The information on this page pertains to program requirements for students who matriculated in the 2023-2024 academic year. View requirements for previous catalog years here.
The program in writing is committed to establishing a habit of lifelong learning that emphasizes the relationship of reading, writing and critical thinking. Our students:
Our courses involve students in a range of activities, including discussions (in class and online), collaborative projects, conferences, presentations, independent study, internships and service learning.
The English Department is committed to supporting interdisciplinary programs and encourages students to pursue interdisciplinary concentrations, second majors and/or minors. A number of the Department's courses are cross-listed with interdisciplinary programs, facilitating such study. In addition, the Writing major permits students to include related courses taken outside the Department for credit toward their program of study, subject to approval by the student’s English Department adviser.
Our graduates pursue professional careers in such fields as professional writing, editing, advertising, publishing, education, management, computers, public relations and public service, or pursue post-baccalaureate study in English studies, law school or medical school. Students contemplating graduate study should confer with their advisers about special preparation and should be aware that many graduate schools typically expect proof of competence in foreign languages.
The Writing major requires 12 courses: at least 5 at the lower division and at least 6 at the upper division. The Writing major allows for 3 electives, 2 of which must be 100-level courses. An English course may be used only once to fulfill a particular major requirement. Transfer students majoring in Writing must take at least 6 courses in English at Drake. Students with advanced placement (A.P.) will be credited one lower-level elective toward the major.
Course | Credits |
Lower Division Core | |
Gateway | |
ENG 038 - Literary Study | 4 |
ENG 039 - Writing Seminar | 4 |
History and Traditions - Select any ENG course numbered 040-059 | 3-4 |
Culture and Identity - Select any ENG course numbered 060-079 | 3-4 |
Writing: Topics and Genres - Select any ENG course numbered 080-099 | 3-4 |
Upper Division Writing Courses - Select at least nine credits from the list below | |
ENG 107 - Teaching Writing: Theory and Practice | 3 |
ENG 109 - Prose Stylistics | 3 |
ENG 111 - Reading/Writing the Personal Essay | 3 |
ENG 112 - Autobiography and Memoir | 3 |
ENG 113 - Cross-Genre Writing | 3 |
ENG 114 - Advanced Poetry Writing | 3 |
ENG 115 - Advanced Fiction Writing | 3 |
ENG 116 - Writing for the Networked World | 3 |
ENG 117 - Adaptations and Transformations | 3 |
ENG 118 - Reading and Creating Comics | 3 |
ENG 119 - Community Writing | 3 |
ENG 120 - Advanced Topics in Writing | 3 |
Electives - At least nine hours of ENG courses, none of which can count toward any other Writing major requirement. Courses may be taken outside of the department with advisor approval. Up to six individual experience hours (internship, independent study, portfolio) may be counted as electives. | |
One ENG course numbered 001-099 | 3-4 |
At least six hours of ENG courses numbered 100 or higher | 6 |
Capstone | |
ENG 195 - Capstone in English and Writing | 3 |
TOTAL | 38-41 |
The Writing minor requires a minimum of six courses in English, including ENG 38 and ENG 39, and at least two courses numbered above 100 chosen from this list (107, 109, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 174, 3-credit 198). An English faculty advisor is required.
Students majoring in English may not minor in writing; students may not double-minor in English and writing.
Course | Credits |
---|---|
ENG 038 - Literary Study | 4 |
ENG 039 - Writing Seminar | 4 |
Select one from the following | |
ENG 086 - Reading and Writing Sexuality | 4 |
ENG 087 - Reading and Writing Nature | 4 |
ENG 088 - Reading and Writing Social Class | 4 |
ENG 090 - Reading and Writing Drama | 4 |
ENG 091 - Reading and Writing Poetry | 4 |
ENG 092 - Reading and Writing Fiction | 4 |
ENG 093 - Reading and Writing Non-Fiction | 4 |
ENG 094 - Business and Administration Writing | 3 |
Select one from the following | |
ENG 107 - Teaching Writing: Theory and Practice | 3 |
ENG 109 - Prose Stylistics | 3 |
ENG 111 - Reading/Writing the Personal Essay | 3 |
ENG 112 - Autobiography and Memoir | 3 |
ENG 113 - Cross-Genre Writing | 3 |
ENG 114 - Advanced Poetry Writing | 3 |
ENG 115 - Advanced Fiction Writing | 3 |
ENG 116 - Writing for the Networked World | 3 |
ENG 117 - Adaptations and Transformations | 3 |
ENG 118 - Reading and Creating Comics | 3 |
ENG 119 - Community Writing | 3 |
ENG 120 - Advanced Topics in Writing | 3 |
ENG 174 - Theories of Language and Discourse | 3 |
ENG 198 - Independent Study | 3 |
Electives - Select two ENG courses, at least one of which must be numbered 100 or higher | 6 |
TOTAL | 20-21 |
The information in this catalog does not constitute a contract between the university and the student. The university reserves the right to make changes in curricula, admission policies and processes, tuition and financial aid, academic standards and guidelines, student services and any other regulations or policies set forth in this catalog without giving prior notice.