Nov 22, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication, Writing and Rhetoric Concentration, B.A.

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Degree and Major Requirements

The study of writing, rhetoric and technical communication includes two concentrations in the undergraduate major: technical and scientific communication and writing and rhetoric. The WRTC major emphasizes scholarly, humanistic and social scientific perspectives on the function and application of communication technologies, with instruction in areas such as:

  • literacy studies
  • rhetorical traditions
  • writing pedagogy
  • editing
  • website theory and design
  • publications management
  • knowledge and information management
  • writing for professional communities such as government, medical, scientific and academic

In addition to offering students the rhetorical tools with which to excel as professional communicators, the B.A. and B.S. programs also prepare graduates for academic studies in writing, rhetoric and technical communication at the master’s level as well as for professional programs such as law school.

The B.A. and B.S. programs in WRTC unite three disciplines into a flexible, yet historically and theoretically grounded degree program. The WRTC degree teaches students to think in ways that cross disciplinary lines and to demonstrate accomplishment in multiple genres of writing, rhetoric and technical communication.

Students work with their WRTC advisers to design a program that fits their unique educational needs and career aspirations.

Course requirements differ between the B.A. and B.S. programs, and students should maintain regular contact with their WRTC adviser to ensure timely graduation. Requirements and eligible courses for the B.A. and B.S. in each of the two concentrations are outlined below.

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

  • General Education  41 Credit Hours 1
  • Foreign language classes (intermediate level required) 0-14 Credit Hours 2
  • Philosophy course (in addition to General Education  courses) 3 Credit Hours
  • University electives 23-37 Credit Hours
  • Major requirements 39 Credit Hours

Total: 120 Credit Hours

Footnotes

1 The General Education  program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
2 The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level (typically 232) of the student’s chosen language or by placing out of that language through the Department of Foreign Language, Literature and Cultures’ placement test.

Major Requirements

B.A. and B.S. students must complete 18 hours of core requirements.

Major Requirements

  • Core requirements 18 Credit Hours
  • Concentration requirements (Students must choose a concentration in either technical and scientific communication or writing and rhetoric.) 12 Credit Hours
  • WRTC electives 9 Credit Hours

Total: 39 Credit Hours

Core Requirements

Total: 18 Credit Hours

Prerequisites

Prerequisites for most WRTC 200  and above level courses require completion of WRTC 200  and WRTC 201 . Students may enroll in some courses for which they have not taken the prerequisite courses with permission of the instructor.

Concentrations

All students must choose a concentration in either technical and scientific communication (TSC) or writing and rhetoric (WR). In addition to the 18 credit hours of core requirements, students must take an additional 21 credit hours of WRTC electives, 12 of which are concentration-specific.

Writing and Rhetoric Concentration

All writing and rhetoric (WR) concentrators must take WRTC 330  and choose three additional WRTC courses from the following list of WR electives. In addition, WR concentrators must take one TSC elective, one crossover elective and one community-based learning elective.

WR Concentration Courses

WR Electives (Choose three): 9 Credit Hours

TSC Electives (Choose one): 3 Credit Hours

Crossover Electives (Choose one): 3 Credit Hours

Community-Based Learning Electives (Choose one): 3 Credit Hours

Total: 21 Credit Hours

Recommended Schedule for B.A. Majors

Students are encouraged to begin their WRTC course work as soon as possible in their degree plans. The following sample program of study illustrates how a WRTC major might earn a B.A. degree.

First Year

First Semester

Total: 15-16 Credit Hours
Footnote

1 Completion of an intermediate level foreign language is required for the B.A. degree (usually six hours if begun at the intermediate level) unless the language requirement is satisfied by an exemption test. In that case, university electives may be substituted for additional hours indicated as foreign language courses.

Second Semester

Total: 15-16 Credit Hours

Second Year

First Semester

Total: 16 Credit Hours

Second Semester

WRTC Concentration Requirement: 3 Credit Hours
Total: 15-18 Credit Hours

Third Year

First Semester

  • WRTC concentration-specific electives 6 Credit Hours
  • General Education  courses 6 Credit Hours
  • University elective 3 Credit Hours
Total: 15 Credit Hours

Second Semester

  • WRTC concentration-specific elective 3 Credit Hours
  • WRTC elective 3 Credit Hours
  • General Education  courses 3-6 Credit Hours
  • University electives 6 Credit Hours
Total: 15-18 Credit Hours

Fourth Year

First Semester

  • WRTC electives 3-6 Credit Hours
  • University electives 6-9 Credit Hours
Total: 15-18 Credit Hours

Second Semester

Total: 15-16 Credit Hours

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