Writing Major

Requirements for a major in writing:

Students must complete 54 credit hours in one of two concentrations in the major: Professional Writing and Publishing (PWP) or Creative Writing (CW). Students in both concentrations will complete 14 hours of a common core, including an internship and thesis course. The PWP concentration requires 24 core course credits and 16 elective credits (8 hours at the 300+level). The CW concentration requires 20 core course credits (beginning and advanced courses in two genres) and 20 credits of electives (8 hours at the 300+level).

Degree Requirements

Core Courses

LIT 120Introduction to Literary Studies

4

ENG 305Research and Writing in the Discipline

4

Total Credit Hours:8

Internship

WRI 245Yearbook Publication

2

or

WRI 490Writing Internship

1-10

or

JOU 273Practicum in Student Publications

1-4

or

WRI 376Advanced Publication Practicum

4

Total Credit Hours:2

Thesis

WRI 485Directed Professional Writing

1-4

or

WRI 499Writing Thesis

4

Total Credit Hours:4

Writing majors must complete either the Professional Writing and Publishing Concentration or the Creative Writing Concentration

PROFESSIONAL WRITING AND PUBLISHING CONCENTRATION

Professional Writing and Publishing Core

 
ENG 205Advanced English Grammar

4

or

ENG 330Language and Rhetoric

4

WRI 220Digital Writing and Culture

4

WRI 242Introduction to Publication Editing and Design

4

WRI 281Technical Writing

4

WRI 381Professional Editing

4

WRI 385Visual Rhetoric and Design

4

Total Credit Hours:24
 

Professional Writing and Publishing Electives

16 credits in courses designated ENG, LIT, or WRI. At least 8 credits must be at the 300-level or above. 4 credits may be additional practicum hours.

CREATIVE WRITING CONCENTRATION

Creative Writing Core

WRI 200Introduction to Creative Writing

4

Total Credit Hours:4
 

Two of the following sequences must be completed:

WRI 250Poetry Writing I

4

and

WRI 351Poetry Writing II

4

or

WRI 260Fiction Writing I

4

and

WRI 361Fiction Writing II

4

or

WRI 274Creative Nonfiction

4

and

WRI 374Narrative Nonfiction

4

or

WRI 281Technical Writing

4

and

WRI 381Professional Editing

4

Total Credit Hours:16

Creative Writing Electives

12 credits in LIT-designated courses. 8 credits must be taken at the 300-level or above

8 additional credits in ENG, LIT, or WRI designated courses, or from the following list of COM and JOU courses.
 
COM 225Media Writing

4

COM 226Introduction to Scriptwriting for Motion Pictures and Television

4

COM 234Topics in Communication

1-4

COM 325Writing for Broadcast News

4

COM 346Writing for Interactive Media

4

COM 383Advertising Creative Direction

4

COM 384Writing for Public Relations

4

JOU 213Travel Writing

4

JOU 271News Reporting and Writing

4

JOU 273Practicum in Student Publications

1-4

JOU 290Special Topics in Journalism

4

JOU 371Feature Writing

4

JOU 390Advanced Special Topics in Journalism

4

Total Credit Hours:20

Total Credit Hours: 54