Dec 11, 2024  
2023-2024 Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Writing Studies Minor


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The Writing Studies minor enhances students’ understanding of the theoretical, creative, interdisciplinary and professional aspects of writing, and helps them develop the vocabulary, syntax, style and voice appropriate to the practice of composition in diverse contexts. By using the writing process to strengthen their ideas, students develop strategies for participating in research, policy-making, professional advancement, and creative expression. Study of language is a central activity, including engaging rhetorical elements common to all writing as well as conventions particular to specific disciplines. Overall, this program fosters a writing culture, integrating knowledge creation with communication.

The minor in Writing Studies is open to—and appropriate for—students majoring in any field, and prepares those proceeding on to graduate work for the challenges of advanced academic writing, critical reading, and effective speech. By representing the student’s intensive work in writing, the minor also signals to prospective employers the student’s distinguished preparation for the demands of many professional workplaces.

Minimum Requirements


Within the minimum requirements, students can choose to follow one of two specializations in the minor, focusing either on Professional Writing or Creative Writing. Students seeking to specialize should take WRI 090 .

Lower Division Minor Requirements [4 units]


 Complete one of the following courses:

Upper Division Minor Requirements [16 units]


Complete four upper division Writing courses or equivalent of 16 units.

Specializations


Students are encouraged to choose one of the following two specializations, each requiring two lower division courses and four upper division courses.

Creative Writing Specialization Requirements


  1. WRI 025   and WRI 090   
  2. One course from WRI 125  series (WRI 125A WRI 125B WRI 125C , or WRI 125D ) and three additional upper division writing courses

Professional Writing Specialization Requirements


  1. WRI 030  and WRI 090   
  2. WRI 130  and three additional upper division writing courses

Notes:


Students are encouraged to take several topics with the WRI 125 -series or WRI 130  designation.

Consult a SSHA advisor or the SSHA Advising website ssha-advising.ucmerced.edu for additional information and updates.

If approved by the Writing Studies Program Chair, one writing-intensive course may be substituted for any of the required minor program courses. The Writing Studies Program Chair may also allow applying one lower division writing course completed elsewhere for WRI 025 , WRI 030 , or WRI 090 .

Guidelines Applying to all SSHA Minors


Students should consult an advisor in the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts to officially declare the minor and plan their courses. The following guidelines must be adhered to:

  • To complete any SSHA minor, students must complete a minimum of five courses, at least four of which must be upper division.
  • All courses must be taken for a letter grade.
  • All minor course requirements must be completed with a C- or better.
  • A minimum overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) in upper division courses is required. The only exception is a Global Arts Studies Minor , for which the minimum GPA in upper division courses is 2.7 (B-).
  • At least three of the five required courses must be taken at UC Merced.
  • Only one course may be used simultaneously to satisfy requirements for two minors.
  • Only one course may be used to satisfy both a minor and a major requirement.
  • Students must consult the UC Merced General Catalog for prerequisites to required courses.

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