Writing: Undergraduate

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We see you developing your craft, learning the skills to become a stronger writer, both creatively and professionally. As a Writing major, you’ll take courses in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry and playwriting in small, workshop-based courses that inspire creativity and hone critical abilities. Working with published faculty writers, you will learn strategies for developing your individual voice.

As part of the annual Visiting Writer Series, you will be able to speak with and learn from award-winning authors.

As a Writing major, you’ll gain valuable on-the-job experiences, through on-campus internships as an editor of the peer-reviewed undergraduate journal Pitch: A Journal of Arts and Literature or off-campus internships.

This program is also available as a minor.

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Major

Course Requirements

Core Requirements (33 credits)

ENG 104 Introduction to Creative Writing 3 credits
ENG 230 Introduction to Professional Writing 3 credits
ENG 235 Topics in Nonfiction Writing 3 credits
ENG 237 Writing for the Web 3 credits
ENG 333 Topics in Poetry, OR ENG 334 Topics in Fiction, OR ENG 335 Advanced Nonfiction Writing 3 credits
ENG 200 Literary Analysis 3 credits
100-, 200-, or 300-level literature elective 3 credits
ENG 351 Writing Major Capstone 3 credits
HUM 200 Narrating Your Success: Professional Development for Humanities Majors 3 credits

Plus choose one from the following courses:

COM 100 Introduction to Communication 3 credits
COM 210 Interpersonal Communication 3 credits
THS 105 Public Speaking 3 credits

Plus choose one from the following courses:

ENG 105 Survey of World Literature I 3 credits
ENG 245 Topics in World Literature 3 credits

Applied Writing Electives (6 credits), chosen from among the following:

BUA 204 Professional Communication 3 credits
ENG 233 Creative Writing: Fiction 3 credits
ENG 234 Creative Writing: Poetry 3 credits

ENG 235 Topics in Nonfiction Writing (when a different topic than the one taken for the core) 3 credits

COM 150 Introduction to Journalism 3 credits
COM 152 The “Crestiad” Staff 3 credits
PSC 204 Legal Research and Writing 3 credits
THS 230 Playwriting 3 credits

Completion of a writing internship, to be determined in consultation with student’s faculty advisor 3 credits

In addition, students may choose to take an applied course in writing offered by another department as these courses appear, with the approval of the faculty advisor.

Advanced Writing Electives (3 credits), chosen from among the following:

ENG 333 Topics in Fiction 3 credits
ENG 334 Topics in Poetry 3 credits
ENG 335 Advanced Nonfiction 3 credits
ENG 336 Topics in Professional Writing 3 credits

Please note that the satisfaction of the WRI-1 requirement with a C or higher is a prerequisite for all courses for the writing major, with the exception of ENG 104: Introduction to Creative Writing.

Fulfillment of LAC Requirements

Students fulfill the Oral Presentation requirement with the satisfactory completion (C or better) of COM 100, COM 210, or THS 105. Students fulfill the Technology requirement by satisfactorily completing ENG 237. They meet the Information Literacy requirement through satisfactory completion of the major, as this skill is introduced in the 200-level writing courses, including ENG 200, and reinforced in the 300-level writing courses; students demonstrate their mastery of this skill in the writing internship/independent writing project and in the senior portfolio that serves as a graduation requirement.

Students may pursue the Writing major in the accelerated 3-year degree format, completing at least 120 credits in three years (with summer study) rather than the standard four. Please see the catalog section on “3-Year Bachelor Degree” programs for details.

Minor

Course Requirements for the Writing Minor

A minor in writing requires 18 credits, to consist of ENG 235 and five elective courses (15 credits) chosen from among the following:

BUA 204 Professional Communication 3 credits
COM 150 Introduction to Journalism 3 credits
COM 152 “The Crestiad”: Staff 1-3 credits
ENG 104 Introduction to Creative Writing 3 credits
ENG 200 Literary Analysis 3 credits
ENG 230 Introduction to Professional Writing 3 credits
ENG 233 Creative Writing: Fiction 3 credits
ENG 234 Creative Writing: Poetry 3 credits
ENG 235 Topics in Nonfiction Writing (with a different topic 3 credits
ENG 237 Writing for the Web 3 credits
ENG 333 Topics in Creative Writing: Fiction 3 credits
ENG 334 Topics in Creative Writing: Poetry 3 credits
ENG 335 Advanced Nonfiction Writing 3 credits
ENG 336 Topics in Professional Writing 3 credits
ENG 351 Writing Major Capstone
ENG 370 Internship 3 credits
HUM 200 Narrating Your Success: Professional Development for Humanities Majors 3 credits
PSC 204 Legal Research and Writing 3 credits THS 230 Playwriting 3 credits

In addition to the permanent selections listed above, appropriate courses offered for the writing major or writing courses offered by other departments may count for the minor with the approval of the student’s faculty advisor. ENG 235 may be repeated one time with a different topic. Students may also choose to complete a three-credit internship (department approval is required). Students must also receive departmental approval to have a course count for the minor if the same course is also being used to fulfill another major or another minor. No more than two courses from a student’s major may be used to satisfy the requirements for the Writing minor. Students interested in pursuing the study of literature should consider an English major or minor.

Financial Aid

Scholarships