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Department of English
English – Professional and Public Writing

The English-Professional and Public Writing track will provide you with key skills for writing in various fields such as business, publishing, education, law or the non-profit sector.

You’ll study rhetoric and argumentation at an advanced level, and take at least one advanced course in linguistics. The combination of rhetoric and linguistics is a powerful way to understand and create effective written communication, to understand how language works, and to improve both your own writing and that of others. The courses combine theoretical learning with practical application, preparing you to engage effectively with the wide variety of communications encountered in the professional world.

English-Professional and Public Writing Track (36 credit hours)

  • At least 18 hours must be completed at Auburn
  • At least 18 hours must be at the 4000-level or above
  • No more than 6 hours may be at the 2000 level

Gateway Course: 2010 Introduction to Professional Writing (3 hours)

Major Core (9 hours)

  • Group I: Globalism, Sustainability and Diversity Course (3)
    • 3730 Representations
    • 3740 Identities
    • 3750 Cultural Studies
    • 3850 Study in London
    • 3870 World English Literatures
    • 4160 Technology, Literacy and Culture
    • 4450 Topics in African‐American Literature
    • 4710 Topics in Gender and Literature
    • 4720 Topics in Ethnic Literature
    • 4740 Environment, Literature and Culture
    • 4760 Topics in Diaspora Literature
  • Group II: Linguistics Course (3)
    • 3110 Survey of Linguistics
    • 4140 Language Variation
    • 4150 Topics in Language Study
    • 4160 Technology, Literacy and Culture
    • 4170 History of the English Language
  • 4000‐level Literature Course (3)

Major Track (15 hours)

  • Rhetoric Course (3)
    • 3120 Survey of Rhetoric
    • 4180 Rhetorical Theory and Practice
  • Technical and Professional Communication Course (3)
    • 4020 Technical and Professional Editing
    • 4030 Document Design in Technical and Professional Communication
  • Upper‐Division Writing Course (3)
    • 3020 Writing in Law & Justice
    • 3040 Technical Writing
    • 3060 Medical Writing
    • 3080 Business Writing
    • 4000 Advanced Composition
  • Technology and Writing Course (3)
    • 4010 Topics in Writing
    • 4160 Technology, Literacy and Culture
    • 4040 Public Writing
  •  Capstone Course: 4810 Capstone in Professional Writing (3)

Major Electives (9 hours): Three additional English courses, at least two of which must be at the 3000-level or above