Requirements for the Writing Major

Requirements for the Writing Major emphasize literature and writing courses which will be most valuable in preparing students not only for careers in writing, but also for related careers in law, education, publishing, and editing. Courses are organized to offer breadth and depth, practical skills, and intensive independent writing, presentation, and production experiences.

The major requires 44-50 hours of course work in the Department of English and Creative Writing as well as four hours in a cognate course approved by the department chair, with grades of C- or better, as follows:

Semester Hours

• (12) WRIT:250 courses chosen from introduction to fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and screenwriting
• (4–8) WRIT:350 courses chosen from intermediate fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction
• (4) WRIT:450 Advanced Creative Writing chosen from fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction
• (2) WRIT:550 Senior Portfolio
• (2–4) WRIT:520 Practicum or WRIT:540 Internship
• (4) ENGL:265 Genre
• (4) ENGL:269 English Grammar and the Writing Process
• (4) ENGL:290 Study of Literature
• (8) ENGL or WRIT 200- or 300-level courses other than ENGL:269, ENGL:290, WRIT:250 and WRIT:350
• (4) A cognate course outside English approved by the department chair

Minor in Writing. Writing minors complete, with grades of C- or better, at least 20 semester hours of course work with grades of C- or better in approved creative writing courses (WR:280, WR:380, WR:480, WR:580, and CO:131--Introduction to Journalism), including at least one course in WR:380 (Advanced Creative Writing). The writing minor is not open to students pursuing the writing major.