Oct 04, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication, B.S.


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Program Description


The WRTC major emphasizes scholarly, humanistic, and social scientific perspectives on the function and application of communication technologies with instruction in areas such as

  •  writing for professional communities such as government, medicine, aw, science and environment, and education
  • rhetorical theory and analysis
  • editing
  • online theory and inclusive design
  •  usability and user experience
  • publications management
  •  knowledge and information management

In addition to offering students the rhetorical tools they need to excel as professional communicators, the B.A. and B.S. programs also prepare graduates for study at the graduate level and for professional programs such as law school.

The B.A. and B.S. programs in WRTC provide a flexible, yet historically and theoretically grounded degree program. The WRTC curriculum teaches students to think critically in ways that cross disciplinary lines and to create in multiple genres and media platforms.

Students work with their WRTC advisors to select a track and design a writing major that fits their unique educational needs and career aspirations. Tracks include Professional Writing and Publication, Writing for Law and Society, Science and Health Writing, and Inclusive Design. Students also have the option to design their own track.

Degree requirements differ between the B.A. and B.S. programs, and students should maintain regular contact with their WRTC advisor to ensure timely graduation.

 

Degree and Major Requirements


Degree Requirements Credit Hours
General Education  1 41
Quantitative requirement 2 3
Scientific literacy requirement 2 3-4
Major requirements
39
University electives

Total
33-34

120

Footnotes


1 The General Education  program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some of these credits may be fulfilled by courses within a student’s major or minor.
2 In addition to course work taken to fulfill General Education  requirements.

Major Requirements


Credit Hours
Core requirements
WRTC requirements
21
6
WRTC electives

Major Requirements Total 
12

39

Core Requirements: 21 Credit Hours


All students must complete 21 hours of core requirements, which lay a foundation for success in upper-level courses and in workplace environments. In addition to the required core courses, students take one community engaged learning course (3 credits) and one culturally engaged course (3 credits).

Prerequisites


WRTC 103  or the equivalent is a prerequisite for the gateway course, WRTC 200 : Introduction to Studies in Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. WRTC 200  serves as the prerequisite for most WRTC courses at the 300 level and above and should be the first course for students in the major. Other courses may have additional prerequisites. With instructor permission, students may enroll in some courses without prerequisites.

Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication Major Electives


The WRTC major is designed to provide students the flexibility to choose electives that fit their interests and future plans. The major includes five advising tracks:

  • Professional Writing and Publication
  • Writing for Law and Society
  • Science and Health Writing
  • Inclusive Design
  • Build Your Own Track

WRTC advisors can provide students with information about the advising tracks to assist with elective course selection; however, no specific grouping of electives is required to complete the major.

WRTC Electives: 12 Credit Hours


Choose four of the following courses:

WRTC Electives Total: 12 Credit Hours


Community-Engaged Requirement: 3 Credit Hours


Choose one of the following courses:

Culturally-Engaged Requirement: 3 Credit Hours


Choose one of the following courses:

Recommended Schedule for 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.S. degree.

First Year - First Semester


First Year - First Semester Total: 15 Credit Hours


First Year - Second Semester


First Year - Second Semester Total: 15-16 Credit Hours


Second Year - First Semester


Second Year - First Semester Total: 15-16 Credit Hours


Second Year - Second Semester


Second Year - Second Semester Total: 15-18 Credit Hours


Third Year - First Semester


  • WRTC Culturally Engaged Requirement Credits: 3.00
  • WRTC electives Credits: 3.00
  • ​​​​​​​B.S. Scientific Literacy requirement 1 Credits: 3.00
  • University electives Credits: 6.00-9.00

Third Year - First Semester Total: 15-18 Credit Hours


Footnote


1 Completion of the B.S. degree requires a student to complete either a natural science or a social science course in addition to those required for the General Education  program.

Third Year - Second Semester


  • WRTC Community-Engaged Requirement Credits: 3.00
  • WRTC electives Credits: 3.00​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  • University electives Credits: 9.00

Third Year - Second Semester Total: 15 Credit Hours


Fourth Year - First Semester


  • WRTC elective ​​​​​​​Credits: 6.00
  • University electives Credits: 6.00-9.00

Fourth Year - First Semester Total: 12-15 Credit Hours


Fourth Year - Second Semester


Fourth Year - Second Semester Total: 13-16 Hours


Program Total: 120 Credit Hours


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