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Our major in Written Communication will help you study the rapid and
important changes to the practice and profession of writing. This new
and revised program offers three “strands” or emphases
within our one major: Writing Studies, Professional
Writing, and Technical Communication. Each strand
offers both guidance for the study of a specific aspect of writing, while
simultaneously offering flexibility through shared restricted elective offerings.
We also offer a minor in writing.
If you began the program prior to Spring 2010, then the Professional Writing and Technical Communication majors are still available.
Want to learn more about the major? Review the frequently asked questions page. Also, make an appointment with an advisor!
Writing Studies is for students most interested in studying writing as a discipline within the academy. Its flexible plan for exploring writing is an excellent background for students considering graduate work in writing and rhetoric.
Students take these three courses:
Students take one of these two courses:
Students take one of these three courses:
Students take one of these two courses:
Restricted Electives:
The Professional Writing strand reflects the variety of career options in writing taught within the Department of English Language and Literature. It combines study in technical communications, journalism, and public relations.
Students take all five of these courses:
Students take one of the following courses:
Restricted Electives:
The Technical Communications strand is designed for students interested in careers in the ever-expanding fields needing technical communicators: document designers, web developers, technical editors, project managers, and proposal writers, just to name a few.
Students take all six of these courses:
Restricted Electives:
Students in all strands pick four courses from the following list, but they cannot double count courses required in their specific strand.
In other words, you cannot “double-dip” in the courses you take, meaning you cannot count any of the required courses as one of your restricted electives. However, you can take courses that are choices among required courses as restricted electives. For example, students in the Writing Studies strand have to take either English 310: Writing and Civic Literacy or English 354: Critical Digital Literacies. If a Writing Studies student takes both of these classes, then one of them will apply to their program as a restricted elective.
If you began your studies before Spring 2010 all of the classes required for Professional Writing and Technical Communication, don't worry! The majors and the classes are still being offered.
As is the case with all programs, you are always able to graduate with the program as it was described in the undergraduate catalog published the year you began your studies at EMU. You can continue in the Professional Writing or Technical Communication programs just as you did before. You might be interested though in taking the two new courses in the program--English 310: Writing and Civic Literacy and English 354: Critical Digital Literacies-- as a restricted elective.
What has changed?
If you started the program prior to Spring 2010, you can either stick with the previous requirements or change to the new program. Also, you will likely be able to take ENGL 310 or ENGL 354 as restricted electives even under the previous program requirements. If you have questions about this or any other aspect of the revised program, Make an appointment with an advisor.
