Hickory Campus Specific Course of Study & Schedule
The core major requirements include (Intro to PW, Tech Com, and Capstone). These will prepare students for internships in (X, Y, Z), which is also a requirement of the major. Once students have completed the core, they can elect to take (X, Y, Z) (see full course descriptions below). A combination of (X, Y, Z) is a typical path for students, but we highly recommend that students customize their course schedule to meet the demands of their professional goals upon graduation. (See Why Major in WRTC).
Download the advising pathway for the WRTC major here.
Add a link for the entire Course of Study here.
Course Descriptions
ENG 3700 - TECHNICAL WRITING (3) When Offered: Fall; Spring. GEN ED: Junior Writing in the Discipline (WID) Focus on rhetorical ethics, technical writing concepts, justice and usability, and research. Emphasis on inclusivity and rhetorical ethics in applied genres: instructions, process descriptions, abstracts, definitions, technical reports, and various electronic forms. Students may not receive credit for both ENG 3700 and ENG 3695.
Prerequisites: RC 2001 or its equivalent and ENG 3090 or permission of the instructor.
ENG 3695 - TECHNICAL WRITING FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE (3) When Offered: Fall; Spring. GEN ED: Junior Writing in the Discipline (WID) Focus on technical writing concepts, usability and accessibility, ethics, research and career-related materials. Emphasis on rhetorical ethics in applied genres: digital instructions, technical definitions, terms of use policies, technical reports that cover multiple genres, digital documentation, and career preparation and documentation (résumés, cover letters, job talks specific to the field). Students may not receive credit for both ENG 3700 and ENG 3695.
Prerequisites: RC 2001 or its equivalent, CS 2440 and must have at least junior standing as a declared CS major.
ENG 4100 - WRITING FOR SOCIAL MEDIA (3) When Offered: Fall.
Focus on writing for electronic media by investigating both the theoretical and practical aspects of the print to electronic media shift. Emphasis on rhetorical ethics, audience, and social impact. Analysis and creation of electronic media including converting print to web, creating a client website, and conducting a usability test.
Prerequisites: ENG 3090 or permission of the instructor.
ENG 2080 - WRITING FOR CHANGE (3) When Offered: Spring.
A required course for students who concentrate in Writing, Rhetorics, and Technical Communication. Introduces students to the conversations in public advocacy, writing for change, and rhetoric with particular attention to issues like visibility/spectacle, witnessing, climate and social justice, and the ability to respond ethically and responsibly to advocate for change.
Prerequisite: RC 1000.
ENG 2090 - RHETORICAL ETHICS (3) When Offered: Fall.
A required course for students who concentrate in Writing, Rhetorics, and Technical Communication. A study of the history, theories, concepts, practices, and genres of rhetorical ethics and theory with special attention to contemporary rhetorics and applied concepts, like rhetorical ethics in media, social movements, comparative rhetorics, and social justice.
Prerequisite: RC 1000.
ENG 3220 - ENVIRONMENTAL RHETORICS (3) When Offered: Spring.
An introduction to environmental rhetoric with an emphasis on environmental justice with special attention to the environmental humanities, contemporary theories and methods in rhetoric and writing, and applied studies of environmental activism.
Prerequisite: RC 1000.
ENG 3260 - COMMUNITY WRITING (3) When Offered: Fall.
The study and practice of writing in community contexts. A focus on advocacy writing, service-learning, community research, and/or community publishing. Service-learning requirement with an advocacy writing project in collaboration with a partner.
Prerequisite: RC 1000.
ENG 3280 - RHETORICS OF HEALTH JUSTICE (3) When Offered: Spring.
This course investigates foundational concepts, histories, and research methodologies in Rhetorics of Health and Medicine (RHM) discipline with a critical focus on rhetorical ethics and social justice. Topics may include health communication, health care access, and health technologies and infrastructures. The course prepares students for future professional work or academic research in medical and science writing, medical humanities, public health and/or other related fields.
Prerequisite: RC 1000.
ENG 4090 - RHETORICS OF RESISTANCE (3) When Offered: Spring.
In this course, students will examine rhetorical theories of social change, paying special attention to how structural power operates in rhetorical situations, as well as how marginalized voices speak truth to power.
