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Brian Clements, Chair ClementsB@wcsu.edu Higgins Hall 219B, Midtown campus (203) 887-8876
Krista Brooks, Department Secretary BrooksK@wcsu.edu Higgins Hall, 201, Midtown campus (203) 837-9041 Fax (203) 837-3953
Faculty
Overview The Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing program prepares students for careers in fields that include creative writing, technical writing, public relations, online and print journalism, as well as writing intensive professions such as the law, publishing, business and education. Students may choose one of three B.A. degree options: 1. Creative Writing, 2. Business and Technical Writing, 3. Journalism and Public Relations.
Mission To prepare students for careers as professional writers, the Department of Writing, Linguistics and Creative Process focuses on the following objectives:
Learning Outcomes
Students who earn degrees in Professional Writing will:
General Education Writing Requirement The Department of Writing, Linguistics and Creative Process participates broadly in the university’s general education program. The general education writing requirement consists of a sequence of three courses: a Tier 1 Writing course (WRT 101 Composition I), a subsequent Tier 2 Writing-Intensive course, and finally, a Tier 3 Writing-Intensive course.
The department’s First-Year Writing Coordinator supervises placement of entering students. Students’ placement may be based upon SAT or ACT test scores, AP scores, or WCSU placement exam.
Students are placed into either Writing Tier 1 or Tier 2:
The following courses offered by the Writing department fulfill the general education Writing Intensive Tier 2 course requirement:
WRT 103W: Composition II: Modes of Research (W2, IL) WRT 210W: Managerial Writing (W2) WRT 245W: Technical Writing: Topic (W2) WRT 273W: Writing Identity (W2) WRT 303W: Composition III: Advanced Research (W2) WRT 321W: Legal Writing, Research, and Analysis (W2) WRT 335W: Fact-Based Opinion Writing (W2) WRT 337W: Teaching Writing in the Schools: Elementary and Middle Schools (W2) WRT 340W: Public Relations Writing, Concepts, and Practice (W2) WRT 347W: Teaching Writing in the Schools: Secondary Schools (W2) WRT 371W: Writing the Weird: Conspiracy Theories (W2) WRT 377W: The Writing Life (W2)
The following courses offered by the Writing department fulfill the Creative Process (CP) general education course requirement:
WRT 102: Introduction to the Creative Process (CP) WRT 133: Introduction to Writing Fiction (CP) WRT 134: Introduction to Writing Poetry (CP) WRT 171: Conversations with Predecessors (CP) WRT 172: Conversations with Contemporaries (CP) THR/WRT 244: Playwriting Workshop I (CP) WRT 274: Form and Inspiration (CP)
Degree Programs in Professional Writing
Bachelor of Arts Major in Professional Writing with three options: Business and Technical Writing Creative Writing Journalism and Public Relations
Minor Programs Broadcast Journalism Creative Writing Journalism Professional Writing Sports Media
Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing (B.A.)
Students must complete all general education requirements, the required major courses listed below, the courses and credits listed in one of the options below, and additional free electives for a total of 120 semester hours.
Important note: Students must have an overall G.P.A. of 2.5 or better in courses used to satisfy the major.
B.A. in Professional Writing – Business and Technical Writing Option (18 S.H)
Description: The Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing program prepares students for careers in fields that include creative writing, technical writing, public relations, online and print journalism, as well as writing intensive professions such as the law, publishing, business and education. Students may choose one of three B.A. degree options: 1. Creative Writing, 2. Business and Technical Writing, 3. Journalism and Public Relations.
Degree Requirements All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.
Required Courses in the Major: 37 SH.
General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link. https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad21222021/academic-programs-degrees/
Cognates: In some programs there are courses outside of the major that are required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the general education breadth requirement. If cognate courses are required, they are included in the list of courses required in the major.
Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours. Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses.
Sample Four Year Plan: BA Professional Writing: Business & Technical Writing Option Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
*All Bachelor of Arts degrees at WCSU require that students complete a language at or above the elementary II level. Students who have completed three years of a foreign language at a minimum of a C average in high school have met this requirement. However, you must still complete at least one Intercultural Competency course.
B.A. in Professional Writing – Creative Writing Option (18 S.H.)
Required Courses in the Major: 51 SH.
Note the following course prerequisites: WRT 342 Poetry Workshop (WRT 242 Poetry Workshop I and WRT 261 Forms of Poetry, pre req.
WRT 343 Fiction Workshop II (WRT 243 Fiction Workshop I and WRT 262 Forms of Fiction, pre-req.)
Sample Four Year Plan: BA Professional Writing: Creative Writing Option Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
B.A. in Professional Writing – Journalism & Public Relations Option (18 S.H.)
Sample Four Year Plan: BA Professional Writing: Journalism & Public Relations Option Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
Minors in Professional Writing
Please consult your advisor for all program requirements.
Minor in Broadcast Journalism (18 S.H.)
Required Communication courses (3 SH): COM 146: Basic Video Production
Plus two (2) classes selected from the following list (6 SH): COM 243: Broadcast Writing COM 246: Intermediate Video Production COM 247: Live News & Election Coverage COM 252: Media Performance Techniques (prereq. THR 181) COM 270: Fundamentals of Radio Broadcasting COM 442: Communication Law Required Writing courses (3 SH): WRT 270: News Writing
Plus two (2) classes selected from the following list (6 SH): WRT 279: Sports Writing WRT 335W: Fact-Based Opinion Writing WRT 338: Writing about Specialized Subjects WRT 375: Book, Performance, and Restaurant Reviewing WRT 490: Internship/Practicum in Writing
Minor in Creative Writing (18 S.H.)
Required Course (3 SH): WRT 242: Poetry Workshop I (CP) OR WRT 243: Fiction Workshop I (CP)
Plus any five (5) courses from among the following (15 SH): WRT 255: Advertising, Copywriting, and Promotion WRT 271: Human Interest Writing JLA/WRT 321W: Legal Writing, Research, and Analysis (W2) WRT 335W: Fact-Based Opinion Writing WRT 338: Writing about Specialized Subjects WRT 340W: Public Relations Writing, Concepts and Practices COM 230: History of Mass Media COM 243: Broadcast Writing
Note: In order to take WRT 342 Poetry Workshop II, the student must first take WRT 242 Poetry Workshop I and WRT 261 Forms of Poetry. In order to take WRT 343 Fiction Workshop II, the student must first take WRT 243 Fiction Workshop I and WRT 262 Forms of Fiction.
Minor in Journalism (18 S.H.)
Required course (3 SH): WRT 270: News Writin
Plus any five (5) courses from among the following (15 SH): WRT 255: Advertising, Copywriting, and Promotion WRT 271: Human Interest Writing JLA/WRT 321W: Legal Writing, Research, and Analysis (W2) WRT 335W: Fact-Based Opinion Writing WRT 338: Writing about Specialized Subjects WRT 340W: Public Relations Writing COM 230: History of Mass Media COM 243: Broadcast Writing
Minor in Professional Writing (18 S.H.)
Required courses (6 SH): WRT 210W Managerial Writing (W2) WRT 245W Technical Writing (W2)
Plus any two (2) of the following Creative Writing courses (6 SH): WRT 242: Poetry Workshop I (CP) WRT 243: Fiction Workshop I (CP) WRT/THR 244: Playwriting Workshop (CP) WRT 342: Poetry Workshop II WRT 343: Fiction Workshop II
Plus any two (2) of the following Journalism/Public Relations courses (6 SH): WRT 255: Advertising, Copywriting, and Promotion WRT 270: News Writing JLA/WRT 321W: Legal Writing, Research, and Analysis (W2) WRT 338: Writing about Specialized Subjects WRT 340W: Public Relations Writing, Concepts and Practices
Minor in Sports Media (18 S.H.)
Required Courses (9 SH): COM 146 Basic Video WRT 270 News Writing WRT 279 Sports Writing
Plus any three (3) of the following (9 SH): CS 110 Website Production DIMA 100 Introduction to Digital Interactive Media COM 243 Broadcast Writing WRT 247 Multimedia Writing COM 252 Media Performance Techniques COM 270 Fundamentals of Radio Broadcasting Sports Writing Internship Other courses by advisement
