Do you like to write? Do you think you might like to do it for a living? Then this major may be just the write one (OK, we couldn’t resist) for you. 

As a writing major, you’ll learn about many different kinds of writing: fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, journalism. And, you’ll get lots of chances to write. (Which will make you a better writer.) Submit your writing and you may get published in our literary magazine Baily’s Beads, which has been ranked one of the top college magazines in the country. Or, work on our award-winning student newspaper, The Source. You’ll also get to rub elbows with professional writers. People like leading short story writer George Saunders, Pulitzer-prize finalist Lee Martin, and bestselling novelist Sena Jeter Naslund. 

When you graduate, you’ll have many kinds of jobs to choose from because employers are always looking for people who write well. Our graduates work as technical writers, writing teachers, newspaper reporters and editors, songwriters and freelance writers. Others have published articles and books. Or, you can take what you’ve learned and go to graduate school.

• NEWS WRITING
• BEGINNING POETRY WRITING
• NEWSPAPER STAFF (THE SOURCE)
• GRAMMAR
• FEATURE WRITING
• INTRODUCTION TO FICTION WRITING   or  INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE NONFICTION

Requirements in Literature:

Survey Courses
Select One Course

• AMERICAN LITERATURE BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR 
• AMERICAN LITERATURE SINCE THE CIVIL WAR
• BRITISH LITERATURE BEFORE 1800 
• BRITISH LITERATURE AFTER 1800 
• INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE BY WOMEN 

20th-Century Courses
Select One Course

• 20TH-CENTURY BRITISH LITERATURE
• 20TH-CENTURY AMERICAN LITERATURE
• TOPICS IN LITERATURE(20th Century topic)
• 20TH-CENTURY PROSE NARRATIVE
• HISPANIC LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION
• THE MODERNIST TRADITION

Genre Courses
Select One Course

• INTRODUCTION TO POETRY
• INTRODUCTION TO SHORT STORY
• AMERICAN POETRY
• CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN POETRY
• MAJOR AMERICAN NOVELS

Other Required Courses

• CAPSTONE: WRITING
• Foreign Language Two-Term Sequence (6 cr.)
• Writing Elective (3 cr.)

Creative Writing Track Requirements:

• LITERARY EDITING AND MAGAZINE PRODUCTION I 

Select Three Courses

• PLAYWRITING: THE STRUCTURE OF ACTION
• ADVANCED FICTION WRITING
• ADVANCED POETRY WRITING
• ADVANCED FEATURE WRITING
• WRITING FROM THE SELF
• TOPICS IN WRITING(Appropriate to Track)

Professional Writing Track Requirements:

NEWSPAPER STAFF (THE SOURCE)(One Additional Semester)

Select Three Courses

• PROMOTIONAL WRITING
• TECHNICAL WRITING
• WRITING FOR MANAGEMENT
• ADVANCED FEATURE WRITING 
• TOPICS IN WRITING  (Appropriate to Track)

Note:  Students in either track are strongly encouraged to pursue a writing internship.

Total Credits for Major: 47