For students interested in creative writing , the minor includes courses in fiction, poetry, and playwriting workshops, and students may enroll in Writer's Workshop, a directed-study course. The creative writing classroom is centered around an ethos of excellence, diligence, and camaraderie. Students share their love of writing with peers and instructors, developing their writing skills in an atmosphere of mutual respect. For students pursuing careers in teaching, business, or publishing, the writing minor may be tailored around the program's many options in nonfiction and journalistic writing, including technical writing, advanced expository writing, newswriting and reporting, and broadcast newswriting. Whether enrolled in the creative writing workshops or the newswriting or technical writing courses, students are challenged to examine the processes and methods they use in shaping their written work.
Most classes are small, focusing on student work and revision.
Craft in writing and creativity in thought are sought and supported throughout the program. Given the minor's emphasis on critical and innovative thinking and communication skills, students might use it to prepare for careers in law, business, publishing, television, radio, and journalism. The minor in writing is appropriate for majors in English, foreign languages, physical and social sciences, business, journalism, and communication.