The Department of Writing is offering two new degrees in creative writing and linguistics.
Previously, there was one writing degree that included a core of creative writing, linguistics, rhetoric and composition.
“We are taking strengths that already exist within our writing major and building on them, giving room for those strengths to grow through the creation of these new degrees,” said Dr. Scott Payne, chair of the Department of Writing.
Payne said these new degrees were quite unique.
“There are very few creative writing degrees in the state, and of those, ours is the most writing-intensive and workshop-based, providing a unique and intense writing experience for our creative writing students,” he said. “As for our BA in linguistics, it is the only linguistics program in the state, so it’s filling a very important educational need in the state of Arkansas.”
Students were able to officially declare the creative writing major in September. Forty-two students had done so by December. Payne said that number could easily go to 100 or more within the next couple of years.
“Linguistics will have a smaller number but should do well as it is fulfilling an important need in the state and prepares students for a variety of careers,” he said.