English Studies: Professional and Creative Writing
The Professional and Creative Writing major prepares students for public lives working in various genres and professional settings. La Roche University graduates who have majored in Professional and Creative Writing occupy a variety of writing positions in fields such as advertising, creative writing, journalism, public relations, teaching, and business. This program is also an excellent foundation for those wishing to attend graduate or law school. To complete the professional and creative writing major successfully, the following course work is required:
- 54 credits of English Writing Component courses
- 12 credits of Literature Component courses
- 37 credits of CORE Curriculum courses
- 17 credits of General Electives
A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation, the last 30 of which must be earned at La Roche University.
Summary of Requirements
English Writing Component: 54 credits
ENGL2025WRITING POETRY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course will focus on reading and writing poetry in a variety of forms. The students will be writing poems in response to those which we read and discuss. Poetry assignments will include variety of exercises on technique and craft.
ENGL2029BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course is designed to teach students best practices in both written and oral business communication. Types of communications include: business letters, emails, reports, executive summaries, cover letters, resumes, PowerPoint presentations, and the job interview.
ENGL2030TECHNICAL WRITING
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
Designed to apply the basic principles of communication to technical information so that the student can learn to present complex technical messages in the clearest possible way.
PREREQUISITES:
ENGL1012(H)
ENGL3011READINGS IN CREATIVE NON-FICTION
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course will provide students with a broad understanding and practical exposure to the craft of contemporary American creative nonfiction, sometimes called literary journalism. Students will read and respond to two anthologies and one book-length work, while acquiring the skills needed to produce their own creative nonfiction works.
PREREQUISITES:
ENGL1012 or ENGL1012H
ENGL3031JOURNALISM I
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This is an introductory course in journalistic style and a variety of media formats. Students learn editing, interviewing and reporting skills.
PREREQUISITES:
ENGL1012(H)
ENGL3032JOURNALISM II
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This is an advanced course in newspaper writing, focusing primarily on the production of a variety of news stories. Special emphasis is placed on research, interviewing and advanced reporting skills.
PREREQUISITES:
ENGL1012(H)
ENGL3033AMERICAN ENG:ITS HISTORY & DEVELOPMENT
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
A study of the linguistic evolution of the American English language from the older stages of English to current usage in the United States.
PREREQUISITES:
ENGL1012(H)
ENGL3034WRITING FOR ADVERTISING
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course is designed to teach students how to write advertising copy that targets various audiences and employs multiple venues: print, radio, TV, and the internet.
PREREQUISITES:
ENGL1012(H)
ENGL3035WRITING FOR BROADCAST AND SOCIALMEDIA
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
A course designed to give students practice in the writing of copy for the broadcast media. Included is the writing of news and sports reports, commercials, features and documentaries, interview techniques, and mini-dramas.
ENGL3042WRITING FOR NON-PROFITS
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course is designed to teach the basic principles of public relations and grant writing for non-profit organizations, combining both theory and practice.
PREREQUISITES:
ENGL1012(H)
ENGL3044SPORTS WRITING
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
In this course, students will develop an appreciate for the great outdoors and become familiarized with various sports including baseball and football. Sports Writing teaches students how to cover live sporting events and generate their own stores for print and online media following the Associated Press style guidelines.
PREREQUISITES:
ENGL1012 or ENGL1012H
ENGL3045WRITING FICTION
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This special topics course enables students to develop the craft of fiction-writing. Subjects to be covered include audience, point of view, characterization, world-building, story arc, dialogue, editing/revising, and publication. Students will develop works of fiction with the support of a publishing writer and the other members of the workshop, and will be provided guidance in submitting polished works for possible publication.
PREREQUISITES:
ENGL1012(H)
ENGL3064WRITING CREATIVE NONFICTION
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course expands upon the material taught in Journalism I, Journalism II, and Readings in Creative Nonfiction by inviting students to produce multiple creative nonfiction pieces about, but not limited to, people, places, things, and personal essays.
ENGL4035PORTFOLIO PRODUCTION WORKSHOP
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course will teach senior Professional Writing and Journalism majors how to produce a professional portfolio of their work within an eight-week workshop format.
ENGL4051INTERNSHIP I - ENGLISH
Credits (Min/Max): 1/6
A field experience in selected professional environments. The student is given the opportunity to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical application under the guidance of professionals at the particular institution to which the student is assigned.
ENGL4055SEMINAR IN PUBLICATION
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This senior capstone course equips students with the tools, practices, and habits of mind of the publishing writer. Students will develop a written work in their preferred genre?short fiction, poetry, literary scholarship, creative nonfiction, journalistic prose, etc.?and seek publication in an appropriate market. While attaining publication is not a requirement of the course, students will use the process to acquire familiarity with the resources, strategies, and standards fundamental to publication in their chosen field.
PREREQUISITES:
ENGL1012 or ENGL1012H
GCDN2016DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course will explore digital capture and handling of photographs enabling the student to master the technical aspects of digital image capture. Students will learn techniques for editing and enhancing photographs, become familiar with photography's various roles: art form, journalism, advertising and will produce a portfolio of quality color and black and white prints from digital files. This course is for design majors only.
GCDN3051PUBLICATION DESIGN (ENGL3051)
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course combines the two elements that result in publication: writing and layout. Intended for prospective designers as well as writers, the course will educate students in how words and images work together; functional art in action; font and publication personalities; logo design; newspaper and magazine design; public service publications; newsletters; and the art of popular culture. Cross-listed with ENGL3051.
PREREQUISITES:
GCDN2012 & GCDN3022 & ENGL1012(H) Journalism I recommended
Literature Component: 12 credits
ENGL2XXX
Credits (Min/Max): /
ENGL3023SHAKESPEARE
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
The reading and analysis of Shakespearean drama. Plays studied may include A Midsummer Night's Dream, Richard II, Measure for Measure, Henry IV, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, and The Winter's Tale.
PREREQUISITES:
ENGL1012(H)
ENGL3XXX
Credits (Min/Max): /