English Major (BA) - Professional Writing and Rhetoric Concentration

The English major with a concentration in professional writing and rhetoric requires 12 courses through which students integrate a broad foundation in critical analysis, literary study, and theoretical practice with focused training in the craft of professional writing.

• 3 introductory inquiries
• 1 gateway course
• 7 advanced inquiries
• 1 capstone course

Students interested in an English major are encouraged to take introductory courses (ENG 1200 - Introduction to English Studies, ENG 1800 - Introduction to Professional Writing and Rhetoric, ENG 1900 - Introduction to Literature and Criticism, WRIT 1500 - Introduction to Creative Writing) in their first year and to declare a major as sophomores.

In conjunction with declaring an English major with a concentration in professional writing and rhetoric, students must take ENG 1800 - Introduction to Professional Writing and a “gateway” course in critical methods and contemporary theory, ENG 3020 - Literary and Cultural Theory. As juniors and seniors, students take the seven 3000-level inquiry courses, two of which must be electives in literary and cultural analysis and/or creative writing, and at least four of which must be 3000-level options in professional writing and rhetoric. Students will begin defining their course plan in 3020 and in coordination with their major advisor.

A senior seminar is the capstone course in which students study a topic in depth and develop independent research and creative projects, while also reflecting on their professional skills defined and tested across the arc of their coursework. ENG 3020 and the senior seminar must be taken at Hamline. ENG 3020 must be taken at least one semester before the senior seminar and are strongly recommended before taking 3000-level literature courses numbered above 3020.