The English writing major requires the completion of 33 credits: 21 credits in English writing courses, and 12 credits in English literature courses. Students are encouraged to take additional writing and literature courses beyond the required minimum. Courses in film studies, women’s studies, business, and technical writing are particularly useful for English writing majors.
The Seminar in Composition requirement must be completed prior to enrollment in any ENGWRT course. A Seminar in Composition course can be selected form the following list
ENGCMP 0200 Seminar in Composition
ENGCMP 0203 Seminar in Composition: Women’s Studies
ENGCMP 0205 Seminar in Composition: Film
ENGCMP 0207 Seminar in Composition: Education
ENGCMP 0208 Seminar in Composition: Service Learning
FP 0003 / FP 0006 Freshman Seminar
Majors must choose a concentration in at least one of the three tracks – Fiction, Poetry, or Nonfiction. In most cases, the student will take other writing courses as well.
Each track consists of three levels of courses. The introductory courses (0500s) offer a broad introduction to the skills required of writers in that area and generally should be taken no later than the second terms of the sophomore year. The intermediate courses (1000s for Fiction, 1200s for Poetry, 1300s for Nonfiction) refine and develop those skills. The senior seminars (1700s) provide a capstone experience for the student writer.
| Course # | Title |
|---|---|
| ENGWRT 0520 | Introduction to Fiction Writing |
| ENGWRT 1010 | Intermediate Fiction |
| ENGWRT 1020 | Advanced Fiction |
| ENGWRT 1094 | Readings in Contemporary Fiction |
| ENGWRT 1710 | Senior Seminar in Fiction |
| Elective | |
| Elective |
| Course # | Title |
|---|---|
| ENGWRT 0530 | Introduction to Poetry Writing |
| ENGWRT 1210 | Poetry Workshop |
| ENGWRT 1290 | Readings in Contemporary Poetry |
| ENGWRT 1510 | Advanced Poetry |
| ENGWRT 1730 | Senior Seminar in Poetry |
| Elective | |
| Elective |
| Course # | Title |
|---|---|
| ENGWRT 0610 | Introduction to Nonfiction (ENGWRT 0550 Introduction to Journalism may substitute for 0610 |
| ENGWRT 1330 | Nonfiction 1 |
| ENGWRT 1340 | Nonfiction 2 |
| ENGWRT 1390 | Readings in Contemporary Nonfiction: Short Form |
| ENGWRT 1750 | Senior Seminar in Nonfiction |
| ENGWRT 1391 – 1405 or approved course in ENGCMP (see list under "classes") | Topics Course |
| Elective |
| Course | # Title |
|---|---|
| ENGLIT 0325 | Short Story in Context |
| Elective | |
| Elective | |
| Elective |
Note: It is strongly recommended that you choose one or two of your literature electives from the following list of courses:
| Course | # Title |
|---|---|
| ENGLIT 0500 | Introduction to Critical Reading |
| ENGLIT 0505 | Lectures in Literature |
| ENGLIT 1000 | Introduction to Translation Studies |
| ENGLIT 1100 | Medieval Imagination |
| ENGLIT 1125 | Renaissance in England |
| ENGLIT 1150 | Enlightenment to Revolution |
| ENGLIT 1175 | 19th Century British Literature |
| ENGLIT 1200 | American Literature to 1860 |
| ENGLIT 1220 | Emergence of Modern America |
| ENGLIT 1325 | The Modernist Tradition |
| ENGLIT 1380 | World Literature in English |
| Course | # Title |
|---|---|
| ENGLIT 0315 | Reading Poetry |
| Elective | |
| Elective | |
| Elective |
Note: It is strongly recommended that you chose one or two of your literature electives from the following list of courses:
| Course | # Title |
|---|---|
| ENGLIT 0500 | Introduction to Critical Reading |
| ENGLIT 0505 | Lectures in Literature |
| ENGLIT 1000 | Introduction to Translation Studies |
| ENGLIT 1100 | Medieval Imagination |
| ENGLIT 1125 | Renaissance in England |
| ENGLIT 1135 | Early Modern Literature in English |
| ENGLIT 1150 | Enlightenment to Revolution |
| ENGLIT 1175 | 19th Century British Literature |
| ENGLIT 1200 | American Literature to 1860 |
| ENGLIT 1220 | Emergence of Modern America |
| ENGLIT 1325 | The Modernist Tradition |
| ENGLIT 1380 | World Literature in English |
| Course | # Title |
|---|---|
| ENGLIT 0321 or ENGLIT 0399 | Forms of Prose or Narrative and Technology |
| Elective | |
| Elective | |
| Elective |
Note: It is strongly recommended that you chose one or two of your literature electives from the following list of courses:
| # Title | |
|---|---|
| ENGLIT 0500 | Introduction to Critical Reading |
| ENGLIT 0505 | Lectures in Literature |
| ENGLIT 1000 | Introduction to Translation Studies |
| ENGLIT 1100 | Medieval Imagination |
| ENGLIT 1125 | Renaissance in England |
| ENGLIT 1135 | Early Modern Literature in English |
| ENGLIT 1150 | Enlightenment to Revolution |
| ENGLIT 1175 | 19th Century British Literature |
| ENGLIT 1200 | American Literature to 1860 |
| ENGLIT 1220 | Emergence of Modern America |
| ENGLIT 1325 | The Modernist Tradition |
| ENGLIT 1380 | World Literature in English |
A minimum grade of C or better (not C-) is required in any 0500-level ENGWRT course to advance to the first 1000-level course in that track. Students who earn less than a C in their first 1000-level course may not advance to the other courses in that track. Moreover, students must earn a minimum grade of C or better (not C-) in their Senior Seminar or Internship course.
There is no limit on the number of courses in the major that can be taken on an S/NC basis.
English writing majors automatically fulfill both of the Arts and Sciences W-course requirements. Students pursuing a second major would be required to complete an additional W course for that major.
A minimum of 12 credits is required in any one Arts and Sciences department chosen in consultation with the major advisor. The completion of an official Arts and Sciences minor or an Arts and Sciences or UCIS certificate also satisfies this requirement.
from My Mysteries of Pittsburgh by writer Stewart O’Nan, born in Pittsburgh.
