Department of Writing

Bachelor of Arts

Diane McPherson, Associate Professor and Chair

The Department of Writing offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to foster clarity and creativity in expression, as well as to develop expertise in various writing styles and genres. It provides instruction in first-year writing for all entering students, advanced study in expository, creative, and professional writing, and a 21-credit minor for students in diverse disciplines. The B.A. in writing offers serious writers guidance and experience in a range of genres; students may also elect to complete a concentration in creative writing, nonfiction, feature writing, or professional and technical writing. The major, which blends practice and theory, prepares students for graduate study, professional positions, and careers in writing.

Writing, B.A.
Elective Concentrations: Creative Writing, Nonfiction, Feature Writing, Professional Writing
Writing Minor

Writing Center

The Department of Writing operates the writing center, located in Smiddy Hall. It offers individual and small group tutorials on a referred or self-selected basis to students needing assistance in any stage of the writing process. Other services include help with reading-comprehension and study skills and with refining English skills for nonnative speakers.

Writing Resource Rooms

The Department of Writing's networked computer classrooms, located in 314 Williams Hall, 110 Smiddy Hall, and 103 Friends Hall, are open evenings and weekends to all students. They are staffed by student consultants who provide tutorial help in academic and professional writing as well as in computer use. Facilities include reference books, laser printers, scanners, and a variety of software, including publishing and design applications.

StillWater

The Department of Writing offers a special opportunity to students interested in writing and graphic arts to publish StillWater, an annual magazine of poetry, prose, photography, and art. The students who staff the publication make all editorial selections and do layout, publicity, and production. Submissions are open to the entire College community.

Writing Contest

Each spring the Department of Writing conducts a writing contest open to all Ithaca College students. Entries are accepted in each of the following categories: first-year essay, expository essay, prose fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.

Requirements for the Major in Writing -- B.A.

Credits in the major

Select one of the following:

Select one of the following:

* Note that these courses have prerequisites beyond those specified for the major.

Required level-4 courses

Writing electives

General degree or elective concentration in writing

Majors may complete a general degree in writing or they may declare a formal concentration in creative writing, nonfiction, feature writing, or professional and technical writing. Concentrations, if elected, must be declared by midterm of the first semester of junior year. Requirements for concentrations may overlap with writing electives.

Elective Concentrations

Creative writing concentration

Required

Select one of the following:

Select two of the following:

Nonfiction concentration

Required

Select four of the following:

Feature writing concentration

Required

Select three of the following:

Professional writing concentration

Required

Select three of the following:

Credits outside the major

Required outside field: All writing majors must complete an outside field. This may be (1) an 18- to 21-credit minor in any Ithaca College department; (2) a 15-credit minor in any Ithaca College department plus one related 3-credit course; or (3) an individually designed outside field (minimum of 18 credits, with at least 9 credits above level 1), which is planned in conjunction with the student's adviser and approved by the department chair. For students with a double major, the other major counts as the outside field.

Required language: All writing majors must complete study of a language other than English through the first semester of the intermediate level or demonstrate equivalent proficiency (0-9 credits). An acceptable substitute for this requirement is one semester of formal study abroad in a country where the language predominantly spoken is not English.

Minor in Writing

Requirements for the minor in writing

From the writing courses listed below, either

Courses for the Minor in Writing

Exposition

Creative writing

All writing courses in the minor should be taken in the Department of Writing or at the Ithaca College London Center. Exceptions: Students who receive course-specific transfer credit for first-year composition and transfer students with WRTG 1xxxx or WRTG 2xxxx credit from another institution may count up to 6 generic writing credits toward the writing minor.

Additional requirements for the minor

1. All writing courses must be taken for a grade to count toward the minor. One level-1 composition course (WRTG 10600 through WRTG 16500) must be completed with B- or better. Any student receiving below B- in WRTG 10600, WRTG 10800, WRTG 16300, or WRTG 16500 must take WRTG 11100 and receive at least a B- in that course to qualify for the writing minor. Writing courses at level 2 or above must be completed with a C or better.

2. No more than two level-1 courses will count toward the writing minor.

3. Minors must take 6 of their 21 writing credits at level 3 or above.

4. Students may count toward the writing minor no more than 3 credits each in any one of the following courses: WRTG 42000 Apprenticeship, WRTG 45000 Internship, or WRTG 49800/WRTG 49900 Independent Study (Exposition/Creative Writing). A maximum of 6 credits from among these courses may be applied toward the writing minor.

5. Up to 6 credits in the writing minor may overlap with a student's writing requirements in a major.

General Information for All Students in Writing Courses

Students will receive course-specific credit for WRTG 11100 Academic Writing II by receiving a score of 4 or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement language and composition or literature and composition examination, and also a score of 1 or 2 on a Department of Writing placement test, which must be scheduled within the department. Students enrolled in the School of Humanities and Sciences may not apply that course-specific credit toward fulfilling the focused curricular choice component of the general education requirement.

Students wishing to enroll in a course for which they have not completed the prerequisites must receive the permission of the instructor.