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Degree Title

Bachelor of Arts

Spring 2025 Start Date:

January 6, 2025

Summer A 2025 Start Date:

May 5, 2025

Overview

Effective writing is crucial for success. According to a recent National Association of Colleges and Employers survey, strong written communication remains among employers’ five most in-demand skills. Knowing how to communicate your ideas, thoughts, and expertise effectively and persuasively can help you stand out in a competitive job market.

But writing today is no longer just putting pen to paper. Successful writers are experts in crafting content in a range of media. They manage projects and collaborate with others. They are researchers and analysts, able to discover information and distill it for their intended audience. And in the vibrant world of South Florida, professional writers must know how to navigate the varied needs of diverse, multilingual audiences. The Writing and Rhetoric Track in the Online Bachelor of Arts in English will prepare you to engage in this dynamic work.

  • Why Apply?

    You will gain valuable knowledge of writing and information design in our courses while also having ample opportunities to put that knowledge into practice. Our faculty collaborate with local non-profits and businesses to offer you experiential, project-based learning. We believe that you learn by doing and want you to start your professional journey in a supportive environment where you can gain practical, real-world experience.

    Our online course offerings are flexible and constantly expanding, so you can match coursework to your own interests. We offer specialized courses in a range of topics, including community writing, technical communication, professional editing, environmental writing, and digital content development. Our curriculum also offers a capstone course where you can finetune your professional portfolio and prepare yourself for the next steps in your journey.

    By the end of the Writing and Rhetoric Track, you will be ready to work in various sectors, including business, law, teaching, government, and non-profit. Graduates pursue a range of careers, including:

    • Content manager
    • Copywriter
    • Community manager
    • Digital content designer
    • Editor
    • Grant writer
    • Information designer
    • Legal writing specialist
    • Medical writer
    • Project manager
    • Public policy writer
    • Public relations specialist
    • Publications manager
    • Social media marketer
    • Teacher (Primary school, Secondary school, and English as a Second Language)
    • Technical communicator
    • User experience researcher 

    Past students have also pursued graduate studies in law, medicine, technical writing, composition studies, education, and mass communication.

  • Courses

    A total of 120 credits are required for the Bachelor of Arts in English, Writing and Rhetoric Track. You will have to complete all University Core Curriculum, University, and College of Arts, Sciences & Education requirements. In addition to the above requirements, you will complete the following:

    Common Degree Requirements (3 credits)

    ENG 2012 – Approaches to Literature

    If you pursue a B.A. in English, you will take Approaches to Literature as part of your University Core Curriculum.

    Core Courses in English Major (12 credits)

    The B.A. in English has four tracks: Creative Writing, Linguistics, Literature, and Writing and Rhetoric. Every student completing a B.A. in English takes one course from each of the four tracks. The standard requirements for those four courses are:

    Creative Writing: CRW 3010 – Creative Writing: Forms and practices

    Linguistics: LIN 3013 – Introduction to Linguistics or LIN 4680 – Modern English Grammar

    Literature: Any multicultural literature course (African American, Jewish Literature of Exile)

    Writing and Rhetoric: Any upper-division writing and rhetoric (ENC) course

    Writing and Rhetoric Track Required Courses (9 credits)

    The Writing and Rhetoric track has three required courses that introduce you to common theories and practices in writing:

    ENC 3334 - Introduction to Writing Studies

    ENC 3371 - Rhetorical Theory and Practice

    ENC 3213 - Professional and Technical Writing

    Writing and Rhetoric Track Electives (9 credits)

    To customize your education, you can choose from a range of electives within the Writing and Rhetoric Track, including:

    ENC 3249 - Professional and Technical Writing for Computing

    ENC 3311 - Advanced Writing and Research

    ENC 3354 - Writing as Social Action

    ENC 3363 - Writing About the Environment

    ENC 3413 - Writing for the Web

    ENC 3416 - Writing and New Media

    ENC 3465 - Legal Writing

    ENC 4212 - Professional Editing

    ENC 4331 - Writing, Rhetoric, and Community

    ENC 4356 - Writing About the Exile Experience

    ENC 4375 - Rhetoric of Food

    ENC 4381 - Zine Writing

    ENC 4930 - Special Topics in Composition

    English Department Electives (6 credits)

    This requirement can be fulfilled by any upper-division courses offered by the English department. You should choose your English courses and electives in consultation with your advisors.

    Additional Approved Electives (24 credits)

    These courses may be from other departments in the university. You should consult with a departmental advisor about these courses.

     

  • Requirements

    To ensure every student’s success, we have certain admissions requirements for each of our programs. Our enrollment advisors are here to answer your questions and guide you every step of the way.

    FIU Admission Requirements

    Applications are accepted for Spring, Fall and Summer terms.


    Steps to Apply

    First Year Students

    Please submit the following:

    • Online application
    • $30 application fee.
    • Official SAT, ACT and/or CLT scores.
    • Official high school transcripts.

    Transfer Students

    Please submit the following:

    • Online application
    • $30 application fee.
    • Official college transcripts.
    • If you have less than 60 transferable college credits, you must also submit official high school transcripts and SAT, ACT and/or CLT scores in addition to any transcripts from postsecondary schools to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

     

    Returning Students

    Returning students must meet the current university and degree-specific requirements to be admitted. FIU has policies for students who left FIU, please click here for more details.

       Please submit the following:

    • Online application
    • $30 application fee
    • Updated official transcripts

    International Students

    In addition to the above requirements, international applicants should submit:

    • Official English Language Proficiency exam scores (TOEFL or IELTS).
    • Official translations of any transcripts, if not in English.
    • If you have less than 60 transferrable college credits, you must also submit official high school transcripts with translation.


    Admission Documents

    To complete the online undergraduate programs admissions form, select your program from the application form. You may complete the online application and submit it, even before taking any entrance exams. All supporting admission documents may be sent to:

    Florida International University Office
    of Undergraduate Admissions
    P.O. Box 659003
    Miami, FL 33265-9003
    USA

    FIU also accepts transcripts electronically via:
    Faster (All FL public institutions)
    Naviance (Typically used by private high schools)
    SMART/Joint Service Transcript – Military records
    *Meeting the university minimum requirements does not guarantee admission

  • Tuition

    We’re thrilled that you’re considering online education and want you to know exactly what to expect for tuition and fees. Education is an investment in your future. Use the following student tuition and fees calculator to determine your costs.

  • Top Faculty

    Our department faculty are scholars and authors in fields ranging from writing studies to world literature, semantics, and creative writing. Our Writing and Rhetoric faculty publish research on community writing, technical writing, writing pedagogy, writing centers, and rhetorical histories. Our distinguished faculty regularly earn local, statewide, national, and international recognition.

    Faculty in the Writing and Rhetoric program have been at the cutting edge of online education at FIU. Over the past five years, our faculty have won over thirty teaching, research, service, and community engagement awards from the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education, the Office of the Provost, and FIU Online. Our faculty are highly active in conferences focused on online teaching and are regularly recognized as university leaders in pedagogy.

    Below are descriptions of some of the faculty who teach in our program.

     

     

    Kristine Acosta
    Dr. Kristine Acosta is a Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor and the Student Success Coordinator for the English Department. Her research centers on how technical communication and rhetoric impact communities and diverse populations. She is particularly interested in positionality, intercultural communication, and community literacy. Dr. Acosta regularly teaches technical writing, research, new media, and rhetorical theory courses.

    Jacqueline Amorim
    Dr. Jackie Amorim is an Associate Teaching Professor of Writing and Rhetoric and the First Year Writing Online Teaching Success Coordinator. She teaches first-year composition, technical and professional communication, rhetorical grammar, and writing places and spaces. She has won a teaching award from the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education.

    Kacee Belcher
    Kacee Belcher is an Associate Teaching Professor. She teaches first-year composition as well as upper-division courses, such as Professional and Technical Writing and Writing as Social Action courses. She chairs the Professional Development Committee for the Writing and Rhetoric Program.

    Michael Creeden
    Michael Creeden is a Teaching Professor of Writing and Rhetoric and Associate Chair of the English Department. His teaching focuses on preparing students for post-college success. Prior to teaching at the university, he worked in the software and biotech industries as a technical writer, proposal writer, and project manager. He regularly teaches courses in technical and professional writing. He is a member of the Contemplative Practices in Education workgroup and a Faculty Fellow in the Office of Micro-credentials.

    Darrel Elmore
    Dr. Darrel Elmore is a Teaching Professor of Writing and Rhetoric. His research focuses on best practices in online teaching as well as community writing. He regularly teaches courses in technical writing, science writing, and writing about the environment. He has won a teaching award from the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education. Dr. Elmore’s classes regularly participate in community writing projects, including beach clean-ups, charity basketball tournaments, and letter-writing campaigns.

    Marta Gierczyk
    Dr. Marta Gierczyk, Assistant Teaching Professor, earned her Ph.D. in English from the University of Miami. She specializes in community writing and engagement, project-based learning, and professional and technical communication. Dr. Gierczyk is a recipient of the 2023 Rewarding Excellent Teaching Incentive (RETI) Award and the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education Teaching Award.

    Glenn Hutchinson
    Dr. Glenn Hutchinson is the Director of the Center for Excellence in Writing and an Associate Professor of English. He writes about community writing, writing centers, and translingualism. He is the author of Writing Accomplices with Student Immigrant Rights Organizers (NCTE 2021). Dr. Hutchinson is currently co-editing a book about conversations between writing centers in Latin America and the United States. He also writes plays and acts.

    Shewonda Leger
    Dr. Shewonda Leger is an Assistant Professor of Multilingual Writing and Pedagogy. Her research interests include Haitian narratives and histories, heritage linguistics, Caribbean women’s rhetorics, Black feminist film theory, and Black women’s health disparities. She regularly teaches courses in composition theory and practice, BIPOC contemporary feminist rhetorics, multimodal writing/composing for sociocultural change, and technical and professional writing. She was a Junior Faculty recipient of the Florida Education Fund.

    Tania Lopez
    Tania Cepero Lopez is an Associate Teaching Professor of Writing and Rhetoric. She teaches first-year composition as well as upper-division writing courses, such as Writing about the Exile Experience and Writing as Social Action. She also regularly teaches writing at Homestead Correctional Institution as an Exchange for Change volunteer facilitator. Her professional interests include literature of exile, community writing, writing and social justice, translingual theory and practice, and prison writing.

    Vytautas Malesh
    Dr. Vytautas Malesh is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Writing and Rhetoric in the English Department. He teaches first-year composition and a range of upper-division courses, including Technical and Professional Writing, Introduction to Writing Studies, Rhetorical Theory and Practice, Writing and New Media, and Writing for the Web. He previously worked as a professional copywriter and editor. His teaching focuses on the intersection of technology, culture, and writing, and on helping students to professionalize rhetoric and writing in the workplace.

    Christine Martorana
    Dr. Christine Martorana is an Associate Teaching Professor and an Associate Director of the Writing Across the Curriculum Program. Her areas of expertise include writing pedagogy, multimodality, and faculty development across disciplines. In addition to the Writing & Rhetoric track core courses, Christine teaches Zine Writing, a course that explores the potential for zines – DIY, self-published texts – to initiate and participate in social justice work.

    Maheba Pedroso
    Maheba Pedroso is a Teaching Professor in the Writing and Rhetoric program and the Director of the Certificate in Professional and Public Writing. Her research interests include creating a sense of belonging for students in an online learning environment. In addition to serving on the Professional Writing Committee, the Online Pedagogy Committee, and the Assessment Committee, she mentors new teaching assistants and new instructors. She regularly teaches professional and technical writing courses.

    Michael Sohan
    Michael Sohan is an Associate Teaching Professor of Writing and Rhetoric in the English Department. He teaches first-year composition, technical and professional writing, and professional editing. He is the chair of the professional and technical writing committee and the technical editor of the FIU Undergraduate Research Journal (FIUURJ). He also mentors dual enrollment instructors and adjuncts.

    Vanessa Sohan
    Dr. Vanessa Kraemer Sohan is an Associate Professor of Writing and Rhetoric in the English Department and the Associate Director of the Interdisciplinary and Liberal Studies programs. Her research and teaching focus on translingual and transmodal approaches to literacy practice, feminist historiography, and material rhetorics.

    Luke Thominet
    Dr. Luke Thominet is an Associate Professor of Writing and Rhetoric and an Associate Director of the Writing Program. His research focuses on rhetoric and design thinking in medical communication, video game development, and university teaching. He regularly teaches courses in rhetorical theory, technical writing, and document design. He has won teaching awards from the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education, the Office of the Provost, and FIU Online.

    Nick Vagnoni
    Nick Vagnoni is a Teaching Professor of Writing and Rhetoric. His research interests include community writing and contemplative teaching practices. He regularly teaches first-year composition as well as upper-division courses, including Advanced Writing and Research, Rhetoric of Food, and Mindful Writing. In 2020, he was the recipient of the FIU Gateway Award for Excellence in Teaching, and he has also won awards for teaching and community engagement from the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education, as well as the Office of the Provost.

    Shelley Wick
    Dr. Shelley Wick is an Associate Teaching Professor of Writing and Rhetoric and the Assessment Coordinator for the English Department. Her research focuses on first-year curriculum design, project-based learning, and online pedagogy. She regularly teaches first-year and advanced writing and research courses.

    Mohamed Yacoub
    Dr. Mohamed Yacoub is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Writing and Rhetoric Program. His research interests include minority students’ identity, sense of belonging and persistence, and writing program structures. He regularly teaches courses in community writing, technical and professional writing, and rhetorical theory and practice.

fiuonline.fiu.edu

120 Credits Required

fiuonline.fiu.edu

235.57 Per Credit Hour (In-State) + Fees

fiuonline.fiu.edu

648.87 Per Credit Hour (Out-of-State) + Fees

* Total tuition and fees are subject to change.

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