Professional and Public Writing B.A.

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Minor Option

The minor in professional and public writing requires you to complete 18 credits from courses currently eligible to count toward the major. Please consult with your advisor if you’re interested in declaring a minor.

Curriculum

Degree Requirements

  • 120 credits total required for graduation
  • at least 30 credits (maximum 51 credits) must be in the major; at least 15 credits from the major must be in courses 300 or above
  • at least 42 credits (of the 120 total) must be in courses numbered 300 or above

 

course descriptions
curriculum sheets/advising
learning outcomes

Suggested Curriculum Timeline

SemesterCourseOffering

Semester 1

URI 101: Planning for Academic Success
WRT 104 Writing to Inform and Explain (required)fall/spring
COM 100: Communication Fundamentals (Harrington Core)*fall/spring
SCM 105: Production/Presentation Fundamentals (Harrington Core)fall/spring
Semester 2WRT 235: Digital Writing and Rhetoric (required)fall/spring
FLM 110: Introduction to Film Media Production Technologies (Harrington Core)* or
JOR 110: Introduction to Mass Media (Harrington Core)*		fall/spring
And/or any of the following electives:
WRT 227: Professional Writing
WRT 302: Writing Culture
WRT 305: Travel Writing
WRT 303: Public Writing (spring only)
WRT 331: Writing Public Relations
WRT 388: Proposal Writing (spring only)
WRT 332: Technical Writing
WRT 334: Science Writing
WRT 306: Writing Health and Disability (spring only)		fall/spring
Semester 3WRT 371G: Write Now - Race, Resistance, and Language Justice (required)fall
And/or any of the following electives:
WRT 321G: Writing Disaster - The Ethics of Representation (fall only)
WRT 302: Writing Culture
WRT 305: Travel Writing
WRT 331: Writing Public Relations
WRT 332: Technical Writing
WRT 334: Science Writing		fall/spring
Semester 4Any of the following electives:
WRT 227: Professional Writing
WRT 302: Writing Culture
WRT 305: Travel Writing
WRT 303: Public Writing (spring only)
WRT 331: Writing Public Relations
WRT 388: Proposal Writing (spring only)
WRT 332: Technical Writing
WRT 334: Science Writing
WRT 306: Writing Health and Disability (spring only)		fall/spring
Semester 5WRT 404: Writing with Community Partners (required)fall
Any of the following electives:
WRT 321G: Writing Disaster - The Ethics of Representation (fall only)
WRT 302: Writing Culture
WRT 305: Travel Writing
WRT 331: Writing Public Relations
WRT 332: Technical Writing
WRT 334: Science Writing		fall/spring
Semester 6Any of the following electives:
WRT 227: Professional Writing
WRT 302: Writing Culture
WRT 305: Travel Writing
WRT 303: Public Writing (spring only)
WRT 331: Writing Public Relations
WRT 388: Proposal Writing (spring only)
WRT 332: Technical Writing
WRT 334: Science Writing
WRT 306: Writing Health and Disability (spring only)		fall/spring
Semester 7WRT 495: Advanced Digital Writing and Rhetoric (required)fall
Any of the following electives:
WRT 321G: Writing Disaster - The Ethics of Representation (fall only)
WRT 302: Writing Culture
WRT 305: Travel Writing
WRT 331: Writing Public Relations
WRT 332: Technical Writing
WRT 334: Science Writing		fall/spring
Semester 8Any of the following electives:
WRT 227: Professional Writing
WRT 302: Writing Culture
WRT 305: Travel Writing
WRT 303: Public Writing (spring only)
WRT 331: Writing Public Relations
WRT 388: Proposal Writing (spring only)
WRT 332: Technical Writing
WRT 334: Science Writing
WRT 306: Writing Health and Disability (spring only)		fall/spring

Popular Courses

  • Digital Writing and Rhetoric guides you in creating digital, visual, and multimedia content, to critically explore identity, usability, and design
  • Business Writing helps you improve your effectiveness on the job by honing your writing and visual communication skills in a wide range of business communications
  • Writing Public Relations provides intensive practice with multiple types of writing and multimedia communications used in this industry
  • Science Writing teaches you principles, ethics, and best practices for communicating science to public audiences
  • Technical Writing offers communication strategies for technical fields and for professional/general audiences
  • Travel Writing allows you to write about places both new and familiar using the forms common to the professional travel writer

Internships

Departmental and full-time internships (up to 15 credits) are handled through the Center for Career and Experiential Education (CCEE).

You can earn credit for your internship through ITR 302/304:

  • Earn between 6 and 15 free elective credits (300 level)
  • ITR 302 (field experience) 3-12 credits (S/U Only)
  • ITR 304 (seminar) 3 credits (Graded)
  • Online Seminar

Requirements

  • 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher
  • Minimum 60 credits prior to internship
  • Available free elective credit
  • Good academic and social standing