Writing for Planners, Engineers and Policymakers

Online

Engineers, planners and other professionals require a high degree of technical writing skill to prepare a variety of documents including reports, proposals, formal letters and emails. However, they often lack training in the craft of effective writing. Gain the necessary skills for communicating through clear and concise language in effective documents. Discover how to increase clarity in technical documents by learning skills related to audience needs, document organization, paragraph development and using powerful sentences. Acquire practical skills that you can use immediately to prepare high-quality documents. Strengthen your skills through a series of short writing exercises, and analyze examples of good and bad writing and the effect that both can have on the success of a project.

Note: Please bring a sample of your writing to class so you can practice your new skills.

CEUs

0.65

Section Number

254LAN127

Instruction Method

Online class

Section Notes

This is an online, remote learning course, which consists of 6.5 hours of content and curriculum that is taught with pre-recorded lectures as well all mandatory live Zoom session with the instructor(s). Pre-recorded lectures and live sessions are accessed via our Canvas learning system and Zoom. This course is the same length as a standard 1 day, in-person course, please be sure to plan your schedule accordingly.

This course is open May 4 - 8, with live sessions on May 4th from 10:00-11:00 AM PDT and May 8th from 1:00-2:00 PM PDT.

Attendance of the live sessions is mandatory to receive credit for the course.

We allow registration through the 11:59 PM PST (midnight) on the day before the first day of the course. We cannot extend course access beyond 11:59 PM on last day of class, so students pursuing a late enrollment acknowledge that they will have less time to complete the materials. Please contact the course representative with any questions.

Refund Deadline: 4/27/2026. Refunds and/or enrollment transfers will not be approved after this date.

Enrollment Policies

Drop requests (withdraw with a refund) will be approved, less a $30 processing fee, if the request is received by the Refund Deadline. Refunds and/or enrollment transfers will not be approved after this date. Click here to view complete enrollment policy information including details on withdrawals and transfers.

Refund Deadline: 4/27/2026. Refunds and/or enrollment transfers will not be approved after this date.

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Schedule

May 4th, 2026 to May 8th, 2026, 12:00am to 12:00am

Mon., May 4th, 2026, 10:00am to 11:00am

Fri., May 8th, 2026, 1:00pm to 2:00pm

Instructors

Miles Miniaci

Miles Miniaci is a lecturer in the University Writing Program at the University of California, Davis. He specializes in Writing in the Professions courses, including Business Writing and Science Writing. Miles has also taught writing at California State University, Sacramento and Sacramento City College. In addition to his teaching experience, Miles has also worked as a copywriter and marketing specialist for the California Department of Conservation (Division of Recycling), and as a grant writer and consultant for the non-profit organization California Alliance for Arts Education. Miles received his MFA from the University of Southern California, his BA from California State University, Sacramento, and his teaching credential from National University.