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Academics

Professional Writing Concentration

OVERVIEW

professional writing concentration

Students with an interest in professional writing can take courses in journalism, creative writing, and technical writing – among many others – that will prepare them for the job market and expand their creativity. All English majors interested in writing may submit independent work to the department’s literary journal, Rt. 2, or to the campus newspaper, The Point. Students can also join an on-going peer writing group or work with a faculty member on a unique writing project. Members of the English Club can help put on a poetry slam, get together to see a play in Boston or Worcester, help someone learn to read, or start up a new publication.

During the senior year, students are encouraged to participate in a professional writing internship that can enhance job prospects upon graduation.
Because the abilities and knowledge gained as an English major have such broad applications, career choices after graduation are almost unlimited. English majors at Fitchburg State University have continued their studies in graduate programs in literature, education, creative writing, library science, and counseling, and several have been accepted to law school programs.

The Curriculum

BA in English Studies - Professional Writing concentration

42 credit hours: 21 core and 21 professional writing concentration

Second-year language proficiency is required.

Core courses for all English Studies Concentration

All English Studies majors are required to take 21 credits from the following courses:

ENGL 2999 Approaches to English Studies 3 cr.

 

Three Literature Surveys

One American Survey of Literature (3 cr.)

ENGL 2000 American Literature I: Age of Exploration to the Civil War  or 3 cr.
ENGL 2100 American Literature II: Civil War to the Present 3 cr.

 

One British Survey of Literature (3 cr.)

ENGL 2200 British Literature I: Beowulf to Milton  or 3 cr.
ENGL 2210 British Literature II: Pepys to Shelley  or 3 cr.
ENGL 2220 British Literature III: Bronte to Rushdie 3 cr.

 

Students may take a third Survey or substitute an equivalent period course in British or American literature as indicated below (3 cr.)

 ENGL 2000 American Literature I: Exploration to Civil War 3 cr.
   or ENGL 4200 Romantic Movement in U.S. Literature 3 cr.
 
ENGL 2100 American Literature II: Civil War to the Present 3 cr.
or select from:
  ENGL 2650 Ethnic American Literature 3 cr.
   ENGL 3010 American Drama 3 cr.
  ENGL 3220 American Novel to 1950 3 cr.
ENGL 2200 British Literature I: Beowulf to Milton 3 cr.
  or select from:
  ENGL 3030 The Middle Ages 3 cr.
  ENGL 3120 The Golden Age of English Renaissance 3 cr.
  ENGL 4010 Chaucer and His World 3 cr.
ENGL 2210 British Literature II: Pepys to Shelley 3 cr.
  or select from:
  ENGL 4040 Major English Writers of the 17th Century 3 cr.
  ENGL 4050 The Novel in the 18th Century 3 cr.
  ENGL 4080 British Romanticism 3 cr.
ENGL 2220 British Literature III: Bronte to Rushdie 3 cr.
  or select from:
  ENGL 3040 British Literature Since World War II 3 cr.
  ENGL 4090 The 19th-Century English Novel 3 cr.
  ENGL 4100 Victorian Literature 3 cr.
  ENGL 4115 British Modernism 3 cr.

 

One Upper Level Literature: 4000 Level (3 cr.)

 

(Jr/Sr Writing Requirement is met through one of the following writing intensive courses)

One Upper Level Writing Intensive (3 cr.)

Select from:

ENGL 3480 Writing for the Web 3 cr.
ENGL 3500 Creative Writing 3 cr.
ENGL 3510 Fiction Writing I 3 cr.
ENGL 3520 Writing Poetry 3 cr.
ENGL 3530 Fiction Writing II 3 cr.
ENGL 3840 On-Line Magazine 3 cr.
ENGL 3860 Feature & Magazine Writing 3 cr.
ENGL 3870 Writing for Business & Technology 3 cr.
ENGL 3890 Creative Nonfiction Writing 3 cr.
ENGL 3000 Speechwriting 3 cr.

 

Capstone (3 cr.)

ENGL 4999 English Capstone 3 cr.

 

Students in this concentration will fulfill core requirements as well as the following:

ENGL 2800 Journalism 3 cr.
     
ENGL 3890 Creative Non-Fiction Writing 3 cr.

 

Media Digital Elective (select from)  3 cr.

ENGL 3480 Writing for the Web 3 cr.
ENGL 3490 College Newspaper Production 3 cr.
ENGL 3840 On-Line Magazine Writing 3 cr.

 

Professional Writing Electives (select from)  12 cr.

ENGL 2320 Scriptwriting 3 cr.
ENGL 2810 Editing and Publishing 3 cr.
ENGL 3500 Creative Writing 3 cr.
ENGL 3510 Fiction Writing I 3 cr.
ENGL 3520 Writing Poetry 3 cr.
ENGL 3530 Fiction Writing II 3 cr.
ENGL 3860 Writing for Business & Technology 3 cr.
ENGL 3870 Feature & Magazine Writing 3 cr.

 

Internship strongly recommended.  Three credits of an internship can be counted toward the required 12 credits of Professional Writing electives.  Available internship courses are:

ENGL 4940 Internship 3 cr.
ENGL 4950 Internship 6 cr.
ENGL 4960 Internship 9 cr.
ENGL 4970 Internship 12 cr.

 

BS in English Studies - Professional Writing Concentration

This program is available for students who choose not to fulfill the requirements for foreign language proficiency at the second-year level.  All other requirements are the same as for the Bachelor of Arts in English Studies - Professional Writing Concentration.

 

DEPARTMENT HOME PAGE

HOW TO APPLY

For more information and to apply, go to www.fitchburgstate.edu/admissions.

 

ADMISSIONS OFFICE

Fitchburg State University
160 Pearl St.
Fitchburg, MA 01420
(978) 665-3144
admissions@fitchburgstate.edu
www.fitchburgstate.edu