Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing

Discover our 100% online Grad Certification

Are you a working professional looking to strengthen your communication and writing skills for today’s workplace? The University of Maine at Farmingtons fully online Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing, powered by YourPace at UMPI is designed for learners with bachelor’s degrees in any field who want to build practical and advanced writing abilities.

This twelve credit graduate level certificate helps you expand and refine workplace writing skills that support advancement, promotion, and career growth. It is also a strong option for those exploring new career paths or building credentials that can complement or stack with other graduate certificates or master’s level programs within the University of Maine System. Whether you want to enhance your current role or prepare for new opportunities, this certificate provides meaningful and versatile writing experience that applies across many industries.

As one of the most affordable choices among top universities offering online graduate programs, this certificate supports long term career development on a schedule that works for you.

For help with any questions you have:

Email us at umpi-yourpace@maine.edu

Or call (207) 768-9433

What Is Competency-Based Education?

Designed to leverage your previous knowledge, college coursework, and work experience, competency-based education enables you to earn your degree at your pace as you demonstrate mastery of relevant academic content.

How our YourPace online programs save you time and money:

Prove your knowledge, move ahead—the faster you advance, the more you save
Flat tuition rate per 8-week session, no matter how many courses you complete
With no weekly deadlines, you control the speed of completion*

*Time to completion varies by student and is based on several factors including prior college coursework, relevant work experience, amount of time dedicated to studying, and the number of courses completed each session.

Upcoming Session Dates

The Dates YourPace Students need to know

There are six opportunities throughout the year to begin our YourPace online program. Find the start date below that works best for you and apply before the application deadline. Please note, application and document deadlines are the same. UMPI must receive all documents including official transcripts by the document deadline to be considered. Transcripts can often take 10 or more business days from the request date to be received by UMPI, please plan accordingly.

Term	APP DEADLINE (4:00 PM ET)	DOCUMENT DEADLINE	CONFIRMATION DEADLINE (4:00 PM ET)	REGISTRATION DEADLINE	TUITION DEADLINE	START DATE	CLASS END DATE	Term Length
Fall 2	09/26/25	10/07/25	10/14/25	10/21/25	10/23/25	10/27/25	12/19/25	8 weeks
Spring 1	12/15/25	12/23/25	12/30/25	01/06/26	01/08/26	01/12/26	03/06/26	8 weeks
Spring 2	02/09/26	02/17/26	02/24/26	03/03/26	03/05/26	03/09/26	05/01/26	8 weeks
Summer 1	04/13/26	04/21/26	04/28/26	05/05/26	05/07/26	05/11/26	07/03/26	8 weeks
Summer 2	06/08/26	06/16/26	06/23/26	06/30/26	07/02/26	07/06/26	08/28/26	8 weeks
Fall 1	08/03/26	08/11/26	08/18/26	08/25/26	08/27/26	08/31/26

YourPace Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing Program Offerings

UMPI’s Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing is designed to help learners expand and refine the writing skills needed in a wide range of professional settings. The curriculum emphasizes clarity, audience awareness, document design, digital communication, and persuasive strategies that help you communicate effectively in the workplace.

Explore Our Online Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing Program

The YourPace Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing is a flexible and fully online program created for professionals who want to strengthen their writing, document design, and communication skills across diverse workplace settings.

Through this competency-based program, you will gain graduate-level knowledge and practical strategies for writing in business, nonprofit, educational, and digital contexts. You will explore topics such as professional communication, writing for the internet, and persuasive grant writing. Whether you are seeking graduate-level credits, preparing for advancement, or expanding your writing skills for new opportunities, this program offers the flexibility and relevance you need to move forward in your career.

UMPI’s YourPace format allows you to progress on your own schedule which makes it an ideal choice for working adults who are balancing career and family commitments. With twelve credits of focused coursework, the program equips you with practical writing abilities that can be used immediately in your organization or professional field.
This graduate certificate is a strong fit for

Grant writers and fundraising staff
Business and nonprofit professionals
Communications and marketing specialists
Educators and content creators
Career changers preparing for new opportunities
Anyone looking for an affordable online graduate writing certificate from a top university

Graduates of the program will be prepared to support a variety of communication needs across corporate, nonprofit, educational, and public service settings. Upon completion, you will earn a Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing that is recognized across the United States and valued by employers who seek strong communicators and organized professional writers.

Take the next step in your career with one of the most affordable and flexible online graduate writing programs offered by colleges in the United States. Learn how this certificate can help you become a more effective communicator while gaining a respected credential that strengthens your professional profile.

YourPace Tuition

Learn more about our affordable tuition

The YourPace Graduate Professional Writing Certification Online Program offers an affordable flat tuition rate, ensuring you pay the same amount per session regardless of how many courses you complete. With no hidden fees or additional textbook costs, this flexible competency-based education program allows you to save more the faster you finish. Whether you’re looking to accelerate your degree or complete courses at your own pace, you’ll benefit from transparent pricing and a cost-effective learning experience through the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

Tuition breakdown:

$2,450 per session

Flat-Rate Tuition

Have questions or need more information about competency-based education?

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Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from UMPI?

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UMPI is ranked as one of the top 10 Regional Colleges in the North for graduates with least debt—UMPI is the top institution in Maine and all of New England to appear on this list. – U.S. News & World Report, 2024.

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YourPace Admissions

Requirements for the Graduate Certification program offerings

We’ve made the admission process simple and streamlined so it’s easier for you to get started. Those interested in earning their competency-based education Graduate certificate in Professhional Writing should have an undergraduate degree and possess some prior college credit and/or work experience.

Admission Requirements:

No Application Fee

Minimum 3.0 GPA

We’ve streamlined the admission process so it’s easy for you to get started. Here is the information you need to apply:

Admission Requirements (Graduate)

The University requirement for admission to any master’s degree program is the demonstration of the completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or from a recognized foreign institution. Matriculation into the program will be granted upon receipt of their officially conferred degree. Once matriculated, students will be eligible to enroll in classes.
Applicants must submit an official transcript from the college or university from which their bachelor’s degree or equivalency was granted, excluding the University of Maine System (UMS) campuses. (UMS transcripts are accessible to UMPI.)
Official transcripts from any institution from which you have earned graduate credit are required for credit transfer evaluation. A maximum of six credits can be applied to graduate programs. Graduate-level credit may be evaluated provided the credits were earned from a regionally accredited U.S. university or a comparable international university.
Official transcripts must be sent by the institution directly to edocs@maine.edu or an institution-approved transcript service (Parchment and the National Student Clearing House).
Applicants whose GPAs are less than 3.0 are required to submit a personal statement. The personal statement (not to exceed 500 words) should reflect the applicant’s ability to write at the graduate level, with attention to appropriate grammar, spelling, form, and structure in preparing the statement. Applicants are asked to respond to the following:
- Explain how you will ensure your academic success in this graduate program and overcome challenges you may have experienced with your undergraduate program of studies.

International students are eligible to apply and enroll; however, an I-20 will NOT be provided as this is a fully online degree program. In addition to the standard admissions requirements, international students must also meet the additional requirements specific to international applicants.

Specific Requirements for International Students

Students from around the world are eligible and welcome to apply. Please note that additional requirements related to English Proficiency and international transcripts may be applicable. For full International Students YourPace Admissions requirments, please use the button below.

International Requirements

YourPace Professional Writing Graduate Certification Courses

The YourPace Professional Writing Certificate Program is designed to provide you with the communication skills needed to excel in today’s professional landscape. Select the tab below to explore the certificate option that matches your goals and begin building a strong foundation for future success..

Program Requirements – 12 Credit Hours

This course provides students with an overview of business communication, a variety of genres and modalities found in the workplace, effective document design, and the internal and external audiences people address in communication outside of academia. The course covers the seven C’s, as well as instruction in grammar and rhetorical strategies. Students in this course will have an opportunity to refine their job materials and create a dossier of professional documents relevant to their careers.

This course delves into professional content meant to be shared on the internet. Students in this course will identify professional writing as writing for the public, including local and global clients and general audiences. Students will analyze, create, and maintain professional websites and social media accounts, as well as create outward facing video and audio content as a part of their coursework.

This course focuses on identifying funding opportunities and writing grant proposals. Students will search for grants in their area of interest and practice writing to smaller, local granting agencies and larger, national or international funders. Students will learn how to compose persuasive proposals supported by research, draw on the classical rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, and logos), and employ the AIDA approach (securing the audience’s attention, generating interest, creating desire to act, and bringing about action).

This course focuses on document design and the visual aspects of professional communication. Students will analyze and create graphics, such as charts, tables, photographs, drawings, video content, and more. Students will also keep a digital dossier showcasing their work.

This course explores how artificial intelligence is transforming writing practices, pedagogies, and professional contexts. Using Gemini as the primary AI writing tool, students will develop foundational AI literacy, examine ethical implications, design learning experiences that integrate AI responsibly, and reflect on their professional growth as educators. Through practical applications and reflective analysis, students will build competencies to navigate and leverage AI writing technologies while maintaining pedagogical integrity and promoting equitable access.

NECHE

The University of Maine at Presque Isle is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

University of Maine System

UMPI and UMF are respected members of the University of Maine System.

C-BEN

UMPI is proud to be a member institution in the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN).

Next Step: Admissions

We’re so excited that you’re considering the University of Maine at Presque Isle! As a student at UMPI, we want your experience to be anything but ordinary! So what makes UMPI extraordinary? Our Learning Environment, Our Student Engagement and Our Location!

No matter what stage of life you are in, we can help you take the plunge into higher education and put you on YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS!