English, B.A., Writing Concentration

Department Contact:

Chair: Dr. Robin L. Cadwallader, rcadwallader@francis.edu, 814-472-3342

Program Description:

The English, BA, Writing Concentration provides students with an opportunity to develop their unique talents and styles and to transition from writing for their professors and peers to writing for public and professional audiences. By completing advanced coursework in professional and/or creative writing studies, students will enhance their abilities to communicate effectively in and for a variety of contexts, media, audiences, and purposes, as well as to expand their job skills sets and employability.

Student Learning Outcomes:

All students who complete this program will achieve the following outcomes related to English studies:

• Students will demonstrate through written work and oral responses that they can identify literary elements and terms.
• Students will demonstrate through written work that they can cite sources.
• Students will demonstrate through written work and oral responses that they can identify major literary periods and movements.
• Students will demonstrate through written work that they can perform research and assess the results for formal presentation.
• Students will demonstrate through written work and oral responses that they can identify major theoretical perspectives.
• Students will demonstrate critical thinking in oral responses and written work.
• Students will demonstrate through written work and oral responses that they recognize the reflection of the human condition presented in literary works.

In addition, those who complete the program’s writing concentration will achieve the following outcomes:

• Students will produce a variety of high-quality written texts that inform, persuade, entertain, and/or otherwise engage audiences.  
• Students will demonstrate their understanding and skillful application of discipline-, genre-, and media-specific writing conventions. 
• Students will write for professional and public reader groups with varying expectations, backgrounds, and needs.    
• Students will compose clear, discernible writing that adheres to and demonstrates their mastery of the American English Grammar System. 

Estimated Completion Time:

Four years of full-time study

Total Credits Required:

128 credits