Curriculum for the Major in Writing and Publishing
Division of Arts & Letters
Students majoring in Writing and Publishing must complete 39 hours of courses in
Communications and Literature with a grade of “C” or higher, including courses in the following
categories:
Writing and Publishing majors must complete the following 10 courses (30 hours):
COMM 207 | Editing for Publications
Introduction to the principles and practices of editing for books, magazines, and newspapers.
COMM 208 | Layout and Design for Publication
Graphic design principles and professional processes are emphasized. Print projects may include
organizational identity, response, advertising, newsletter, book/magazine, and other projects,
using InDesign. Online design principles are introduced to enable design of a simple website.
COMM 209 | Newswriting and Reporting
Principles and practice in gathering and writing news as well as preparing copy for publication.
COMM 253 | Public Relations Writing
Focuses on writing for print media. Students prepare news releases, newsletters and feature
stories.
COMM 317 | Mass Media Law and Ethics
Examines the many legal and ethical issues related to the mass media.
COMM 353 | Advanced Seminar in Writing, Editing, and Page Design for Publications
In this seminar, students work on a major publications project, engage in critical reading of
media content, discuss writing, editing and page design strategies, have drafts of their work
critiqued in class, and develop a professional portfolio of the work.
LITR 100 | Introduction to Literary Analysis
Introduction to literary study and criticism. Focus on genres, techniques and development of
literature. Emphasis on critical reading and writing. Introductory course for Literature minors.
LITR 263 | Literature of the Early Modern Period
Selected literary and cultural texts drawn from the late sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries.
Places these texts in the context of emerging modernity.
LITR 269 | Introduction to Creative Writing
Writing workshop for students; introduction to various forms of modern fiction and poetry.
Students will have the opportunity to create original poetry and fiction.
LITR 362 | Modern Literature
Examines the evolution of poetic and narrative forms since the late 19th century. Emphasis on
major British and/or American poets and novelists; may also include translated works from
other cultures.
Writing and Publishing majors must also complete one of the following courses (3 hours):
LITR 264 | Global/Postcolonial Literature and Theory
A comparative study of literature and theory concerning colonial, postcolonial, third
world, and diasporic cultures and communities. The course may include such topics
as education and the colonial/postcolonial condition; intellectual culture and
imperialism; the politics of tourism, identity and diaspora; travel, migration, and
globalization; and trauma, genocide, and historical fiction.
LITR 279 | U. S. Multiethnic Literature
A comparative study of literature reflecting the diversity of American culture. In
our exploration of just a sampling of the multiple voices of U. S. literature, we will
consider these narratives within specific historical, cultural, rhetorical, and literary
contexts.
LITR 280 | African-American Literature
Historical and critical exploration of African-American writers' contributions to
American fiction, poetry, drama, and non-fiction, from the oral tradition to the
present. May include an Afrocentric approach.
LITR 281 | Gender and Literature
Introduction to gender studies as a mode of literary analysis, and to the role of literary texts
in shaping gender constructions.
Writing and Publishing majors must also complete one of the following theory electives (3
hours):
COMM 385 | Television and Society
An in-depth investigation of the television industry and its impact on American and world
culture.
COMM 386 | Media and Government
Examines major theoretical models of a central problem in mass communications from historical
and cross-cultural perspectives.
COMM 390 | Images of Men and Women in Advertising
A critical investigation of how we are influenced in the way we think about gender and gender
relationships.
Writing and Publishing majors must also complete one of the following electives (3 hours):
COMM 337 | Advanced Journalism Writing
Students practice the major styles of journalistic writing beyond newswriting: public affairs
reporting, feature writing, magazine writing and editorial writing.
COMM 381 | Multimedia Production for the Web
Students experiment with a variety of web based materials utilizing applications from text and
visual media.
LITR 369 | Creative Writing: Fiction
Advanced writing workshop with focus on writing and revision of fiction: includes
group discussions and individual conferences. Students will produce a professional
portfolio of fiction.
LITR 370 | Creative Writing: Poetry
Advanced writing workshop with focus on writing and revision of poetry: includes group
discussions and individual conferences. Students will produce a professional portfolio of
poetry.
For descriptions of Writing and Publishing concentrations, see the Creative Writing Concentration page
or the Film Studies Concentration page.