Bachelor of Arts in English: Concentration in Professional Writing and Rhetoric Roadmap

120 Total Units Required
Minimum Number of Units in the Major: 45

This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult an advisor in your major program for further guidance.

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterUnits
ENG 114 Writing the First Year: Finding Your Voice (A2) 1 3
GE Area A 2 3
GE Area B: Quantitative Reasoning (B4) 3 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 4 6
 Units15
Second Semester
ENG 218 Literature Is Not A Luxury: Writing For Self and Community (Major Lower-Division Core, E) 3
ENG 250 Topics in Literature and Culture (Major Lower-Division Core, C2) 3
GE Area A 3
GE Area B: Physical Science (B1) and Laboratory Science (B3) 5 3-4
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 4 3
 Units15-16
Third Semester
GE Area B: Life Science (B2) and Laboratory Science (B3) 5 3-4
GE Area C 3
GE Area D 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 4 6
 Units15-16
Fourth Semester
GE Area C 3
GE Area D 3
U.S. and California Government 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 4 6
 Units15
Fifth Semester
ENG 402 Introduction to Professional Writing and Rhetoric (Major Upper-Division Core) 3
ENG 480GW Writing in English: GWAR Seminar (Major Upper-Division Core) 3
Concentration Elective (9 Units Total) - Take One 6 3
GE Area F ± 3
GE Area UD-B: Upper-Division Physical and/or Life Sciences 3
 Units15
Sixth Semester
ENG 420 Introduction to the Study of Language (Major Upper-Division Core, UD-C, GP) 3
ENG 461 Literature in English Since 1800 (Major Upper-Division Core) 3
ENG 540 Professional Editing (Major Concentration) 3
Concentration Elective (9 Units Total) - Take One 6 3
GE Area UD-D: Upper-Division Social Sciences 3
 Units15
Seventh Semester
ENG 545 Visual Rhetoric and Document Design (Major Concentration) 3
ENG 583 Shakespeare: Representative Plays (Major Upper-Division Core) 3
ENG 640 Global Texts and Practices (Major Upper-Division Core, GP) 3
Concentration Elective (9 Units Total) - Take One 6 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 4 3
 Units15
Eighth Semester
ENG 618 Individual and Team Writing (Major Concentration, SJ) 3
ENG 695 Internship in Professional Writing and Rhetoric (Major Capstone) 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Three 4 9
 Units15
 Total Units120-122
1

ENG 114 can only be taken if you complete Directed Self-Placement (DSP) and select ENG 114; if you choose ENG 104/ENG 105 through DSP you will satisfy A2 upon successful completion of ENG 105 in the second semester; multilingual students may be advised into alternative English courses.

2

To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet the SF State Studies (AERM, GP, ES, SJ) requirements within your GE or major.

3

To determine the best B4 course option, students should complete the online advising activity at mathadvising.sfsu.edu. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.

4

Complementary Studies

12 units of Complementary Studies are required of all candidates in any of the four concentrations (Literature, Linguistics, English Education, and Professional Writing and Rhetoric) in the Bachelor of Arts degree in English. These units must come from courses bearing a prefix other than ENG, and must not be cross-listed with ENG. English majors will be offered four pathways for satisfying this requirement; each pathway is designed to facilitate graduation in a timely manner.

  • Foreign Language: 12 units in a single foreign language;
  • Second Major, Minor, Certificate: 12 units of coursework taken as part of a second major, a minor, or a certificate;
  • Study Abroad: 12 units of coursework taken in an approved study abroad program (such as CSU Study Abroad);
  • Related Subjects: 12 units of coursework in related disciplines with the approval of a English Department advisor.

Related subjects typically include (but are not limited to) Comparative and World Literature, Classics, Creative Writing, Ethnic Studies, Foreign Languages, History, Journalism, and Women and Gender Studies. For this option, 6 units must be from classes in a non-literary related field.

Depending on the concentration within the major, CS pathway, and with approval of a departmental advisor, up to 12 units from courses with non-ENG prefixes that count towards the Complementary Studies requirement may also count as English electives in fulfillment of major requirements.

5

Consider taking a class combined with a laboratory or a separate lab to fulfill B3 if not already satisfied.

6

Concentration Electives - 9 Units selected from courses below:

ENG 200 Writing Practices in Professional Contexts (3 units) (C2)
ENG 470 Writing Professional Promotions (3 units)
ENG 471 Writing Technical Documentation (3 units)
ENG 490 Grant Writing (3 units) (SJ)
ENG 585 Professional Writing for Digital Audiences (3 units)
or other courses with the approval of an advisor

±

Given catalog rights, fall 2023 transfer students do not need to complete an Area F course.