Lower Division Courses
WRTG 1100- 4 EXTENDED FIRST-YEAR WRITING & RHETORIC
Extended First-Year Writing and Rhetoric. Extended version of WRTG 1150, designed for students who want more preparation and practice in college writing. Meets the same goals and requirements as WRTG 1150, but with one extra hour of coursework per week to allow for more small-group and one-on-one instruction.
WRTG 1150-3 FIRST-YEAR WRITING & RHETORIC
Rhetorically informed introduction to college writing. Focuses on critical analysis, argument, inquiry, and information literacy. Taught as a writing workshop, the course places a premium on invention, drafting, and thoughtful revision. For placement criteria, see the Arts and Sciences advising office. Meets MAPS requirement for English. Approved for Arts and Sciences core curriculum: written communication.
WRTG 1250-3 ADVANCED FIRST YEAR-WRITING & RHETORIC
Intended for more experienced writers, this course meets the same goals as WRTG 1150 but at a more challenging level. Taught as a writing workshop, the course places a premium on invention, drafting, and thoughtful revision. For placement criteria, see the Arts and Sciences advising office. Meets MAPS requirement for English. Approved for Arts and Sciences core curriculum: written communication.
WRTG 1840 (1-3) INDEPENDENT STUDY IN WRITING
Please consult the Program for further information.
WRTG 2020-3 INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE NONFICTION
Explores from both the reader's and writer's perspective the forms of creative nonfiction, including personal essay and memoir. Students will read and write extensively within this genre, develop skill in revision and peer critique, and learn how to submit work for publication. Prereq. WRTG 1150 or equivalent (completion of lower-division writing requirement).
WRTG 2090 ELECTIVES IN WRITING
Explores a variety of academic and professional writing genres, ranging from research to technical writing, in intensive topic-focused workshops. Students will read and write extensively within their given genres, with an emphasis on developing a personal writing practice and exposing themselves to a broad range of writing modes. Designed for self-motivated students in a variety of majors. See 2090 Descriptions. See Course Schedule.
WRTG 2095 (3) IDEAS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
Introduces key concepts and practices that are central to understanding historical and contemporary social movements in the United States. Grounded in theories about language, culture, bodies, and power, the course is taught through various frameworks such as intersectionality, rhetoric, critical race theory, feminism, queer studies, decolonial studies, and/or LGTBQ+ studies. Students will discover, identify, and analyze social issues of significance to them; practice developing their own visions for social change; and present their visions in public-facing multi-modal genres. This 3-credit course helps to fulfill the Arts & Humanities category of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement.
Upper Division Courses (57 Credits Required)
WRTG 3007-3 TOPICS IN THE VISUAL ARTS
Enables students in the arts to improve their writing skills through developing and reflecting on personal craft. Writing assignments may include pitches to publishers, artist statements, memoir pieces, and other narrative writing. Department enforced prerequisite: WRTG 1150 or equivalent (completion of lower-division writing requirement).
WRTG 3020-3 TOPICS IN WRITING
Through sustained inquiry into a selected topic or issue, students will practice advanced forms of academic writing. The course emphasizes analysis, criticism, and argument. Taught as a writing workshop, the course places a premium on substantive, thoughtful revision. Restricted to arts and sciences juniors and seniors. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: written communication. See 3020 Descriptions. Not all courses offered every semester. See Course Schedule.
WRTG 3030-3 WRITING ON SCIENCE & SOCIETY
Through selected reading and writing assignments, students examine ethical and social issues that arise within the decision-making processes associated with science and technology. Focuses on critical thinking, analytical writing, and oral presentation. Taught as a writing workshop, the course emphasizes effective communication with both professional and nontechnical audiences. See 3030 Descriptions. Restricted to junior and senior engineering students and junior and senior physical and biological science majors. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: written communication. See Course Schedule.
WRTG 3035-3 TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION & DESIGN
Rhetorically informed introduction to technical writing that hones communication skills in the context of technical design activities. Treats design as a collaborative, user-oriented, problem-based activity, and technical communication as a rhetorically informed and persuasive design art. Taught as a writing workshop emphasizing critical thinking, revision, and oral presentation skills. Focuses on client-driven design projects and effective communication with multiple stakeholders. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. See 3035 Descriptions. Restricted to juniors and seniors in engineering; architecture and planning; and the physical, earth, and life sciences. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: written communication. See Course Schedule.
WRTG 3040-3 WRITING ON BUSINESS & SOCIETY
Through selected reading and writing assignments, students examine ethical and social issues that arise within the decision-making processes associated with business and industry. Focuses on critical thinking, analytical writing, and oral presentation. Taught as a writing workshop, the course emphasizes effective communication with both professional and nontechnical audiences. See 3040 Descriptions. Restricted to junior and senior business, economics, and IAFS majors. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: written communication. See Course Schedule.
WRTG 3045-3 WRITING FOR EMERGING WORKPLACES
A rhetorically informed professional writing course addressing key competencies needed in emerging workplaces. Intended for juniors and seniors from a wide range of majors who anticipate working in communication-intensive capacities. Taught as a writing workshop, with a focus on revision, critical thinking, and collaborative engagement. Key topics: professional correspondence, grant and proposal writing, writing for policy debates, data analysis and visualization, report writing, and advanced oral presentation and multimedia skills. Satisfies A&S Upper-Division Written Communication requirement.
WRTG 3070 ADVOCATING WITH DATA
Whether used by nonprofits to catalyze social action, think tanks to argue for policy change, or organizations to promote legislative equity, data advocacy is an increasingly important means of communication in the era of ubiquitous data. While coding and other technical skills are important for advocating with data, ethical data advocacy demands learning how to not only critically examine data issues in the context of existing power dynamics and social practices but also rhetorically use data to tell ethical, compelling data-driven stories and participate in ongoing conversations about pressing social matters. Grounded in the methodologies of data feminism and rhetorical data studies, this course prepares you to do such work by helping you develop a complex array of data skills and communication literacies needed to use data responsibly and effectively to advocate for social change. No prior experience with computer science or data science is needed; instead, you will learn how to blend minimal computing and open-source tools with rhetorical literacies to ethically translate data into effective real-world action.
WRTG 3090-3 OPEN TOPICS IN WRITING: ADVANCED
This Advanced Topics in Writing course provides students with an introduction to the theory and practice of digital storytelling, which is a newly emerging genre that makes use of a variety of digital composition tools to convey a meaningful message in video format. The course is cross-listed with ATLS 3519 and counts towards the TAM certificate or minor. For more details, see: hindsightjournal2020.com/.
WRTG 3840 (1-3) INDEPENDENT STUDY IN WRITING
Please consult the Program for further information.
Graduate Courses
WRTG 5050-3 GRADUATE STUDIES IN WRITING & RHETORIC
Special topics and methods course in composition theory, research, and pedagogy. Topics vary by semester. See 5050 descriptions. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours. See Course Schedule.
WRTG 5840 (1-3) INDEPENDENT STUDY IN WRITING
Please consult the Program for further information.