NOTICE: Classes canceled today due to weather conditions. Check Blackboard for communication from your instructors.

visiting author chats with female college student in Writing Center

Writing Major

Complete a degree in writing

Written communication skills are a valuable asset in nearly all career paths, including those in education, public service, business, management, media, ministry and more.

As a writing major at SBU, you will learn to write in a variety of styles, including academic, practical, technical and creative writing, through a combination of technical writing, business writing, creative writing, literature and linguistics courses.

Graduates from SBU's writing degree are prepared for a variety of careers, such as editors, journal and newspaper writers, and tech writers.

The Writing degree is offered through SBU's College of Arts and Sciences

Resources

Major Map (PDF)

Degree plan

Female student reading outside

The SBU Advantage

  • Gain experience and contacts through writing internships.
  • Experience greater depth and breadth thanks to the unique degree program structure involving courses in creative writing, practical writing, technical writing, business writing, literature and linguistics, while still allowing room for you to focus on your particular interests and talents.
  • Develop your skills through participating in the annual writing contests; selected entries are published in SBU's literary journal.
  • Interact with regionally and nationally recognized authors who visit campus as part of the Barnett-Padgett Literary Artist Series.

Faith Integration

Faculty in the department of language and literature intentionally integrate the Christian faith into classroom instruction by showing how Scriptural truths are foundational to educational practices and theoretical understandings. Classroom discussions of literature occur within the context of a Christian worldview. You will be challenged to consider how your faith affects your literary analysis and your writing.

Annika Bergen
"SBU offered a quality education that gave me the skill set needed for my career as a writer. But SBU instilled so much more than a good education. The professors, staff and their families cared about me as a whole person. I am so excited to keep living this adventure God has me on, and I can see the ways He used SBU to play an influential role in the story He's writing for me."
Annika Bergen '11
Giver Services and Communication Specialist for National Christian Foundation, Heartland

University Writing Center

Put your learning into action by working as a tutor in the University Writing Center and working with other students one-on-one to provide individualized help and feedback on writing assignments and projects.

Writing Contests

Be recognized for your writing abilities by participating in annual writing contests. Selected entries are published in the department's literary journal.

Barnett-Padgett Literary Artist Series

Meet regionally and nationally recognized literary artists who visit campus to read from their original works as part of the Barnett-Padgett Literary Artist Series. Authors also lead seminars for students particularly interested in the creative process. Past guest authors include Robin Jones Gunn, Marilyn Nelson, Ted Kooser and Naomi Shihab Nye.

Author Unknown

Join Author Unknown, SBU's campus poetry society open to any SBU student. Weekly meetings provide opportunities for you to express creativity by reading and critiquing original poems while spending time with students and faculty who share a passion for poetry.

Celebrations of Creative Works

Share your creative writing and join SBU’s writing community by attending readings.  Each semester, students and faculty celebrate their own original creative works by participating in a reading of poetry, fiction, song, and other genres.

Sigma Tau Delta

The SBU chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society, is open to English and writing majors who maintain a 3.0 GPA and rank in the top third of their class.

Scholarships

As a student in SBU's division of language and communication, you will have the opportunity to apply for several privately funded scholarship awards available to English and writing students.

SCOP Journal

SBU students have the opportunity to submit their original works and be published in SCOP, the literary journal of SBU's Division of Language and Communication. Students also receive valuable experience with editing and publishing the journal.

Download SCOP 2021

Download SCOP 2019

Download SCOP 2018

Writing Four-Year Plan

Freshman

Fall Semester

UNI 1111 University Seminar 1
ENG 1113 English Composition I 3
POL 1113 American Government and Politics 3
COM 1103 Fundamentals of Speech 3
BIB 1013 Old Testament History 3
BIO 1004 Principles of Biology 4
Total hours 17

Spring Semester

UNI 1121 Critical Thinking 1
ENG 2213 English Composition II 3
CIS 1103 Computer and Information Management 3
FAR 10_3 Intro. to Art, Fine Arts, Music or Theatre 3
BIB 1023 New Testament History 3
MAT 1243 Algebraic Reasoning and Modeling 3
Total hours 16
 

Sophomore

Fall Semester

  Foreign Language 4
SPF 2012 Spiritual Formation 2
  American Literature* (Choose one)  3
HIS 2213/2223 U.S. History I or II 3
PSY 1013 General Psychology (or alternative) 3
KIN 1162 Foundations of Physical Fitness/Wellness 2
Total hours 17

Spring Semester

  Foreign Language 4
ENG/WRT 4003 Technical Writing 3
PHS 1004 Introduction to Physical Science (or alternative) 4
ECO 2003 LIFE Economics 3
  American Literature* (Choose one)  3
Total hours 17
 

Junior

Fall Semester

 ENG 2313 World Literature Literature 3
ENG 3373 Structure of the English Language 3
  Creative Writing (choose one) 3
  Cultural Study (Except ENG 2312) 2
  Elective 4
Total hours 15

Spring Semester

ENG 3353 Advanced Composition 3
  British Literature* (choose one) 3
  Creative Writing (choose one) 3
  Electives 7
Total hours 16
 

Senior

Fall Semester

  British Literature (choose one) 3
  Practical Writing (choose one) 3
  Writing Elective 3
  Electives 6
Total hours 15

Spring Semester

  Elective 3
  Elective 3
  Elective 3
  Elective 3
  Elective 3
Total hours 15

*Course availability varies by semester. Please consult course catalog for details.

This is a proposed guideline. Please check the catalog and see your advisor for your final degree requirements.
Southwest Baptist University reserves the right to make changes to degree plans without advanced notice or obligation.
The student is responsible for understanding and completing all general education, degree, departmental and graduation requirements.

Download in PDF format:
Writing plan (PDF)