Graduate Study in English, Valparaiso University

The Writing Major and Minor

The English Department is proud to offer a major in writing, which is new as of the 2004-2005 catalog. Writing majors and minors may be in either creative or professional writing.

Requirements, the Creative Writing Major

A major in Creative Writing requires a minimum of 30 credit hours in writing or language-related courses. Courses must include the following:

ENGL 301: Introduction to Creative Writing
ENGL 400: New Literacies, Cultures, and Technologies of Writing
ENGL 492: Seminar in Creative Writing

plus three courses selected from the following:

ENGL 423: Short Story Writing
ENGL 424: Poetry Writing
ENGL 431: Advanced Composition
THTR 252: Writing for the Stage and Screen

plus one course selected the following:

ENGL 460 : Twentieth Century Drama
ENGL 470: Twentieth Century Fiction
ENGL 475: Twentieth Century Poetry

plus three courses selected from the following:

any English courses numbered 300 or above
COMM 230: Desktop Publishing
COMM 330: Advanced Desktop Publishing

Requirements, the Professional Writing Major

A major in Professional Writing requires a minimum of 30 credit hours in writing or language-related courses. Courses must include the following:

ENGL 300: Introduction to Professional Writing
ENGL 400: New Literacies, Cultures, and Technologies of Writing
ENGL 491: Seminar in Professional Writing
COMM 230: Desktop Publishing

plus one course selected from the following:

ENGL 321: Intermediate Composition
ENGL 431: Advanced Composition

plus one course selected from the following:

COMM 110: Introduction to Internet Communication
COMM 330: Advvanced Desktop Publishing
THTR 252: Writing for the Stage and Screen

plus two courses selected from the following:

ENGL 310: Introduction to Technical Writing
ENGL 441: History of the English Language
ENGL 442: Modern English Grammar
ENGL 443: Introduction to Linguistics
PHIL 150: Logic and Critical Thinking

plus two courses selected from the following:

ENGL 380: Topics in Writing
ENGL 386: Internship in English
ENGL 365: Studies in American Literature (with chair's approval)
ENGL 390: Topics in Literature (with chair's approval)
ENGL 495: Independent Study in English
or any of the other courses listed above within this major.

Requirements, the Creative Writing Minor

A minor in Creative Writing requires a minimum of 18 credit hours in writing or language-related courses.

Courses must include the following:

ENGL 301: Introduction to Creative Writing
ENGL 400: New Literacies, Cultures, and Technologies of Writing
ENGL 492: Seminar in Creative Writing

plus one course selected from the following:

ENGL 423: Short Story Writing
ENGL 424: Poetry Writing
ENGL 431: Advanced Composition
THTR 252: Writing for the Stage and Screen

plus two courses selected from the following:

any English courses numbered 300 or above
COMM 230: Desktop Publishing
COMM 330: Advanced Desktop Publishing

Requirements, the Professional Writing Minor

A minor in Professional Writing requires a minimum of 18 credit hours in writing or language-related courses. Courses must include the following:

ENGL 301: Introduction to Professional Writing
ENGL 400: New Literacies, Cultures, and Technologies of Writing
ENGL 491: Seminar in Professional Writing

plus one course selected from the following:

ENGL 321: Intermediate Composition
ENGL 431: Advanced Composition

plus one course selected from the following:

ENGL 310: Introduction to Technical Writing
ENGL 441: History of the English Language
ENGL 442: Modern English Grammar
ENGL 443: Introduction to Linguistics
PHIL 150: Logic and Critical Thinking

plus one course selected from the following:

ENGL 380: Topics in Writing
ENGL 386: Internship in English
ENGL 365: Studies in American Literature (with chair's approval)
ENGL 390: Topics in Literature (with chair's approval)
ENGL 495: Independent Study in English
or any of the other courses listed above within this minor

Important Information

Students who take both ENGL 321 and 431 must take 321 first. With the chair's approval, students may apply cooperative education toward fulfillment of the minor.