Nov 03, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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


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

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.

Total: 120 Credit Hours


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


Total: 18 Credit Hours


Prerequisites


Prerequisites for most courses above WRTC 201  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.

Technical and Scientific Communication


All TSC concentrators must take WRTC 350  and choose three additional WRTC courses from the following list of TSC electives. In addition, TSC concentrators must take one WR elective, one crossover elective and one community-based learning elective.

TSC Concentration Courses


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