Writing Studies Clusters

The department offers four clusters, all of which are in the humanities academic division. If you found interest in the clusters, consider a parallel minor or general writing studies minor.

Communication and Community Engagement (H1WRT003)

Description

This cluster focuses on communication as an act that both interacts with and serves the larger community.

Required Courses (H1WRT003)

Students may successfully complete four (4) credits of the following courses:

  • WRTG 245 - Advanced Writing & Peer Tutoring (ENGL 285)
  • WRTG 247 - Spoken Communication & Peer Tutoring
  • WRTG 251 - The Playful Sentence (ENGL 288B, LING 160)
  • WRTG 263 - Translation: Interpreting & Adapting (ENGL 289, LTST 263)
  • WRTG 265 - Argument and Evidence Across Contexts (EHUM 265, ENGL 284A, PHIL 106)
  • WRTG 266 - Words Have Power: Writing for Social (GSWS 276)

Elective Course (H1WRT003)

Students may successfully complete four (4) credits of the following courses:

  • CASC 352 - PLTL Workshop Leader 1
  • CASC 353 - PLTL Workshop Leader 2
  • CASC 354 - PLTL Workshop Leader 3
  • CASC 355 - PLTL Workshop Leader 4

Or a third course from the required list:

  • WRTG 245 - Advanced Writing & Peer Tutoring (ENGL 285)
  • WRTG 247 - Spoken Communication & Peer Tutoring
  • WRTG 251 - The Playful Sentence (ENGL 288B, LING 160)
  • WRTG 263 - Translation: Interpreting & Adapting (ENGL 289, LTST 263)
  • WRTG 265 - Argument and Evidence Across Contexts (EHUM 265, ENGL 284A, PHIL 106)
  • WRTG 266 - Words Have Power: Writing for Social (GSWS 276)

Digital and Multimodal Communication (H1WRT002)

Description

This cluster (as well as the minor) focuses on how composing choices and their effects depend not only on audience and purpose, but also--in critical ways--on the mode of communication.

Required Courses (H1WRT002)

Students must successfully complete three (3) of the following courses:

  • WRTG 247 - Spoken Communication & Peer Tutoring (ENGL 285)
  • WRTG 260 - Writing Across Technologies (DMST 260)
  • WRTG 261 - Writing in a Digital World (DMST 250, ENGL 288)
  • WRTG 263 - Translation: Interpreting & Adapting (ENGL 289, LTST 263)
  • WRTG 290A - Topics: Extended Reality, Communication, and the Metaverse (DMST 261W, ENGL 220A)
  • WRTG 290B - Topics: Writing About and With Artificial Intelligence (DMST 262W, ENGL 228A)
  • BUS 201 - Impactful Presentations (Valid starting Fall 2026)
  • DMST 200 - Digital Portfolio (Valid through Spring 2026)

General Writing Studies (H1WRT004)

Description

This cluster (as well as the minor) draws on theory and research in writing studies to help students understand different disciplinary practices around writing, speaking, and argument. It previews the minor and writing studies as a field.

Required Courses (H1WRT004)

Students must successfully complete three (3) of the following courses, no more than one (1) course per group:

Group A (Language Linguistics, and Writing):

  • WRTG 250: Modern English Grammar (LING 161)
  • WRTG 251: The Playful Sentence (ENGL 288B, LING 160)
  • WRTG 252: Principles & Practices of Copyediting (ENGL 136)
  • WRTG 253: Cognition & Writing (BCSC 163)
  • WRTG 262: What Do You Mean I Can't Do That? Learning to Write Like an "Insider" in Your Discipline(s) (BIOL 274W)
  • WRTG 263: Translation: Interpreting & Adapting (ENGL 289, LTST 263)

Group B (Digital & Multi-Modal Communication):

  • WRTG 247: Spoken Communication & Peer Tutoring
  • WRTG 260: Writing Across Technologies (DMST 260)
  • WRTG 261: Writing in a Digital World (DMST 250, ENGL 288)
  • WRTG 263: Translation: Interpreting & Adapting (ENGL 289, LTST 263)
  • WRTG 370: Creating Digital Identities

Group C (Communication & Community Engagement):

  • WRTG 263: Translation: Interpreting & Adapting (ENGL 289, LTST 263)
  • WRTG 265: Argument and Evidence Across Contexts (EHUM 265, ENGL 284A, PHIL 106)
  • WRTG 266: Words Have Power: Writing for Social Change (PHIL 108)
  • WRTG 267: Legal Writing and Analysis

Group D (Education):

  • WRTG 245: Advanced Writing & Peer Tutoring (ENGL 285)
  • WRTG 247: Spoken Communication & Peer Tutoring

Language, Linguistics and Writing (H1WRT001)

Description

This cluster (as well as the minor) focuses on how language works at the sentence, clause, or phrase level and relates that knowledge to the discourse goals of the text as a whole.

Required Courses (H1WRT001)

Students must successfully complete three (3) of the following courses:

  • WRTG 250: Modern English Grammar (LING 161)
  • WRTG 251: The Playful Sentence (ENGL 288B, LING 160)
  • WRTG 252: Principles & Practices of Copyediting (ENGL 136)
  • WRTG 253: Cognition & Writing (BCSC 163)
  • WRTG 262: What Do You Mean I Can't Do That? Learning to Write Like an "Insider" in Your Discipline(s) (BIOL 274W)
  • WRTG 263: Translation: Interpreting & Adapting (ENGL 289, LTST 263)
  • WRTG 290B: Topics: Writing About and With Artificial Intelligence (DMST 262W, ENGL 228A)