Undergraduate Degree - Professional Writing

Program:
Professional Writing
Program Code:
5635 Professional Writing
Program Level:
Undergraduate
Award Type:
Bachelor of Arts
Start Term:
FS04
College:
Department:
Department of Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures
Relevant Excerpt(s) from Academic Programs:


Excerpt from the official Academic Programs Catalog:

Listed below are the approved requirements for the program from the official Academic Programs Catalog.
Students must consult their advisors to learn which specific requirements apply to their degree programs.
Following this section are the requirements as represented in Degree Navigator, MSU's online advising tool. The Degree Navigator section is only available for programs using Degree Navigator for degree certification.

College of Arts and Letters

Department of Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures

Undergraduate Programs
Professional Writing

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional Writing is a degree program for students wishing to specialize in writing as an area of expertise. Students will develop advanced writing skills with emphasis on writing in digital environments such as web authoring and multimedia writing; on writing for and in diverse public and disciplinary communities; and on editing and publishing in a variety of professional contexts. The major prepares students for careers in professional editing and publishing, technical writing, information development, communications management, web design, and web authoring. It may further prepare students for graduate work in rhetoric, writing, technical writing, the teaching of writing, and the study of culture.

Students who elect the Professional Writing major must contact the Director of Professional Writing in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures. Students should work closely with the department's faculty academic advisors to shape a program that fits their career interests and plans. Internships, management of professional writing projects, and development of a professional portfolio are all important aspects of the student’s preparation for work in the profession, either in the workplace or in graduate studies.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Professional Writing

  1. The University requirements for bachelor’s degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional Writing.

    The University’s Tier II writing requirement for the Professional Writing major is met by completing one of the following courses: Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures 320, 331, or 370. Those courses are referenced in items 3. c. and 3. d. below.
  2. The requirements of the College of Arts and Letters for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
  3. The following requirements for the major:
    a. All of the following courses (13 credits):
    WRA 202 Introduction to Professional Writing 3
    WRA 210 Introduction to Web Authoring 3
    WRA 260 Rhetoric, Persuasion, and Culture 3
    WRA 360 Visual Rhetoric 4
    b. The following course (3 credits):
    WRA 455 Portfolio Seminar 3
    Credits earned in this course may not be used to fulfill requirements in item 3. d.
    c. One of the following concentrations (9 credits):
    Digital and Technical Writing
    WRA 320 Technical Communication (W) 3
    WRA 410 Advanced Web Authoring 3
    or
    WRA 420 Content Strategy 3
    WRA 415 Digital Rhetoric 3
    Writing in Communities and Cultures
    Three of the following courses:
    WRA 330 Writing Research in Communities and Cultures 3
    WRA 331 Writing in the Public Interest (W) 3
    WRA 453 Grant and Proposal Writing 3
    WRA 471 The Rhetoric of Grammar 3
    Writing, Editing, and Publishing
    WRA 370 Introduction to Grammar and Editing (W) 3
    WRA 480 Publication Management I 3
    WRA 481 Publication Management II 3
    Credits earned in any of these concentrations may not be used to fulfill requirements in item 3. d.
    d. Nine credits from the following courses. (9 credits).
    WRA 225 Introduction to Multimedia Writing 3
    WRA 290 Independent Study 3
    WRA 308 Invention in Writing 3
    WRA 320 Technical Communication (W) 3
    WRA 330 Writing Research in Communities and Cultures 3
    WRA 331 Writing in the Public Interest (W) 3
    WRA 341 Nature and  Environmental Writing 3
    WRA 355 Writing for Publication Workshop 3
    WRA 370 Introduction to Grammar and Editing (W) 3
    WRA 395 Writing Center Theory and Practice 3
    WRA 410 Advanced Web Authoring 3
    WRA 415 Digital Rhetoric 3
    WRA 420 Content Strategy 3
    WRA 425 Advanced Multimedia Writing 3
    WRA 441 Social Justice and Thetorical Practice 3
    WRA 453 Grant and Proposal Writing 3
    WRA 455 Portfolio Seminar 3
    WRA 460 Advanced Visual Rhetoric and Document Design 3
    WRA 471 The Rhetoric of Grammar 3
    WRA 480 Publication Management I 3
    WRA 481 Publication Management II 3
    WRA 482 Information and Interaction Design 3
    WRA 491 Special Topics 1 to 4
    WRA 499 International Research in Professional Writing 1 to 3
    WRA 493 Internship in Professional Writing 1 to 3
    One or two writing or design courses from outside WRA may be used with approval of the student's academic advisor. Credits earned in any of these courses may not be used to fulfill requirements in items 3. b. or 3. c.


Degree Requirements from Degree Navigator.

NOTE: Degree Navigator is an advising tool only and should not be viewed as a contract with the student. Any questions about the requirements should be directed to an academic advisor.


Professional Writing, BA (5635)

Required Credits: 120    Program Version: FS16

Requirement 1: University Tier I Writing
University Tier I Writing: 1 course from WRA101, WRA195H, LB133, MC111, MC112, RCAH111

Requirement 2: University Mathematics
University Mathematics: The required number of courses from 1 of the following sets of courses
MTH2: 1 course
At least 1 course from LB118, MTH110, MTH116, MTHRQMT, MTHWAIV1, MTHWAIV2, Mathematics Pre-Matriculation, Mathematics Post-Matriculation
MTH1: 2 courses
At least 1 course from MTH103, MTH103WAIV
At least 1 course from MTH112, MTH114, MTH124, MTH132, MTH152H, MTH201, STT200, STT201

Requirement 3: University IAH201 - IAH210
University IAH201 - IAH210: 4 credits from IAH201, IAH202, IAH203, IAH204, IAH205, IAH206, IAH207, IAH208, IAH209, IAH210, RCAH201, ANY IAH BELOW 211

Requirement 4: University IAH211 or higher
University IAH211 or higher: 4 credits from IAH211A, IAH211B, IAH211C, IAH211D, IAH221A, IAH221B, IAH221C, IAH231A, IAH231B, IAH231C, IAH241A, IAH241B, IAH241C, IAH241D, IAH241E, IAH241F, IAH241G, RCAH202, TRANSFER IAH, ANY IAH211 OR HIGHER, approved LB courses

Requirement 5: University ISS200 Series
University ISS200 Series: 4 credits from ISS210, ISS215, ISS220, ISS225, ISS230, ISS235, MC201, TRANSFER ISS 200 LEVEL, ANY ISS 200 LEVEL

Requirement 6: University ISS300 Series
University ISS300 Series: 4 credits from ISS305, ISS308, ISS310, ISS315, ISS318, ISS320, ISS325, ISS327, ISS328, ISS330A, ISS330B, ISS330C, ISS335, ISS336, MC202, ANY ISS 300 LEVEL, approved LB courses

Requirement 7: University ISB
University ISB: 3 credits from ISB200, ISB201, ISB202, ISB204, TRANSFER ISB, ISB ALTERNATIVE TRACK, ANY 3 CREDIT ISB COURSE

Requirement 8: University ISP
University ISP: 3 credits from ISP203A, ISP203B, ISP205, ISP207, ISP209, ISP213H, ISP215, ISP217, ISP220, ISP221, TRANSFER ISP, ISP ALTERNATIVE TRACK, ANY 3 CREDIT ISP COURSE

Requirement 9: University Laboratory Experience
University Laboratory Experience: The required number of credits from 1 of the following sets of courses
Univ Lab: 2 credits
At least 2 credits from ISB201L, ISB208L, ISP203L, ISP205L, ISP207L, ISP209L, ISP217L, ANY 2 CREDIT ISB/ISP LAB, LAB EXPERIENCE ALTERNATIVE TRACK, TRANSFER LAB
Alternative: 2 credits
At least 1 credit from ISB201L, ISB208L, ISP203L, ISP205L, ISP207L, ISP209L, ISP217L, ANY 2 CREDIT ISB/ISP LAB, LAB EXPERIENCE ALTERNATIVE TRACK, TRANSFER LAB
At least 1 credit from an Alternative Track Lab credit

Requirement 10: University Diversity Distribution
University Diversity Distribution: A total 2 courses
At least 1 course from NationalIAH or ISS courses emphasizing national diversity or both national diversity and international and multicultural diversity
At least 1 course from InternationalIAH or ISS courses emphasizing international and multicultural diversity or both national diversity and international and multicultural diversity
Conditions:
University Diversity Distribution: No more than 1 course from IAH or ISS emphasizing both national diversity and international and multicultural diversity in Requirement(s) 10

Requirement 11: Major - Professional Writing - Core
Major - Professional Writing - Core: 4 courses from WRA202, WRA210, WRA260, WRA360

Requirement 12: Major - Professional Writing - Portfolio Seminar
Major - Professional Writing - Portfolio Seminar: 3 credits from WRA455

Requirement 13: Major - Professional Writing - Track
Major - Professional Writing - Track: The required number of courses from 1 of the following sets of courses
Digital and Technical Writing: 3 courses
At least 1 course from WRA410, WRA420
At least 2 courses from WRA320, WRA415
Writing in Communities and Cultures: 3 courses
At least 3 courses from WRA330, WRA331, WRA453, WRA471
Writing Editing and Publishing: 3 courses
At least 3 courses from WRA370, WRA480, WRA481

Requirement 14: Major - Professional Writing - Required Electives
Major - Professional Writing - Required Electives: 9 credits from WRA225, WRA290, WRA308, WRA320, WRA330, WRA331, WRA341, WRA355, WRA370, WRA395, WRA410, WRA415, WRA420, WRA425, WRA441, WRA453, WRA455, WRA460, WRA471, WRA480, WRA481, WRA482, WRA491, WRA493, WRA499

Requirement 15: College - Arts and Letters - Non Arts and Letters Cognate
College - Arts and Letters - Non Arts and Letters Cognate: 12 credits from Courses in a cognate. One 300-400 level course of at least 3 credits must be included between the Open Cognate and the Non Arts & Letters Cognate. Both the cognate and the courses must be approved by the student's academic advisor.

Requirement 16: College - Arts and Letters - Open Cognate
College - Arts and Letters - Open Cognate: 12 credits from Courses in an open cognate. One 300-400 level course of at least 3 credits must be included between the Open Cognate and the Non Arts & Letters Cognate. Both the cognate and the courses must be approved by the student's academic advisor.

Requirement 17: College Distribution
College Distribution: 30 credits from courses at the 300 level and above.

Requirement 18: College - Arts and Letters - Second Language
College - Arts and Letters - Second Language: 1 course from a second year foreign language course demonstrating competency in a foreign language.

Requirement 19: Electives
Electives: 0 credits from Electives at Michigan State University and transfer coursework. This number can change based on the credits of the coursework taken to fulfill University, College, and Major requirements. Please contact your academic advisor with any questions.

Requirement 20: University Residency
University Residency: 30 credits from MSU coursework, 27 credits from MSU courses taken after reaching junior standing, 20 credits from courses offered by MSU while admitted to major & 20 of the last 30 credits must be MSU courses. Please see academic advisor.