Rhetoric and Public Writing, Minor

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Kate McCarthy-Gilmore, Ph.D., Associate Dean

The Rhetoric and Public Writing minor strengthens the professional writing skills of students of any major by teaching them how to use the analytical tools of a liberal arts education in non-academic settings. The core courses explore both the concepts involved in effective writing and the practice of those concepts in community and work-place settings. Electives allow students to deepen and enrich their knowledge base with related courses in other programs. Along the way, class projects and internships allow students to gain résumé-building experience.

Students who complete this minor will be equipped with timeless skills that are more essential than ever in a rapidly changing world. Students should contact the Center for Experiential Learning for internship possibilities.

Requirements for the Minor in Rhetoric and Public Writing:

L.ENG 105 - College Writing-WC Credits: 3

Three Credit Internship:

Students completing the Rhetoric and Public Writing minor will successfully undertake a three credit internship at a site such as a non-profit or civic organization, a government office, or a business where they will apply concepts learning in their coursework to meet the needs of the broader community. Internship activities might include writing grants, designing informational materials, composing correspondence, editing documents, producing web content, or similar projects. Students should contact the Center for Experiential Learning to pursue internship possibilities. Credits: 3

Select three RPW electives

L.ENG 277 - Rhetoric and Political Engagement-EI Credits: 3
L.ENG 278 - Grant and Proposal Writing Credits: 3
L.ENG 279 - Writing for New Media Credits: 3
L.ENG 390 - Writing as Social Action Credits: 3

Select one Creative Writing elective

(Excludes General Education Courses)

L.ENG 237 - Fiction Writing Credits: 3
L.ENG 238 - Poetry Writing Credits: 3
L.ENG 271 - Screenwriting Credits: 3
L.ENG 278 - Grant and Proposal Writing Credits: 3
L.ENG 279 - Writing for New Media Credits: 3
L.ENG 370 - Fantastic Fiction Credits: 3
L.ENG 380 - Nature Writing Credits: 3
L.ENG 383 - Nonfiction Genre Workshop Credits: 3
L.ENG 384 - Fiction Genre Workshop Credits: 3
L.ENG 385 - Poetry Genre Workshop Credits: 3
L.ENG 389 - Revision, Editing & Publishing Credits: 3

Select one Literature elective

(Level 300+; Excludes General Education Courses)

L.ENG 325 - American Literature: 1820-1860 Credits: 3
L.ENG 326 - American Literature: 1861-1900 Credits: 3
L.ENG 328 - American Literature: Modern & Contemporary Poetry Credits: 3
L.ENG 329 - American Literature: Modern & Contemporary Drama Credits: 3
L.ENG 330 - American Literature: Modern Prose, 1900-1945 Credits: 3
L.ENG 331 - American Literature: Contemporary Prose, 1945-Present Credits: 3
L.ENG 332 - Major American Authors Credits: 3
L.ENG 333 - Shakespeare Before 1600 Credits: 3
L.ENG 334 - Shakespeare After 1600 Credits: 3
L.ENG 337 - Medieval & Renaissance British Literature Credits: 3
L.ENG 340 - Romantic Age: 1798-1832 Credits: 3
L.ENG 341 - Victorian Age: 1832-1901 Credits: 3
L.ENG 342 - Victorian Age Novel Credits: 3
L.ENG 343 - British/Irish Poetry 1900-Present Credits: 3
L.ENG 344 - British Fiction 1900-Present Credits: 3
L.ENG 345 - British Drama 1890-Present Credits: 3
L.ENG 351 - Milton & 17th Century Literature Credits: 3
L.ENG 352 - 18th Century British Literature Credits: 3
L.ENG 355 - English Novel: 1800-1840 Credits: 3

NOTE:

Writing majors earning an RPW minor may only apply one RPW course to fulfilling the Writing major requirements. Also, Writing majors must replace the two English electives with two professional design courses from the list below:

L.COM 164 - Creative Image-Making Credits: 3
L.COM 202 - Public Relations Writing Credits: 3
L.COM 204 - Organizational Communication Credits: 3
L.COM 225 - Media Writing Credits: 3
L.COM 262 - Photojournalism Credits: 3
L.COM 264 - Desktop Publishing Credits: 3
L.COM 325 - Political Campaign Communication Credits: 3
L.CIT 320 - Web Publishing Credits: 3