Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

1. Apply artistry and advanced skills in various forms and genres of writing.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the conventions and terminology of various forms and genres of writing.
3. Engage in writing and editorial processes in a professional environment.
4. Present written work to live audiences, demonstrating strategies for audience engagement and oral communication.

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Lower-Division Requirements
JRN 2050	Introduction to Journalism	3
WRI 2020	Introduction to Creative Writing	3
Choose one (1) course from the following:		3
LIT 2054	British Writers I
LIT 2055	British Writers II
LIT 2056	American Writers I
LIT 2057	American Writers II
Choose four (4) units from the following:		4
JRN 2015	Newspaper Workshop 1
JRN 2017	Yearbook Workshop 1
WRI 2016	Literary Magazine Workshop 1
Choose two (2) courses from the following:		6
WRI 3021	Creative Writing: Poetry 2
WRI 3022	Creative Writing: Fiction 2
WRI 3023	Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction 2
Upper-Division Requirements
JRN 3045	Editing	3
or JRN 4040	Magazine Editing and Concepts
LIN 3012	Introduction to Linguistics	3
or LIN 3065	English Grammar and Usage
LIT 3000	Literary Analysis	3
WRI 3065	Professional Writing	3
WRI 4000	Writing for the Community	3
WRI 4020	Advanced Writing Workshop	3
WRI 4070	Internship in Writing	2
Choose one (1) course from the following not already taken:		2-3
JRN 4030	Multimedia Journalism
JRN 4040	Magazine Editing and Concepts
WRI 3070	Writing Theory and Pedagogy
Upper-Division Literature Course
Choose one (1) additional upper-division literature course beyond FE 3		3
Total Units		44-45

¹

Each may be taken more than once (may substitute JRN 3014 for two (2) units of JRN 2015/WRI 2016/JRN 2017).

²

May be repeated once for credit with instructor’s consent.

³

Eligible courses are listed under French, Literature, or Spanish. 

4+1 Master of Arts in Writing

PLNU undergraduate students can apply to enter the 4+1 MA in Writing program at the end of their sophomore year. Once accepted into the 4+1 program, students can take undergrad/graduate cross-listed courses for up to 15 units of graduate level courses to account for their undergraduate degree, and receive graduate credit up to the first year of their MA in Writing degree (15 units of the 30 required for the degree). These 15 units will account for WRI 5020/WRI 6020 - Writing Across the Genres (3 units) which should be taken before any graduate cross-listed writing workshops, including two genre workshops between WRI 5021/WRI 6021, WRI 5022/WRI 6022, WRI 5023/WRI 6023, and WRI 5024/WRI 6024 (6 units), and two literature courses (6 units).

4+1 MA in Writing Admissions Requirements

1. Students must have completed WRI 2020.
2. Students must have taken a minimum of two additional writing courses between WRI 3021, WRI 3022, and WRI 3023.
3. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.000 in those three writing courses.
4. Students’ readiness for graduate study must be confirmed by the writing faculty (assessed by writing sample and interview with program lead).

4+1 MA in Writing Courses

Students in the 4+1 MA in Writing program may take up to 15 units of the following during their baccalaureate degree:

Course List

Code	Title	Units
WRI 5020	Writing Across the Genres	3
Choose two (2) Literature courses from the following:		6
LIT 5000	American Literature to 1900
LIT 5020	American Literature Since 1900
LIT 5044	Medieval Literature
LIT 5045	17th Century English Literature
LIT 5046	Romantic Literature
LIT 5047	Victorian Literature
LIT 5048	Postcolonial Classics and Theory
LIT 5050	The Novel
LIT 5061	Shakespeare
LIT 5090	Seminar in Literature
SPA 5000	Peninsular Literature Before 1800
SPA 5002	Peninsular Literature Since 1800
SPA 5020	Mexican American Literature and Culture
SPA 5037	Latin American Literature Before 1910
SPA 5039	Latin American Literature Since 1910
SPA 5080	Genre/Period Studies in Hispanic Literature or Film
Choose two (2) Writing Genre courses from the following:		6
WRI 5021	Poetry Workshop
WRI 5022	Fiction Workshop
WRI 5023	Nonfiction Workshop
WRI 5024	Scriptwriting Workshop
WRI 5025	Special Topic in Writing
Post-Baccalaureate Finishing Courses
WRI 6060	Literary Editing and Publishing	3
WRI 6400	Advanced Workshop	3
WRI 6500	Masters Thesis	3
Six (6) additional 6000-level units from Literature or Writing Genres		6
Total Units		30

Note(s):

• 5000-level courses listed above can be taken for dual undergrad/graduate credit as a part of the Master’s in Writing 4+1 track if the student applies and is accepted into the MA in Writing 4+1 program at the end of their sophomore year.
• 4+1 students cannot enroll in the Pedagogy Concentration courses WRI 6001 and WRI 6002. These courses are only for Graduate TAs enrolled in the MA in Writing program.