Whether it be in a creative, technical or professional context--compelling writing impacts the world. Learn to think critically and creatively and to write effectively for a variety of purposes in a wide range of genres.
Writing Studies prepares you to be verbally and visually literate, encouraging your growth as a learner, citizen and professional. You can choose to specialize in either Creative Writing or Technical Communication.
Creative Writing Track
The Creative Writing track is a distinctive literary arts program that emphasizes engaged writing in poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction. The core of the creative writing program at UW Tacoma is innovation and its commitment to intersections with a variety of academic programs, as well as its foundational value of interdisciplinarity. With a sustainable core curriculum and contemporary-themed courses, students are offered multiple pathways to explore the literary arts both in and beyond the classroom.
Students on the creative writing track are part of an intimate community of peers dedicated to each other’s learning and expression in intersecting creative genres. In addition, students are offered the opportunity to meet local and national writers through reading series and visiting writers, while learning from core creative writing faculty who publish in their fields.
Opportunities for professionalization are available not only in writing, but also editorial and event planning for the university’s newspaper, The Ledger, and literary journal, Tahoma West. The UW Tacoma student group, The Wordlings, offers on-campus community, while local literary organizations and open mics enrich student experience in creative writing around the Puget Sound. This program provides a strong educational base for those who wish to pursue a Master’s degree in Fine Arts, as well as offering professional advice for those interested in other fields of study or careers.
Technical Communication Track
Develop skills needed to communicate complex information in a way that is usable, compelling and grounded in user-centered design. Learn how to identify audience needs and make changes based on applied research.
Courses in writing, research and technical topics emphasize real-world design projects as you develop creatively and collaborative problem-solving skills.
The Technical Communication track positions you for careers in technical writing, user experience (UX) and usability as well as other fields where scientific and technical writing plays a central role. Gain professional experience through internships and working with community partners.
Writing Studies Prerequisites
The following lower-division prerequisites will be necessary for declaring the Writing Studies major. A minimum grade of 2.0 is required for each prerequisite course.
Writing Studies Degree Requirements
For the Creative Writing Track, you need to complete 60 credits. You need to earn 45 upper-division credits and 45 credits of School of IAS courses to meet degree requirements. You must earn a total of 180 quarter credits, or 225 quarter credits for a double degree, to earn a bachelor of arts degree in your chosen major.
- List A: 10 credits, foundational courses
- List B: 20 credits, creative writing courses
- List C: 15 credits, literature breadth
- List D: 15 credits, technical/professional communication breadth
- TWRT 200 Introduction to Creative Writing
- TLIT 101 Understanding Literature (formerly TLIT 200)
At least 10 credits must be 400 level.
- At least 5 credits from the following list:
- TWRT 270 Poetry Writing (formerly TWRT 370)
- TWRT 280 Fiction Writing (formerly TWRT 380)
- TWRT 287 Creative Nonfiction Writing (formerly TWRT 387)
- TWRT 362 Writing and War
- TWRT 372 Writing Eco-poetry
- TWRT 382 Writing Popular Fiction
- TWRT 389 Nature Writing
- At least 10 credits from the following list:
- TWRT 470 Advanced Poetry Writing (repeatable once)
- TWRT 480 Advanced Fiction Writing (repeatable once)
- TWRT 487 Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing (repeatable once)
- TWRT 499 Advanced Topics in Creative Writing (maximum credits - 15)
- An additional 5 credits from the lists above or the following:
5 credits must be from TLIT 390:
At least 5 credits at the 300-400 level in a literature other than American literature:
- TLAX 476 Latin American Women Writers (formerly THISP 476)
- TLIT 335 Middle Eastern American Literature
- TLIT 343 Shakespeare
- TLIT 351 Ancient Greek Tragedy (formerly TLIT 453)
- TLIT 352 Medieval Quests (formerly TLIT 455)
- TLIT 371 The World Stage
- TLIT 380 Myth and Literary Sagas in Creative Expression
- T LIT 406 Children's and Young Adult Literature
- TLIT 481 Postcolonial Fiction
- TLIT 487 African Folklore and Literature
- TWOMN 434 Women's Voices: Transnational Testimonials
The final 5 credits may be from the list above OR any 300-400 level TLIT course.
Choose 15 credits from the following list:
- TCOM 348 Non-fiction Writing for Television
- TCOM 387 Writing for Public Relations
- TCOM 484 Opinion Writing for the Mass Media
- TCOM 486 Feature Writing for Print Media
- TFILM 350 Screenwriting
- TIAS 491 Professional Portfolio Design
- TWRT 291 Technical Communication in the Workplace
- TWRT 330 Visual and Written Rhetoric
- TWRT 331 Writing in the Natural Sciences
- TWRT 350 Principles of User-Centered Design
- TWRT 353 User Experience Writing
- TWRT 355 Usability Testing and Research
- TWRT 360 Playwriting
- TWRT 365 Literary Editing and Publishing
- TWRT 388 Writing for Social Change (formerly TWRT 431)
- TWRT 391 Advanced Technical Communication
- TWRT 440 Cross-Cultural Communication Design
- TWRT 450 Principles of Accessible Design
- TWRT 464 Teaching Writing
View Creative Writing Track requirements for majors started prior to autumn 2017
For the Technical Communication Track, you need to complete 65 credits. You need to earn 45 upper-division credits and 45 credits of School of IAS courses to meet degree requirements. You must earn a total of 180 quarter credits, or 225 quarter credits for a double degree, in order to earn a bachelor of arts degree in your chosen major.
- List A: 10 credits, foundational courses
- List B: 20 credits, technical communication core courses
- List C: 35 credits, breadth in creative, scientific and technical topics
- TCOM 220 Social Media
- TCOM 320 Principles of Web Design*
- TCOM 350 Editing and Design for Print Media
- TCOM 420 Advanced Web Design
- TWRT 330 Visual and Written Rhetoric
- TWRT 331 Writing in the Natural Sciences
- TWRT 350 Principles of User-Centered Design*
- TWRT 353 User Experience Writing
- TWRT 355 Usability Testing and Research
- TWRT 440 Cross-Cultural Communication Design
- TWRT 450 Principles of Accessible Design
- TWRT 490 Writing Studies Internship
*These courses can only be taken for credit once, either as part of List A or List B.
- TBIOL 202 Plant Biology and Ecology (formerly TESC 202)
- TBIOL 232 Issues in Biological Conservation (formerly TESC 232)
- TBIOL 236 Sustainable Agriculture (formerly TESC 236)
- TBIOL 240 Human Biology and Environmental Interactions (formerly TESC 240)
- TCOM 275 Writing, Reporting and Editing for the Mass Media
- TCOM 348 Non-fiction Writing for Television
- TCOM 349 News Writing
- TCOM 387 Writing for Public Relations
- TCOM 482 Investigative Reporting
- TCOM 484 Opinion Writing for the Mass Media
- TCOM 486 Feature Writing for Print Media
- TCSS 142 Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming
- TESC 201 The Science of Environmental Sustainability
- TEST 221 Environmental History: Water
- TEST 295 Valuing Ecosystems Services and Natural Capital
- TEST 332 A Natural History of Garbage
- TEST 333 Environmental Policy Application and Compliance
- TEST 335 Environmental Impact Analysis
- TGEOS 241 Oceanography (formerly TESC 241)
- TGEOS 243 Geography of the Physical Environment (formerly TESC 243)
- TGEOS 341 Climate Change (formerly TESC 341)
- TIAS 491 Professional Portfolio Design
- TINST 207 Living and Working in the Virtual World
- TINST 312 Computer Networks and the Internet
- TINST 401 Technology in the Service of Society
- TINST 475 Entrepreneurship in Computing and Software Systems
- TINFO 210 Foundations of Information Management - currently restricted to TINFO majors only
- TINFO 220 Foundations of Human Computer Interaction for Information Technology and Systems - currently restricted to TINFO majors only
- TINFO 230 Web Design and Programming - currently restricted to TINFO majors only
- TINFO 310 Foundations of Information Assurance - currently restricted to TINFO majors only
- TINFO 370 Managing Technical Teams - currently restricted to TINFO majors only
- TPHYS 215 History and Science of Space Exploration
- TWOMN 211 Women in Science (formerly TEST 211)
- TWRT 200 Introduction to Creative Writing
- TWRT 270 Poetry Writing (formerly TWRT 370)
- TWRT 280 Introduction to Fiction Writing (formerly TWRT 380)
- TWRT 287 Creative Nonfiction Writing (formerly TWRT 387)
- TWRT 333 Writing Through Comics
- TWRT 360 Playwriting
- TWRT 362 Writing and War
- TWRT 372 Writing Eco-poetry
- TWRT 382 Writing Popular Fiction
- TWRT 384 Writing Historical Fiction (formerly TWRT 482)
- TWRT 388 Writing for Social Change (formerly TWRT 431)
- TWRT 389 Nature Writing
- TWRT 470 Advanced Poetry Writing
- TWRT 480 Advanced Fiction Writing
- TWRT 487 Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing
- TWRT 499 Advanced Topics in Creative Writing
