About the Program
The Writing B.A. degree program offers students an opportunity to combine the study and practice of the craft of writing with the study of literature, theater, television and communication arts. The writing degree program allows for the development of skills in creative writing, professional writing, technical writing, journalistic writing, and literary writing. Students can take courses from a variety of disciplines to fulfill their requirements. The program is intended for students interested in the advanced study and practice of writing. All matriculated students who are in good academic standing may enroll in this program, including incoming students.
Admission Requirements
Any matriculated student in good academic standing may declare this program.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
1. demonstrate the ability to produce effective, final texts in multiple genres
2. demonstrate an ability to Interpret advanced theoretical approaches to understanding the principles and practices of writing in genres of their specialization
3. demonstrate knowledge of related theoretical movements in rhetoric and literature in original writing
4. demonstrate a knowledge of the publishing industry and professional writing world
5. will participate in professional writing activities
Program Requirements
General Education 23 Requirements
33 credit hours 33
English Major Requirements (42 credit hours)
24 credits must be upper-division
Required Courses (12 credit hours)
ENG 190 INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE 3
ENG 201 THE CRAFT OF WRITING (Should be taken soon after completion of freshman composition requirement or within first year of transfer to English Department. Serves a prerequisite for some upper-division writing courses.) 3
ENG 410 COMPOSITION AND RHETORICAL THEORY 3
ENG 491 SENIOR SEMINAR FOR WRITING MAJORS 3
Electives in Writing (15 credit hours) 15
ENG 170 INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING
ENG 171 PORTRAIT MAGAZINE EDITING AND PRODUCTION (1)
ENG 245 WRITING ABOUT THE ARTS
ENG 247 NATURE WRITING
ENG 266 WRITING THE PERSONAL ESSAY, MEMOIR, AND AUTOBIOGRAPHY
ENG 300 WRITING FOR THE PROFESSIONS
ENG 302 TECHNICAL WRITING
ENG 305 CREATIVE WRITING: NARRATIVE
ENG 306 CREATIVE WRITING: POETRY
ENG 325 CREATIVE NONFICTION
ENG 327 EDITING AND PUBLISHING ELM LEAVES JOURNAL
ENG/THA 340 PLAYWRITING
ENG 402 ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING: NARRATIVE
ENG 403 ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING: POETRY
ENG 409 WRITING GRANTS AND PROPOSALS
COM 303 WRITING FOR PRINT AND ONLINE JOURNALISM
COM 304 WRITING FOR BROADCAST (TV, RADIO, FILM)
COM 308 PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING
COM 325 FEATURE WRITING
COM 390 SPECIAL TOPICS: JOURNALISTIC WRITING
THA 470 ENSEMBLE THEATER (1-3)
Additional Elective Courses (15 credit hours)
Select five literature, linguistics, rhetoric, and film courses offered by the Communication, English, Modern and Classical Languages, and Theater Departments; at least two courses must be upper-division. HUM 200 may be used to fulfill this requirement. 15
All College Electives
45 credit hours 45
Total Credit Hours 120