Andreea Ritivoi, Department Head
Location: Baker Hall 259
https://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/english/

The Department of English at Carnegie Mellon engages students in the important study of reading and writing as intellectual activities embedded in historical, cultural, professional, technological, and literary practices. Working with experts in their areas, students become effective writers and analysts of various kinds of texts in a range of media, from traditional print documents to film, multimedia, and on-line texts. Faculty use distinctive methods of studying texts, but all share a deep commitment to working in small and intense workshops and seminars to help students learn to become experts in analyzing existing texts, and in producing original and distinctive work of their own.

The English Department offers the following degree programs:

• B.A. in Creative Writing
• B.A. in Film & Visual Media
• B.A. in Literature & Culture
• B.A. in Professional Writing
• B.S. in Technical Writing

All five majors are structured to allow students to balance liberal and professional interests. Students in the Creative Writing program focus on analyzing and learning to produce poetic and narrative forms. Students in the Film & Visual Media program focus on cultural analysis, writing, production, and digital media. Students in the Literature & Culture program focus on the production and interpretation of print texts and other media in their social and cultural contexts. Students in the Professional Writing program focus on analyzing and producing non-fiction for a variety of professional contexts. Students in the Technical Writing program focus on integrating writing with technical expertise in a chosen area of concentration (Technical Communication or Science & Medical Communication). In addition to the five majors, we offer five departmental minors as well as two interdisciplinary minors, and we strongly encourage non-majors in the campus community to join us in English courses, beginning with offerings at the 200-level.

Students also get involved in a range of complementary activities, including a reading series of distinguished writers of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction; publishing, editing, and marketing through involvement with The Oakland Review and The Carnegie Mellon University Press; writing and editorial positions on the student newspaper, The Tartan, and other campus publications. We also offer a strong internship program that places student writers in media, non-profit, arts, corporate, and technical internships before they graduate. The end of every year culminates in a gala event to celebrate our students and their writing achievements in literary, academic, and professional writing. For this event, known as the Pauline Adamson Awards, we invite a well-known writer to do a public reading and then present and celebrate student writing awards in over a dozen categories, all judged anonymously by writing professionals from outside the university.

Majoring in English: The Five English Degree Options

The department of English offers students five degree options:

• The B.A. in Creative Writing
• The B.A. in Film & Visual Media
• The B.A. in Literature & Culture
• The B.A. in Professional Writing
• The B.S. in Technical Writing 

Students who wish to broaden their experience with English courses may do so by taking more than the minimum requirements for each major or by combining two of the majors within the department for an additional major in English. Common combinations include, but are not limited to, a B.A. in Professional Writing with an additional major in Creative Writing; a B.A. in Creative Writing with an additional major in Literature & Culture; or a B.A. in Literature & Culture with an additional major in Professional Writing. Due to significant course overlap, students are not permitted to major in both Professional Writing and Technical Writing together. Consult the English Department and the section on “Completing an Additional Major in English” for further detail. 

All of the English majors may be combined with majors and minors from other Carnegie Mellon departments and colleges. The English Department advisor can help you explore the available options so that you can choose a major or combination of programs that is appropriate for your interests and goals.

How the Curriculum is Structured

In addition to Dietrich College requirements, English majors complete 11 to 13 courses (99 to 117 units) specifically related to their chosen major within English and structured as indicated below. Please note that courses between majors/minors in the Department of English may not double count, with the exception of the Film & Visual Media major, due to its courses being pulled from multiple programs within English. A maximum of two courses may double count between Film & Visual Media and programs inside the Department of English. A maximum of two courses may double count for programs outside of the Department of English. 

Core Requirements for the Specific Major (7 to 10 courses, 63 to 84 units)

Complete seven to ten courses.

The Core Requirements differ for each major and are designed explicitly to provide both breadth and depth within the specific major the student has chosen.

English Electives (3 to 4 courses, 27 to 36 units)

Complete three to four elective courses.

Elective Electives for the majors are designed to add breadth to each student’s study within English and to provide experience with the range of approaches to reading and writing available within the department. Students in all English majors are encouraged to sample widely from the Department’s offerings.

The B.A. in Creative Writing

Carnegie Mellon is one of only a few English departments in the country where undergraduates can major in Creative Writing (CW). In the CW major, students develop their talents in writing fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and creative nonfiction. While studying with faculty members who are writers, CW majors read widely in literature, explore the resources of their imaginations, sharpen their critical and verbal skills, and develop a professional attitude toward their writing. The extracurricular writing activities and a variety of writing internships available on and off campus provide Creative Writing majors with valuable experiences for planning their future.  After graduation, our Creative Writing majors go on to graduate writing programs and to careers in teaching, publishing, public relations, advertising, TV and film, freelance writing, and editing.

Students in the CW major are required to take two of the introductory genre writing courses: one in the spring of their first year, and one in the fall of their sophomore year. Choices include: 76-260 Introduction to Writing Fiction, 76-261 Introduction to Writing Creative Nonfiction, 76-265 Introduction to Writing Poetry, and 76-269 Introduction to Screenwriting. In order to proceed into the workshop courses, students must do well in these introductory courses (earn a grade of A or B). Creative Writing majors take four workshops in fiction, poetry, screenwriting, or nonfiction where the students’ work is critiqued and evaluated by peers and the faculty. They also take courses in literature, including a Readings in Forms course where they spend a semester reading extensively in one genre.

Opportunities

During their senior year, students may write a Senior Project or Honors Thesis (if they qualify for Dietrich College honors) under the supervision of a faculty member.

Carnegie Mellon also offers CW majors various extracurricular opportunities for professional development, including internships both on- and off-campus. For example, they may work as interns with the Carnegie Mellon University Press, which is housed in the English Department. The Press publishes scholarly works, as well as books of poetry and short stories by both new and established American writers.

Students may help edit and submit their work for publication to The Oakland Review, a Carnegie Mellon University sponsored and student-run annual journal. 

Students also have opportunities to read their works in a series of readings by student writers held in the Gladys Schmitt Creative Writing Center (also known as The Glad) and to hear nationally known authors as part of the Carnegie Mellon Visiting Writers series. Additionally, the English Department offers prizes for students each year in the writing of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and screenwriting. Student writers are celebrated during The Adamson Awards ceremony.  

Curriculum

In addition to satisfying all of the Dietrich College degree requirements for B.A. candidates, Creative Writing majors must complete 11 courses in the following areas:

Reading in Forms (1 course, 9 units):

		Units
76-362	Reading in Forms: Nonfiction	9
76-363	Reading in Forms: Poetry (or Reading in Forms: Poetry)	9
76-364	Reading in Forms: Fiction	9

Four Creative Writing Workshops (4 courses, 36 units)

Complete four Creative Writing workshops, at least two in a single genre. Workshops in all genres may be taken more than once for credit, except for Literary Journalism. Additionally, if a student has been accepted into the Dietrich College Senior Honors Program and is completing their thesis in the field of Creative Writing, they may use one semester of thesis credit (66-501 Dietrich College Senior Honors Thesis I or 66-502 Dietrich College Senior Honors Thesis II) to fulfill a workshop requirement. 

		Units
76-360	Literary Journalism Workshop	9
76-365	Beginning Poetry Workshop	9
76-460	Beginning Fiction Workshop	9
76-462	Advanced Fiction Workshop	9
76-465	Advanced Poetry Workshop	9
76-464	Creative Nonfiction Workshop	9
76-469	Screenwriting Workshop	9

English Electives (4 courses, 36 units)

Complete four additional courses from the English Department’s offerings. Two of the four English Electives must be courses that are designated as fulfilling the literature requirement and focus on close reading of literary texts. Please consult the list of courses published each semester by the Department for current offerings. English Electives may include any course offered by the Department at the 200 level or above. Additionally, English Electives can include no more than one course at the 200 level. The remaining English Electives must be at the 300 or 400 level. In choosing Electives, students are encouraged to sample courses from across the Department.

Double Counting

Students may double count up to two courses with other programs outside of the Department of English. NOTE: courses being used for the Dietrich General Education requirements do not have a double-counting limit.

Transfer Courses

Students may transfer up to two courses from other non-CMU programs/institutions toward the primary or additional major in Creative Writing or the BHA in Creative Writing, with the exception of one of the two required Introductory Genre Writing courses. If the two-course maximum is met, other related transfer courses will be considered for general education requirements and free electives for graduation. Please see the Dietrich College Advanced Standing and Transfer Credit Policy for more information.

Recommended Curriculum Pathway: B.A. in Creative Writing

This plan is the recommended pathway for completing the B.A. in Creative Writing in four years. While it is not required for students to follow this pathway precisely, it is highly recommended for students to do so, and we recommend students begin the major’s courses as early as possible. Students in Dietrich College may declare their primary major as early February 1. Students who have not declared their major in the Department of English may still take courses with us.

Students may also view the four-year plan (also known as a Pathway) for the B.A. in Creative Writing via the Stellic Degree Audit Application.

First-Year		Second-Year
Fall	Spring	Fall	Spring
GEN ED: Foundations: Communication Course	GEN ED: Foundations: Data Analysis Course	GEN ED: Foundations: Scientific Inquiry Course	GEN ED: Foundations: Intercultural & Global Inquiry Course
GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Humanities Course	GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Social Sciences Course	GEN ED: Foundations: Computational Thinking Course	GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Logic/Math Course
GEN ED: Grand Challenge Seminar Course	Introductory Genre Writing Course #1	Introductory Genre Writing Course #2	GEN ED: Equity & Justice Course
Free Elective	Free Elective	Reading in Forms Course	Creative Writing Workshop #1
Free Elective	Free Elective	Free Elective	Free Elective

Third-Year		Fourth-Year
Fall	Spring	Fall	Spring
GEN ED: Foundations: Contextual Thinking Course	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Additional Discipline Course (Business, Design, Engineering)	OPTIONAL GEN ED: Senior Capstone OR Free Elective
GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: The Arts Course	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	Creative Writing Literature Elective #2	Creative Writing Workshop #4
Creative Writing Literature Elective #1	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	Creative Writing English Elective #1	Creative Writing English Elective #2
Creative Writing Workshop #2	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	Creative Writing Workshop #3	Free Elective
Free Elective	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	Free Elective	Free Elective

The B.A. in Film & Visual Media

The Film & Visual Media major trains students through a combination of coursework in:

• visual media,
• film history and analysis,
• screenwriting,
• and production of film and other visual media.

This major offers a comprehensive education in film and visual media, from theoretical framing and historical-cultural contextualization to training skills in both creating and analyzing film, as well as the development of a complex blend of creative, professional and technical competencies.

CMU's Department of English is an ideal home for the Film & Visual Media major due to the department’s combination of creative writers, film and media studies scholars, film makers, digital humanities and visual communication researchers.

Curriculum

In additional to satisfying all of the Dietrich College degree requirements for B.A. candidates, Film & Visual Media majors must complete 12 courses in the following areas. Note: courses cannot double count between areas. For example, if you take 76-429 Introduction to Digital Humanities for the Digital Media area, you cannot also count that course for your Literature & Culture area.

Required introductory courses (2 courses, 18 units)

Course		Units
76-239	Introduction to Film Studies	9
76-259	Film History	9

Production Courses (2 courses, 18-21 units)

Required Course		Units
76-292	Introduction to Film Production *	9

*

Students who have completed 76-239 Introduction to Film Studies and/or 76-269 Introduction to Screenwriting will be given registration preference.

Additional Production Course (options include but are not limited to:)		Units
54-191	Acting for Non-Majors	9
60-110	Foundations: Time-Based Media	10
60-125	IDeATe: Introduction to 3D Animation Pipeline	12
60-141	Black and White Photography I	10
60-218	IDeATe Portal: Real-Time Animation	10
60-220	IDeATe: Technical Character Animation	10
60-245	Portrait Photography	10
60-333	IDeATe: Animation Rigging	10
60-415	Advanced ETB: Animation Studio	10
60-416	Advanced ETB: Documentary Storytelling	10
76-374	Mediated Narrative	9
76-481	Introduction to Multimedia Design	12

Screenwriting Courses (2 courses, 18 units)

Required Courses		Units
76-269	Introduction to Screenwriting	9
76-469	Screenwriting Workshop	9

Digital Media Courses (2 courses, 18-20 units)

Options include but are not limited to:		Units
15-104	Introduction to Computing for Creative Practice	10
60-125	IDeATe: Introduction to 3D Animation Pipeline	12
60-142	Digital Photography I	10
60-242	Digital Photography II	10
62-150	IDeATe Portal: Introduction to Media Synthesis and Analysis	10
76-314	Data Stories	9
76-388	Coding for Humanists	9
76-429	Introduction to Digital Humanities	9

Literature & Cultural Studies Courses (2 courses, 18 units)

Course options include but are not limited to the following:

Course		Units
76-203	Literature & Culture in the 18th Century	9
76-207	Special Topics in Literature & Culture	9
76-210	Banned Books	9
76-221	Books You Should Have Read By Now	9
76-232	Introduction to Black Literature	9
76-245	Shakespeare: Tragedies & Histories	9
76-247	Shakespeare: Comedies and Romances	9
76-310	Advanced Studies in Film and Media	9
76-313	Creative Visual Storytelling in Film Production	9
76-314	Data Stories	9
76-337	Intersectional Feminism	9
76-353	Transnational Feminisms: Fiction and Film	9
76-429	Introduction to Digital Humanities	9
76-439	Seminar in Film and Media Studies	9
76-440	Postcolonial Theory: Diaspora and Transnationalism	9
76-448	Shakespeare on Film	9

Topics in Film & Visual Media Studies Courses (2 courses, 18 units)

Course options include but are not limited to the following:

Course		Units
76-312	Crime and Justice in American Film	9
76-339	Topics in Film and Media (Can be taken more than once for credit, provided the course topic is new each time).	9
76-353	Transnational Feminisms: Fiction and Film	9
76-367	Fact Into Film: Translating History into Cinema	9
76-448	Shakespeare on Film	9
76-439	Seminar in Film and Media Studies	9
79-225	West African History in Film	9
79-306	Fact into Film: Translating History into Cinema	9
79-308	Crime and Justice in American Film	9
79-309	The Chinese Revolution Through Film (1949-2000)	9
79-319	India Through Film	6
79-326	Shall We Dance? Culture, Politics, and Movement in the 20th Century	6
79-339	History of Juvenile Delinquency & Juvenile Justice	9
82-215	Arab Culture Through Dialogues, Film, and Literature	9
82-278	Japanese Film and Literature: The Art of Storytelling	9
82-284	Multicultural Pittsburgh: VR Storytelling	6
82-296	From Augustine to Avatars: Personal Narratives Across Media	Var.
82-355	Tpcs in Hispanic Std: Beyond the Film Screen: The Hispanic World Through Film	9

Recommended Courses

While not required, a few courses are recommended as a part of the curriculum. They include:

76-310	Advanced Studies in Film and Media	9
76-323	Text to Screen	9
76-374	Mediated Narrative	9

Double Counting

Students may double count up to two courses with other programs outside of the Department of English. NOTE: courses being used for the Dietrich General Education requirements do not have a double-counting limit.

Transfer Courses

Students may transfer up to two advisor-approved courses from other programs outside of Carnegie Mellon University toward the primary or additional major in Film & Visual Media Studies, with the exception of 76-239 Introduction to Film Studies and 76-259 Film History. If the two-course maximum is met, other related transfer courses will be considered for general education requirements and free electives for graduation.  Please see the Dietrich College Advanced Standing and Transfer Credit Policy for more information.

Recommended Curriculum Pathway: B.A. in Film & Visual Media

This plan is the recommended pathway for completing the B.A. in Film & Visual Media in four years. While it is not required for students to follow this pathway precisely, it is highly recommended for students to do so, and we recommend students begin the major’s courses as early as possible. Students in Dietrich College may declare their primary major as early as February 1. Students who have not declared their major in the Department of English may still take courses with us.

Students may also view the four-year plan (also known as a Pathway) for the B.A. in Film & Visual Media via the Stellic Degree Audit Application.

First-Year		Second-Year
Fall	Spring	Fall	Spring
GEN ED: Foundations: Communication Course	GEN ED: Foundations: Data Analysis Course	GEN ED: Foundations: Scientific Inquiry Course	GEN ED: Foundations: Intercultural & Global Inquiry Course
GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Humanities Course	GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Social Sciences Course	GEN ED: Foundations: Computational Thinking Course	GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Logic/Math Course
GEN ED: Grand Challenge Seminar Course	76-310 Advanced Studies in Film and Media (recommended course, but not required)	76-259 Film History	76-469 Screenwriting Workshop
76-239 Introduction to Film Studies (Also counts as GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: The Arts)	Literature & Culture Course #1	76-269 Introduction to Screenwriting	Digital Media Course #1
Free Elective	Free Elective	76-292 Introduction to Film Production	Topics in Film Course #1

Third-Year		Fourth-Year
Fall	Spring	Fall	Spring
GEN ED: Foundations: Contextual Thinking Course	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc. OR Topics in Film Course #2	GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Additional (Business, Design, Engineering)	OPTIONAL GEN ED: Senior Capstone OR Free Elective
GEN ED: Equity and Justice Course	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc. OR 76374 Mediated Narrative (recommended course, but not required)	Topics in Film Course #2 OR Free Elective	76-374 Mediated Narrative (recommended course, but not required) OR Free Elective
Production Elective Course or 323 Text to Screen (which is a recommended course, but not required)	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc. OR Free Elective	Free Elective	Free Elective
Literature & Culture Course #2	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc. OR Free Elective	Free Elective	Free Elective
Digital Media Course #2	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc. OR Free Elective	Free Elective	Free Elective

The B.A. in Literature & Culture

The Literature & Culture Major teaches students how to read, interpret and write persuasively about novels, poems, plays and other imaginative works across a variety of genres and media forms. Along with teaching students the analytical skills and methodological tools to interpret these works, this major teaches the importance of understanding imaginative works within their cultural and historical contexts. In addition, the major is designed to train students in strong professional and academic skills like critical thinking, inductive reasoning and persuasive argumentation that are applicable to other fields of study and a variety of career paths.

Curriculum

In additional to satisfying all of the Dietrich College degree requirements for B.A. candidates, Literature & Culture majors must complete 13 courses in the following areas:

Requirements

13 courses, 117.0 units total

Required Introductory Courses (3 courses, 27 units)

Course		Units
76-26X	Introductory Genre Writing Course (Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, or Screenwriting)	9
76-245	Shakespeare: Tragedies & Histories	9
or 76-247	Shakespeare: Comedies and Romances
76-275	Introduction to Critical Writing	9

200-Level Literature & Culture Courses (2 courses, 18 units)

One course must cover the period of 1830 or before. NOTE: a single course cannot double count for both the Required Introductory Courses and the 200-Level Literature & Culture Courses. For example, you cannot count 76-245 Shakespeare: Tragedies & Histories as a Required Introductory Course as well as for the 200-Level Literature & Culture Course for the 1830 or Before requirement.

Options include but are not limited to:

Courses 1830 or Before
76-203	Literature & Culture in the 18th Century	9
76-230	Literature & Culture in the 19th Century	9
76-233	Literature and Culture in the Renaissance	9
76-245	Shakespeare: Tragedies & Histories (if not taken as one of the required introductory courses)	9
76-247	Shakespeare: Comedies and Romances (if not taken as one of the required introductory courses)	9

Additonal 200-Level Courses		Units
76-207	Special Topics in Literature & Culture	9
76-236	Major Fiction Then and Now	9
76-278	Japanese Film and Literature: The Art of Storytelling	9
76-282	Disability in Pop Culture	9
76-210	Banned Books	9
76-217	Literature & Culture of the 20th and 21st Century	9
76-221	Books You Should Have Read By Now	9
76-239	Introduction to Film Studies	9
76-241	Introduction to Gender Studies	9
76-242	American Woman Writers	9
76-245	Shakespeare: Tragedies & Histories	9
76-244	Immigrant Fictions	9
76-247	Shakespeare: Comedies and Romances	9
76-259	Film History	9
76-287	Sex & Texts	9

​300-Level Literature & Culture Courses (2 Courses, 18 units)

Course options include but are not limited to the following:

Course		Units
76-310	Advanced Studies in Film and Media	9
76-312	Crime and Justice in American Film	9
76-313	Creative Visual Storytelling in Film Production	9
76-314	Data Stories	9
76-317	Contemporary American Fiction	9
76-326	Contemporary Global Literature	9
76-329	Performing Race in Early Modernity	9
76-337	Intersectional Feminism	9
76-339	Topics in Film and Media	9
76-341	Race & Gender in the Age of Jane Austen	9
76-343	Rise of the American Novel	9
76-349	Climate Fictions	9
76-367	Fact Into Film: Translating History into Cinema	9
76-392	Special Topics in Literature & Culture	9

Theory Course (1 course, 9 units)

Course options include but are not limited to the following:

Course		Units
76-337	Intersectional Feminism	9
76-350	Critical Theories about Literature	9
76-376	History of Critical Ideas	9

Rhetoric Course (1 course, 9 units)

Course options include but are not limited to the following:

Course		Units
76-325	Intertextuality	9
76-327	Equity & Communication: Strategies for Institutional Change	9
76-351	Rhetorical Invention	9
76-373	Argument	9
76-384	Race, Nation, and the Enemy	9
76-388	Coding for Humanists	9
76-389	Rhetorical Grammar	9
76-415	Mediated Power and Propaganda	9
76-418	Rhetoric and the Body	9
76-425	Rhetoric, Science, and the Public Sphere	9
76-457	Rhetorical Invention	9
76-473	Rhetoric & the Construction of Race	9
76-476	Rhetoric of Science	9
76-483	Research Methods in Technical & Professional Communication	9
76-492	Rhetoric of Public Policy	9

400-Level Capstone Seminar Course (1 course, 9 units)

Each semester, a 400-level course is designated as the Capstone Seminar. Literature & Culture majors are required to take this course in their final semester. Course options may include but are not limited to the following:

Course		Units
76-408	Culture and Globalization	9
76-410	The Long Eighteenth Century	9
76-423	Transnational Feminisms	9
76-424	Theories of Social Class	9
76-429	Introduction to Digital Humanities	9
76-431	Gender Play in Early Modern Drama	9
76-439	Seminar in Film and Media Studies	9
76-440	Postcolonial Theory: Diaspora and Transnationalism	9
76-445	Milton	9
76-446	Revenge Tragedy	9
76-448	Shakespeare on Film	9
76-450	Law, Culture, and the Humanities	9
76-452	Generations and Culture	9
76-453	Literature of Empire	9
76-467	Crime Fiction and Film	9
76-468	Space and Mobilities	9
76-495	Other People's Words: The History, Theory, and Practice of Interviews	9

English Elective Courses (3 courses, 27 units)

Courses for the English Elective requirement can be fulfilled by choosing any of our 200- to 400-level courses. Students are encouraged to sample courses across our programs.

Double Counting

Students may double count up to two courses with other programs outside of the Department of English. NOTE: courses being used for the Dietrich General Education requirements do not have a double-counting limit.

Transfer Courses

Students may transfer up to two advisor-approved courses from other non-CMU programs/institutions toward the primary or additional major in Literature & Culture or the BHA in Literature & Culture, with the exception of the Required Introductory Courses. If the two-course maximum is met, other related transfer courses will be considered for general education requirements and free electives for graduation. Please see the Dietrich College Advanced Standing and Transfer Credit Policy for more information.

Recommended Curriculum Pathway: B.A. in Literature & Culture 

This plan is the recommended pathway for completing the B.A. in Literature & Culture in four years. While it is not required for students to follow this pathway precisely, it is highly recommended for students to do so, and we recommend students begin the major’s courses as early as possible. Students in Dietrich College may declare their primary major as early as February 1. Students who have not declared their major in the Department of English may still take courses with us.

Students may also view the four-year plan (also known as a Pathway) for the B.A. in Literature & Culture via the Stellic Degree Audit Application.

First-Year		Second-Year
Fall	Spring	Fall	Spring
GEN ED: Foundations: Communication Course	GEN ED: Foundations Data Analysis Course	GEN ED: Foundations Scientific Inquiry Course	GEN ED: Foundations Intercultural & Global Inquiry Course
GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Humanities Course	GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Social Sciences Course	GEN ED: Foundations: Computational Thinking Course	GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Logic/Math Course
GEN ED: Grand Challenge Seminar Course	76-245 Shakespeare: Tragedies & Histories (also fulfills the GEN ED: Foundations: Contextual Thinking requirement) if not fulfilled in Fall of First-Year, OR Free Elective)	GEN ED: Equity and Justice Course	200-Level Literature & Culture Course #1
76-247 Shakespeare: Comedies and Romances (also fulfills the GEN ED: Foundations: Contextual Thinking requirement), OR Free Elective	Free Elective	76-275 Introduction to Critical Writing	200-Level Literature & Culture Course #2
Free Elective	Free Elective	76-26x Introductory Genre Writing Course (Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, or Screenwriting)	Free Elective

Third-Year		Fourth-Year
Fall	Spring	Fall	Spring
GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: The Arts Course	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Additional Course (Business, Design, Engineering)	76-4xx Capstone Seminar
300-Level Literature & Culture Course #1	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	300-Level Literature & Culture Course #2	English Elective Course #2
Theory Course	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	English Elective Course #1	English Elective Course #3
Rhetoric Course	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	Free Elective	Free Elective
Free Elective	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	Free Elective	Free Elective

While the major appeals to students with strong professional interests, both core and elective requirements develop the broad intellectual background one expects from a university education and prepare students to either enter the workplace or pursue graduate study in fields as diverse as communications, law, business, and education. PW majors also have the opportunity to apply for the Department's accelerated MA in Professional Writing, the MAPW 4+1, which allows them to complete the degree in 2 semesters instead of the usual 3. Because the major in Professional Writing is deliberately structured as a flexible degree that allows a broad range of options, PW majors should consult closely with their English Department advisors on choosing both elective and required courses and in planning for internships and summer employment.Various opportunities for writers to gain professional experience and accumulate material for their writing portfolios are available through campus publications, department-sponsored internships for academic credit, and writing-related employment on and off campus.

PW majors also have the option of taking writing internships for academic credit during their junior or senior year and are also strongly encouraged to seek professional internships throughout their undergraduate years and during their summers. Opportunities in public and media relations, newspaper and magazine writing, healthcare communication, publishing, technical writing, public service organizations, and writing for the web and new media illustrate both internship possibilities and the kinds of employment that Professional Writing majors have taken after graduation.

Curriculum

In addition to satisfying all of the Dietrich College degree requirements for B.A. candidates, Professional Writing majors must fulfill 13 requirements in the following areas:

Professional Writing Core (10 courses, 84 units)

Departmental Core Requirement (1 courses, 9 units):

Introductory Genre Writing Course
76-260	Introduction to Writing Fiction	9
76-261	Intro to Writing Creative Nonfiction	9
76-265	Introduction to Writing Poetry	9
76-269	Introduction to Screenwriting	9

Professional Writing Core Requirements (4 courses, 30 units):

76-271	Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing	9
76-300	Professional Seminar	3
76-373	Argument	9
76-390	Style	9

Rhetoric/Language Studies Requirement (1 course, 9 units):

Complete one course from a set of varied offerings in Rhetoric/Language Studies as designated each term by the English Department. These courses focus explicitly on language and discourse as objects of study and emphasize the relationships of language, text structure, and meaning within specific contexts. Courses include but are not limited to the following:

Course		Units
76-301	Internship	Var.
76-319	Environmental Rhetoric	9
76-325	Intertextuality	9
76-327	Equity & Communication: Strategies for Institutional Change	9
76-351	Rhetorical Invention	9
76-360	Literary Journalism Workshop	9
76-384	Race, Nation, and the Enemy	9
76-389	Rhetorical Grammar	9
76-415	Mediated Power and Propaganda	9
76-476	Rhetoric of Science	9

Advanced Writing/Rhetoric Courses (4 courses, 36-42 units):

Complete four courses from a set of varied offerings in Advanced Writing/Rhetoric as designated each term by the English Department. Options include all courses that fulfill the Rhetoric requirement, plus additional courses in specialized areas of professional writing. Students should select courses in consultation with their English Department advisor or the Director of Professional Writing. Courses include but are not limited to the following:

		Units
76-301	Internship	Var.
76-302	Communication Support Tutoring Practicum	6
76-314	Data Stories	9
76-319	Environmental Rhetoric	9
76-351	Rhetorical Invention	9
76-354	Watchdog Journalism	9
76-360	Literary Journalism Workshop	9
76-372	News Writing	9
76-380	Methods in Humanities Analytics	9
76-388	Coding for Humanists	9
76-389	Rhetorical Grammar	9
76-391	Document & Information Design	9
76-395	Science Writing	9
76-415	Mediated Power and Propaganda	9
76-418	Rhetoric and the Body	9
76-425	Rhetoric, Science, and the Public Sphere	9
76-457	Rhetorical Invention	9
76-464	Creative Nonfiction Workshop	9
76-474	Software Documentation	9
76-475	Law, Performance, and Identity	9
76-476	Rhetoric of Science	9
76-481	Introduction to Multimedia Design	12
76-484	Discourse Analysis	9
76-492	Rhetoric of Public Policy	9
76-487	Information Architecture & Content Design (formerly titled Web Design)
76-494	Healthcare Communications	9
76-496	Research Methods in Rhetoric & Writing Studies (instructor permission required)	9

English Electives (3 Courses, 27 Units)

Complete three courses from any of English Department’s offerings (exceptions include 76-270, which is designed for non-majors). One may be at the 200-level or above; the remaining two must be at the 300- or 400-level. Two must be courses designated as Text/Context Electives, which focus on the relationship between texts and their cultural and historical contexts.

Double Counting

Students may double count up to two courses with other programs outside of the Department of English. Note: courses being used for the Dietrich General Education requirements do not have a double-counting limit.

Transfer Courses

Students may transfer up to two advisor-approved courses from other non-CMU programs/institutions toward the primary or additional major in Professional Writing or the BHA in Professional Writing, with the exception of the Departmental Core Requirement course and the Professional Writing Core Requirement courses. If the two-course maximum is met, other related transfer courses will be considered for general education requirements and free electives for graduation.. Please see the Dietrich College Advanced Standing and Transfer Credit Policy for more information.

Recommended Curriculum Pathway: B.A. in Professional Writing

This plan is the recommended pathway for completing the B.A. in Professional Writing in four years. While it is not required for students to follow this pathway precisely, it is highly recommended for students to do so, and we recommend students begin the major’s courses as early as possible. Students in Dietrich College may declare their primary major as early as February 1. Students who have not declared their major in the Department of English may still take courses with us.

Students may also view the four-year plan (also known as a Pathway) for the B.A. in Professional Writing via the Stellic Degree Audit Application.

First-Year		Second-Year
Fall	Spring	Fall	Spring
GEN ED: Foundations: Communication Course	GEN ED: Foundations Data Analysis Course	GEN ED: Foundations Scientific Inquiry Course	GEN ED: Foundations Intercultural & Global Inquiry Course
GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Humanities Course	GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Social Sciences Course	GEN ED: Foundations: Computational Thinking Course	GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Logic/Math Course
GEN ED: Grand Challenge Seminar Course	76-271 Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing	76-26x Introductory Genre Writing Course (Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, or Screenwriting)	GEN ED: Equity and Justice Course
Free Elective	Free Elective	76-300 Professional Seminar	76-390 Style
Free Elective	Free Elective	Free Elective	Text/Context Course #1
		Free Elective

Third-Year		Fourth-Year
Fall	Spring	Fall	Spring
GEN ED: Foundations: Contextual Thinking	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Additional Course (Business, Design, Engineering)	Optional GEN ED: Senior Capstone
GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: The Arts Course	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	Advanced Writing/Rhetoric Course #2	76-373 Argument
Rhetoric/Language Studies Course	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	Advanced Writing/Rhetoric Course #3	Advanced Writing/Rhetoric Course #4
English Elective	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	Text/Context Course #2	Free Elective
Advanced Writing/Rhetoric Course #1	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	Free Elective	Free Elective

The B.S. in Technical Writing 

The B.S. in Technical Writing (TW) is one of the oldest undergraduate technical communication degrees in the country with a history that stretches back to 1958. The degree is specifically designed to prepare students for successful careers involving scientific, technical, and computer-related communication, including writing and designing for digital media.

Today’s technical communicators have the strong backgrounds in technology, communication, and design needed to enter a broad range of information-based fields, and do work that both includes and goes well beyond writing documents for print distribution. The expanding range of options includes positions that involve organizing, managing, communicating, and facilitating the use of both technical and non-technical information in a range of fields and media.

Technical communicators develop and design web sites, explain science and technology to the public, develop print and multimedia materials, develop information management systems, design and deliver corporate training, and develop support systems for consumer products ranging from software for word processing or personal finances to complex data management systems.

The B.S. in TW recognizes the important changes taking place in communication-based careers and includes two distinctive “tracks,” one in Technical Communication (TC) and one in Scientific and Medical Communication (SMC). Both tracks begin with a common core of foundation courses in print and on-line communication as well as a shared set of prerequisites in math, statistics, and computer programming. The two tracks differ in the set of theory/specialization courses beyond the core, with each track including a specialized set appropriate to its focus.

In both tracks, TW students work on real projects for actual clients, learn group interaction and management skills, and develop a flexible repertoire of skills and strategies to keep up with advances in software and technology. Above all, they focus on developing structures and information strategies to solve a broad range of communication and information design problems.

TW students are able to draw on exceptional resources on and off campus to enhance their education. Most obvious are the course offerings of Carnegie Institute of Technology, the Mellon College of Science, and the School of Computer Science. Additional course offerings in business, organizational behavior, policy and management, psychology, history, and design are also encouraged. As a capstone experience, Seniors have the opportunity to complete a Senior Project or, upon invitation from the college, a Senior Honors Thesis. TW students can also apply for grants and fellowship through the Undergraduate Research Office to work on independent research projects with faculty.

While the major appeals to students with strong professional interests, both core and elective requirements develop the broad intellectual background one expects from a university education and prepare students to either enter the workplace upon graduation or pursue graduate study in fields as diverse as communications, business, instructional design, information design, education, and science and healthcare writing.

Various opportunities for writers to gain professional experience are available through campus publications, department-sponsored internships for academic credit, and writing-related employment on and off campus. TW students have the option of doing internships for academic credit during their junior or senior year and are encouraged to pursue a series of internships throughout their 4 years and during their summers.

All TW students are required to enroll in the English Department’s 3-unit course, Professional Seminar (76-300), which meets once a week during the fall term and provides majors with the opportunity to meet and network with practicing professionals in a range of communications fields.

The Technical Communication (TC) Track

The Technical Communication track (TC) prepares students for careers in the rapidly changing areas of software and digital media. Students learn the fundamentals of visual, verbal, and on-line communication as well as the technical skills needed to design, communicate, and evaluate complex communication systems and to manage the interdisciplinary teams needed to develop them. Students become fluent in both print-based and electronic media across a variety of information genres and learn to design information for a range of specialist and non-expert audiences. The TW/TC major can be pursued as a primary major within Dietrich College or as an additional major for students in other Colleges with an interest in combining their specialized subject matter knowledge with strong writing and communications skills. Graduates of this track are likely to follow in the footsteps of previous TW students from Carnegie Mellon who are currently employed as web designers, information specialists, technical writers, and information consultants in a range of technology and communication-based organizations including Salesforce, IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, Apple, and HP Vertica.

The Scientific and Medical Communication (SMC) Track

The Scientific and Medical Communication track (SMC) is designed for students who seek careers that focus on communication and information design problems in health, science, and medicine. It should appeal to students with interests in the health care professions, science and public policy, patient education, scientific journalism and related fields. Like the TC track, the SMC track is designed to provide both the technical and the communication skills needed to analyze and solve complex communication problems. Students learn the fundamentals of visual, verbal, and on-line communication as well as the technical skills needed to design, communicate, and evaluate complex information systems and to manage the interdisciplinary teams needed to develop them. Students become fluent in both print-based and electronic media across a variety of information genres and learn to design information for a range of specialist and non-expert audiences The TW/SMC major can be pursued as a primary major within Dietrich College or as a secondary major for students in other Colleges, such as MCS, with an interest in science or medicine.

Curriculum

All Technical Writing majors must satisfy the Dietrich College requirements for the B.S. degree, and a set of 3 to 4 prerequisite courses in calculus, statistics, and computer science. All prerequisites should be completed by the beginning of the fall semester, junior year. Prerequisites may double count toward Dietrich College Requirements or requirements for other majors or minors.

Mathematics Prerequisite (1 course, 10 units):

Complete one of the following:		Units
21-111	Calculus I	10
21-112	Calculus II	10
21-120	Differential and Integral Calculus	10
21-127	Concepts of Mathematics	12

Statistics Prerequisite (1 course, 9 units):

36-200

Reasoning with Data

9

Computer Science Prerequisites (1 - 2 courses*, 10 - 22 units):

Students in the Technical Communication track must complete two required Computer Science courses:		Units
15-110	Principles of Computing	10
15-112	Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science	12

Students in the Scientific and Medical Communication track complete one required Computer Science course:		Units
15-110	Principles of Computing	10

15-110 Principles of Computing is designed for students with little or no prior programming experience and is appropriate for students in both the SMC and TC tracks. 15-112 Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science prepares students in the TC track for all other advanced Computer Science courses.

Beyond these prerequisites, students in both TC and SMC tracks take a common set of 5 TW Core Requirements in writing, communication, and information design. To complement these foundations courses, TW students take a set of 3 Theory/Specialization courses specific to either TC or SMC. In addition, students in the SMC track take a series of 3 courses in the natural sciences or engineering relevant to their areas of interest, while TC students take 3 electives in management, technology, and social issues.

DEPARTMENTAL CORE REQUIREMENT (1 COURSE, 9 UNITS):

Introductory Genre Writing Course
76-260	Introduction to Writing Fiction	9
76-261	Intro to Writing Creative Nonfiction	9
76-265	Introduction to Writing Poetry	9
76-269	Introduction to Screenwriting	9

TW Core Requirements (5 courses, 45 units):

76-271	Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing	9
76-300	Professional Seminar	3
76-390	Style	9
76-391	Document & Information Design *	9
76-487	Information Architecture & Content Strategy	9
76-488	Information Architecture & Content Strategy Lab	3

*  prerequisite = 76-271 Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing
**prerequisite = 76-271 Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing + 76-391 Document & Information Design

Theory/Specialization Courses (3 courses, 27 units):

Complete 3 courses to deepen your area of specialty and complement your chosen track (TC or SMC) in the major. One must be chosen from among courses designated as Recommended Options for TW majors. Theory/Specialization courses, including those marked as Recommended Options, are advertised by the English Department on a semester-by-semester basis. TW students should select courses in consultation with their academic advisor.

Recommended courses include but are not limited to the following:		Units
76-319	Environmental Rhetoric	9
76-395	Science Writing	9
76-425	Rhetoric, Science, and the Public Sphere	9
76-474	Software Documentation	9
76-476	Rhetoric of Science	9
76-481	Introduction to Multimedia Design *	12
76-491	Rhetorical Analysis	9
76-494	Healthcare Communications	9

Additional Options include but are not limited to the following:		Units
76-301	Internship	Var.
76-302	Communication Support Tutoring Practicum	6
76-318	Communicating in the Global Marketplace	9
76-319	Environmental Rhetoric	9
76-325	Intertextuality	9
76-351	Rhetorical Invention	9
76-360	Literary Journalism Workshop	9
76-372	News Writing	9
76-389	Rhetorical Grammar	9
76-395	Science Writing	9
76-425	Rhetoric, Science, and the Public Sphere	9
76-474	Software Documentation	9
76-475	Law, Performance, and Identity	9
76-476	Rhetoric of Science	9
76-481	Introduction to Multimedia Design	12
76-484	Discourse Analysis	9
39-605	Engineering Design Projects	12

Electives (3 courses, 27 units):

TW majors take 3 courses outside of English to deepen their area of specialty in their track. Typically, students in the Technical Communication (TC) track select courses that focus on management, technology, and social issues. Students in the Science and Medical Communication (SMC) track select courses in the natural sciences, engineering, statistics or (for example) healthcare-related courses in the Heinz College. Students should work with their academic advisor and the Program Director to select courses that are meaningful for their track.

Double Counting

Students may double count up to two courses with other programs outside of the Department of English. NOTE: courses being used for the Dietrich General Education requirements do not have a double-counting limit. Also, the Mathematics and Computer Science prerequisite requirement courses for the Technical Writing major do not have a double-counting limit, nor do the Electives required for each specific track (TC track or SMC track).

Transfer Courses

Students may transfer up to two advisor-approved courses from other non-CMU programs/institutions toward the primary or additional major in Creative Writing or the BHA in Technical Writing, with the exception of the Introductory Genre Writing Course and Technical Writing Core Requirement Courses. If the two-course maximum is met, other related transfer courses will be considered for general education requirements and free electives for graduation. Please see the Dietrich College Advanced Standing and Transfer Credit Policy for more information.

Recommended Curriculum Pathway: B.S. in Technical Writing

This plan is the recommended pathway for completing the B.S. in Technical Writing in four years. While it is not required for students to follow this pathway precisely, it is highly recommended for students to do so, and we recommend students begin the major’s courses as early as possible. Students in Dietrich College may declare their primary major as early as February 1. Students who have not declared their major in the Department of English may still take courses with us.

Students may also view the four-year plan (also known as a Pathway) for the B.S. in Technical Writing via the Stellic Degree Audit Application.

First-Year		Second-Year
Fall	Spring	Fall	Spring
GEN ED: Foundations: Communication Course	GEN ED: Foundations Data Analysis Course	GEN ED: Foundations Scientific Inquiry Course	GEN ED: Foundations Intercultural & Global Inquiry Course
GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Humanities Course	GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Social Sciences Course	15-112 Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science (for TC Track students) OR Free Elective (for SMC Track students)	GEN ED: Equity and Justice Course
GEN ED: Grand Challenge Seminar Course	15-110 Principles of Computing	76-26x Introductory Genre Writing Course (Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, or Screenwriting)	76-390 Style
Mathematics Prerequisite Course for TW Major	76-271 Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing	76-300 Professional Seminar	Technical Communication Elective #1 (TC Track students) OR Free Elective (SMC Track students)
Free Elective	Free Elective	Free Elective	Free Elective

Third-Year		Fourth-Year
Fall	Spring	Fall	Spring
GEN ED: Foundations: Contextual Thinking	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: Additional Course (Business, Design, Engineering)	Optional GEN ED: Senior Capstone
GEN ED: Disciplinary Perspectives: The Arts Course	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	Theory and Specialization Course #1 (from Recommended List)	Theory and Specialization Course #3
76-391 Document & Information Design	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	Theory and Specialization Course #2	Free Elective (TC Track students) OR Natural Science & Engineering Elective #3 (SMC Track students)
Technical Communication Elective #2 (TC Track students) OR Natural Science & Engineering Elective #1 (SMC Track students)	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	Technical Communication Elective #3 (TC Track students) OR Natural Science & Engineering Eletive #2 (SMC Track students)	76-487 Information Architecture & Content Strategy
Free Elective	Open for course exploration, requirements for other majors/minors, study abroad, etc.	Free Elective	76-488 Information Architecture & Content Strategy Lab
			Free Elective

*These courses must be taken in the sequence indicated. 76-271 is offered all semesters and therefore can be taken fall or spring of sophomore year. 76-271 is a prerequisite for 76-391, and 76-271 + 76-391 are the prerequisites for 76-487 and 76-488. 76-391 is typically only offered in the fall semesters, and 76-487 and 76-488 are typically only offered in spring semesters.

Students with a primary major in the English Department and one or more additional majors in the English Department must fulfill the Core Requirements for each of those majors. The Survey of Forms requirement, common to all 5 majors, needs to be taken only once, with the exception of Creative Writing, which requires two Survey of Forms courses. For the English Department majors that require English Electives, students must complete the number of English Electives required by the major with the higher number of Electives. For example, a student with a primary major in Creative Writing and an additional major in Professional Writing would take 4 English Electives, as Creative Writing requires 4 English Electives, and Professional Writing requires only 3 English Electives.

Because students are only required to take a minimum of one Introductory Genre Writing course, with the exception of Creative Writing, which requires two Introductory Genre Writing courses, as well as the number of English Electives that is greater between the primary and additional major(s), students can generally add an additional major within the English Department by completing 6 to 9 additional courses.

Because sequencing of courses can become an issue when doing multiple majors, students are strongly advised to consult closely with the English Department academic advisor about the sequence of their courses. The English Department academic advisor can also provide students with documents that clearly outline the requirements for additional majors based on their primary majors within the Department.

For Students with a Primary Major Outside of the English Department

Students in other departments who wish to complete an additional major in the English Department should contact the English Department's academic advisor. Additional majors in the five English programs are required to complete all requirements for the chosen major. The English Department will allow a maximum of two courses from the additional major to double count with the primary major requirements. (The types of courses that apply to this policy are predetermined by the Department of English. See the English Academic Advisor for more details.) The only exceptions to this rule are the Technical Communication Electives for the Technical Communication concentration in the Technical Writing major and the Natural Science and Engineering Electives for the Science & Medical Communication concentration in the Technical Writing major. All of those electives may double count with programs outside of the English Department. In planning schedules for an additional major, it is critically important that students consult with academic advisors in both departments in which they are majoring to be sure that all requirements for graduation can be met.

Transfer Courses for Additional Majors

The transfer course policy for additional majors is the same of that for primary majors. Please see the Transfer Courses section for the degree that aligns with your additional major. For example: If you have an additional major in Creative Writing, you will consult the Transfer Courses section for the B.A. in Creative Writing.

Minor in English

The English Department also offers minors in Creative Writing, Humanities Analytics, Literature & Culture, Professional Writing, and Technical Writing. We also house two Dietrich College interdisciplinary minors in Film and Media Studies and Gender Studies. All of these minors are available to all undergraduate students, including English majors.

Double Counting

Students who have a minor in English as well as a primary and/or an additional major in English may not double count any English courses with that minor. (Please see the separate double counting rules for the interdisciplinary minors in Film and Media Studies and Gender Studies.) Otherwise, up to two courses from the minor may double count with programs outside of the English Department. Courses that meet the various requirements are advertised on a semester-by-semester basis. Full descriptions are available each semester on the Department's Courses web page. 

Transfer Courses

Students may transfer in a maximum of one advisor-approved course from an institution outside of Carnegie Mellon University, with the exception of the following courses, to count toward a minor:

• Creative Writing: 76-26x Introductory Genre Writing Course
• Humanities Analytics: 76-275 Introduction to Critical Writing and 76-380 Methods in Humanities Analytics
• Film & Visual Media: 76-239 Introduction to Film Studies and 76-310 Advanced Studies in Film and Media
• Literature & Culture: 76-26x Introductory Genre Writing Course and  76-275 Introduction to Critical Writing
• Professional Writing: Required Intro Course and the Core Writing Courses
• Technical Writing: Required Intro Course and the Core Writing Courses

Courses that meet the various requirements are advertised on a semester-by-semester basis. Full descriptions are available each semester on the Department's Courses web page. 

Creative Writing Minor

Complete 6 courses and a minimum of 54 units, which includes First-Year Writing.

Course		Units
First-Year Writing *		9
One Introductory Genre Writing Course †		9
76-xxx	Two 300/400 level Fiction, Poetry, and/or Screenwriting Workshop Classes	18
76-3xx	One Reading in Forms Course	9
76-2xx	One 200-level or above English Elective	9

*

Course options include 76-101, 76-102, [76-106 and 76-107], [76-106 and 76-108], or [76-107 and 76-108].

+

A student must earn a grade of A or B in the Introductory Genre Writing course in order to be eligible to enroll in a workshop of that same genre. A student who earns a grade of C in an Introductory Genre Writing course may enroll in a related workshop only with the permission of his/her/their workshop professor. A student who earns a D or R in an Introductory Genre Writing course may not take a workshop in that same genre.

†

Course options include 76-260, 76-261, 76-265, and 76-269.

Humanities Analytics Minor

Tech CEOs and data scientists are increasingly calling for employees with more exposure to the humanities.  

At the same time, the human experience that is traditionally at the core of a humanities education is being dramatically transformed by the emergence of big data, digital platforms, computational thinking, and digital connectivity. 

Spurred by such developments, the minor in Humanities Analytics (HumAn) trains students in the processes involved in analyzing, digitizing, questioning, quantifying, and visualizing different types of humanities and cultural phenomena, such as printed books, fan fiction, manuscripts, historical records, art, music, and film.

The minor is open to students across multiple colleges and degree programs and enriches their education in distinct ways that complement their primary majors. For example, students with a primary major in a humanities or social science department will learn the foundational methods used in the computational analysis of text. Students with a primary major in a non-humanities field will use technology as a lens into cultural history and will develop skills for making humanities knowledge visible and appealing. The minor bridges divides not only between the "digital/technological" and the "humanistic," but also between the qualitative and quantitative, between theory and application, and between critiquing and making.

HumAn prepares students for careers in: 

• Technology

• Data Science

• Data Journalism

• Cultural Commentary

• Natural Language Processing

• Professional Writing

• Publishing

• Museums

• Libraries

• Academia

Curriculum

Required Courses6 courses, 54 units minimum

Required Courses		Units
76-275	Introduction to Critical Writing	9
76-380	Methods in Humanities Analytics	9

Two core courses from the following list:		Units
76-314	Data Stories	9
76-388	Coding for Humanists	9
76-425	Rhetoric, Science, and the Public Sphere	9
76-429	Introduction to Digital Humanities	9
88-275	Bubbles: Data Science for Human Minds	9
88-300	Programming and Data Analysis for Social Scientists	9

Electives2 courses, 15-24 units

Choose two courses from the following categories. One course must come from List A, and one from List B. Additional courses not on List A or List B may also be approved as electives; please speak with the English Department academic advisor for more information.

List A

Course Number & Title		Units
05-391	Designing Human Centered Software	12
05-434/11-344	Machine Learning in Practice	12
11-411	Natural Language Processing	12
11-441/741	Machine Learning with Graphs 1	9
15-104	Introduction to Computing for Creative Practice	10
15-110	Principles of Computing	10
15-112	Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science	12
16-223	IDeATe Portal: Creative Kinetic Systems	10
16-385	Computer Vision	12
17-340	Green Computing	9
17-450	Crafting Software	12
17-562	Law of Computer Technology	9
18-090	Twisted Signals: Multimedia Processing for the Arts	10
36-202	Methods for Statistics & Data Science	9
36-204	Discovering the Data Universe	3
36-226	Introduction to Statistical Inference	9
36-311	Statistical Analysis of Networks	9
36-315	Statistical Graphics and Visualization 2	9
36-350	Statistical Computing 2	9
36-462	Special Topics: Statistical Machine Learning	9
48-095	Spatial Concepts for Non-Architecture Majors	Var.
48-120	Digital Media I	6
51-229	Digital Photographic Imaging	9
53-451	Research Issues in Game Development: Designing for XR	12
60/62-142	Digital Photography I	10
62-150	IDeATe Portal: Introduction to Media Synthesis and Analysis	10

¹

Course is very mathematical and is therefore appropriate only to students with such a preparation.

²

This course has prerequisites.

List B

Course Number & Title		Units
76-210	Banned Books	9
76-245	Shakespeare: Tragedies & Histories	9
76-247	Shakespeare: Comedies and Romances	9
76-325	Intertextuality	9
76-373	Argument	9
76-385	Introduction to Discourse Analysis	9
76-476	Rhetoric of Science	9
76-491	Rhetorical Analysis	9
79-200	Introduction to Historical Research & Writing	9
79-234	Technology and Society	9
80-180	Nature of Language: An Introduction to Linguistics	9
80-280	Linguistic Analysis	9
80-381	Meaning in Language	9
80-383	Language in Use	9
82-282	Interpreting Global Texts & Cultures	Var.
82-283	Language Diversity & Cultural Identity	9
82-383	Second Language Acquisition: Theories and Research	9
82-480	Translation Technologies	9

Literature & Culture Minor

Complete 6 courses and a minimum of 54 units, including First-Year Writing as a prerequisite.

Curriculum 

Required Courses6 courses, 54 units

Two Introductory Courses		Units
76-275	Introduction to Critical Writing	9
76-26x	Introductory Genre Writing Course (Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, or Screenwriting)	9
		18

200-Level Literature & Culture Courses (2 courses, 18 units)

One course must cover the period of 1830 or before. For example, Course options include but are not limited to the following:

Courses for 1830 or Before		Units
76-203	Literature & Culture in the 18th Century	9
76-230	Literature & Culture in the 19th Century	9
76-233	Literature and Culture in the Renaissance	9
76-245	Shakespeare: Tragedies & Histories	9
76-247	Shakespeare: Comedies and Romances	9

Courses include but are not limited to:		Units
76-203	Literature & Culture in the 18th Century	9
76-207	Special Topics in Literature & Culture	9
76-210	Banned Books	9
76-217	Literature & Culture of the 20th and 21st Century	9
76-221	Books You Should Have Read By Now	9
76-230	Literature & Culture in the 19th Century	9
76-232	Introduction to Black Literature	9
76-233	Literature and Culture in the Renaissance	9
76-239	Introduction to Film Studies	9
76-290	Literature & Culture in the 20th Century	9
76-241	Introduction to Gender Studies	9
76-245	Shakespeare: Tragedies & Histories (if not taken for pre-1830 requirement)	9
76-247	Shakespeare: Comedies and Romances (if not taken for pre-1830 requirement)	9
76-259	Film History	9
76-287	Sex & Texts	9

​300- or 400-Level Literature & Culture or Theory Courses (2 Courses, 18 units)

Course options include but are not limited to the following:

Courses include but are not limited to:		Units
76-310	Advanced Studies in Film and Media	9
76-313	Creative Visual Storytelling in Film Production	9
76-314	Data Stories	9
76-315	19th Century American Literature	9
76-317	Contemporary American Fiction	9
76-326	Contemporary Global Literature	9
76-329	Performing Race in Early Modernity	9
76-337	Intersectional Feminism	9
76-339	Topics in Film and Media	9
76-343	Rise of the American Novel	9
76-350	Critical Theories about Literature	9
76-353	Transnational Feminisms: Fiction and Film	9
76-367	Fact Into Film: Translating History into Cinema	9
76-429	Introduction to Digital Humanities	9
76-439	Seminar in Film and Media Studies	9
76-440	Postcolonial Theory: Diaspora and Transnationalism	9
76-445	Milton	9
76-448	Shakespeare on Film	9
76-452	Generations and Culture	9
76-453	Literature of Empire	9
76-454	Rise of the Blockbuster	9
76-467	Crime Fiction and Film	9

Professional Writing Minor

Complete 6 courses and a minimum of 54 units.

Required Intro Course		Units
76-270	Writing for the Professions	9
or 76-271	Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing

Two 200- or 300-Level Core Writing Courses		Units
76-26x	Introductory Genre Writing Course (Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, or Screenwriting)	9
76-373	Argument	9
76-389	Rhetorical Grammar	9
76-390	Style	9

Two 300- or 400-Level Writing Courses (18 units minimum)		Units
76-306	Editing and Publishing (requires instructor permission)	Var.
76-308	Literary Journal Publishing	Var.
76-314	Data Stories	9
76-318	Communicating in the Global Marketplace	9
76-325	Intertextuality	9
76-351	Rhetorical Invention	9
76-354	Watchdog Journalism	9
76-360	Literary Journalism Workshop	9
76-372	News Writing	9
76-384	Race, Nation, and the Enemy	9
76-388	Coding for Humanists	9
76-391	Document & Information Design	9
76-395	Science Writing	9
76-397	Instructional Text Design	9
76-415	Mediated Power and Propaganda	9
76-418	Rhetoric and the Body	9
76-425	Rhetoric, Science, and the Public Sphere	9
76-457	Rhetorical Invention	9
76-474	Software Documentation	9
76-475	Law, Performance, and Identity	9
76-476	Rhetoric of Science	9
76-481	Introduction to Multimedia Design	12
76-484	Discourse Analysis	9
76-487	Information Architecture & Content Strategy	9
76-488	Information Architecture & Content Strategy Lab	3
76-492	Rhetoric of Public Policy	9
76-494	Healthcare Communications	9
76-496	Research Methods in Rhetoric & Writing Studies (requires instructor permission)	9

One 200-Level or Above English Elective		Units
Students may choose from the Department's listings. Please contact the academic advisor for more information.		9

Technical Writing Minor

Complete 6 courses and a minimum of 54 units.

Required Intro Course		Units
76-270	Writing for the Professions	9
or 76-271	Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing

Two 200- or 300-Level Core Writing Courses		Units
76-373	Argument	9
76-389	Rhetorical Grammar	9
76-390	Style	9
76-391	Document & Information Design	9

Two 300- or 400-Level Theory/Specialization Courses (18 units minimum)		Units
76-301	Internship (requires department approval)	Var.
76-302	Communication Support Tutoring Practicum	Var.
76-314	Data Stories	9
76-318	Communicating in the Global Marketplace	9
76-380	Methods in Humanities Analytics	9
76-395	Science Writing	9
76-397	Instructional Text Design	9
76-474	Software Documentation	9
76-476	Rhetoric of Science	9
76-481	Introduction to Multimedia Design	12
76-483	Research Methods in Technical & Professional Communication	9
76-487	Information Architecture & Content Strategy	9
76-488	Information Architecture & Content Strategy Lab	3
76-496	Research Methods in Rhetoric & Writing Studies (requires instructor approval)	9

Additional 300- or 400-Level Theory/Specialization Course		Units
In addition to any of the courses above that have not already been taken, courses include but are not limited to:
76-306	Editing and Publishing (requires instructor approval)	Var.
76-318	Communicating in the Global Marketplace	9
76-325	Intertextuality	9
76-354	Watchdog Journalism	9
76-360	Literary Journalism Workshop	9
76-372	News Writing	9
76-384	Race, Nation, and the Enemy	9
76-389	Rhetorical Grammar	9
76-415	Mediated Power and Propaganda	9
76-418	Rhetoric and the Body	9
76-457	Rhetorical Invention	9
76-464	Creative Nonfiction Workshop	9
76-475	Law, Performance, and Identity	9
76-492	Rhetoric of Public Policy	9
76-494	Healthcare Communications	9

Senior Honors Thesis

Seniors in all five majors in the Department of English who meet the necessary requirements are invited by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (Dietrich College) to propose and complete a Senior Honors Thesis during their final year of study. The thesis may focus on research and/or original production in any of the areas offered as a major within the Department. To qualify for the Dietrich College Honors Program, students must have a cumulative Quality Point Average (QPA) of at least 3.50 in their major and 3.25 overall at the end of their junior year and be invited by Dietrich College to participate. Students then choose a thesis advisor within the Department and propose and get approval from Dietrich College for a Senior Honors Thesis. The Honors Thesis is completed over the two semesters of the senior year (9 units each semester) under the direction of the chosen advisor. By successfully completing the thesis, students earn 18 units of credit and qualify for graduation with “College Honors.”

Creative Writing majors participating in the Senior Honors Thesis program who thesis is directly related to their Creative Writing major may petition to have one semester of their thesis work count as one of their Workshop course requirements.

Internships for Credit

Qualified students in all five of the Department’s degree programs have the option of doing a professional internships for academic credit during. These opportunities help students explore possible program-related careers as well as gain workplace experience. Our students have interned in a wide variety of communications-related positions including placements at local radio, television, and print publications; museums, theaters, and cultural organizations; non-profit and public service organizations; public relations, advertising, and marketing firms; software and technology companies; media organizations; and hospitals and healthcare communication organizations.

Students majoring in Creative Writing, Film & Visual Media, Literature & Culture, Professional Writing, or Technical Writing can count one 9.0- or 12.0-unit enrollment in 76-301 Internship toward requirements in their major.

• In Creative Writing these 9.0- to 12.0 units can count toward the fulfillment of an English elective.

• In Film & Visual Media, these 9.0- to 12.0 units can count toward a production elective.

• In Professional Writing, these 9.0- to 12.0 units can count towards the fulfillment of an English elective or an advanced writing course.

• In Technical Writing, these 9.0- to 12.0 units can count towards the fulfillment of a technical communication elective.

Students minoring in the Department of English who wish to earn credit for an internship related to their minor should contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Stephanie Larson, at srlarson@andrew.cmu.edu.

The Dietrich College policy allows up to 27.0 units of internship credit to count toward the overall 360.0 units students need to complete their degrees. For non-Dietrich primary majors, please consult your home college’s policy.

Students are permitted to earn pay at the internship for which they are also earning credit.

To learn more about internships for credit in the Department of English, please see our Internship for Credit Policies and Procedures.
 

The Accelerated MA in Professional Writing: MAPW 4+1

The Master of Arts in Professional Writing (MAPW) 4+1 is an accelerated masters program under which Carnegie Mellon students (usually majors or minors in the English department or BHA or BHS students with relevant coursework) can qualify to complete the M.A. in Professional Writing in 2 semesters and a required full-time internship instead of the usual 3 semesters and a summer internship. Most 4+1 students complete their internship requirement during the summer after their graduation.

Students apply for admissions during their senior year (the GRE is not required) and, following admission and evaluation of their transcripts, may receive credit for up to four courses, or one full semester of work, toward their M.A. requirements. The degree provides the advantages of an M.A. degree in an accelerated time frame, features intensive work in writing and visual design for both print and new media, and prepares students for a range of communications careers.

The coursework and career options most commonly pursued by students in the degree include:

• Technical Writing
• Science and Healthcare Writing
• UX Writing/Content Design
• Information Architecture
• Public & Media Relations / Corporate Communications
• Nonprofit & Policy Communication
• Editing and Publishing

Students interested in applying to the 4+1 program should consult the Director of the MAPW program, Professor Suguru Ishizaki at suguru@cmu.edu, early in their junior year for further details and advice on shaping undergraduate coursework to qualify for this option. 

Course Descriptions

About Course Numbers:

Each Carnegie Mellon course number begins with a two-digit prefix that designates the department offering the course (i.e., 76-xxx courses are offered by the Department of English). Although each department maintains its own course numbering practices, typically, the first digit after the prefix indicates the class level: xx-1xx courses are freshmen-level, xx-2xx courses are sophomore level, etc. Depending on the department, xx-6xx courses may be either undergraduate senior-level or graduate-level, and xx-7xx courses and higher are graduate-level. Consult the Schedule of Classes each semester for course offerings and for any necessary pre-requisites or co-requisites.

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Faculty

MARIAN AGUIAR, Associate Professor of English – Ph.D., University of Massachusetts;

JANE BERNSTEIN, Professor of English – M.F.A., Columbia University;

DAVID BROWN, Associate Teaching Professor of English, Associate Director of First-Year Writing for Research and Assessment – Ph.D., Lancaster University;

DOUG COULSON, Associate Professor of English – Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin;

JAMES DANIELS, Professor Emeritus of Creative Writing – M.F.A., Bowling Green State University;

SHARON DILWORTH, Associate Professor of English – M.F.A., University of Michigan;

JASON ENGLAND, Assistant Professor of English – M.F.A., Iowa Writers' Workshop;

LINDA FLOWER, Professor Emerita of English – Ph.D., Rutgers University;

KEVIN GONZÁLEZ, Assistant Professor of English – M.F.A., Iowa Writers’ Workshop;

SUSAN HAGAN, Assistant Teaching Professor, Liberal & Social Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University-Qatar – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University;

PAUL HOPPER, Paul Mellon Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the Humanities, Rhetoric and Linguistics – Ph.D., University of Texas;

SARAH HAE-IN IDZIK, Assistant Professor of English – Ph.D., Northwestern University;

SUGURU ISHIZAKI, Professor of English, Director of Undergraduate Professional & Technical Writing Programs and Graduate Professional Writing Program (MAPW) – Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology;

BARBARA JOHNSTONE, Professor Emerita of English and Linguistics – Ph.D., University of Michigan;

DAVID S. KAUFER, Mellon Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English – Ph.D., University of Wisconsin;

ALAN KENNEDY, Professor Emeritus of English – Ph.D., University of Edinburgh;

JON KLANCHER, Professor Emeritus of English – Ph.D., University of California at Los Angeles;

PEGGY KNAPP, Professor Emerita of English – Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh;

STEPHANIE LARSON, Assistant Professor of English and Director Undergraduate Studies – Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison;

JOAN LUBIN, Assistant Professor of English – Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania;

ATESEDE MAKONNEN, Assistant Professor of English – Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins University;

JANE MCCAFFERTY, Professor of English – M.F.A., University of Pittsburgh;

TOM MITCHELL, Assistant Teaching Professor, Liberal & Social Sciences; Carnegie Mellon University-Qatar – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University;

CHRISTINE NEUWIRTH, Professor Emerita of English and Human Computer Interaction – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University;

KATHY M. NEWMAN, Associate Professor of English and Director of Graduate Studies – Ph.D., Yale University;

JOHN J. ODDO, Associate Professor of English – Ph.D., Kent State University;

SILVIA PESSOA, Associate Teaching Professor, Liberal & Social Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University-Qatar – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University;

NUPOOR RANADE, Assistant Professor of English – Ph.D., North Carolina State University;

CAMILLE RANKINE, Assistant Professor of English – M.F.A., Columbia University;

DUDLEY REYNOLDS, Teaching Professor, Liberal & Social Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University-Qatar – Ph.D., Indiana University, Bloomington;

ANDREEA DECIU RITIVOI, William S. Dietrich Professor of English, Department Head – Ph.D., University of Minnesota;

KAREN SCHNAKENBERG, Teaching Professor Emerita of English – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University;

LAUREN SHAPIRO, Associate Professor of English and Director of Creative Writing Program – M.F.A., Iowa Writers' Workshop;

DAVID R. SHUMWAY, Professor of English – Ph.D., Indiana University;

KRISTINA STRAUB, Professor Emerita of English – Ph.D., Emory University;

CHRISTOPHER WARREN, Professor of English and Associate Department Head with a Courtesy Appointment in History – D. Phil., University of Oxford;

MARIAM WASSIF, Assistant Professor of English – Ph.D., Cornell University;

DANIELLE WETZEL, Teaching Professor; Director of Writing & Communication Program – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University;

JEFFREY WILLIAMS, Professor of English – Ph.D., Stony Brook University;

STEPHEN WITTEK, Associate Professor of English and Director of Literary and Cultural Studies Program – Ph.D., McGill University;

JOANNA WOLFE, Teaching Professor of English – Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin;

JAMES WYNN, Associate Professor of English, Director of Rhetoric Program – Ph.D., University of Maryland;

Special Faculty

MARIO CASTAGNARO, Special Faculty, Professional & Technical Writing

EMMA FRIES, Director, Arts Greenhouse

ROCHEL GASSON, Special Faculty, Writing & Communication

ANDREW GORDON, Special Faculty, Writing & Communication

ALAN HOUSER, Special Faculty, Professional & Technical Writing

SUZANNE MEYER, Special Faculty, Writing & Communication

KORRYN MOZISEK, Special Faculty, English

KAT MYERS, Special Faculty, Writing & Communication

JULIE PAL-AGRAWAL, Special Faculty, Writing & Communication

ROBYN ROWLEY, Special Faculty, Writing & Communication

JULIA SALEHZADEH, Special Faculty, Writing & Communication

ED SIMON, Special Faculty, English

BRIAN STASZEL, Special Faculty, Professional & Technical Writing

ISABELLE STROLLO, Special Faculty, Film & Visual Media

ANTHONY SWOFFORD, Special Faculty, Creative Writing

CHAD SZALKOWSKI-FERENCE, Special Faculty, Writing & Communication

STEVE TWEDT, Special Faculty, Professional & Technical Writing

RALPH VITUCCIO, Special Faculty, Film & Visual Media

Lecturer

KEELY AUSTIN, Visiting Lecturer, Departments of English and Languages, Cultures, & Applied Linguistics

JANINE CARLOCK, Lecturer, Writing & Communication

ANDREA COMISKEY, Lecturer, Writing & Communication

BARBARA GEORGE, Senior Lecturer, Writing & Communication

JEFFREY HINKELMAN, Senior Lecturer, Director of the Film & Visual Media Program, Director of Pre-College Program in Writing & Culture

ALAN KOHLER, Senior Lecturer, Writing & Communication

PETER ZARAGOZA MAYSHLE, Senior Lecturer, Writing & Communication

COURTNEY NOVOSAT, Senior Lecturer, Writing & Communication

JULIE PAL-AGRAWAL, Lecturer, Writing & Communication

JEREMY ROSSELOT-MERRITT, Senior Lecturer, Writing & Communication

SETH STRICKLAND, Lecturer, Writing & Communication

REBECCA WIGGINTON, Senior Lecturer, Writing & Communication

HEIDI WRIGHT, Senior Lecturer, Writing & Communication – Course Lead, ENG 76-100,

JUNGWAN YOON, Senior Lecturer, Writing & Communication