RWS Minor

Designed for students from across the disciplines, the RWS Writing Minor provides students with an enhanced awareness of the central role of language and textual practices in every discipline. Thus, both students who want to improve their critical reading, writing, and thinking skills, as well as students interested in pursuing graduate work or entering more writing-intensive professions, will benefit from the minor. The minor includes core classes intended to introduce students to the study of rhetoric, which incorporates a broad range of topics, including rhetorical theory, cultural rhetoric, and literacy and technology. The minor is also interdisciplinary in nature and includes class work in rhetoric, communication, linguistics, and education. Students select the classes that best suit their future career and educational goals.

While virtually all professions are enhanced by skills in writing, critical reading, and analytical thinking, the minor is particularly beneficial to students seeking careers in areas such as law, politics, journalism, business, science, engineering, public administration, and education.

The Department of Rhetoric and Writing Studies requires fifteen upper division units for the minor. The first two strands, Literacies and the Teaching of Writing and Rhetoric and Culture, require RWS 500W, 510, and 511 as the core classes and six units selected from one of those two strands. The Professional Writing strand requires two of the three core classes (RWS 500W, 510, 511) and nine units selected from the Professional Writing strand.

Core Units

• RWS 500W Advanced Writing Strategies
• RWS 510 Rhetoric and Culture
• RWS 511 Literacy, Rhetoric, and Technology

Elective Units Selected from One of Three Strands

Literacies and the Teaching of Writing

• RWS 509 Introduction to the Teaching of Composition
• Education 451 Introduction to Multicultural Education
• Linguistics 430 English Grammar for Prospective Teachers
• Linguistics 530 English Grammar
• Linguistics 550 Theory and Practice of English as a Second Language

Rhetoric and Culture

• Communication 441 Foundations of Critical and Cultural Study
• Communication 446 Communication and Rhetorical Movements
• Communication 450 Rhetorical Theory
• Communication 470 Argumentation Theory
• Communication 482 Communication and Politics
• Communication 492 Persuasion
• Communication 508 Media Literacy
• Journalism and Media Studies 589 Ethical Issues in Mediated Communication

Professional Writing

• RWS 305W Writing in Different Settings
• RWS 501 Editing
• RWS 503W Professional Writing
• RWS 504 Advanced Professional Writing
• RWS 505 Writing Project Management
• RWS 506 Writing Internship
• RWS 507 Professional Communication in Nonprofit Organizations
• RWS 508W Scientific Writing

Prerequisites: Additional prerequisites are required for most classes.

The Interdisciplinary Minor in Rhetoric and Writing Studies is open to all undergraduates at San Diego State University. In designing their Interdisciplinary Minor, students may not include classes drawn from their major department.