Writing Minor

Description. The Writing minor allows students to practice the craft of writing in various forms and genres. In the minor, students will participate in a broad range of workshop–based courses, including poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, journalism, legal writing and business writing. Some courses will focus on creating original, artistic work, and others will be geared toward preparing students for careers involving professional writing or for graduate study.

In the creative writing courses, students will master narrative forms and learn how to structure their own experiences into resonant fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry. In the journalism courses, students will learn how to gather appropriate information, ask pertinent questions and write hard news articles and features. In the academic and professional writing courses, students will practice original research, argumentation and advanced rhetorical strategies.

All courses will be conducted as workshops, so students will regularly present their writing for close review and critique by their professors and peers. This emphasis on close reading, as well as on writing, will strengthen their critical abilities. The Writing minor will allow students to hone their writing skills and to find their own unique voices as they learn to negotiate the demands of specific audiences and genres.

Minor coordinator. Professor Jay Walitalo, Department of English (212.484.1192, jwalitalo@jjay.cuny.edu).

Admission to the minor. Completion of ENG 201 with a minimum grade of C+, or permission of the Writing Minor Coordinator.

Requirements. Students must complete 18 credits (6 courses) in writing. Students may apply one 3–credit literature elective in satisfying the 18 credits. A maximum of 2 courses can overlap with a student’s major, other minor or program.

Total Credit Hours: 18