Preparation for the Major

The prerequisites for the RWS major consist of six units from:

• RWS 200 - Rhetoric of Written Arguments in Context (3 units) or JMS 210 - Social Media in the Digital Age (3 units)
• RWS 250 - Rhetoric in Everyday Life (3 units).  [RWS 250 also satisfies a General Education requirement in Foundations of Learning, Humanities]

Requirements for the Major

The major is comprised of a minimum of 30 units in Rhetoric and Writing Studies.

Five core courses (15 units) are required:

• RWS 411 - Digital Rhetorics (3 units)
• RWS 498 - Seminar: Writing and Research (3 units)
• RWS 500W - Advanced Writing Strategies (3 units) or RWS 503W - Professional Writing (3 units)
• RWS 506 - Internship (3 units)
• RWS 410 (formerly 510) - Rhetoric and Culture  (3 units)

The remaining 15 units will be selected from elective courses in the Rhetoric and Writing Studies Department.  See our courses page for more information.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

The program will produce graduates who will

1. Identify and evaluate rhetorical theories.
2. Comprehend the complex nature of writing as a process and practice reflective learning to improve their writing.
3. Understand literacy as an array of advanced language and critical thinking abilities, including the assessment of multiple contexts.
4. Analyze and produce texts using conventions and methods common to the field.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students pursuing the RWS major will

1. Describe and evaluate major rhetorical theories from various contexts. 
2. Apply major rhetorical theories as they discuss, interpret, and analyze visual and verbal arguments.
3. Apply effective, flexible strategies for generating, revising, and editing texts for various audiences.
4. Synthesize and integrate insights from one project into another through reflective learning.
5. Interpret literacy as a complex process by assessing historical, cultural, professional, and technological contexts.
6. Appraise the complexity of verbal and visual literacy by assessing audience expectations and the social aspects of multimodal composing.
7. Differentiate and illustrate conventions of academic and professional writing, including genre, visual design, and elements of style.
8. Evaluate and synthesize research materials within their own analytical research papers and/or professional projects, applying methods common to the field.
9. Analyze rhetorics of global and structurally marginalized communities, with attention to the ways rhetoric creates, enforces, and disrupts power relationships historically and contemporarily.

Learning Outcomes Matrix

This curricular matrix illustrates where Student Learning Outcomes are Introduced (I), Developed (D), and Mastered (M) in required courses so that students achieve the Program Learning Outcomes for the Rhetoric and Writing Studies Major.

View the matrix