Offering New York State's only comprehensive B.A. in Writing, the Ithaca College Department of Writing encourages its majors to see the public implications of their craft and guides them to find their place in the world – not only as writers but as citizens and professionals.

Whatever the genre, good writing does justice to a subject; and every subject, no matter how private, is embedded within a social context. We invite our majors, therefore, to connect to their world and to build a writing-centered community based on integrity and responsibility. 

Blending theory and practice, our program seeks to foster clarity, invention, and expertise in various styles and genres. Students select from a diverse curriculum of 45 courses and may choose to concentrate in creative writing, nonfiction, feature writing, or professional writing. Whatever their interest, they will discover that crafting a technical report, magazine article, or grant proposal requires creativity, just as writing and publishing poetry and fiction demands an understanding of new technologies and markets. 
To prepare students for graduate school, professional positions, and writing careers, we provide a range of opportunities for students: 

• publishing experience through writing and editing for our department’s literary journal Stillwater as well as the college’s newspaper and several magazines 
• monthly faculty-student readings at the Handwerker Gallery, an annual Writing Contest, and presentations at the college’s annual Whalen Symposium
• small-group seminars reserved for our seniors as well as intensive master classes with Distinguished Visiting Writers 
• career workshops to familiarize students with different professional options
• local and national internships at publishing houses, newspapers, magazines, museums, theaters, public relations agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

These features reflect our department’s rich history and mission. Besides our unique major, we also instruct all entering students in first-year writing; house and staff the college’s Writing Center; offer a popular 21-credit minor for students in diverse disciplines; and support local organizations through community-based learning initiatives.