Bachelor of Arts in English – Professional Communication & Journalism Concentration

Your pathway to online degree completion

undergraduate Apply

Next Session Start Date:

Apply by:

12/06/24

Document Deadline:

12/13/24

Confirmation Deadline:

12/20/24

Start Session:

01/13/25

Overview Tuition Calendar Admissions Courses

Program Overview

Gain insights into our online B.A. in English – Professional Communication & Journalism degree

The YourPace online Bachelor of Arts in English – Professional Communication & Journalism Concentration program shapes you into a strong communicator, and helps you gain mobility in your career. Designed to fortify your ability to write and speak clearly, convincingly, and compellingly, this accredited online program prepares you for success in a vast array of professional and academic settings.

As an student, you will develop the in-demand leadership and advanced business communication skills that all employers seek. Our competency-based online coursework is uniquely structured to ensure you get valuable experiences and build an impressive portfolio that includes popular communication, professional and creative writing, literary and film analysis, as well as graphic design.

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

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

In this professional communication and journalism online program, you will learn to:

  • Communicate effectively in written and oral forms as appropriate to purpose, audience, and genre.
  • Conduct research, evaluate and utilize sources effectively.
  • Demonstrate practical application of coursework and engage in meaningful reflection.
  • Show professional and ethical responsibility within the field.
  • Successfully utilize principles of professional team building.
  • Successfully market, advocate, persuade, and produce evidence-based communication.

Career opportunities include:

  • Social Media Manager
  • Marketing Manager
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Editor
  • Content Manager
  • Freelance Writer
  • Journalist
  • Communication Manager
  • Teacher
  • Writer & Author

$1,700* per session

Flat-Rate Tuition

12 months**

Duration

120

Credit Hours

UMPI is ranked among the Top 10 Regional Colleges in the North for graduates with the least debt. – U.S. News & World Report, 2023.

“This program allows me to get classes done on my time that fits within my budget. It is a perfect program for those who have busy lives but want to complete a degree program at an affordable price.”

-Meaghan Cote, UMPI YourPace Online Student

Request Info undergrad apply

NEED MORE INFORMATION?

Email us at umpi-yourpace@maine.edu

Or call 207-768-9433

Tuition

Find out how and when to pay your tuition

The B.A. in English – Professional Communication & Journalism online program offers highly affordable tuition with a flat rate regardless of how many courses you complete each session. No hidden fees or extra textbook costs. The faster you finish, the more you save!

*Tuition and fees are subject to change

Tuition breakdown:

$1,700* per session

Flat-Rate Tuition

Calendar

Dates you 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.

TermAPP DEADLINEDOCUMENT DEADLINECONFIRMATION DEADLINEREGISTRATION DEADLINETUITION DEADLINESTART DATECLASS END DATETerm Length
Fall 107/26/2408/02/2408/09/2408/27/2408/29/2409/03/2410/25/248 weeks
Fall 209/20/2409/27/2410/04/2410/22/2410/24/2410/28/2412/20/248 weeks
Spring 112/06/2412/13/2412/20/2401/07/2501/09/2501/13/2503/07/258 weeks
Spring 201/30/2502/07/2502/14/2503/04/2503/06/2503/10/2505/02/258 weeks
Summer 104/04/2504/11/2504/18/2505/06/2505/08/2505/12/2507/03/258 weeks
Summer 205/30/2506/06/2506/13/2507/01/2507/03/2507/07/2508/29/258 weeks

Have questions or need more information about online programs?

Request info

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

undergrad apply

Admissions

Requirements for the online professional communication & journalism program

We’ve made the admission process simple and streamlined so it’s easier for you to get started. Those interested in earning their B.A. in English – Professional Communication & Journalism YourPace online degree from UMPI should have the equivalent of a high school diploma and possess some prior college credit and/or work experience.

Admission Requirements:

No Application Fee

Minimum 1.75 GPA

Admissions Requirements and Guidelines for Undergraduate Programs

  • Students must be 20 years of age at the time of application.
  • High school diploma or equivalent (e.g., HiSet, GED)
  • Minimum cumulative college of GPA 1.75 from most recently attended institution
    • Submission of all official transcripts:Transcripts are only considered official if they are sent directly to UMPI from the granting institution or their electronic ordering service. Student-submitted transcripts are not accepted.
    • College credits with a cumulative GPA of less than a 1.75 must also submit a resume to indicate activities and experience post high school diploma (or equivalent). An interview may be required.
  • Students who do not have any college credits must submit the following:
    • Provide high school transcript, high school equivalency test (HiSet), or GED
    • A resume to indicate activities and experience post high school diploma (or equivalent)

Instructions for international students:

  • All international transcripts will only be accepted if the student provides them through an evaluation service. The evaluation agency must be a member of NACES or AICE. We will not accept unofficial copies (e.g., from the student)
  • Canadian schools and universities from a French-only institution (mostly in the province of Quebec) must be evaluated
  • International students are required to demonstrate English proficiency by submitting scores from an English language proficiency test taken no more than two-years prior to date of application

Additional guidelines for international applicants may be found here.

**Student under 20 years of age do not meet the requirements for the YourPace programs. We do offer other programs that may meet your needs. If you would like more information about our traditional programs, please visit https://www.umpi.edu/admissions/. You can also reach out to the Admissions Office at umpi-admissions@maine.edu or by calling 207.768.9433.

Institutions and third-party vendors may submit official documents such as official transcripts and English proficiency exam score reports to: edocs@maine.edu

Mailing Address:

Application Processing Center
PO Box 412
Bangor, ME 04402-0412

Courses

Gain expertise in these online English classes

To earn your B.A. in English – Professional Communication & Journalism, you need to complete 120 credit hours of coursework. Each course is built around a series of competencies. Once you have mastered the series, you complete the course. Using our personalized learning model, we look at your past college credit, prior learning, and work experience to create your custom degree plan.

The program includes 40 credit hours of general education courses, 46 credit hours of English core/Professional Communication and Journalism Concentration courses, and 34 credit hours of electives.

Students must complete 21 credit hours of English core courses.

Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3

An introduction to understanding and interpretation of diverse literary texts in context. Some attention to literary techniques, critical perspective, and genre conventions. The course will include introduction in writing critical essays.

Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3

An introduction to the basic principles and practices of writing stories, poems, essays, and plays. Emphasis on selecting strong subjects, developing materials from life and from the imagination, and using fresh, exact details.

Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3

Survey of Anglo-American literature emphasizing generic, cultural, and political developments in a trans-Atlantic context. Readings in autobiography, travel and slave narratives, lyric, narrative and mock-epic poetry, the essay and the novel

Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3

Survey of realist, naturalist, modernist, and postmodernist literary movements in the context of industrial revolutions, imperialism, migration, and urbanization. Attention to the manner in which literature engages questions of national and individual identity, as well as racial, sexual, and ethnic difference.

Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3

An introduction to and survey of contemporary world literature. Particular attention given to postcolonial authors of the Caribbean, Africa, and the Indian sub-continent. Topics may include magical realism, the relationship of indigenous authors to metropolitan culture centers, postmodern and postcolonial identity, nationalism, and contemporary critical approaches to non-Western literature.

Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3

A study of the development of the English language from its earliest known stage to present-day British and American English. Consideration of aspects of sound, word formation, syntax, and vocabulary; and of cultural influences on linguistic change and social attitudes affecting usage. The course will acquaint the student with some of the concerns of linguistics, etymology, and philology.

Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3

This is a course in “popular communication.” It teaches students about message and audience, hooking and keeping readers, viewers and listeners, writing the way they talk—only better. This is a standard course for programs in professional communication and journalism. It lays a solid foundation for later specialization and refinement.

Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3

Students in this course will design graphic design artifacts, which may include, but is not limited to, brand development, brochures, stationary, and/ or poster design. Traditional and digital techniques will be used over the course of the semester.

Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3

This course will analyze the forces that drive organizations to change, examine impediments to change, and survey a range of approaches for making organizational change more effective. This course provides practical skills for managing and leading change in your personal life and within any organization.

Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3

This course focuses on understanding the nature of leadership in professional environments. Students will examine the characteristics, roles, and functions of an effective leader allowing them to lead and manage change successfully. Major theories of leadership are discussed and students will learn to think critically about best practices and applications.

Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3

Students will demonstrate a deep understanding of Message, Audience, Support, Ethics and Venue through discussions and presentations. They’ll prepare professional portfolios. Students will develop effective resumes and cover letters. They’ll prepare to interview and fill jobs. This course provides the last steps to becoming a professional.

Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3

Class will help students tap into the infinite and lucrative magazine and newspaper feature writing market. Students will learn how to answer readers’ needs and find story ideas in everything. They’ll be out of the classroom, taking the community pulse. They’ll write for the U Times, Upcountry and other opportunities.

Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3

Students will master the necessary communication skills to thrive in any business or professional area. They’ll become proficient in everything from phone etiquette, e-mail and memos, to proposals and presentations. They’ll get out of the classroom, partnering with an organization to apply what they’ve learned.

Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3

Focus on writing as a profession. Review of such basics as e-mail, memos, phone etiquette, reports, proposals. Progress into more complex venues such as advocacy communication, communication audits, and focus groups. Students will work with clients producing communication products the organizations will use and enhance student profiles.

Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3

Further development of professional communication skills for those with targeted career goals. Course focus varies: will emphasize such advanced advocacy communications as proposals, grants, annual reports, overarching communication plans, focus groups and sophisticated presentations skills. Will work with real world partners.

Duration: 8 weeks | Credit Hours: 3

Students will act as professional communicators out in the field. They may work in traditional journalism areas or focus upon other aspects of professional communication. Through guided autonomy, they’ll produce professional quality work for partners and demonstrate their ability to serve as successful communication practitioners. Course may be repeated once for credit.

Request More Information

Submit the form below, and an Admissions Specialist will contact you to answer any questions.

YourPace Request Info
May we text you updates and information about UMPI?

By submitting this form, I am providing my digital signature agreeing that University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) may email me or contact me regarding educational services by telephone and/or text message utilizing automated technology or a pre-recorded message at the telephone number(s) provided above. I understand this consent is not a condition to attend UMPI or to purchase any other goods or services.

Begin Application Process

Start your application today!

Undergraduate Apply

Email us at umpi-yourpace@maine.edu

Or call 207-768-9433

for help with any questions you have.

*Tuition and fees are subject to change.

**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.