Overview
Please note that following the Spring 2023 term, the Academic Writing Program will be paused indefinitely to re-evaluate the delivery format.
Complete the Academic Writing program and earn a microcredential
Upon successfully completing this program, you will receive a microcredential recognizing your learning achievement. Complete with details of the skills and specialized knowledge you have acquired, the microcredential is digitally shareable, making it easy to add to your resume, LinkedIn profile and to share with current or prospective employers.
Master your writing skills and communicate effectively in academic and professional settings
Learn the foundations of academic writing. Gain the skills and confidence you need to be an effective communicator in educational and/or business situations with our fully online Academic Writing program.
- Hands on approach to common writing styles and formats so students can practise and evaluate their skills
- Gain the knowledge, tools and strategies to successfully communicate within the foundations of academic writing
- Take any two courses to earn an Academic Writing Certificate of Completion or taken individually to hone your skills based on your needs
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Program highlights Learn More
- Now offered as a microcredential
- Fundamentals of grammar and style
- Strategies, tools and techniques to improve your writing skills
- Open enrolment program
Academic Writing program features:
- Four courses to choose from that cover fundamentals of grammar and style, elements of writing, academic writing process and academic integrity
- Discover the elements of writing – planning, outlining, drafting and revising
- Convenient online courses to fit your life
- Earn a certificate when you complete any two courses or select individual courses based on your needs and goals
What you'll learn Learn More
- Improved academic and professional writing skills
- Writing successfully in any context
- Academic integrity strategies and tools
Through our Academic Writing program, you’ll learn to:
- Critically read and interpret academic writing assignments
- Employ different writing styles and formats applicable to academic assignments
- Apply academic writing strategies to plan, research, outline, formulate a thesis, compose a draft, edit, and revise a cross-section of writing assignments
- Understand and apply the principles of academic integrity
- Demonstrate skill in foundational elements of grammar and style
Learn more about the Academic Writing program
- McMaster Continuing Education students
- Undergraduate and Graduate students
- New Canadians starting a new career or academic program
- Anyone looking to improve their writing skills and knowledge surrounding academic writing best practices
The ability to write with clarity, impact and academic integrity will improve your chances of success in any field or industry, including:
- Academia
- Marketing
- Business
- Technology
- Healthcare
- Finance
- Startups
- Grant writing
- Research
Check out our latest Marketing Program Preview webinar to learn more about the Academic Writing program
What our recent graduates say
Tyson
Business Administration - Marketing graduate
The instructors worked in the marketing field and taught us real-life experiences.
Obtaining an education with McMaster Continuing Education helped me reinvent my career. I was a former banker and I wanted a career in marketing. Through this program, I was able to bridge that gap and get into the career that I wanted. The instructors were working in the marketing field, teaching us real-life experiences and that was very valuable to me.
Tyson
Business Administration - Marketing graduate
The instructors worked in the marketing field and taught us real-life experiences.
Obtaining an education with McMaster Continuing Education helped me reinvent my career. I was a former banker and I wanted a career in marketing. Through this program, I was able to bridge that gap and get into the career that I wanted. The instructors were working in the marketing field, teaching us real-life experiences and that was very valuable to me.
Tyson
Business Administration - Marketing graduate
Other programs you may be interested in
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Certificate in Academic Writing
Certificate of Completion in Academic Writing
Pursue your Certificate of Completion in Academic Writing with McMaster Continuing Education
Explore the requirements below and register today!
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Certificate of Completion in Academic Writing
Earn the Certificate of Completion in Academic Writing by achieving the stated course objectives and receive a passing grade in any two courses (minimum of 30 course hours) listed
Courses (complete any 2)
ACW 101
Fundamental Grammar and Style
(Currently Not Available)
ACW 102
Getting Started - The Elements of Writing
(Currently Not Available)
ACW 103
Ready, Set, Write! Academic Essay Writing
(Currently Not Available)
ACW 104
What is Academic Integrity?
(Currently Not Available)
- Home
- Find Programs & Courses
- Marketing and Communications Programs
- Academic Writing Program
Academic Writing Courses
Academic Writing Courses
Advance your career with online Academic Writing courses
Explore course options below and register today!
Information Box Group
ACW 101
Fundamental Grammar and Style
(Currently Not Available)
ACW 102
Getting Started - The Elements of Writing
(Currently Not Available)
ACW 103
Ready, Set, Write! Academic Essay Writing
(Currently Not Available)
ACW 104
What is Academic Integrity?
(Currently Not Available)
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
This program is open enrolment, which means there is no formal application or admission procedure. To enrol in a course, simply register online. Our courses can be taken as part of a program or individually.
To enrol in McMaster Continuing Education programs, you must:
- Have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent
- Be a mature student as defined in the Undergraduate Calendar of McMaster University or
- Be deemed an exceptional case
To ensure you are successful in your online courses, you are required to have knowledge and skills with general computer applications, such as keyboarding, file management, video conferencing and word processing.
Language Requirements
If your first language is not English, you must meet the University’s English language proficiency requirements. Completion of TOEFL exam with a minimum acceptable score of 20 on each of the four components (reading, writing, speaking and listening), valid for 2 years.
Expandable List
- Visit continuing.mcmaster.ca/programs to find your program of choice
- Click on each tab on the program page to learn about credential options and requirements, schedule and fees, and a list of all courses in the program
- Select a course and then select an available offering, noting important information such as cost, delivery format, and start/end dates; then click ‘add to cart’
- Once you have added your courses, click the shopping cart icon at the top right-hand corner of the page (bottom of the browser screen on mobile)
- Review your cart and, once you’re ready to proceed with enrolment, click ‘proceed to checkout’
- As the next step, you will be redirected to Mosaic – McMaster’s Administrative Information and Enrolment system
- Once you are in Mosaic, select ‘new to McMaster’ or log in with your existing MacID and password (if applicable)
- Complete all required fields and select a program of study when prompted (i.e., a specific program or open studies for standalone courses)
- Finally, payment is required in full to secure a spot in your course(s)
A payment receipt email will be issued to you immediately after registering, and a course confirmation email will be sent to you overnight. Within approximately 24 hours of registering, you will also receive an important email containing credentials used to activate your MacID, which you must do before you can access courses in Avenue to Learn. Please review our Getting Started page to learn more about the next steps for beginning your studies after registration, and our Help Centre for our Refund Policy and other frequently asked questions. Please note that on average, each course requires 6-8 hours of study per week, per course (sometimes more) and some courses may have listed prerequisites. Please plan your schedule accordingly. Most students take 1-2 courses per term across a few different terms and a full-time equivalent course load is typically 3-4 courses per term.
For more information and a walkthrough on how to register, please check out this video.
- Payment must be made in full at the time of enrolment
- Online credit card or debit payments are preferred
- Accepted credit cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express
- Accepted debit cards: Visa Debit and Debit Mastercard
- Google Pay is available for faster checkout
- Payments can be made from a Canadian Financial Institution and can take 2 to 4 business days to arrive in your McMaster student account. Once payment has arrived, you can register for your course. Please note that if the amount of the course fees owing is more than what was transferred to your student account, you will be dropped from the course.
- Problem processing your payment? Please reach out to your credit card company if your payment was declined. Otherwise, wait two hours before attempting your registration again.
Ready to get started?
Visit the Schedule tab to select your course and proceed with the registration steps.