Department of English

Ayana Mathis, bestselling author of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, stands next to her book display in fall 2019. She spoke and read from her work at the Lumina Theater, then signed books in Sharky’s Game Room afterwards. - Photo by Jessica Wright

Ayana Mathis, bestselling author of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, stands next to her book display in fall 2019. She spoke and read from her work at the Lumina Theater, then signed books in Sharky’s Game Room afterwards. - Photo by Jessica Wright

Professional Writing Track

Students can also choose from two other tracks: Literary Studies and Teacher Licensure.

Professional Writing prepares students to analyze and address a variety of writing situations, to read texts critically, and to write in an effective, informed, and ethical manner in a range of organizational contexts. Many courses incorporate technologies for writing, research, and communication. This option prepares students for careers in writing, editing, and the myriad other fields that rely on written communication. It provides concentrated training in such areas as journalism, technical writing, business writing, and public discourse, while developing an understanding of how language shapes our world. See more of what to expect from this course of study in the Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) document.

Requirements

42 hours, as follows, for students whose catalogue year is Fall 2016 or after:

  • ENG 204: Introduction to Professional Writing
  • ENG 314: Digital Composing
  • ENG 319: Document Design
  • A course in editing (ENG 309 or 310)
  • A course in rhetorical theory (ENG 388 or 389)
  • Two courses in approaches to the discipline (ENG 303, 316, 417)
  • A course in writing in context (ENG 304, 307, 312, 313, 318, 412)
  • A course in professional genres (ENG 305, 306, 308, 311, 404, 414)
  • Three additional writing courses (ENG 202, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 388, 389, 393, 404, 412, 414, 417, 491, 498)
  • A course in the English language (ENG 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325)
  • ENG 496: Senior Seminar in Writing/Rhetoric

See printable Worksheet with requirements for students whose catalog year is Fall 2016 or after (opens as pdf).

42 hours, as follows, for students whose catalogue year is prior to Fall 2016:

  • ENG 204: Introduction to Professional Writing
  • ENG 205: Introduction to Literary Studies
  • A course in editing (ENG 309 or 310)
  • A course in texts and technology (ENG 314 or 319)
  • A course in rhetorical theory (ENG 388 or 389)
  • Two of the following courses (ENG 303, 307, 316, 318)
  • Two of the following courses (ENG 302, 304, 312, 313)
  • Two additional writing courses (ENG 202, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 388, 389, 393, 404, 412, 414, 417, 491, 498; CRW 209, 309, 321, 323, 324, 409, 460)
  • One additional literature course (ENG 209, 210, 211, 212, 223, 224, 225, 226, 230, 232, 233, 290, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337, 338, 340, 341, 342, 343, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 386, 387, 390, 430, 431, 432, 490, 495)
  • One English language course (ENG 320, 321, 322, 323, 324)
  • ENG 496: Senior Seminar

See printable Worksheet with requirements for students whose catalog year is before Fall 2016 (opens as pdf).

Upcoming Professional Writing Course Schedule

Plan degree progress using this roadmap of Professional Writing major courses to be offered by the English Department (minor alterations may occur).

Future schedule
Su. 19 Fa. 19 Sp. 20 Fa. 20 Sp. 21
ENG 202 ENG 202 ENG 202 ENG 202 ENG 202
ENG 204 ENG 204 ENG 204 ENG 204 ENG 204
ENG 303 ENG 303 ENG 303 ENG 303 ENG 303
ENG 312 ENG 304 ENG 304 ENG 304 ENG 304
ENG 393 ENG 305 ENG 306 ENG 308 ENG 310
  ENG 306 ENG 310 ENG 309 ENG 311
  ENG 309 ENG 312 ENG 312 ENG 318
  ENG 312 ENG 313 ENG 313 ENG 319
  ENG 314 ENG 319 ENG 314 ENG 393
  ENG 316 ENG 393 ENG 316 ENG 412
  ENG 318 ENG 404 ENG 389 ENG 417
  ENG 388 ENG 417 ENG 393 ENG 496
  ENG 393 ENG 496 ENG 496 ENG 498
  ENG 414 ENG 498  ENG 498  
  ENG 496      
  ENG 498      

Professional Writing Group Advising

Faculty advise Professional Writing majors in a mandatory group workshop that lasts about a half hour. Majors should come to the workshop with a provisional schedule and questions. Majors also are free to address specific concerns through individual appointments with their advisors.

Spring 2019: