School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication

Michael Smith, Director
Phone: (540) 568-6004
Email: smithmx@jmu.edu
Location: Harrison Hall, Room 2252
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/wrtc/index.shtml

Professors
J. Almjeld, S. Lunsford, A. Parrish, M. Smith, T. Zimmerman

Associate Professors
S. Aley, A. Crow, L. De Hertogh, S. Ghiaciuc, E. Gumnior, E. Pass, L. Miller, J. Zimmerman

Assistant Professors
H. Comfort, M. Das, M. Stambler, J. Wourman

Senior Lecturers
C. Martin, K. McDonnell

Lecturers
D. DeRise, N. El Gendy, M. Hickman, K. Jefferson, A. Johnson, J. Varner

Mission Statement

We guide and inspire writing professionals.

Vision

Changing how the world values writers.

Career Opportunities

In the WRTC major, students learn the kinds of research, analytical and reasoning skills that will allow them to become successful professionals in a wide range of fields. WRTC graduates can expect career opportunities in writing, editing or production positions with a variety of business, educational or industry employers, including the computer hardware and software industry, law firms, journalism outlets, publishing houses, marketing companies, health care providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, education, engineering companies, environmental organizations, not-for-profit and political organizations, and writing consultant groups. WRTC graduates also choose to further their studies in MA, MS, MBA, MFA, PhD and law school programs.

Co-Curricular and Professional Opportunities

Internships

The WRTC internship is a requirement for all B.A. and B.S. students. It allows students to apply content knowledge and skills acquired in their WRTC coursework in a professional context to design, write, edit and produce documents for internship providers in academia, business, industry and government. Information about internships may be obtained through the WRTC website.

RhetTech Journal

RhetTech is WRTC’s student-run, online journal. It publishes high-quality compositions in a variety of genres from undergraduate students working in the disciplines of writing, rhetoric and technical communication across the country. RhetTech is created and managed by students enrolled in WRTC 328 . These practicum students develop evaluation criteria, read and discuss each submission, and work individually with writers to prepare their work for publication.

JMURJ

The James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal is a peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to promoting, publishing and sharing the text- and media-based research and scholarship created by undergraduate students in all JMU disciplines. JMURJ editorial board members collaborate with students, faculty and administrators in a university-wide effort to advance JMU undergraduate scholarship, research and intellectual work.

The Bluestone yearbook

The Bluestone is James Madison University’s award-winning yearbook. The Bluestone was first published in 1910 and has been issued every year since, making it the university’s oldest publication. The Bluestone is published in the spring, covering all events and activities from approximately March of one year to March of the following year. The book is created and produced by an entirely student staff led by the Editor(s)-in-Chief. WRTC students frequently serve in roles on the editorial board and in staff positions such as writers and designers.

Semester in London

WRTC students can participate in the Semester in London program through the School of Media Arts and Design and can enroll in the cross-listed courses WRTC 351L: Visual Rhetoric and WRTC 360L: British Media and Society. Both courses fulfill requirements in the British Communication and Media minor, and WRTC 360L also fulfills a requirement for the Modern European Studies minor.

Cross-disciplinary Majors

WRTC contributes courses to the following cross-disciplinary majors:

IdLS
Public Policy and Administration-Public Management concentration
Communications Studies-Health Communications, Interpersonal Communications, Cultural Communications, Organizational Communications Studies, Advocacy Studies, Public Relations and Political Communication concentrations

Cross-disciplinary Minors

WRTC contributes courses to the following cross-disciplinary minors:

Humanitarian Affairs
Disability Studies
Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Latino Community Engagement
Medical Humanities
Substance Abuse Education
Environmental Humanities
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Science, Technology & Society
Entrepreneurship

Pre-Law

Pre-law at JMU is not a major, but a number of WRTC students elect to pursue law school after graduation. WRTC Professor and Interim Dean Traci Zimmerman serves the College of Arts and Letters as a pre-law advisor and can assist students in selecting courses that will best provide the intellectual challenge and skills necessary for success in law school.

Service to the University

Honors College

WRTC faculty regularly offer honors seminars and mentor students as they complete their honor’s thesis projects.

Madison Writing Awards

The Madison Writing Awards (MWA), housed in WRTC, is a university-wide competition that celebrates writing across the curriculum in all undergraduate academic programs, regardless of medium and genre, from traditional papers to multimodal productions. These awards reflect the commitment of James Madison University, the College of Arts and Letters , and the School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication to prepare students for educated and enlightened global citizenship through the outlets of writing and rhetoric. The MWA biennial awards ceremony features a showcase of winning pieces as well as the presentation of cash prizes.

Scholarship Opportunities

JB Hancock Scholarship for Writing and New Media

The JB Hancock Scholarship awards at least $1,000 annually to one or more WRTC majors who have created a compelling piece of writing or new media communication that demonstrates both the importance of and excellence in connecting with audiences and communicating clearly and responsibly in a manner that is factual and persuasive.

Whitten Maher Memorial Scholarship for Writing and Design

The Whitten Maher Memorial Scholarship for Writing and Design was established to acknowledge and support undergraduate work that conveys the compassion, intensity and well-informed reason of its namesake. The scholarship is administered by WRTC but is open to all returning full- or part-time James Madison University undergraduate students in all academic disciplines. Each scholarship recipient is awarded at least $1,000 toward the following year’s tuition.