Professional & Popular Writing
The Professional and Popular Writing Minor offers students an interdisciplinary approach to writing that complements any major
The program combines courses in professional writing across disciplines with popular writing for informational and creative purposes. Students enrolled in the Professional and Popular Writing minor will gain an understanding of the craft of writing in personal, professional, and popular contexts; develop their personal philosophy of writing; and create a portfolio of written work demonstrating their ability to write in a range of professional and popular modes for print and online audiences.
In addition to courses in creative writing, the English Department sponsors both an annual student literary magazine, Avalon, and annual writing contests in poetry and fiction.
Avalon Literary Magazine
Avalon is an annual literary magazine publishing poetry, fiction, drama, visual art, photography, and compositions. Avalon is written, edited, published, and managed by students. Submissions to Avalon are accepted throughout the year. Email avalon@su.edu with questions and submissions.
Creative Writing Contests
The Bruce Souders and Gordon Link prizes are awarded annually to the best poetry and fiction submitted by a full-time student. The contest deadline is normally the Friday before Spring Break.
Shenandoah University’s College of Arts & Sciences is your direct connection to a classic, broad-based education to satisfy both your intellectual curiosity and career goals. With a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, small classes and individualized learning opportunities, we put students at the center of all our decisions and events.
We blend the liberal arts with pre-professional courses and hands-on learning to prepare you for careers in the natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities. You’ll learn through small, engaging classes and relationships with faculty mentors; hone your skills to solve problems; and learn to use creativity and critical thinking to make informed decisions.
Declaring A Minor
Shenandoah students work with their Academic Advisor to declare a minor. Academic Advisors will continue to work with students to ensure that they fulfill all of the requirements to complete the minor.
Incoming students should not indicate their intended minor on their Shenandoah application. Applications are for intended majors only.
The Career & Professional Development staff helps Shenandoah students search and apply for internships related to their major and career goals. Internships differentiate you as an applicant in your future job searches, provide hands on experience in your field, allow you to sample different career paths for your major, and help you find a specific position that fits your passion before graduation.
In addition to developing your writing skills, our program will teach you how to think critically and apply a variety of communications strategies and problem solving skills throughout your life.
Career and Salary Examples for English Majors:
- Technical Writer: $49,100
- Web Content Editor: $46,200
- Copywriter: $45,000
- Executive Assistant: $31,957 – $76,026
- Paralegal: $30,000 – $57,337
- Marketing Director: $36,614 – $122,449
- Editor: $26,553 – $69,041
I owe SU, more than I could ever say. I gained a confidence I’d never had before and I carry it with me still. Never stop writing…or reading. There are a lot of rejections to experience, but as any author will tell you, it’s part of the process.”
Heidi Sales ’12 | Established author of young adult novels
Career & Professional Development Provides A Comprehensive Range Of Services And Resources To Assist Shenandoah Students In Their Career Search. Services offered include resume and cover letter building, mock interviews, and professional dining etiquette workshops.
Courses required for this minor
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
| WR 250 | Fundamentals of Writing Practice | 3 |
| WR 450 | Writing Portfolio | 1 |
| At least 3 credits in Professional Writing from this list: | ||
| ENG 302 | Writing in the Health Professions | 3 |
| MCOM 305 | Public Relations Writing | 3 |
| MCOM 315 | Media Writing | 3 |
| MCOM 345 | Sports Writing | 3 |
| MCOM 365 | Editing the News | 3 |
| MCOM 425 | Public Affairs Reporting | 3 |
| At least 3 credits in Popular Writing from this list: | ||
| ENG 317 | Creative Writing Workshop | 3 |
| ENG 318 | Writing for Online Audiences | 3 |
| MCOM 401 | Applied Writing | 3 |
| Additional approved courses in Professional and Popular Writing | 8 | |
| Credit Total | 18 | |
Learning support services are available to all students in every course at Shenandoah. Free peer tutoring with a student who has previously succeeded in the course is available for any course across the university. The Writing Center is available for every stage of the writing process from thesis development to proofreading and bibliography assistance. The Math Enrichment Center is available for math and science assistance. Professors and Academic Advisors across the university also have office hours and open door policies to ensure Shenandoah students succeed academically.