WRITING, LINGUISTICS & THE CREATIVE PROCESS
Oscar De Los Santos, Chair
delossantoso@wcsu.edu
Berkshire Hall 225, Midtown campus
(203) 837-9044
(203) 837-8912 (fax)
Sharon Foster, Department Secretary
fosters@wcsu.edu
Berkshire Hall 215, Midtown campus
(203) 837-9041
(203) 837-8912 (fax)
Faculty
| O. De Los Santos , Chair | J. Briggs | B. Clemets |
| A. Govardhan | P. Ryan | J. Scrimgeour |
| A. Zink |
Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing prepares students for careers in writing fields that range from creative writing to technical writing to public relations to online and print journalism, as well as for writing intensive professions such as the law, publishing, business and teaching. Students may choose one of five B.A. degree options: Business Writing, Creative Writing, General, Journalism and Freelance, and Public Relations.
Mission
To prepare students for careers as professional writers, the Department of Writing, Linguistics, and Creative Process focuses on the following objectives:
- Engaging students—through innovative and cutting-edge writing programs—in writing as a process of making form and meaning.
- Training professional writing students for work in business, publishing in all its facets, and teaching.
- Immersing students in the rich environment of professional writing activities and talent available in New York City and author-endowed Fairfield and Litchfield counties.
- Emphasizing writing as key to critical thinking.
- Highlighting the importance of linguistics and understanding the basic components of language and texts to professional writers.
- Assisting students with the development of style, voice and attunement to genre.
- Creating a community of writers at WestConn that fosters an awareness of the importance of writing across the curriculum.
General Education Writing Requirement
The Department of Writing, Linguistics and Creative Process participates broadly in the University's general education program. The general education writing requirement is satisfied by passing a writing intensive course, several of which are offered by the Department. The department’s composition coordinator supervises placement of all entering students. Students are placed into one of three levels:
- WRT 098: Written Communication or WRT 099: Written Communication for ESL (followed by WRT 101: Composition I: The Habit of Writing and a W course).
- WRT 101: Composition I: The Habit of Writing (followed by a W course). All writing intensive courses (W) offered by the Department of Writing, Linguistics, and Creative Process or any other department have WRT 101: Composition I: The Habit of Writing or appropriate placement as their prerequisite.
- A WRITING INTENSIVE course labeled W.
W courses currently offered by the Writing department that fulfill the general education requirement include the following:
WRT 102W: Introduction to the Creative Process
WRT 103W: Composition II: Research and Writing
WRT 132W: Introduction to Professional Writing
WRT 133W: An Introduction to Writing Fiction
WRT 134W: An Introduction to Writing Poetry
WRT 171W: Craft of Writing I: Conversations with Predecessors
WRT 172W: Craft of Writing II: Conversations with Contemporaries
WRT 242W: Poetry Workshop I
WRT 243W: Fiction Workshop I
THR/WRT 244W: Playwriting Workshop I
WRT 245W: Technical Writing: Topic
WRT 255W: Advertising, Copywriting, and Promotion
WRT 270W: News Writing
WRT 271W: Human Interest Writing
WRT 273W: Craft of Writing III: Writing Identity
WRT 274W: Craft of Writing IV: Form and Inspiration
WRT 276W: Writing about Human Tragedy
With Permission of Instructor and Writing Sample
WRT 275W: Topics in Professional Writing
WRT 335W: Fact-Based Opinion Writing
WRT 339W: Creative Essay
In addition to fulfilling the W requirement, the following courses offered by the Department of Writing, Linguistics, and Creative Process also fulfill the General Education requirement in the Humanities:
W and General Education—Humanities/Communication credit
WRT 102W: Intro to the Creative Process
WRT 132W: Intro to Professional Writing
WRT 171W: Craft of Writing I: Conversations with Predecessors
WRT 172W: Craft of Writing II: Conversations with Contemporaries
WRT 273W: Craft of Writing III: Writing Identity
WRT 274W: Craft of Writing IV: Form and Inspiration
W and General Education—Humanities/Humanistic Studies credit
WRT 102W: Intro to the Creative Process
DEGRE PROGRAMS IN PROFESSIONAL WRITING
Bachelor of Arts
Major in Professional Writing with five (5) options:
Business
Creative Writing
General
Journalism and Freelance
Public Relations
Bachelor of Science
Education students may major in the following options that are offered in conjunction with the English Department:
English (Writing Option): Secondary Certification
English (Writing Option): Elementary Certification
MINOR PROGRAMS
Journalism
Broadcast Journalism
Professional Writing
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PROFESSIONAL WRITING (B.A.)
Students must complete all general education requirements, the required major courses (core, upper-division, and menu) listed below, the courses and credits listed in one of the options below, and additional free electives for a total of 122 semester hours that include a writing intensive course (W), foreign language, and physical education. Important note: Students must have an overall G.P.A. of 2.5 or better in courses used to satisfy the major.
Courses Required for all B.A. in Professional Writing Majors:
All Professional Writing majors in the five (5) B.A. options must take the following courses:
Core (12 S.H.)
WRT 171W: Craft of Writing I: Conversations with Predecessors
WRT 172W: Craft of Writing II: Conversations with Contemporaries
WRT 273W: Craft of Writing III: Writing Identity
WRT 274W: Craft of Writing IV: Form and Inspiration
Required Upper-Division Courses (16 S.H.)
LNG 371: Linguistics or LNG 320: Modern English Grammar
WRT 333W: The Editorial Environment
WRT 373W: Editing and Copyediting
WRT 442W: Publication Design and Development
WRT 465W: Thesis Project
Menu Courses (6 S.H.): Two (2) courses from among the following:
LNG 320: History of the English Language
WRT 275W: Topics in Professional Writing
WRT 276W: Writing about Human Tragedy
WRT 303W: Composition III: Advanced Research Writing
WRT 371W: Writing the Weird: Topic
WRT 377W: The Writing Life: Topic
WRT 446W: Topics in Professional Writing
WRT 431W: Writers’ Aesthetics
Additional Genre-Focused Workshops Required for the Professional Writing Options
Business Option (14 S.H)
WRT 245W: Technical Writing
WRT 255W: Advertising, Copywriting, and Promotion
WRT 270W: News Writing
WRT 338: Writing about Specialized Subjects or
JLA/WRT 321W: Legal Writing, Research, and Analysis
_______________ (2 S.H.)*
Creative Writing Option (14 S.H.)
Five (5) writing courses from among the 6 creative writing workshops and WRT 219W: Writer’s Toolbox, WRT 271W: Human Interest Writing, WRT 339W: The Creative Essay, WRT 462: The Book: From Writing to Publishing, and WRT 490: Internship.
General Writing Option (14 S.H)
WRT 270W: News Writing
Three (3) other Genre Workshops chosen in consultation with advisor
_____________ (2 S.H.)*
Journalism and Freelance Option (14 S.H.)
WRT 270W: News Writing
WRT 271W: Human Interest Writing
WRT 335W: Fact-Based Opinion Writing
WRT 338W: Writing about Specialized Subjects
____________ (2 S.H.)*
Public Relations Option (14 S.H.)
WRT 255W: Advertising, Copywriting, and Promotion
WRT 270W: News Writing
WRT 271W: Human Interest Writing or WRT 245W: Technical Writing
WRT 340W: Public Relations Writing
______________ (2 S.H.)*
*Students may choose from a variety of courses to fulfill this requirement, including WRT 219W: Writer’s Toolbox, WRT 272: Campus Writers’ Workshop, and WRT 490: Internship.
As a graduation requirement, all B.A. in Professional Writing majors must submit a writing portfolio.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Education students may major in the following options that are offered in conjunction with the English Department:
English (Teaching of Writing Option): Secondary Certification
English (Teaching Writing Option): Elementary Certification
Students in these degree programs take required courses in the English Department and in the Department of Writing, Linguistics, and Creative Process. For information about English Department requirements for these degree options, please see School of Professional Studies.
The Department of Writing requirements for these two options are as follows:
English (Teaching of Writing Option): Secondary Certification (18 S.H.)
WRT 243W: Fiction Workshop I
WRT 335W: Fact-Based Opinion Writing
WRT 339W: Creative Essay
WRT 347W: Teaching Writing in the Schools—High School
One additional Writing course
WRT 465W: Thesis Project
English (Teaching of Writing Option): Elementary Certification (24 S.H.)
WRT 242W: Poetry Workshop I
THR/WRT 244W: Playwriting Workshop I
WRT 270W: News Writing
WRT 271W: Human Interest Writing
WRT 335W: Fact-Based Opinion Writing
WRT 337W: Teaching Writing in the Schools—Elementary
One additional Writing course
WRT 465W: Thesis Project
As a graduation requirement, students in the B.S. in English (Teaching of Writing Options) must submit a writing portfolio.
Minor in Journalism (18 S.H.)
WRT 270W: News Writing
WRT 271W: Human Interest Writing
WRT 333W: The Editorial Environment
WRT 442W: Publication Design and Development
Two (2) additional courses from the following: WRT 219W: Writer’s Toolbox, WRT 272: Campus Writers’ Workshop, WRT 340W: Public Relations Writing, WRT 335W: Fact-Based Opinion Writing, WRT 490: Internship/Practicum in Writing, WRT 446W: Topics in Professional Writing, and WRT 462W: The Book from Writing to Publishing.
MINOR IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM (18 S.H.)
WRT 270W: News Writing
WRT 333W: The Editorial Environment
One 300- or 400-level writing course from among the following: WRT 335W: Fact-Based Opinion Writing, WRT 338W: Writing about Specialized Subjects, WRT 340W: Public Relations Writing, WRT 442W: Publication Design and Development, and WRT 490: Internship.
COM 270: Fundamentals of Radio Broadcasting
THR/COM: Acting for the Camera
COM 243: Broadcast Writing
MINOR IN PROFESSIONAL WRITING (18 S.H.)
WRT 270W: News Writing
Any five (5) courses from among the following:
JLA/WRT 321W: Legal Writing, Research, and Analysis
WRT 245W: Technical Writing
WRT 255W: Advertising, Copywriting, and Promotion
WRT 271W: Human Interest Writing
WRT 272: Campus Writers’ Workshop
WRT 333W: The Editorial Environment
WRT 335W: Fact-Based Opinion Writing
WRT 338W: Writing about Specialized Subjects
WRT 339W: Creative Essay
WRT 340W: Public Relations Writing
WRT 373W: Editing and Copyediting
WRT 442W: Publication Design and Development
WRT 446W: Topics in Professional Writing
WRT 462W: The Book: From Writing to Publishing
WRT 490: Internship/Practicum in Writing
