The Department of Writing and Linguistics is unique in Georgia for incorporating the fields of creative writing, linguistics, professional and technical writing, and writing studies. Our majors learn and practice an array of writing and analytical skills while selecting coursework according to their educational, creative, and professional goals. Our courses combine theory and practice to develop reflective, confident writers who can reach many audiences for a variety of purposes in print and electronically. Majors in upper-division courses receive the personal attention from our faculty (who remain active as writers and linguists) for which Georgia Southern University is known.

Undergraduate

The B.A. from the Department of Writing and Linguistics combines the university’s large scale with a small-school feel.

Our department provides a range of professional development opportunities and activities for students, including internships, résumé and application letter workshops, discussions with visiting writers, readings from the Georgia Poetry Circuit, and student-led readings. Students may also join clubs on the Armstrong and Statesboro that are all advised by department faculty.

The Department of Writing and Linguistics also offers several minors: Applied Linguistics, Creative Writing, Writing, Linguistics Interdisciplinary, Teaching Writing, and Professional and Technical Writing.

Graduates from the Department of Writing and Linguistics will demonstrate their knowledge and skills in these ways:

1. Students will analyze audiences for specific texts and reflect on their processes of writing and revision.
2. Students will analyze and critique texts using appropriate disciplinary concepts and will demonstrate knowledge of appropriate research methods.
3. Students will write texts that reflect applicable genre conventions.
4. Students will demonstrate expertise in mapping linguistic structures to their functions in different contexts and ability to articulate the implications of language variation.

Graduate

The Department of Writing and Linguistics, in conjunction with the College of Education, offers an online certificate program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) with an emphasis in Applied Linguistics.

Writing and Linguistics also teaches courses in the Master of Arts in Professional Communication and Leadership program on both the Armstrong and Statesboro campuses, and through online courses. The MA PCL program is directed by the Department of Communication Arts.

Programs

• Writing and Linguistics, B.A.

• Applied Linguistics Minor
• Creative Writing Minor
• Linguistics Interdisciplinary Minor
• Professional and Technical Writing Minor
• Teaching Writing Minor
• Writing Minor

• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)/Applied Linguistics Certificate (Online)