Writing
Program Description
The Writing Program, housed in the Writing, Language, and Literature Department, offers a wide variety of courses in creative, professional, and academic writing. These courses include the core writing courses and introductory and advanced writing courses that comprise the Bachelor of Arts degree in Writing and the Writing Minor.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Writing offers students depth of study in writing process and craft, creative, academic, professional, and technical writing, and theories of language and rhetoric both on campus and online. Practice in diverse writing genres prepares students for a wide range of academic and professional goals. The degree program will prepare students for many types of careers in writing, including freelance work, technical writing, grant writing, editing, copywriting, and creative writing. Our faculty and staff include many practicing and published writers and scholars.
In addition, we encourage students in any major to take our courses as electives and to consider choosing a minor in writing. Students in any major may choose a writing minor, offered both on campus and online, to complement the coursework in their major; this includes all Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science majors. Excellent employment opportunities exist for students who combine a writing minor with any major, since writing is required in most professions. Students in comprehensive majors may also add a writing minor, and students in the teacher certification majors may add a writing minor in addition to their required, teachable minors.
Writing is fundamental to a liberal arts education, and proven writing ability is one of the most valuable assets a graduate can have. Employers frequently consider writing ability and expertise when hiring. Argumentation and persuasion with attention to audience are fundamental abilities required of informed citizens. Further, the study and practice of language, rhetoric, and writing in its various forms provide an excellent opportunity for creative expression and better critical thinking. For more information about specific courses, see Writing (WRIT) in the Course Description section of this catalog.