Writing Program Brochure

Fairfield University prides itself on the varied writing programs it offers through the English Department. You can learn the craft of writing and polish your skills through individual courses or by completing concentrations in creative writing, journalism, or professional writing.

The full-time faculty includes several nationally known fiction writers, scholars, researchers, journalists, and poets. The faculty is complemented by adjunct professors who teach part-time at Fairfield while working full-time as writers.

You can pursue writing in several ways:

• As an English major, you can use one of the concentrations (creative writing, journalism, or professional writing) to satisfy the field electives required for the major. Or you can pick and choose among the many writing courses and create your own package of field electives.

• As an English minor, you can follow one of the concentrations or create your own individually designed writing minor by combining writing and literature courses.

• All students majoring and minoring in other departments are invited to take individual English writing courses that are interesting or useful in preparation for future pursuits.

The department is flexible in helping you design a useful writing concentration and will consider substituting appropriate courses for those listed here.

For additional information, contact the English Department at ext. 2810 and ask to speak to the director of a particular concentration.

Concentration 1: Creative Writing

The creative writing sequence is designed for you if you are seriously committed to becoming a fiction writer, poet, or non-fiction writer, or if you want to pursue a career in the field of publishing or editing. Recent Fairfield students have had their work published in such national literary magazines as Quarterly West, Indiana Review, The Spoon River Poetry Review, and Writer's Forum. Students have interned at magazines such as The New Yorker and at publishers such as Harper Collins. In addition to outside internships, you can, with permission of the editor, receive academic credit for working on Fairfield's national literary magazine, Dogwood: A Journal of Poetry and Prose.

The concentration includes:

Introductory Courses
Choose two:

• EN/W 200  Creative Writing
• EN/W 202  Creative Writing: Poetry I
• EN/W 205  Creative Writing: Fiction I

Specialized Courses
Choose one:

• EN/W 204  Creative Writing: Drama
• EN/W 302  Creative Writing: Poetry II
• EN/W 305  Creative Writing: Fiction II
• EN/W 340  The World of Publishing: Working on Fairfield's Dogwood magazine
• EN/W 341  Writing Creative Nonfiction 

Capstone Course
Choose one:

• Senior seminar
• EN/W 345/346  Internship

You also must complete a fifth EN/W course of your own choosing. It can be from the above list or in other areas.

Concentration 2: Journalism

The journalism sequence will strengthen your news gathering, reporting, and writing skills. Many students pursue careers at newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, Web sites, and marketing and publishing companies. If you are interested in a career in public relations, you will find it especially useful.

The concentration includes:

Introductory Courses
Both courses are required:

• EN/W 220  News Writing (must be taken before any other journalism course)
• EN/W 222  Journalism Editing and Design (may take any time)

Specialized Courses
You must take at least one:

• EN/W 221  Contemporary Journalism
• EN/W 320  Writing the Feature Story
• EN/W 321  Broadcast News Writing
• EN/W 322  Sports Reporting
• EN/W 324  Political and Government Reporting
• EN/W 325  Environmental Reporting

Capstone Course
You must take at least one:

• EN/W 345/346  Internship
• EN/W 347/348  Independent Writing Project

You also must complete a fifth EN/W course of your own choosing. It can be from the above list or in other areas.

You may start the journalism sequence as early as the spring semester of your freshman year. After completing EN 11 (the freshman writing course), you can take EN/W 220 News Writing simultaneously with EN 12 (the freshman literature course). This makes it easier for you to complete all journalism coursework by the end of your junior year and concentrate on internships in your senior year.

Concentration 3: Professional Writing

The professional writing sequence will strengthen your writing and speaking skills as preparation for a career in business, technology, industry, government, or education. People who make information accessible, usable, and relevant to a variety of audiences are professional writers. To some extent, effective professional writing is an art because it requires an instinct for clear writing and good visual design. More importantly, however, professional writing is a science in that it is a systematic process that involves key principles and guidelines. Internships are available, including placements in corporate communication, technical writing, Web design, and the mass media.

The concentration includes:

Introductory Course
Required:

• EN/W 332  Business Writing

Specialized Courses
You must take at least two:

• EN/W 209  Classical Rhetoric and Contemporary Applications
• EN/W 214  Professional Presentations: Writing and Delivery
• EN/W 222  Journalism Editing and Design
• EN/W 310  Advanced Composition
• EN/W 335  Technical Writing
• EN/W 336  Issues in Professional Writing
• EN/W 338  Persuasive Writing

Capstone Course
You must take at least one:

• EN/W 345/346  Internship
• EN/W 347/8  Independent Writing Project

You also must complete a fifth EN/W course of your own choosing. It can be from the above list or in other areas.

Profile

Kara LaFleur
English alumna

"They say you should do what you love, and I've always loved literature and writing; declaring an English major was a natural choice for me. I'm concentrating in business writing and technical writing, both of which would be solid foundations for business or law school, though I may go into public relations or corporate writing. I had a friend who suggested that I look into tutoring at the Writing Center, and I'm so glad I did. Tutors take a semester-long course in order to prepare for the position, and we provide services free of charge to undergraduate and graduate students.We'll help them write research or analytical papers, or prepare class presentations."

"My advice to incoming students: Don't feel limited by what you think you have to study. It's possible to study what you love and still be successful!"

For further information please contact:

Dr. James Simon, department chair
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT 06824-5195
Telephone: (203) 254-4000, ext. 2792
E-mail: jsimon@mail.fairfield.edu