Rhetoric and Composition
English
Rhetoric
The advanced rhetoric program permits a student to work in creative or professional writing. Except for the tutorial RHET 455, all creative writing courses are taught as workshops by a veteran faculty consisting largely of producing writers. The program provides excellent preparation for graduate work in writing and is administered by the Department of English. See also major in English.
Major in Sciences and Letters Curriculum
E-mail: english@english.uiuc.edu
Degree title: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Minimum required core and supporting course work normally equates to 36 hours including 15 hours of Rhetoric and Creative Writing and 15 hours of English and American Literature.
General education: The LAS General Education requirements are set up so students automatically complete the Campus General Education requirements.
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours
Departmental distinction: A student must enter the honors program with a 3.25 grade point average and complete two English honors seminars and a significant writing project in RHET 455. The level of distinction is assigned by the honors committee based on work in rhetoric courses and honors seminars and on the readers' evaluations of the writing project. Interested students should consult the departmental advisor for details.
Students must select one concentration.
Creative Writing Concentration
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | One course in expository writing, choose from: |
RHET 243Inter Expository Writing 1 |
|
CW 208 Creative Nonfiction Writing |
|
| 12 | Rhetoric courses selected from: 2 |
CW 104 Introductory Narrative Writing |
|
CW 106 Introductory Poetry Writing |
|
CW 204 Intermediate Narrative Writing |
|
CW 208Creative Nonfiction Writing |
|
CW 404Advanced Narrative Writing |
|
CW 406Advanced Poetry Writing |
|
CW 455Creative Writing Tutorial |
|
| 3 | One course in Shakespeare: |
ENGL 300Writing About Literature (when offered on a Shakespeare topic) |
|
ENGL 418Shakespeare I |
|
ENGL 419Shakespeare II |
|
| 12 | English and American literature courses selected from 200-, 300- and 400-level courses. |
| 6 | Six hours of supporting coursework |
| Western Civilization Requirement. Choose one of the following pairs: | |
HIST 141Western Civ to 1660 (or HIST 140), and |
|
HIST 142Western Civ Since 1660 (or HIST 143) |
|
| or | |
HIST 255British Isles to 1688, and |
|
HIST 256Great Britain Since 1688 |
|
| or | |
CWL 241Masterpieces West Culture I, and |
|
CWL 242Masterpieces West Culture II |
|
| or | |
HIST 171- US Hist to 1877 and |
|
HIST 172-US Hist Since 1877 |
2. With the written permission of a rhetoric adviser, 3 of these 12 hours may be selected from the following courses: ENGL 401, 402, 403, 481; BTW 250, 261, 263, 271; SPCM 310, 415, 416, 417, 423, 432; JOUR 475; and PHIL 102.
Professional Writing Concentration CURRENTLY SUSPENDED
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 9 | At least three courses selected in consultation with an adviser in professional writing, including one course which is approved for Advanced Composition |
| 3 | One course in communication technologies selected in consultation with an academic adviser |
| 9 | At least three courses in writing theory and practice selected in consultation with an academic adviser |
| 9 | Three additional courses in literature, critical theory, or creative writing |
| 6 | Six hours of supporting coursework. |
| Western Civilization Requirement. Choose one of the following pairs: | |
HIST 141Western Civ to 1660 (or HIST 140), and |
|
HIST 142Western Civ Since 1660 (or HIST 143) |
|
| or | |
CWL 241Masterpieces West Culture I, and |
|
CWL 242Masterpieces West Culture II |
|
| or | |
HIST 255British Isles to 1688, and |
|
HIST 256Great Britain Since 1688 |
|
| or | |
HIST 171- US Hist to 1877 and |
|
HIST 172-US Hist Since 1877 |
For All Concentrations
Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.