Writing Concentration
(Requirements for Writing Concentration)

Overview
The department is strongly committed to the interconnectedness of literature and writing as it seeks to develop lifelong readers and writers.

The writing curriculum within the English major focuses on the study of significant texts in various genres of writing and helps students develop their own abilities in writing poetry, fiction, and non-fiction as within both a historical and contemporary context.

Writing Concentration majors are expected to acquire a knowledge of different writing genres, to study both the craft and theory of writing, and to explore and practice selected modes in greater depth. In addition to critiquing and critically reading poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, students will learn skills to edit various genres. Advanced courses will address how to publish. As part of their program, they are expected to complete a professional portfolio of their writing.

Students who concentrate in writing are challenged to explore how their faith informs their writing and to be aware of professional issues in writing as they relate to their own aesthetic and moral development as Christians.

The English major with a writing concentration requires a minimum of 42 hours. Students may, however, count up to 52 hours in English toward graduation. Additional hours are encouraged for students planning graduate work. Because the department believes strongly that good writers learn from reading the best writers, the major includes a strong literature component along with the focused hours in writing.