the program also offers a part-time study option. This model lasts four years, limiting the courses taken in each semester.
In the final semester, each student creates a portfolio highlighting the best pieces of work they completed during the program. The program then concludes with the Print Futures portfolio show where friends, family and potential employers gather to observe the student portfolios and celebrate their graduation.
Courses
While Print Futures is labeled a professional writing program, it educates the students in more than just writing: there are courses in editing, research, print and web design, public relations and professional readiness.
The writing courses include writing fundamentals, technical writing, workplace writing, language studies, web writing, magazine writing, and, for the creative writers, personal narrative.
Most of the courses are two hours long, two days per week, and are scheduled in the daytime from Monday to Thursday. However, occasional courses are three hours long, one day per week in the evening.
Summer Internship
During the summer semester between the first and second year, the students are required to complete a Co-op. The Co-op provides 180 hours of real-world experience working as an intern for an actual company or organization. There are many different internships available to the students, including paid or volunteer opportunities, in-house or telecommuting positions, and, in some cases, travel opportunities.
Benefits
- The class sizes are small—usually between 16 to 30 students—allowing for one-on-one interaction with the instructors and classmates.
- Most of the writing is workshopped, meaning everyone in the class can read and comment on your work. This may sound like a drawback, but in fact getting feedback from peers is the best way to improve your writing. It also teaches writers to accept criticism gracefully, something many writers struggle with.
- The program caters to individual commitments by providing a part-time study model.
- The instructors are friendly, knowledgeable and experienced in their area of instruction.
- The program is transferable to select universities for continuing study.
- The college buys back many of the textbooks for a percentage of the purchase price.
- The students gain valuable networking connections through peers, instructors and co-op employers.
- Students leave the program with a variety of work samples, a personal website and professional portfolio.
Drawbacks
- The program does not provide a degree.
- There are many textbooks required for this program, some of which are never used.
- While the program prepares students for the workforce, it doesn’t guarantee a job. The industry is very competitive and job seekers must be diligent.
The Print Futures: Professional Writing program offers students of any age to begin or reshape their careers as writers. The program’s broad range of courses provide the students with all the skills they could potentially need in the workforce.
