Bachelor of Arts English with a Major in Technical Writing (BA)
Heather Weddington, Chief Departmental Advisor (hwedding@odu.edu)
Daniel P. Richards, Technical Writing Advisor (dprichar@odu.edu)
Requirements
Lower-Division General Education
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Written Communication | 6 | |
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Language and Culture | 0-6 | |
| Information Literacy and Research | 3 | |
| Human Behavior | 3 | |
| Human Creativity | 3 | |
| Interpreting the Past | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Philosophy and Ethics | 3 | |
| The Nature of Science | 8 | |
| Impact of Technology | 3 | |
Written Communication: Grade of C or better required in both courses and in ENGL 110C before declaring major.
Language and Culture: BA students must have competence through the 202 level; competence is not met by completion of the associate degree.
Impact of Technology: met in the major with ENGL 307T.
Upper-Division General Education
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Option A. Approved Minor, 12-24 hours; also second degree or second major
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Option B. Interdisciplinary Minor, 12 hours specified by the department, 3 of which may be in the major area of study
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Option C. An approved certification program such as teaching licensure
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Option D. Two Upper-Division Courses from outside the College of Arts and Letters or from the Social Science Component within the College of Arts and Letters that are not required by the major (6 hours).
Requirements for Graduation
Requirements for graduation include the following:
- Minimum of 120 credit hours.
- Minimum of 30 credit hours overall and 12 credit hours of upper-level courses in the major program from Old Dominion University.
- Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken.
- Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken toward the major.
- Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken toward a minor.
- Completion of ENGL 110C, ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C, and the writing intensive (W) course in the major with a grade of C or better. The W course must be taken at Old Dominion University.
- Completion of Senior Assessment.
English Core
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 307T | Digital Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 490 | Professionalization in English | 3 |
| Theory & Analytics | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Rhetorical Studies | ||
| Introduction to Critical Theory | ||
| English Linguistics | ||
| Writing * | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Creative Writing | ||
| Advanced Composition | ||
| Technical Writing | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines | ||
| Required Literature and Cultural Studies Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Introduction to British Literature I | ||
| Introduction to British Literature II | ||
| Shakespeare's Histories and Comedies | ||
| Shakespeare's Tragedies and Poetry | ||
| The Short Story | ||
| American Drama | ||
| Southern Literature | ||
| American Literature to 1860 | ||
| American Literature Since 1860 | ||
| World Literature I | ||
| World Literature II | ||
| Chaucer's Canterbury Tales | ||
| English Renaissance Drama | ||
| Jewish Writers | ||
| The Harlem Renaissance | ||
| British Literature 1660-1800 | ||
| The Romantic Movement in Britain | ||
| Origins and Early Development of the British Novel to 1800 | ||
| Victorian Literature | ||
| The Twentieth-Century British Novel | ||
| American Travel Literature | ||
| The American Novel to 1920 | ||
| The American Novel 1920 to Present | ||
| New Literatures in English | ||
| American Poetry of the Early Twentieth Century | ||
| Women Writers | ||
| Native American Literature | ||
| African American Literature | ||
| Asian American Literature | ||
| Modern World Drama | ||
| Contemporary World Literature | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 21 | |
- *
Grade of C or better required
Technical Writing Major
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Complete lower-division requirements | 38-44 | |
| Complete upper-division requirements (minimum of 6 credits) | 6 | |
| Complete foreign language coursework through the 202 level | 0-6 | |
| English Core | ||
| Complete English core requirements | 21 | |
| Technical Writing | ||
| ENGL 334W | Technical Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 335 | Editing and Document Design | 3 |
| ENGL 368 | English Internship | 3 |
| ENGL 435W | Management Writing | 3 |
| Select two of the following not taken in the core: | 6 | |
| Advanced Composition | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines | ||
| Writing for the Government | ||
| Writing in Digital Spaces | ||
| Advanced English Internship | ||
| Topics in English * | ||
| Students can select a writing intensive (W) course (e.g., ENVH 402W, OEAS 466W) in another department if the topic is relevant to technical writing. Advisor approval required. | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 83-95 | |
- *
When the topic is relevant to technical writing and approved by the chief departmental advisor.
Note: Technical Writing major students must take ENGL 325 in the Theory & Analytics portion of the core.
Elective Credit
Elective credit will be needed to meet the minimum requirement of 120 credit hours.
Additional Requirements and Information
Advising
To declare an English major or minor, students must see the English chief departmental advisor (CDA). The CDA will assign each major to a faculty advisor. Students in the Secondary Education Endorsement Program will also have an advisor in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies. All English majors are required to have a conference with their English advisor before each semester (preferably during preregistration). The CDA will hold periodic group meetings with English majors to keep them fully informed.
Research Practicum
Students who wish to combine research and real-world experience can take ENGL 369 Research Practicum.
Degree Program Guide
The Degree Program Guide is a suggested curriculum to complete this degree program in four years. It is just one of several plans that will work and is presented only as broad guidance to students. Each student is strongly encouraged to develop a customized plan in consultation with their academic advisor. Additional information can also be found in Degree Works.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 110C | English Composition (Grade of C or better required) | 3 |
| Mathematical Skills | 3 | |
| Human Creativity | 3 | |
| Interpreting the Past | 3 | |
| Elective or Language and Culture I (May be waived; See requirement details) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Information Literacy and Research | 3 | |
| Human Behavior | 3 | |
| Elective or Language and Culture II (May be waived; See requirement details) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C |
Writing, Rhetoric, and Research (Grade of C or better required) or Writing, Rhetoric, and Research: Special Topics |
3 |
| Nature of Science I | 4 | |
| Language and Culture III | 3 | |
| Philosophy and Ethics | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 307T | Digital Writing (Meets Impact of Technology) | 3 |
| Nature of Science II | 4 | |
| Language and Culture IV | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Select one of the following (Grade of C or better required): | 3 | |
| Introduction to Creative Writing | ||
| Advanced Composition | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Rhetorical Studies | ||
| Introduction to Critical Theory | ||
| English Linguistics | ||
| ENGL 335 | Editing and Document Design | 3 |
| Major course | 3 | |
| Upper-Division General Education Course or Minor | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Literature and Cultural Studies Course | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Rhetorical Studies | ||
| Introduction to Critical Theory | ||
| English Linguistics | ||
| Major course | 3 | |
| Major course | 3 | |
| Upper-Division General Education Course or Minor | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENGL 368 | English Internship | 3 |
| Minor or Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 435W | Management Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 490 | Professionalization in English | 3 |
| Literature and Cultural Studies Course | 3 | |
| Minor or Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Linked Bachelor of Arts in English/Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics
The linked BA in English with a major in Applied Linguistics and MA in Applied Linguistics makes it possible for exceptional students to count up to 12 hours of graduate courses toward both an undergraduate and graduate degree. Students must earn a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 for the undergraduate degree and 30 for the graduate degree).
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the program, students must have completed at least 60 undergraduate hours, including at least nine hours in English applied linguistics courses at the 300 level or above. At the time of admission, they must have an overall GPA of 3.00 or better, and a GPA of 3.30 or better in all English applied linguistics courses.
Admission Procedures
Interested students who meet the admission requirements should apply to the graduate program director as soon as possible after completing the required 60 undergraduate hours. In consultation with the graduate program director, students will:
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Officially declare themselves an undergraduate Applied Linguistics major to the English Department's undergraduate chief departmental advisor.
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Draft a schedule of graduate courses to be taken as an undergraduate, which will be placed in the student's undergraduate and graduate advising files.
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Apply to the Office of Graduate Admissions for admission to the MA in Applied Linguistics program during their senior year.
Students will be admitted to the linked program for the semester after they make their application. Once students have been awarded their BA degrees and have fulfilled all regular admission requirements for the MA in applied linguistics, they will be officially admitted into the MA program.
Program Requirements
Students in the program will fulfill all normal admission and curricular requirements for both a BA in English with an Applied Linguistics major and an MA in Applied Linguistics, with the following exceptions:
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Students in the program may count up to 12 hours of graduate courses taken as an undergraduate for which they have earned a grade of B (3.0) or better toward both the BA in English and MA in Applied Linguistics degrees.
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Students in the program may substitute English linguistics graduate courses for undergraduate courses according to the following schema. All students must complete an undergraduate writing intensive course in the major.
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Any 500-level linguistics course that is cross listed with a 400-level course may be substituted for the 400-level course.
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Students may substitute 600-level courses for undergraduate courses according to the following list:
Course List Code Title Credit Hours ENGL 672 Language Structure Analysis 3 for ENGL 350 Aspects of the English Language 3 ENGL 677 Language and Communication Across Cultures 3 for ENGL 371W Language and Culture 3 ENGL 695 Topics 1-3 for ENGL 495 Topics in English 1-3
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c. Students in the program may make a written petition for other substitutions to the graduate program director (GPD) for electives in fields such as Asian studies, education, or professional writing. The GPD will consider substitutions in consultation with the chief departmental advisor and the instructor(s) of the courses involved. Students should consult the Graduate Catalog for requirements for the MA in Applied Linguistics.
BA or BS to MBA (Master of Business Administration) Linked Program
The linked BA/MBA or BS/MBA program is an early entry to the MBA program of study. The early-entry program is designed for well qualified non-business undergraduate ODU students to start their MBA program prior to completing their undergraduate degree. Well qualified non-business undergraduate students may take MBA-level courses as early as three semesters prior to graduation and count up to 12 graduate credits toward their undergraduate degree. Students participating in the early-entry program must earn a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 discrete credit hours for the undergraduate degree and 30 discrete credit hours for the graduate degree). Early-entry program students should carefully consider their undergraduate degree program requirements when planning their course of study. Students in the early-entry program work in close consultation with the MBA Program Office and should refer to information in the Strome College of Business section in the graduate catalog to develop an individualized plan of study based on the required coursework.
BA or BS to MPA (Master of Public Administration) Linked Program
The linked BA/MPA or BS/MPA program provides qualified Old Dominion University undergraduate students with the opportunity to earn a master's degree in public administration while taking credits in the MPA program as an undergraduate student. The program is designed for highly motivated students with the desire to immediately continue their education after the bachelor's degree. The program is especially relevant to individuals seeking to work (or currently working) in the public or non-profit sectors, but is suitable for students from any undergraduate major. Graduate courses may be taken during the fall and spring semester of the student's senior undergraduate year. Up to 12 graduate credits can count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree and can meet upper-level General Education requirements. After receiving the undergraduate degree, a student will continue with the MPA program, taking MPA courses until completing the required 39 credit hours. Students in the linked program must earn a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 discrete credit hours for the undergraduate degree and 30 discrete credit hours for the graduate degree).
Requirements for admission to the graduate program can be found in the School of Public Service section of the Graduate Catalog. For additional information, please contact the School of Public Service in the Strome College of Business.