"Going through the writing-secondary education major at Susquehanna allowed me to explore two worlds I love... writing and teaching. Throughout all my creative writing classes, I was able to further my own craft and skill in writing, while also learning workshopping and teaching strategies that have become critical in my high school classrooms. Because I have been trained to write, I am better able to teach the writing process and help those of my students who struggle with writing.
However, because the major also requires extensive work with literature-based courses, I have gone into my teaching experience with a strong and competent grasp of the literary canon and the skills needed for literary analysis... both of which greatly benefit my students."

--Allison Bankus '06

Dr. Fincke and writing majors before the Richard Rodriguez workshop,
2005

12    WR:280 courses (Creative Writing), chosen from fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, screenwriting, editing and publishing

4-8    WR:380 courses (Advanced Creative Writing), chosen from fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction

4    EN:269 English Grammar and the Writing Process

4    EN:290 The Study of Literature

4    EN: Shakespeare

4    EN: Survey of British Literature

4    EN: Survey of American Literature

4    WR:480 Senior Portfolio

2-4    EN:520 Practicum, EN:540 Internship, or WR:580 Independent Writing

4    A cognate course: TH:151 Basic Acting or CO:192 Public Speaking

"For me, writing is just the study of being human. I’ve learned to live for joy and curiosity, a lesson the writing faculty taught me even if they didn’t intend it directly. My diploma will signify I earned an academic experience; my degree in creative writing means I’ve come to understand and appreciate the flaws and tics that make us human beings, instilling a humanity I seek in everything I write." ----Jen Hawbaker ‘04