You can attend both college and graduate school online, and there are a wide variety of degree options. Some schools, such as Chatham University, offer online programs with a concentration in professional writing. At other schools, such as Northern Arizona University, a professional writing degree is a concentration that can be chosen within the traditional English degree. Many schools also offer degrees related to professional writing such as communication, journalism and creative writing. If you know the type of writing you want to do, picking a degree targeted to your professional goals is wise. For example, if you want to report for a news outlet, a degree in journalism could be your best choice.
You'll take a wide variety of classes in your degree program. Some classes will be focused on your concentration; creative writing students, for example, may take classes that concentrate on plot and character development. Most writing programs require students to take classes designed to hone their writing skills, including English literature knowledge, grammar and sentence structure. Colleges like Chatham University's professional writing program provide students a broad background in various fields of writing, including technical writing, political writing and writing for digital media.
If you already have a job, an online degree program can offer you the flexibility to master basic writing skills as you continue to work. You may even be able to practice these skills at work. Online degrees also work well for people who already work as writers but who need an educational credential to get a new job or promotion. Because you're not paying for a brick and mortar building, online degree programs can also be less expensive.
Some online degree programs are not fully accredited, so check the accreditation status of your program before you enroll. In the writing world, a degree from a prestigious university can greatly benefit you, and an online degree might not carry as much weight. You'll also lose the benefit of in-person interactions with your professors and peers, and you won't have the experience of classmates critiquing your work in a classroom setting.