Professional Writing Studies Minor
Coordinator: Assistant Professor Maynard
Professional Writing Studies is an interdisciplinary minor designed for students across the disciplines who would like to add focused study and practice in applied writing to their major studies. This minor is intended not only to strengthen the writing instruction offered to students across the disciplines, but also to responsibly prepare students for the steadily increasing numbers of specialized professional, technical and medical writing positions in government agencies, industry and nonprofit organizations.
The minor is broad and flexible enough that students can formulate course sequences appealing to their specific interests. It is also structured tightly enough to effectively guide students’ curricular decisions.
A required introductory course prepares students to see writing broadly as a complex, highly situated form of social action and production. Three required practice courses engage students in hands-on projects where they learn to apply advanced practical writing skills within specific contexts. Finally, students may choose among Capstone Experience options to best fulfill their goals to apply their theoretical learning and practical strategies in actual disciplinary or professional contexts.
The minor requires a minimum of 20-28 semester hours, depending on prerequisites. Practice/applied courses must be chosen from at least two disciplines.
Minor Requirements
Students who major in Professional Writing and Rhetoric cannot minor in Professional Writing Studies.
Required course: 4 sh
| PWR2110 | Professional Writing and Rhetoric | 4 sh |
PWR 3110, Understanding Rhetoric, may be substituted for PWR 2110 with approval of the coordinator.
Select twelve semester hours from the following: 12 sh
| ANT2150/SOC2150 | Qualitative Research Methods | 4 sh |
| ANT2160/SOC2160 | Quantitative Research Methods | 4 sh |
| ART2600 | Introduction to Intermedia and Photography | 4 sh |
| ART3600 | The Altered Image in Digital Art | 4 sh |
| ART3610 | Interactive Art | 4 sh |
| BUS2020 | Business Communications | 4 sh |
| CTA2160 | Writing for Cinema and Television | 4 sh |
| ENG2090 | Writing Studies Survey | 4 sh |
| ENG3090 | Writing Center Workshop | 4 sh |
| HST3010 | Research Methods | 4 sh |
| JOU3100 | Reporting for the Public Good | 4 sh |
| JOU3110 | Broadcast News Writing | 4 sh |
| JOU3400 | Literary Journalism | 4 sh |
| PHS2020 | Research Methods in Public Health | 4 sh |
| PWR2120 | Multimedia and Visual Rhetorics I | 4 sh |
| PWR2130 | Publishing and Editing I | 4 sh |
| PWR3110 | Understanding Rhetoric | 4 sh |
| PWR3120 | Multimedia and Visual Rhetorics II | 4 sh |
| PWR3130 | Publishing and Editing II | 4 sh |
| PWR3190 | Special Topics in Professional Writing and Rhetoric | 4 sh |
| PWR3220 | Writing Science | 4 sh |
| PWR2170 | Writing as Inquiry | 4 sh |
| PWR2100 | Professional Writing and Technology Studio | 4 sh |
| PWR3210 | Writing Grants | 4 sh |
| PWR3230 | Writing Civic Action | 4 sh |
| SPT3510 | Sport Marketing | 4 sh |
| STC3120 | Strategic Writing | 4 sh |
Courses must be selected from at least two disciplines.
Students may consult with coordinator on other possible electives on a case-by-case basis.
Capstone - select four semester hours from the following: 4 sh
| PWS3985 | Internship in Professional Writing | 1-4 sh |
| PWS4999 | Research in Professional Writing Studies | 1-4 sh |
| PWR3130 | Publishing and Editing II | 4 sh |
| PWR3120 | Multimedia and Visual Rhetorics II | 4 sh |
| PWR4970 | PWR Senior Seminar | 4 sh |
Capstone selection should be made by the student in conjunction with the PWS coordinator.
Students may take a combination of PWS 3985 and PWS 4999 that totals 4 sh to fulfill the Capstone.
Total Credit Hours: 20