Writing Option

Writing option majors study and practice writing, rhetoric, and rhetorical theory in a range of contexts. The option both prepares them for future professions and informs and enriches their personal and civic lives. Courses include those in rhetoric, technical communications, professional writing, rhetorical theory, and creative writing.  Students go on to pursue careers in technical and professional writing in business, nonprofit, and government sectors and in journalism and publishing. Students also pursue graduate studies in related fields.

Freshman YearCredits
FallSpring
WRIT 101W - College Writing I3  
CoreUS3  
Core IH3  
Core IS3  
Core D3  
Core IA  3
M 105Q Contemporary Mathematics, unless plan of study makes STAT 216Q Introduction to Statistics, PHL 236Q Logic or other Q appropriate to a double major or minor   3
Core IN  3
CRWR 240RA - Introduction to Creative Writing  3
Any 200-Level LIT course in the Literature Electives List excluding LIT 201  3
Year Total: 15 15
Sophomore YearCredits
FallSpring
WRIT 205 - Intro to Writing Studies3  
Core CS3  
Literature Elective3  
2 University Course Electives6  
WRIT 300 - Rhetorical Theory in Writing Studies  3
WRIT 310 - Researched Writing  3
Writing Elective  3
2 University Course Electives  6
Year Total: 15 15
Junior YearCredits
FallSpring
Literature Elective3  
Writing Elective3  
3 University Course Electives9  
2 Writing Elective  6
3 University Course Electives  9
Year Total: 15 15
Senior YearCredits
FallSpring
Writing Elective3  
WRIT 498 - Internship (3 credits needed)3  
3 University Course Electives9  
WRIT 494RH - Seminar: Writing Research and Publications  3
4 University Course Electives  12
Year Total: 15 15
Total Program Credits: 120

English Department Core Classes (for Writing Option majors)

CRWR 240RAIntroduction to Creative Writing3
LING 210IHIntroduction to Language and Linguistics3
LIT 202CSThe Environmental Imagination3
LIT 203IHGreat Books3
LIT 214DRegional Literature3
LIT 285DMythologies3
LIT 431RHStudies in Major Author/s3
LIT 473RHStudies in Shakespeare3
WRIT 101WCollege Writing I3
WRIT 494RHSeminar: Writing Research and Publications3

Writing Electives

CRWR 310Intermediate Fiction Workshop3
CRWR 311Intermediate Poetry Workshop3
CRWR 312Intermediate Nonfiction Workshop3
CRWR 410Advanced Fiction Workshop3
CRWR 411Advanced Poetry Workshop3
CRWR 412Advanced Nonfiction Workshop3
CRWR 437Topics in Craft and Genre3
ENT 339Teaching Writing in Secondary School3
LING 210IHIntroduction to Language and Linguistics3
LING 238Structure and Function of Language3
LING 338Language and English Education3
WRIT 221Intermediate Tech Writing3
WRIT 326Advanced Writing3
WRIT 371Digital Rhetorics and Multimodal Writing3
WRIT 372Science Writing for Popular Non-Fiction3
WRIT 373News and Pub Relations Writing3
WRIT 374Magazine Editing3
WRIT 376Public Rhetorics and Writing3
WRIT 429Professional Writing3
WRIT 450Rhetoric and Composition3

Literature Electives (Including 200-Level Literature Electives)

LIT 202CSThe Environmental Imagination3
LIT 203IHGreat Books3
LIT 214DRegional Literature3
LIT 240The Bible as Literature3
LIT 285DMythologies3
LIT 308Multicultural Literature3
LIT 310American Literature to 19003
LIT 311American Literature after 19003
LIT 320Advanced British Literature I 3
LIT 321Advanced British Literature II (Formerly LIT 325)3
LIT 322Advanced British Literature III (Formerly LIT 326)3
LIT 335Women and Literature3
LIT 382Literature for Children and Adolescents3
LIT 431RHStudies in Major Author/s3
LIT 437Studies in Literary Genres3
LIT 438Studies in Literary Topics3
LIT 440Studies in World Literature3
LIT 473RHStudies in Shakespeare3
Total English credits required:42 (27 of which must be upper division)
Upper-Division credits required:42
CORE 2.0 Requirements27-30
Total credits required for graduation:120


WRIT 101W credits count for the Core writing requirement. These credits are not counted as part of the total English Major, Writing Option.

“University Course Electives”: These spaces in a semester may help students complete a double major (encouraged for WRIT option students), a minor or multiple minors, to facilitate study abroad, or facilitate other programs of study alongside the English-Writing major. WRIT Option majors are strongly encouraged to take additional WRIT and LIT courses for these “university” electives when they have space in their programs of study to do so.