Science Communication

There is a common misconception that scientific research is inaccessible, overly technical or even uninteresting. It’s time to change the narrative. This class equips emerging science communicators from any background with the skills to effectively share science discoveries with the general public. Throughout the course, you’ll develop your science writing portfolio, network with your peers, and learn new ways to engage with the broader science communication community. Please note: This course is about communicating scientific topics to non-scientific audiences, not about writing scientific...

The goal of this course is to introduce you to the purpose of journalism and the fundamentals of news and featue writing. In this ever-changing media landscape, one thing can remain constant: an individual reporter's professionalism. This course is intended to help students learn to develop story ideas, cultivate sources, practice interviewing techniques, and craft and structure compelling articles. Journalism ethical standards are covered and provide a valuable guideline for best practices.

10 Weeks | Online Course Overview: This advanced writing course is designed to build upon the foundational skills acquired in Science Writing I. In this course, students will embark on a science communication project of their choice—such as a long-form article or article series, podcast script or explainer video script—allowing them to explore topics they are passionate about while honing their craft. Throughout the course, students will learn advanced techniques to effectively communicate scientific and technical subjects to a broader audience. The curriculum emphasizes extensive writing...

There a many avenues to building a business around writing. In this short course we will briefly discuss various possibilities including becoming a book author, “freelance” writer for hire, or journalist/article writer. You will learn how to develop a business mindset, determine the best writing path for you, and create a sustainable business.  

The ability to edit your own written work is a skill that's highly valued by employers and publishers. This class focuses on strengthening your writing for the web using journalistic techniques. Whether you want to create blog content, feature articles, or marketing copy, it is essential to organize your writing in logical, clear, and engaging ways. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to recognize good writing, critique their own work, write clean copy, and edit content for optimal readability.

Effective interviewing techniques translate to writing that is clear, lively, and – depending on the writer's mission – instructive or entertaining. This course will encompass all the integral components of the interviewing process, including preparation, one-on-one dynamics, comparing interview styles, how to take useful notes, asking the right questions, coaxing interesting quotes from interviewees and using quotes effectively in a feature story. Students will participate in interviewing and writing exercises in class and complete a major interview/writing assignment out of class.  

The market for children’s nonfiction and informational books and articles has never been better. In this course, which can be taken by those familiar with writing for children and those just beginning, students will learn about the needs and trends within nonfiction work for children ages 3-12 – magazines, trade books, school-library publishers, and book packagers. Students will gain practice researching nonfiction topics and writing for the various markets, as well as examining the variety of writing styles that can be used to write about individual topics. Topics covered in the course...

Master the Art of Podcasting: From Concept to Creation 6 Weeks | No Prerequisite In today’s digital world, podcasting is one of the most powerful ways to share stories, build brands, and connect with audiences. Whether you're a beginner looking to start your first podcast or a current podcaster wanting to refine your craft, Fundamentals of Podcasting is designed to take you from idea to execution. Over six weeks, you'll explore both the technical and creative aspects of podcast production, including microphone selection, recording high-quality audio, and editing with professional tools....