6.9, Professional Communications Overview (PC)

Professional Communications Overview

Our Professional Communications program focuses on professional, technical, and business writing for a variety of media and industries. A degree in Professional Communications offers you endless career options across multiple industry sectors, including technical writing, copywriting, editing, grant writing, and related writing careers in business, government, and non-profit organizations.

Throughout this program, you'll learn valuable skills such as:

• Document design, production, and management

• Documentation development

• Publishing in print and electronic media

• Rhetoric, writing, and digital literacy theories

• Social media content creation

• Usability testing

• Visual rhetoric and multimedia composition

• Web content writing

Each course takes eight weeks to complete and you can enjoy earning your degree with the flexibility and convenience of this 100% online program.

6.6, Temples and Tides: A Dream Vacation

Traveling abroad always feels surreal to me. After all the hours diving into a new travel book and loosely planning my vacation, I finally get to live it. Each day brings a new whirlwind of adventure—new sights, new landscapes, new foods—and my half-plans leave space for serendipity, leading me to experiences I never could’ve planned for. By the time I return home to my mundane reality, it all seems like a dream.

But then it’s time to plan the next trip.

Thailand has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. Photos of the country reveal lush landscapes, dreamy coastlines, and golden architecture. Friends who have visited recall a mix of adventure and cultural appreciation. All these details sound like the makings of a perfect trip to me.

Buddhist temples pepper the country, over 33,000 in fact, with each displaying their own architectural brilliance. While researching which of the many temples I should visit, one in particular jumped out at me: Wat Rong Khun, or the White Temple. 

Wat Rong Khun

Built in 1997, this artist-designed temple is striking with its all-white exterior and intricate detailing. A bridge to the temple guides visitors over a pool of reaching arms that, according to Lonely Planet, symbolizes desire. Paintings inside the temple depict contemporary images, such as Hello Kitty and Keanu Reeves. While this modern temple doesn’t carry as much of Thailand’s rich history, it sure is attention-grabbing.

Thailand’s natural scenery holds up to its constructed beauty. Along the southern coastline, craggy, green cliffs give way to turquoise water, creating awe-inspiring sights and opportunities for sea adventures. Koh Tapu, pictured below, is one of these sights. Popularized by a James Bond movie, this precarious-looking island is known to many as "James Bond Island."

Koh Tapu

While planning my dream vacation to Thailand, however, it is important to consider how my presence may negatively impact the country. As an American, I possess ample privilege when traveling. It is up to me to ensure that I do so responsibly and respectfully. There are four factors of conscious tourism I always consider when preparing for a trip.

Planning Ahead: Conscious Tourism

• Adhere to dress etiquette. Look into the country’s expectations around dress and prepare accordingly. For instance, when visiting Thai temples, Tripadvisor encourages people to dress conservatively, preferably in white.

• Research cultural norms. Avoid faux pas by learning more about the day-to-day culture. Some innocuous gestures in America may be considered rude elsewhere.

• Avoid animal tourism. Many tourist activities involving elephants, tigers, and monkeys mistreat their animals, even if they’re promoted as “sanctuaries.” If you’d like to interact with these animals, conduct thorough research on ethical practices and organizations.

• Look for less-populated destinations. Popular tourist destinations are often overcrowded, which can lead to environmental destruction. For instance, Thailand’s Maya Bay was indefinitely closed to tourists in 2018 after an influx of partiers destroyed 80% of its coral reef. When planning your trip, consider which tourist attractions you’re willing to skip in favor of something lesser-known.

Equal parts of daydreaming and preparation make an enjoyable trip for me. Add in natural beauty and cultural sights, and I have a dream vacation. What sights and experiences are important for you to consider when planning a trip? Do you prefer the beach or sightseeing? Lounge or adventure?

In other words, Thailand is my dream vacation - what’s yours?

4.6, Mama's Meatloaf Magic

My mama’s meatloaf was nothing special. Her go-to recipe was the “basic meatloaf” out of a church cookbook circa 1986. Yet, as an easy fix for a hectic night, her meatloaf quickly became a staple in our household.

Our family meatloaf had its quirks—its surface was only half-ketchupped to accommodate my sister’s hatred of it and the onion was only as chopped as my mom had the patience for. Beyond that, however, it was as standard as loaves of meat come. Paired with a side of peas, mashed potatoes, and cut-up raw carrots, my mom had a guaranteed favorite meal for my sisters and me. 

The meatloaves I’ve tried since moving out of her house nine years ago have never compared to her no-nonsense version. Imposter meatloaves often add too much sugar or salt or ruin it with some “unique” addition. After one too many disappointing meatloaves, I decided to take matters into my own hands and recreate my mom’s meatloaf magic, down to the half-ketchupped detail.

Find the full recipe for this Alberg-Cole family classic below. 

Basic Meatloaf Recipe

Pro tip from Mama Alberg: Take off any rings and mix your ingredients by hand. Be sure not to overmix or your meat will become tough.

Ingredients

• 1½ lbs 85% lean ground beef
• ⅓ cup breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• 1 small onion, chopped
• ⅓ cup ketchup, plus enough to drizzle on top
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 egg

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well.
3. Press the mixture lightly into a greased 8x4 inch loaf pan.
4. Optional: Drizzle ketchup on top.
5. Bake at 350° F for one hour.
6. Let stand for 5 minutes then serve.

3.6, A Night in Japan

On April 1, 2018, my sisters, Robin and Carolyn, and I sat around a table 5,970 miles away from home. 

Japan had been Carolyn’s “new” home for the last six years and during a two-week whirlwind, she was showing Robin and me around the central part of the country. While the extended sister time was amazing, we were cranky from spending 24-hours a day with each other for the last week and a half. 

It was at this point in the trip that we found ourselves exhausted but seated around the most magnificent display of fresh nigiri sushi.

The Yokoyamas, an entire family that Carolyn had befriended—from grandparents to grandchildren, had invited us over for the evening. Robin and I weren’t sure what to expect and were a little nervous about how the evening would shake out. Not even five minutes in, however, we realized there was no need for concern.

My sisters and me with the Yokoyama family.

They fussed over us as soon as we stepped into the house, as if we were old friends. Carolyn and the adult Yokoyama kids bridged the language barrier while we made our introductions and situated ourselves around the impending feast. 

Robin and I balled out on sushi—Carolyn preferred the steak alternative—while the grandpa plied us with gold-flecked sake, or rice wine. Four hours flew by as we pieced together translated conversations and laughed at the cultural differences. (The Yokoyamas chuckled at the idea of us prudey Americans enjoying a traditional (i.e. naked) hot spring the week before.) We exchanged omiyage, or gifts/souvenirs, and toured the room of their ancestors.

Lots of sake later, and realizing it was a weeknight, we were beginning to worry that we would overstay our welcome. Yet, the mom and kids looked dismayed when we packed up to leave. They wanted to bring us to the sakura, or cherry blossom, illuminations.

After securing a stash of late-night snacks and Asahi Super Dry (open-container is legal there 😊), we headed to the local park to walk among the blooming cherry blossom trees as they were lit up from the ground. We stayed for another couple of hours meandering, snacking, talking. The ease and novelty of the evening paired with the genuine human connection created such a unique, contenting experience that has proven hard to forget.

Looking up at the sakura illumination.

As I drank a beer under a glowing tree, I checked the time on my phone and smiled. I was winding down my day with a belly full of sushi and surrounded by good people while my friends at home were just waking up. It was their turn to find the magic in April 1, 2018.

3.4, A Night in Japan

On April 1, 2018, my sisters, Robin and Carolyn, and I sat around a table 5,970 miles away from home. 

Carolyn was entertaining us in Japan, her “new” home of the last six years, during a whirlwind two-week vacation. It was towards the end of the trip that we found ourselves seated around a magnificent display of the freshest nigiri sushi at her friends’ house in Koga.

Mind you, when Carolyn makes friends in Japan, she tends to befriend the entire family, from grandparents to grandchildren. The Yokoyama family was one such example, and they were kind enough to invite into their home for dinner that night.

Robin and I balled out on sushi—Carolyn preferred the non-seafood options—while the grandpa plied us with gold-flecked sake. Hours flew by as we conversed and joked through translations made by Carolyn and the adult Yokoyama kids. Language barriers didn’t stop us from having a warm, engaging time.

As it was a weeknight and we didn’t want to overstay our already four-hour welcome, we packed up to leave. The mom and kids looked dismayed—they wanted to bring us to the sakura illuminations.

After loading up a bag of late-night snacks and Asahi Super Dry (open-container is legal there 😊), we headed to the local park to walk among the blooming cherry blossom trees as they were illuminated from the ground. We stayed for another two hours meandering, snacking, talking. The magic of the night instilled a level of contentment in me that I rarely experience.

For a brief second, I checked the time on my phone and smiled. As I wound down my day among the cherry blossom trees after enjoying six hours with the Yokoyama family, my friends at home were just waking up. It was their turn to experience April 1, 2018.