The Writing and Rhetoric Major will begin full operation in the Fall 2008 semester.

Students interested in declaring a Major in Writing and Rhetoric should familiarize themselves with the description below, the Program Content and Requirements, review the Major FAQ, and plan on the following timetable:

Complete paperwork for declaring the Major: March 1, 2008–July 1, 2008
Advising for Fall 2008 begins March 24, 2008
Early Registration for Fall 2008: April 7–May 7

Description of the Writing Major

The Writing and Rhetoric Major focuses on different genres and practices of writing as enacted in specific historical and cultural contexts. Students write in a wide range of genres: advanced argument, research writing, digital writing, civic writing, professional writing, technical writing, creative nonfiction, and the public essay. In the process of exploring and practicing these genres, students study and analyze the interaction of diverse rhetorical traditions and writing technologies and assess how these factors shape the nature, scope, and impact of writing in a variety of contexts. The major also asks students to examine writing and rhetoric as embedded in culture, and looks at writing identities, their emergences in cultures and subgroups, and the relations among writing, rhetoric, identity, literacy, and power.

Graduates of the Writing and Rhetoric Major will be well equipped for public and private sector careers that require knowledge of advanced communication strategies and writing skills. The major is open to any SU student, and may be especially useful to students pursuing careers in teaching, the law, business, public advocacy, and editing and publishing.

Students electing a Writing major will be required to complete the Arts and Sciences Liberal Arts Core, completing a minimum of 120 credits toward degree.

Students will take a total of 27 credits for the major distributed as follows:

Students will take a common course at the sophomore level: WRT 255 (3 credits)
Three (3) courses will be required in the category of Genres and Practices.
Four (4) courses will be required in the category of Writing Histories and Theories.
Students will be required to take one three-credit internship course from a list of possibilities.
At most, two courses from the approved list can be taken outside of the Writing Program.
Students may wish to dual or double major.

Required Introductory Course WRT 255 Advanced Argumentative Writing	(3 credits)
Genres and Practices Category (students select 3) WRT 301 Civic Writing WRT 302 Digital Writing WRT 303 Research Writing WRT 307 Professional Writing WRT 308 Style WRT 407 Advanced Workshop in Professional, Disciplinary, or Technical Writing WRT 417 Advanced Technical Documentation WRT 419 Advanced Technical Writing Workshop WRT 422 Studies in Creative Nonfiction WRT 427 Writing in Design and Development Environments ETS 401 Advanced Writing Workshop: Poetry ETS 403 Advanced Writing Workshop: Fiction NEW 205 News Writing RTN 205 Discovering the News ADV 207 Writing Advertising Strategies and Executions PRL 205 Introduction to Writing for the Media	(9 credits)
Writing Histories and Theories Category (students select 4) WRT 423 African American Rhetoric WRT 424 Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Identity (repeatable) WRT 426 Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Technology (repeatable) WRT 428 Studies in Composition, Rhetoric, and Literacy (repeatable) WRT 437 Information Architecture and Technical Documentation WRT 440 Studies in the Politics of Language and Writing WRT 447 Technical Writing for a Global Audience CRS 334 Introduction to Argumentation CRS 545 Issues in Argumentation CRS 546 Seminar in Legal Communication CRS 552 History of Rhetorical Theory CRS 567 Rhetoric and Philosophy CRS 568 Rhetoric of Social Change	(12 credits)
Internship Requirement WRT 470 Internship in Writing (community or business-based internships) WRT 331 Peer Writing Consultant Practicum WRT 340 Advanced Editing Studio WRT 430 Advanced Experience in Writing Consultation (repeatable)	(3 credits)
	27 credits

All Writing Majors are encouraged to produce and maintain an electronic writing portfolio. This portfolio allows students in the Writing Major to archive and demonstrate their expertise within and across multiple genres and rhetorical contexts. Electronic writing portfolios serve as a record of each student's development and growth as a writer over his or her course of study and should not be limited to a specific number of writing products. The student, in consultation with his or her advisor and informal faculty mentors, is ultimately responsible for deciding what will be included in the electronic portfolio and how that portfolio will be shaped for specific purposes: professional, academic, public, and creative or a combination of two or more. Students may want to create portfolio “chapters” or segments, which encompass different genres, purposes, and audiences.

Question:	When can I declare the Writing major?
Answer:	We will be accepting majors beginning March 1, 2008 for the Fall 2008 semester.
Question:	Is there anything I can do in the mean time to prepare to become a Writing major?
Answer:	There are a number of things we recommend: First, fill out the Writing Minor/Major Contact Form. That will register your interest with us and add you to our mailing list, so we can notify you about events, courses, etc. Second, register for WRT 255: Advanced Argumentative Writing. WRT 255 is the common course all Writing majors will take. Third, check out the rest of our current offerings. All of those courses will count toward your major.
Question:	Do I need to be a Writing minor or major to take Writing courses?
Answer:	No, WRT courses are open to all students.
Question:	Are there any special events scheduled for Writing majors?
Answer:	The Writing Program sponsors annual events, such as the Intertext publication party and Graduating Major/Minors Celebration, as well as readings and symposia. We will be forming a Writing Major Advisory Board to serve as a forum for majors to share their ideas about what other events they would like to see us support. Being on our mailing list guarantees that you will hear about all upcoming events
Question:	How am I assigned an advisor for the Writing Major?
Answer:	After you have declared, the Writing Program will assign you a faculty member as primary advisor.
Question:	What is the internship?
Answer:	You can learn more about the internship requirement on our Internships page.