BA in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design drafted draft

Program Overview

The degree of Bachelor of Arts with a major in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design requires successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: completion of 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and completion of upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated courses (2) completion of major requirements and related course requirements as described below; (3) 40 upper-division hours; and (4) completion of a minor.

Mathematics Pathway: First-time, first-year students majoring in Writing enter the Quantitative Literacy Mathematics Pathway and must enroll in MATH 1360 during their first year of study, unless they have been awarded credit that completes their 1000-level math requirements.

Program Outline

Major in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design (36 hours)

Writing courses may be used to satisfy the lower-division UCA Core requirement in Critical Inquiry (I) and the upper-division UCA Core requirement in Diversity (D), Critical Inquiry (I), Responsible Living (R), and Effective Communication (C). Students in the Technical and Professional Writing track may take WRID 4308 Writing for Change as the required UCA Core capstone.

Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design Major Requirements (12 hours)

• WRID 2325 Introduction to Rhetoric
• WRID 3305 Writing as Information Design
• WRID 3390 Discourse Analysis [UD UCA Core: I, R]
• WRID 4381 Special Topics in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design

Related Course Requirement (6 hours or 3 hours)

In addition to major and track requirements, complete six hours of language (options: foreign language, sign language, and/or programming language) at any level or three hours in a foreign language at the 2000 level. Options for programming language consist of the following courses: CSCI 1470, CSCI 1480, CSCI 2340, CSCI 3381, CSCI 4357, CISA 3300, CISA 3301, CISA 3339, and CISA 3362.

Writing Studies Track (24 hours)

Required Courses (15 hours)

• LING 2320 Introduction to Language and Linguistics
• CRWR 2310 Introduction to Creative Writing
• WRID 2330 Introduction to Writing Studies (prerequisite: WRTG 1320)
• WRID 4360 Research Methods in Writing Studies (prerequisite: WRID 2330 and junior standing)

One upper-division rhetoric or professional writing course

Choose Three (9 hours)

• LING 3315 Semantics
• LING 3325 Sociolinguistics [UD UCA Core: D]
• LING 4320 Grammatical Structures
• LING 4330 Educational Linguistics [UD UCA Core: C]
• COMM 3312 Strategic Message Design

Any creative writing forms course (prerequisite: CRWR 2310)

Any creative writing workshop (prerequisite: CRWR 2310 and the appropriate forms course)

• WRID 3306 Information Design II: Usability and Accessibility
• WRID 3307 Introduction to Editing
• WRID 3310 Technical Writing [UD UCA Core: C]
• WRID 3315 Center for Writing and Communication Practicum
• WRID 4305 Composition Theory and Pedagogy
• WRID 4306 Information Design III: Clients and Project Management
• WRID 4308 Writing for Change [UD UCA Core: Z]
• WRID 4309 Introduction to Publishing
• WRID 4320 Intercultural Rhetoric and Writing [UD UCA Core: D]
• CRWR 4324 Topics in Creative Writing [UD UCA Core: Z]
• CRWR 4340 Teaching Creative Writing
• WRID 4381 Special Topics in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design
• WRID 4V85 Internship in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design (variable credit: 1-4 credit hours)
• WRID 4V80 Directed Study in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design (variable credit: 1–3 credit hours)

Technical and Professional Writing Track (24 hours)

Required Courses (9 hours)

• WRID 3306 Information Design II: Usability and Accessibility
• WRID 3310 Technical Writing [UD UCA Core: C]
• WRID 4308 Writing for Change [UD UCA Core: Z]

Choose Three (9 hours)

• WRID 3307 Introduction to Editing
• WRID 4305 Composition Theory and Pedagogy
• WRID 4306 Information Design III: Clients and Project Management
• WRID 4309 Introduction to Publishing
• WRID 4320 Intercultural Rhetoric and Writing [UD UCA Core: D]
• WRID 4V85 Internship in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design

Choose Two (6 hours)

• LING 2320 Introduction to Language and Linguistics
• LING 3315 Semantics
• LING 3325 Sociolinguistics [UD UCA Core: D]
• COMM 3312 Strategic Message Design
• CRWR 2310 Introduction to Creative Writing
• WRID 3307 Introduction to Editing
• WRID 3315 Center for Writing and Communication Practicum
• CRWR 3330 Forms of Creative Nonfiction
• CRWR 3331 Forms of Illustrated Narrative
• CRWR 3372 Creative Nonfiction Workshop
• CRWR 3374 Travel Writing Workshop
• WRID 4305 Composition Theory and Pedagogy
• WRID 4306 Information Design III: Clients and Project Management
• WRID 4309 Introduction to Publishing
• WRID 4320 Intercultural Rhetoric and Writing [UD UCA Core: D]
• CRWR 4324 Topics in Creative Writing [UD UCA Core: Z]
• WRID 4381 Special Topics in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design
• WRID 4V85 Internship in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design
• WRID 4V80 Directed Study in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design (variable credit: 1–3 credit hours)

Minors in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design (24 hours)

Minor in Writing Studies (24 hours)

Required courses (18 hours)

• LING 2320 Introduction to Language and Linguistics (prerequisite WRTG 1320)
• CRWR 2310 Introduction to Creative Writing [ACTS: ENGL2013]
• WRID 2325 Introduction to Rhetoric
• WRID 2330 Introduction to Writing Studies
• WRID 4360 Writing Studies Research Methods
• WRID 4381 Special Topics in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design

Electives (6 hours, chosen from the following)

• LING 3315 Semantics
• LING 3325 Sociolinguistics [UD UCA Core: D]
• LING 4320 Grammatical Structures (prerequisite LING 2320)
• LING 4330 Educational Linguistics (prerequisite WRTG 1320) [UD UCA Core: C]
• Any creative writing forms course (prerequisite: CRWR 2310)
• Any creative writing workshop (prerequisite: CRWR 2310 and the appropriate forms course)
• WRID 3305 Writing as Information Design (prerequisite: WRTG 1320)
• WRID 3306 Information Design II: Usability and Accessibility (prerequisite: WRID 3305)
• WRID 3307 Introduction to Editing (prerequisite: at least junior standing)
• WRID 3310 Technical Writing (prerequisite: WRTG 1320 and at least junior standing) [UD UCA Core: C]
• WRID 3315 Center for Writing and Communication Practicum
• WRID 3390 Discourse Analysis
• WRID 4V80 Directed Study in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design (variable credit 1-3 hours)
• WRID 4305 Composition Theory and Pedagogy (prerequisite: WRTG 1320)
• WRID 4306 Information Design III: Clients and Project Management (prerequisite: WRID 3306)
• WRID 4308 Writing for Change (prerequisite: at least junior standing or permission of the instructor) [UD UCA Core: Z]
• WRID 4309 Introduction to Publishing (prerequisite: WRID 3305)
• WRID 4320 Intercultural Rhetoric and Writing (prerequisite: WRID 1320) [UD UCA Core: D]
• CRWR 4324 Topics in Creative Writing (prerequisite: CRWR 2310 and completion of six hours of upper-division creative writing courses) [UD UCA Core: Z]
• CRWR 4340 Teaching Creative Writing (prerequisite: CRWR 2310)
• WRID 4381 Special Topics in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design (prerequisite: senior status and writing major or minor)
• WRID 4V85 Internship in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design (prerequisite: WRTG 1320 and at least one 3000-level writing course, and consent of department chair)
• COMM 3312 Strategic Message Design (prerequisite: COMM 1300 or consent of instructor)

Minor in Technical and Professional Writing (24 hours)

Required courses (18 hours)

• WRID 2325 Introduction to Rhetoric
• WRID 3305 Writing as Information Design
• WRID 3306 Information Design II: Usability and Accessibility
• WRID 3310 Technical Writing [UD UCA Core: C]
• WRID 3390 Discourse Analysis [UD UCA Core: I, R]
• WRID 4381 Special Topics in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design

Electives (6 hours) from the following

• COMM 3312 Strategic Message Design
• WRID 2330 Introduction to Writing Studies
• WRID 3307 Introduction to Editing
• WRID 3315 Center for Writing and Communication Practicum
• WRID 4306 Information Design III: Clients and Project Management
• WRID 4308 Writing for Change [UD UCA Core: Z]
• WRID 4309 Introduction to Publishing
• WRID 4320 Intercultural Rhetoric and Writing [UD UCA Core: D]
• WRID 4360 Writing Studies Research Methods
• WRID 4V80 Directed Study in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design (variable credit: 1-3 credit hours)
• WRID 4381 Special Topics in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design
• WRID 4V85 Internship in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Design (variable credit: 1-4 credit hours)

Abbreviation Key – UCA Core Program

LD = Lower Division

UD = Upper Division

C = Effective Communication

D = Diversity

I = Critical Inquiry

R = Responsible Living

Z = Capstone Experience