Minor in Writing

A Career Essential

Whether you’re a writer of fiction or poetry, a grammar aficionado, or just someone who recognizes the importance of the written word, UNE’s Writing minor may be the perfect program for you. A flexible and interdisciplinary program, the Writing minor is designed to enhance the career readiness of students majoring in everything from the humanities, arts, and social sciences to the natural sciences, business, and the health professions. Through our hands-on and collaborative approach, you’ll learn the fundamentals — with the opportunity to study both creative and professional writing — as well as how to write for your specific discipline. With three out of four employers desiring job candidates with strong written communication skills, having the Writing minor on your transcript will be sure to give you a leg up in whatever profession you choose.

A U N E students read a book behind a bookshelf

Why 51С�Ƴ�for your Minor in Writing

We understand that most writing on the professional level is composed within the context of some other field. Therefore, we designed this minor as an interdisciplinary one that can improve your work within your chosen major and can launch you to greater heights no matter what your profession after graduation. We even consider existing courses in a range of other 51С�Ƴ�programs for inclusion in the Writing minor, allowing you to fulfill not just Core — but, in some cases, major requirements — as you complete the minor.

The Writing minor has been one of my favorite parts of 51С�Ƴ�because it allows me to expand on my creativity in a professional format. With every class I’ve taken, I’m not just writing stories or poems, I’m also learning how to apply the skills I’ve learned to my current education and my future career opportunities.”

— Jordyn Ransom ’23 Elementary/Middle Education major/Writing minor

What will you study? Minor in Writing curriculum overview

Experiential Learning

If you think of writing as a solitary endeavor, think again. With UNE’s emphasis on hands-on learning, our Writing minor relies on cooperative and engaging activities, from in-class poetry and fiction workshops to collaborative resume and cover letter preparation sessions. You may even become a Writing Fellow and gain professional experience in supporting student writing across a variety of academic disciplines.

We also encourage you to expand your real-world experiences by seeking internship opportunities. Our Writing minors have previously interned with:

Portland Press Herald (journalism intern)
Make-a-Wish Foundation (grant writing intern)
Parkhurst Dining (social media intern)
Maine Women Writers Collection (archives and exhibits intern)

Four U N E students sit studying around a table in the Ripich Commons

Examples of Available Courses

Journalism
Professional and Technical Writing
Fiction Writing Workshop
Writing for the Screen

Curriculum

The interdisciplinary minor in writing has a developmental writing sequence that remains flexible to maximize the options for students. The eighteen (18)-credit minor requires at least one course each in creative writing and professional writing. After that, students customize by completing at least six (6) credits in either the Creative Writing or Professional Writing track, followed by writing electives of their choosing.

Program Required Courses	Credits
Six (6) Credits from Creative Writing Electives or Six (6) credits from Professional Writing Electives (see below)	6–7
Six (6) Credits of Program Specific Electives (see below)	6–8
Total Credits	12–15

Select one (1) of the following Creative Writing courses	Credits
WRT 111 – Topics in Creative Writing	3
WRT 211 – Creative Writing: Poetry	3
WRT 212 – Creative Writing: Short Fiction	3
WRT 312 – Fiction Writing Workshop	3
Total Credits	3

Select one (1) of the following Professional Writing courses	Credits
CMM 110 – Intro to Communications	3
CMM 122 – Oral Communication	3
CMM 211 – Introduction to Journalism	3
SPC 100 – Effective Public Speaking	3
WRT 233 – Professional & Technical Writing	3
Total Credits	3

Minimum Total Required Credits	18

The program requires a minimum average GPA of 2.0 in the minor.

Electives

Creative Writing Electives	Credits
ART 124 – The Painted Book	3
CMM 225 – Topics in Digital Storytelling	3
CMM 410 – Writing for the Screen	3
ENG 208 – Narrative Medicine & Writing	3
ENV 333/333L – Nature Writers w/Field Lab	4
WRT 111 – Topics in Creative Writing	3
WRT 211 – Creative Writing: Poetry	3
WRT 212 – Creative Writing: Short Fiction	3
WRT 312 – Fiction Writing Workshop	3

Professional Writing Electives*	Credits
CMM 211 – Introduction to Journalism	3
CMM 240 – Social Media: Theory & Practice	3
ENV 316/316L – Land Conserv Pract w/Field Lab	4
ENV 321 – Env Comm: Expert Prac Eco	3
HIS 150 – Telling Tales of the Past	3
NSG 445 – Leadership	2
PUB 420 – Community Health Assessment	3
WRT 233 – Professional and Technical Communication	3
WRT 304 – Reading and Writing in Digital Environments	3
WRT 317 – Proposal and Grant Writing or PUB 400 – PH Planning & Evaluation	3

Program Specific Electives*	Credits
ART 124 – The Painted Book	3
ART 395 – Studio Concentration Seminar	3
BUMK 310 – Advertising	3
CMM 122 – Oral Communication or SPC 100 – Effective Public Speaking	3
CMM 211 – Introduction to Journalism	3
CMM 225 – Topics in Digital Storytelling	3
CMM 240 – Social Media: Theory & Practic	3
CMM 410 – Writing for the Screen	3
ENG 110 – English Composition	4
ENG 208 – Narrative Medicine & Writing	3
ENG 209 – Introduction to Linguistics	3
ENG 220 – History of the English Language	3
ENG 334 – Methods of Literacy and Cultural Criticism	3
ENV 316/316L – Land Conserv Pract w/Field Lab	4
ENV 321 – Env Comm: Expert Prac Eco	3
ENV 333/333L – Nature Writers w/Field Lab	4
ENV 334 – Contemporary Nature Writers	3
HIST 150 – Telling Tales of the Past	3
LIL 420 – Arts & Humanities Capstone	3
MAF 400 – Marine Affairs Capstone	3
NEU 410 – Neurobiology of Mental Illness	3
NSG 332 – Evidence Based Pract (EBP) I	2
NSG 432 – Evidence Based Pract (EBP) II	2
NSG 445 – Leadership	2
PSY 405 – Special Topics Seminar	3
PSY 425 – Adv Methods in Animal Behavior	3
PUB 310 – Social, Behavior & Environmental	3
PUB 420 – Community Health Assessment	3
WRT 111 – Topics in Creative Writing	3
WRT 211 – Creative Writing: Poetry	3
WRT 212 – Creative Writing: Short Fiction	3
WRT 233 – Professional and Technical Communication	3
WRT 304 – Read & Write in Digital Env.	3
WRT 312 – Fiction Writing Workshop	3
WRT 317 – Proposal and Grant Writing or PUB 400 – PH Planning & Evaluation	3

*Some courses have prerequisites that may prevent registration.

For more information see the Academic Catalog.

Career paths for your minor in Writing

Written communication abilities, along with teamwork, consistently rank among the top five skills employers seek from college graduates across all fields of employment. The 51С�Ƴ�Writing minor, with its mix of foundational, professional, and discipline-specific writing components and its emphasis on collaborative work, sets you up for success — no matter what your major field of study and no matter which profession you ultimately choose.

Whether your future career requires you to write emails, author reports, compose proposals, or create presentations, chances are that writing, in some fashion, is bound to be among your daily tasks. Solid writing skills will be necessary and, in fact, will enhance your professional standing in a number of ways:

Getting Hired: Make your cover letter stand out in the application pool
Earning and Maintaining Respect: Demonstrate to your coworkers a high level of professionalism by avoiding grammatical errors and poorly worded sentences
Making New Discoveries: Impress others with creative and original thoughts born out of the writing process
Communicating Clearly: Enhance team productivity by preventing confusion and the need for repeated clarification
Being Persuasive: Exhibit leadership through well-articulated arguments
Enhancing the Reputation of Your Employer: Represent your business or organization to the outside world in the best light possible

Writing Careers by the Numbers

73.3%

of employers want a candidate with strong written communication skills

National Association of Colleges and Employers, Job Outlook, 2022

rank of written communication skills among the most desired qualities in job candidates