About the Program

The Writing B.A. degree program offers students an opportunity to combine the study and practice of the craft of writing with the study of literature, theater, television and communication arts. The writing degree program allows for the development of skills in creative writing, professional writing, technical writing, journalistic writing, and literary writing. Students can take courses from a variety of disciplines to fulfill their requirements. The program is intended for students interested in the advanced study and practice of writing.

About the English Department

208 Ketchum Hall
1300 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-5417
Fax:
https://english.buffalostate.edu/

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

1. demonstrate the ability to produce effective, final texts in multiple genres
2. demonstrate an ability to Interpret advanced theoretical approaches to understanding the principles and practices of writing in genres of their specialization
3. demonstrate knowledge of related theoretical movements in rhetoric and literature in original writing
4. demonstrate a knowledge of the publishing industry and professional writing world
5. will participate in professional writing activities

Program Requirements

General Education 23 Requirements
33 credit hours 33

English Major Requirements (42 credit hours)
24 credits must be upper-division

Required Courses (12 credit hours)
ENG 190 INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE 3

ENG 201 THE CRAFT OF WRITING (Should be taken soon after completion of freshman composition requirement or within first year of transfer to English Department. Serves a prerequisite for upper-division writing courses.) 3

ENG 410 COMPOSITION AND RHETORICAL THEORY 3
ENG 491 WRITING SEMINAR FOR WRITING MAJORS 3

Electives in Writing (15 credit hours)
Select five courses from the following areas: 15
Students may choose to concentrate their studies in one primary area or may select freely from across the options.
Creative Writing
ENG 170 INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING
ENG 305 CREATIVE WRITING: NARRATIVE
ENG 306 CREATIVE WRITING: POETRY
ENG 402 ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING: NARRATIVE
ENG 403 ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING: POETRY
THA/ENG 340 PLAYWRITING
THA 470 ENSEMBLE THEATER (1-3)

Professional Writing
ENG 245 WRITING ABOUT THE ARTS
ENG 300 WRITING FOR THE PROFESSIONS
ENG 302 TECHNICAL WRITING
COM 308 PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING
COM 304 WRITING FOR BROADCAST (TV, RADIO, FILM)
ENG 327 LITERARY PUBLISHING
ENG 409 WRITING GRANTS AND PROPOSALS

Journalism
COM 303 WRITING FOR PRINT AND ONLINE JOURNALISM
COM 325 FEATURE WRITING
COM 390 SPECIAL TOPICS: JOURNALISTIC WRITING

Literary Genres
ENG 247 NATURE WRITING
ENG 266 THE PERSONAL ESSAY
ENG 320 AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND MEMOIR
ENG 325 CREATIVE NON-FICTION

Electives in Literature, Linguistics, or Film (15 credit hours)

Select five literature, linguistics, rhetoric, and film courses offered by the Communication, English, Modern and Classical Languages, and Theater Departments; at least two courses must be upper-division. HUM 200 may be used to fulfill this requirement. 15

All College Electives
45 credit hours 45
Total Credit Hours 120