Rhetoric and Professional Writing

English Major with a Concentration in Rhetoric and Professional Writing

Academic Advisor:

Christin Phelps
caphelps@ncsu.edu
G105A Tompkins Hall
919.515.4119

Rebecca De Haas
rldehaas@ncsu.edu
G106 Tompkins Hall
919.513.2490

As of June, 2020, this concentration, previously known as Language, Writing and Rhetoric concentration (LWR), has been renamed Rhetoric and Professional Writing. The concentration remains coded as "LWR." Students are trained to work with the essential tools of writing, communication, presentation, and persuasion. 

Courses are taken in rhetoric, journalism, effective communication and digital media. This is an ideal concentration for students who want to develop their skills in technical and professional writing, journalism, and web design. 

If you first enrolled at NC State in Fall 2020 or later your complete curricular requirements and major requirements are listed below. If you began your academic career at NC State at an earlier point in time, scroll down for complete degree requirements.

Complete Degree Requirements for Rhetoric and Professional Writing Concentration, Fall 2020 or later (16LWR 107).

LWR MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

ENGLISH MAJOR CORE REQUIREMENTS (18 hours)

  1. American Literature (3 hrs)

  2. British Literature (3 hrs)

  3. World Literature (3 hrs)

  4. Film (3 hrs)

  5. Linguistics (3 hrs)

  6. Rhetoric (3 hrs)

LWR CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (21 hours)

  1. Core Concepts (6 hrs)

  2. Methods, Strategies and Contexts of Rhetoric and Professional Writing (6 hrs)

  3. English Electives (6 hours)

  4. Writing and Rhetorical Practice Co-requisite (3 hours)

RESTRICTIONS (entering Fall 2020 and later)

  • Students must take two 400 level courses in the 21 hours of concentration requirements.
  • All courses, except ENG 350, must be taken for a letter grade to satisfy department requirements.
  • Students must earn a C- or better for a course to count toward major requirements.
  • The maximum number of 200 level courses within the English major (after 2010) is 5.
  • The minimum GPA to graduate is 2.0.
  • 30 of your last 45 hours of coursework must be taken at NC State.
  • The Associate Head will approve the following courses to satisfy a major requirement only when the content is appropriate to the requirement: ENG 394, ENG 420, ENG 460, ENG 491, ENG 539, FL 495.


FALL 2010-2020 LWR Curriculum

If you enrolled at NC State between Fall 2010 and Summer 2020, your English departmental requirements and curricular requirements are listed below:

ENGLISH MAJOR CORE REQUIREMENTS (18 hours)

  1. American Literature (3 hrs)
  2. British Literature (3 hrs)
  3. World Literature (3 hrs)
  4. Film (3 hrs)
  5. Linguistics (3 hrs)
  6. Rhetoric (3 hrs)

LWR CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (21 hours)

  1. Effective Communication (3 hrs)
  2. Digital Technology (3 hrs)
  3. LWR Electives (9 hours)
  4. English Electives (6 hours)

RESTRICTIONS (Fall 2010-Summer 2020)

  • LWR students must take two 400 level courses in the 21 hours of concentration requirements.
  • No more than one course in Creative Writing/Screenwriting may be counted as a LWR Elective (see #3 above under concentration requirements).
  • LWR students must take at least one 200-level literature course.
  • All courses, except ENG 350, must be taken for a letter grade to satisfy department requirements.
  • Although some courses are listed in more than one category, no course may satisfy more than one requirement.
  • Students must earn a C- or better for a course to count toward major requirements.
  • The maximum number of 200 level courses within the English major (after 2010) is 5.
  • The minimum GPA to graduate is 2.0.
  • 30 of your last 45 hours of coursework must be taken at NC State.
  • The Associate Head will approve the following courses to satisfy a major requirement only when the content is appropriate to the requirement: ENG 394, ENG 420, ENG 460, ENG 491, ENG 539, FL 495.


FALL 2009-2010 LWR Curriculum

If you enrolled at NC State between Fall 2009 and Fall 2010, your English departmental requirements and curricular requirements are listed below:

  1. Linguistics, Rhetoric, or Writing Practice (6 hrs in 2 different areas)
  2. Literature I (3 hrs)
  3. Literature II (3 hr)s
  4. Literature Before 1800 (3 hrs)
  5. Literature After 1800 (3 hrs)
  6. Genre or Author (3 hrs)

LWR students must complete the LWR concentration (15 hours), which is designed to meet six goals:

  1. Linguistics, the formal study of language
  2. Rhetoric, the resources of persuasion
  3. Writing Practice, conventions and applications beyond the classroom
  4. Historical, Cultural, and Ethical Contexts of Language, language adapting and influencing society
  5. Critical Tools, methods of analysis
  6. Digital Technologies, new tools that change written language

Two of these goals are met by the Linguistics, Rhetoric and Writing Practice courses, since students must take two of those three categories.  The other goals must be met by courses in the concentration. Courses that appear in the course list for more than one goal may count for two (but no more than two) goals. Links above lead you to the courses that meet the goals.

RESTRICTIONS (Fall 2009-10)

  • LWR students must take at least one 200-level literature course
  • LWR students must take two 400-level courses in the Department Requirements, including one 400-level course in the LWR Restricted Electives.
  • all courses, except ENG 350, must be taken for a letter grade to satisfy department requirements
  • although some courses are listed in more than one category, no course may satisfy more than one requirement
  • students must earn a C- or better for a course to count toward major requirements
  • the maximum number of 200 level courses within the English major  is 6
  • the minimum GPA to graduate is 2.0
  • 30 of your last 45 hours of coursework must be taken at NC State


FALL 2003-2009 LWR Curriculum

If you enrolled at NC State after Fall 2003 and before Fall 2009, your English departmental and curricular requirements are listed below: 

  1. Literature I (3 hrs)
  2. Literature Before 1800 (3 hrs)
  3. Literature II (3 hrs)
  4. Literature After 1800 (3 hrs)
  5. Genre or Author (3 hrs)

LWR students must complete the LWR concentration (21 hrs), which includes six categories. The courses that satisfy each category are listed here.

Linguistics—ENG 210, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 491*, 524, 525

Rhetoric—ENG 321, 323, 411, 422, 425, 426, 491*

Writing Practice—ENG 201, 214, 215, 287, 288, 289, 314, 315, 317, 323, 350, 417, 421, 433, 488, 489, 495

Historical, Cultural, and Ethical Contexts of Language—CHASS Literature I and II courses; ENG 321, 323, 325, 326, 327

Critical Tools—Literature course at the 300 level or above; ENG 323, 324, 411, 421, 425, 426, 496

Digital Technologies—ENG 216, 314, 317, 421 

RESTRICTIONS (2003-2009)

  • Ensure that the courses you select meet the six goals. A course can fill two categories, but no more than two.
  • you must include at least one 400-level course in the Restricted Electives and two in the English Major overall. 
  • the maximum number of 200 level courses within the English major is 6
  • all courses, except ENG 350, must be taken for a letter grade to satisfy department requirements
  • students must earn a C- or better for a course to count toward major requirements
  • the minimum GPA to graduate is 2.0
  • 30 of your last 45 hours of coursework must be taken at NC State

**As part of the departmental graduation checklist process, all English majors seeking to graduate in the fall or spring term must submit a paper/project composed in an advanced-level course within their concentration area.  Additional information regarding this requirement is provided to seniors at the beginning of the semester in which they plan to graduate.**