William Magrino

Kurt Spellmeyer

Rutgers Writing Program

March 25, 2013

Proposal – approved by the School of Communication & Information

Expansion of offerings for Business & Technical Writing Minor with courses from the School of Communication & Information

Changes:

  • Add the following courses to the current “Writing Training” category:

04:567:324 News Reporting and Writing (3)

04:192:315 Writing and Communication (3)

04:192:380 Public Speaking (3)

  • Renamethe “Computer Knowledge” category as “Digital Information,” make minor editorial changes to the description of the category, and add the following courses to “part b” of that category:

04:547:220 Retrieving and Evaluating Electronic Information (3)

04:189:103 Information Technology & Informatics (3)

  • Add a provision requiring that a minimum of 12 out of the 18 required credits are to be selected from Writing Program (01:355) courses.
  • Correct the following errors in SAS Catalog copy:
  • Remove the following copy from the general list of SAS minors:

“In addition, completion of the certificate program in professional writing or technical writing may substitute for the minor requirement.”

  • Add “355:395” to “Internship Experience”
  • Reflect the change of title of 01:351:312 to “Digital Literary Studies” by the English Department

Current Catalog Copy:

Minor in Business and Technical Writing

The Writing Program now offers a minor in business and technical writing to all interested undergraduates in the School of Arts and Sciences.

The primary goal of the business and technical writing minor is to enhance students' writing proficiency in order to increase their eligibility for employment in business and technical professions that require advanced writing competency. The minor provides students with writing training, research practice, computer knowledge, and an internship experience designed to give students professional writing experience. Students must choose the 18-credit option for the minor.

Requirements

The minor requires six courses (for a total of 18 credits) in four key skill areas. Students must achieve a grade of C or better in each of these courses in order to qualify for the minor.

1. Writing Training (6 credits) Since writing competence is at the heart of the minor, students must complete two writing courses intended to improve writing, editing, collaboration, and general communication skills. Electives may be chosen from among the following writing courses:

01:351:312 Literature and Technology (3)

01:355:202 Technical Writing Essentials (3)

01:355:203 Business Writing Essentials (3)

01:355:315 Grant Writing (3)

01:355:342 Science Writing (3)

01:355:352 Writing as a Naturalist (3)

01:355:355 Writing in the Professions (3)

01:355:365 Technical Editing (3)

01:355:375 Collaborative Writing Practices (3)

2. Research Practice (3 credits) In the information and technology economy, the ability to conduct research and use information to develop viable plans of action is essential to success and advancement. Students therefore must complete a research writing course in business or technical writing. These courses will also fulfill most students' second-level writing requirements (consult with your school's academic advising office for specific requirements in your program). Research writing courses include:

01:355:302 Scientific and Technical Writing (3)

01:355:303 Writing for Business and the Professions (3)

01:355:312 Writing for Biology and Natural Sciences (3)

01:355:315 Grant Writing (3)

01:355:322 Writing for Engineers (3)

3. Computer Knowledge (6 credits) Basic computer knowledge and the ability to learn new programs quickly are essential to success in business and technical writing environments. Students in the program will be introduced to general and advanced writing software in many classes and they will be required to pass an introductory course in computer science.

a) Though several courses will expect students to learn relatively simple programs (such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint), students are also required to take one of the following courses that teaches advanced writing software, covered in our upper-level workshop courses. These include:

01:351:312 Literature and Technology (3)

01:355:402 Advanced Writing Workshop (3)

01:355:415 Information Design (3)

01:355:425 Web Authoring (3)

b) Students will also need to pass one of the following introductory computer science courses:

01:198:107 Computing for Math and the Sciences (3)

01:198:110 Introduction to Computers and their Application (3)

01:198:111 Introduction to Computer Science (4)

01:198:170 Computer Applications for Business (3)

4. Internship Experience (3 credits) Hands-on training in work environments offers an invaluable, practical component to the minor, providing students with useful experience while encouraging professional attitudes toward work. In the minor program, students must complete an independent internship: 01:355:396 Internship (3). Please see the internships website for more information.

The Writing Program also offers professional writing and technical writing certificates. Please see the Certificate Programs page in this catalog for more information.

Please speak with your academic advising office regarding declaration of majors and minors.

New Catalog Copy:

Minor in Business & Technical Writing

The Writing Program offers a minor in Business & Technical writing to all interested undergraduates in the School of Arts and Sciences.

The primary goal of the Business & Technical writing minor is to enhance students' writing proficiency in order to increase their eligibility for employment in business and technical professions that require advanced writing competency. The minor provides students with writing training, research practice, digital information literacy, and an internship experience designed to give students professional writing experience.

Requirements

The minor requires six courses (for a total of 18 credits) in four key skill areas. Students must achieve a grade of C or better in each of these courses in order to qualify for the minor. At least of 12 out of the 18 required credits must be selected from Writing Program (01:355) courses.

1. Writing Training (6 credits) Since writing competence is at the heart of the minor, students must complete two writing courses intended to improve writing, editing, collaboration, and general communication skills. Electives may be chosen from among the following writing courses:

01:351:312 Literature and Technology (3)

01:355:202 Technical Writing Essentials (3)

01:355:203 Business Writing Essentials (3)

01:355:315 Grant Writing (3)

01:355:342 Science Writing (3)

01:355:352 Writing as a Naturalist (3)

01:355:355 Writing in the Professions (3)

01:355:365 Technical Editing (3)

01:355:375 Collaborative Writing Practices (3)

04:567:324 News Reporting and Writing (3)

04:192:315 Writing and Communication (3)

04:192:380 Public Speaking (3)

2. Research Practice (3 credits) In the information and technology economy, the ability to conduct research and use information to develop viable plans of action is essential to success and advancement. Students therefore must complete a research writing course in business or technical writing. These courses will also fulfill most students' second-level writing requirements (consult with your school's academic advising office for specific requirements in your program). Research writing courses include:

01:355:302 Scientific and Technical Writing (3)

01:355:303 Writing for Business and the Professions (3)

01:355:312 Writing for Biology and Natural Sciences (3)

01:355:315 Grant Writing (3)

01:355:322 Writing for Engineers (3)

3. Digital Information (6 credits) Basic computer knowledge, digital literacy, and the ability to learn new programs quickly are essential to success in business and technical writing environments. Students in the program will be introduced to general and advanced writing software in many classes and they will be required to pass an introductory course in computer science.

a) Though several courses will expect students to learn relatively simple programs (such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint), students are also required to take one of the following courses that teaches advanced writing software, covered in our upper-level workshop courses. These include:

01:351:312 Digital Literary Studies (3)

01:355:402 Advanced Writing Workshop (3)

01:355:415 Information Design (3)

01:355:425 Web Authoring (3)

b) Students will also need to pass one of the following information technology courses from outside of the Writing Program:

01:198:107 Computing for Math and the Sciences (3)

01:198:110 Introduction to Computers and their Application (3)

01:198:111 Introduction to Computer Science (4)

01:198:170 Computer Applications for Business (3)

04:547:220 Retrieving and Evaluating Electronic Information (3)

04:189:103 Information Technology & Informatics (3)

4. Internship Experience (3 credits) Hands-on training in work environments offers an invaluable, practical component to the minor, providing students with useful experience while encouraging professional attitudes toward work. In the minor program, students must complete an independent internship: 01:355:395or 01:355:396 Writing Internship (3). Please see the Internships website for more information.

The Writing Program also offers professional writing and technical writing certificates. Please see the Certificate Programs page in this catalog for more information.

Please speak with your academic advising office regarding declaration of majors and minors.