The BA in Writing Studies
Since Fall 2009, the Department has offered a B.A. in Writing Studies, thereby further advancing it course offerings and opportunities to UMD students. Those declaring a major in Writing
Studies choose a track in professional writing or a track in journalism and
find a wide range of courses available to them. See the menu at the left for
links to the descriptions of the program requirements and other helpful
information.
To celebrate the new major, the
Department held an open house for students, faculty, staff, and administrators
during spring semester 2009. If you weren't at the event, you can click here to see photos. You can also read more about the major and the open
house in an article that was highlighted on the UMD homepage.
Other
Programs
The Writing Studies Department
also offers minors in:
- Information Design
- Journalism
- Linguistics
- Professional Writing
In addition, we participate in the Master of Arts program in English by offering graduate courses in the teaching of writing and in topics relevant to written discourse. Many of the MA students also serve as Graduate Instructors for the Writ 1120: College Writing course.
More information about any of the Writing Studies Department's programs can be picked up on campus from the Writing Studies Department, located at 420 Humanities, or further details are available online through the links on the menu at the left side of this page.
News
- UMD graduate wins New Journalist of the Year honor
Chris Olwell, a 2008 graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth won first place in the New Journalist of the Year category in the annual Minnesota Newspaper Association's awards competition. The award is given to the best new journalist in the state based on the writing produced during the previous year.
Olwell, a history major and journalism minor, is the editor of the Eden Prairie Sun Current.
In his time at UMD, Olwell worked as opinion editor for the Statesman before going on to an internship at the Duluth News Tribune. In 2008, he was among a handful of students chosen nationwide to participate in the Poynter Institute for Media Studies Summer Fellows program.
Olwell was also the recipient of UMD’s Gustaf Nordin Memorial Scholarship for Journalism in 2008 and the Washburn Prize for History in 2007.
For more information, read the story that appeared on the UMD homepage.
- South African journalists shared their perspectives on community media on January 25 - 26, 2010
Dr. John Hatcher hosted Anton van Zyl and Zaidi Khumalo of South Africa. Van Zyl is the publisher of a group of independent papers in the South Africa’s remote Limpopo province. Khumalo is editor of a one-man, monthly newspaper in one of the townships of Johannesburg. In spite of their different situations and backgrounds, they are strong allies, operating in a partnership that van Zyl describes using the Nguni word, "Ubuntu," which suggests individuals are measured by their relationships with others: "I am because you are."
The two journalists visited Minnesota from January 22 to January 30. They spoke in UMD journalism classes on Monday, January 25 and on Tuesday, January 26 presented a lecture for the Alworth Institute for International Studies, which was open to the public.
-
Read about the WRIT 1120 Writing Workshop in the UMD Library Connection
The Fall/Winter 2009 edition of the UMD Library's newsletter includes a brief article about the WRIT 1120 Writing Workshop, which operates in a room on the first floor of the library. To read more, click here.