Department of Writing

Interim Chair and Associate Professor: C. Clark (PhD) , 450-3345
Professor: S. Vanderslice (MFA, PhD)
Associate Professor: S. Payne (PhD), G. Craig Powell (MFA), ), M. Spitzer (MFA), J. Vanderslice (MFA, PhD)
Assistant Professor: K. Mattson (PhD), J. Talbot (PhD)
Senior Lecturer: S. Dix (MA), L. Mongno (MA), E. Stengel (PhD)
Lecturer II: C. Allen (MA), T. Gifford (MA), L. Grate (PhD), S Lance (PhD)
Lecturer I: L. Bowles (MEd), B. May (MFA), E. Smith (MA)

[1] Purposes

In addition to offering general education writing courses supporting the university’s emphasis on writing and thinking skills across the curriculum, the Department of Writing offers a variety of courses in creative writing, rhetoric and composition, professional and technical writing, and the teaching of writing. The department offers majors and minors in writing, professional writing, and creative writing.

[2] Baccalaureate Degrees

[2.1] Bachelor of Arts in Writing and Creative Writing

The degree of Bachelor of Arts in Writing or Creative Writing requires successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: completion of 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and completion of upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) completion of a sophomore-level foreign language course; (3) completion of a a major as described below; (4) 40 upper-division hours; and (5) completion of a minor.

Two degrees are offered: the BA in Writing and the BA in Creative Writing.

[2.1.1] Major in Writing (36 hours)

Writing Core courses are used to satisfy the lower-division UCA Core requirement in Responsible Living (R) and the upper-division UCA Core requirement in Diversity (D), Critical Inquiry (I), Responsible Living (R), and Effective Communication (C). Students will take Writing 4308, Writing for Change, as the required UCA Core capstone.

Writing Core Courses (12 hours):

[2.1.1.1] General Writing Track (24 hours)

Required Courses (15 hours):

Choose Three (9 hours):

[2.1.1.2] Professional Writing Track (24 hours)

Required Courses (9 hours):

Choose Three (9 hours):

Choose Two (6 hours):

[2.1.3] Major in Creative Writing (36 hours)

One Creative Writing required course (WRTG 2310, Introduction to Creative Writing) satisfies the lower-division UCA Core requirement in Diversity (D). Students may take WRTG 4324, Topics in Creative Writing, to satisfy the UCA Core capstone (Z) requirement.
Required courses (24 hours):

Creative Writing Electives (12 hours chosen from the following):

Other Writing and Linguistics Electives:

Note on Prerequisites

Introduction to Creative Writing (WRTG 2310) is a prerequisite to taking upper-division creative writing classes. A genre-appropriate forms class (WRTG 3320-3345) must be taken before enrolling in a corresponding workshop class (WRTG 3370-3377). Before enrolling in a senior-level course, a student must complete nine hours of creative writing courses in the major.

[2.1.4] Minor in General Writing (24 hours)

Required courses (18 hours):

Electives (6 hours, chosen from the following):

[2.1.5] Minor in Creative Writing (24 hours)

Required courses (15 hours):

Electives (9 hours) from the following:

Note on prerequisites:
Introduction to Creative Writing (WRTG 2310) is a prerequisite to taking upper-division creative writing classes. A genre-appropriate forms class (WRTG 3320-3345) must be taken before enrolling in a corresponding workshop class (WRTG 3370-3377). Before enrolling in a senior-level course, a student must complete nine hours of creative writing courses in the major.

[2.1.6] Minor in Professional Writing (24 hours)

Required courses (15 hours):

Electives (9 hours) from the following:

[3] Resources

[3.1] The UCA Writing Center

The UCA Writing Center, located in Thompson Hall 109, http://www.uca.edu/writingcenter, offers individual assistance with all types of writing and oral presentations. Students may schedule time with a trained peer tutor and use the center’s computers, video cameras, and writing materials to develop essays or presentations for any course at the university. The center also provides handouts and free workshops on various oral and written communication topics. Call 450-5123 for appointments.

[3.2] The Great Bear Writing Project of Central Arkansas

The Great Bear Writing Project of Central Arkansas is one of three Arkansas sites of the National Writing Project, a federally funded program that seeks to improve student writings in grades K-12. It has been recognized by the American Association for Higher Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as an “outstanding and nationally specific example of how schools and colleges can collaborate to improve American education.” Each year the site offers a four-week invitational summer writing institute for K-12 teachers across subject matter areas during which they study contemporary composition theory, experience of the act of writing, devise effective pedagogy, and earn 3 graduate credits. Graduates of this institute become teacher-consultants able to provide in-service workshops to local educators in teaching writing-across-the-curriculum and join a network of colleagues who meet regularly to renew and update skills and knowledge.

[3.3] The Artists in Residence Series

The Central Arkansas Writing Arts Series invites three to six distinguished writers to the campus each year. Visiting writers conduct workshops for students interested in creative writing and perform readings open to the community.

[4] Course Links

[4.1] Courses in Writing (WRTG)

Follow this link to WRTG course descriptions: course link.

[4.2] Courses in Linguistics (LING)

Follow this link to LING course descriptions: course link