Required Portfolio Curation
A one-credit- hour, pass/fail WRTG course in portfolio curation is required. See the PWR for offerings in any given semester.
Although the portfolio is developed and submitted in a pass/fail one-credit- hour course, the expectation is that students will contribute to this portfolio throughout their Certificate studies. Students may revise and resubmit a portfolio. A grade of pass/fail is assigned by the Certificate Coordinator, based on recommendations from the Certificate Committee.
The content expectations of the portfolio are as follows: the portfolio shall consist of a range of curated artifacts from the various courses the student has taken as part of the Certificate (e.g. courses in PWR, courses from outside PWR, artifacts from the practicum), along with reflections on those artifacts that enable the student to articulate what he or she learned, and how the artifacts reflect learning experiences that are valuable going forward. The portfolio as a whole shall be prefaced by a substantive introduction that guides the portfolio reader through the curated material and synthesizes lessons learned across individual assignments and courses, and across various disciplines. In short, the process of curating the portfolio affords an opportunity for personal and professional reflection, and likewise is preparation to showcase one’s work to employers or graduate schools.
Options relevant to specific interests and career goals
Beyond the required portfolio curation experience, there are three additional options for the Practicum. Students may select the option that best suits their interests and career goals:
Internship
For students intending to work in business, industry, or nonprofits:
| Course Code | Credits | Course Title |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4000 level | 1-6 credit hrs | Internship (departmental internship placement—e.g. ENGL 3930 or JRNL 4931-- with a significant writing component). |
For an internship to count toward the Certificate, it must be pre-approved by the Certificate Coordinator. Following the internship, the student must submit a brief (2-3 pp.) report describing the writing activities and how the internship contributed to learning outcomes.
Writing Center Consultancy or School-Based Literacy Practicum
For students intending to work in education and related fields:
| Course Code | Credits | Course Title |
|---|---|---|
| WRTG 2090 | 3 credit hours | Electives in Writing (specifically, Writing Center Theory and Practice) |
| EDUC 4321 | 3 credit hours | Writing in the Elementary School (for students already accepted into the teacher licensure program) |
| EDUC 4345 | 3 credit hours | Secondary English Methods I (for students already accepted into the teacher licensure program) |
Graduate Study in Writing Pedagogy
For students intending graduate work or teaching in Rhetoric and Composition:
| Course Code | Credits | Course Title |
|---|---|---|
| WRTG 5050 | 3 credit hours | College Writing Instruction (with permission) |
| WRTG 5050 | 3 credit hours | Digital Research and Pedagogy (with permission) |