Writing and Rhetoric St. Edward's University

Overview

Develop your ability to persuade your audience as a campaign speechwriter, an advocate for policy changes, or a marketing copywriter. Learn digital techniques and skills that will prepare you for work in newsrooms and other media outlets.  Train your editor’s eye to notice mistakes and improve a piece of writing. Use your skills to make the world a better place, by writing copy for nonprofits or winning grants that let them expand their mission with the Writing and Rhetoric program of St. Edward's University.

Program Tracks

Creative Writing

Students will select courses from traditional genres such as poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, and writing for stage and screen, as well as writing in emerging and hybrid genres. Our Creative Writing faculty is led by award-winning working artists. In addition to traditional workshop-based writing courses, this concentration includes courses in literature and professional writing to create customized writing experiences and broad skill sets.

Professional Writing

The professional writing concentration provides students with timely experience that they can apply in the job market. The professional writing faculty, whose experience ranges from the courtroom to the conference room, help students to develop an array of skills and problem-solving strategies. Students can choose coursework in editing, magazine writing, advertising and public relations, and technical and business writing, as well as courses in journalism and creative writing. 

Journalism and Digital Media

Students in this concentration take courses in reporting and writing news, digital media production and design, copyediting, and media standards. They select additional courses in various areas of journalism and digital media, including magazine writing, opinion writing, broadcast journalism, documentary production, entertainment writing, and sportswriting. Students interested in a range of careers receive highly marketable instruction designed to prepare them for the workplace. Those pursuing careers in journalism and digital media, whether covering politics, science, the arts, or other areas, need strong writing and research skills. Public relations and business professionals benefit from learning clear communication for branding, marketing, and pitching new ideas. Every student can benefit from learning effective, clear, and concise communication because employers value strong writing, reporting, and multimedia skills. 

What do our graduates do?

Austin is packed with opportunities for strong writers. Intern with an award-winning advertising agency, a policy research organization that’s analyzing bills during the Texas legislative session, or one of the many publications that cover news and profile the capital city’s incredible characters.

• Technical writer at Amazon Publisher Services

• Communication chief in the Dallas Mayor’s Office

• Content strategist for IBM

• Information specialist for the American Cancer Society

• Graduate student at the Newhouse School of Journalism at Syracuse University

• Assistant Editor at Better Homes & Garden

• Editor for the Texas Legislative Council

• Reporter at the Houston Chronicle