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Why Minor in Writing at Allegheny College

Explore creative writing in the areas of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction–and craft your unique voice to stand out and harness the creative powers of language.

Unusual Combinations
Students often combine Writing with:

Division

  • Language, Literature, and Culture

Program Type

  • Minor

Number of Credits

24 for minor

 

Where Writing Alumni Work Today

Digital Editor

America’s Test Kitchen

Emily Rahravan ’18

Attorney

VanHo Law

Adam VanHo ’98

Regulatory Affairs Director of Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls

Arvinas

Donald N. Klein ’82

Graduate Student in History

Arizona State University

Jennifer Rodriguez ’19

Your Four-Year Journey

Writing Overview

Year 1: Understanding

Study the craft of writing fiction, poetry or creative nonfiction through critical examination of both professional and student work.

Year 2: New Approaches

Writing isn’t all about words on the page, but also the words that come out of our mouths. If you choose to take ENGL 208 (Professional Communication) you will study practical communication in professional settings, considering the principles of document design, and reflect upon the ethical implications of a text’s content, design, and mode of delivery.

Year 3: Delving Deeper

Typical third and fourth year courses consist of advanced workshops that will engage you as both a writer and critical reader. Hone your focus in fiction, poetry, or nonfiction.

Year 4: The Comp

By now, you’ll have learned the skills you need to express your best ideas in a variety of forms. Finish up your last year with any remaining electives.Your focus on creative expression and revision in the Writing minor will undoubtedly be an asset as you write your Senior Comp in any subject!

Research and Internships

Allegheny writing students put theory into practice

We’ll help you recognize the ideas and perspectives that shape your own and earlier times. By cultivating a sensitivity to and healthy skepticism about the subtlety and power of language, you’ll become educated in the fullest sense.

Our English students expand their skills through experiential learning, creative research, internships, study away, and more.

Experiential learning

As a writing student at Allegheny, your nose won’t be stuck in your books. You’ll have the opportunity to take the skills you learn in the classroom and put them into action.

Our students broaden and refine their abilities through multiple experiential learning opportunities, including:

  • The Campus, Allegheny’s weekly student newspaper
  • Allegheny Review, a nationally-known undergraduate literary magazine
  • Overkill, an Allegheny-specific literary magazine
  • Writing Fellows: trained peer consultants in the Maytum Center for Student Success
  • Student readings and national conferences: share your work with our learning community and beyond

Single Voice Reading Series

The Single Voice Reading Series provides students with an opportunity to hear and meet nationally known writers. Readers have included John Updike, Carolyn Forché, Tobias Wolff, Jane Hirshfield, W.D. Snodgrass, Richard Blanco, Robert Olen Butler, Henri Cole, Edward Hirsch, Afaa Michael Weaver, Tim O’Brien, and Mark Doty.

Student-Faculty Collaboration

Many writing minors carry out independent humanities research or collaborative research with faculty in addition to the Senior Comp.

Allegheny’s Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities provides funding for student research during the summer and for travel to regional and national conferences throughout the year.

Recent Internships

  • Crawford County READ Program – Service Learning
  • Meadville Tribune – Journalism
  • Smith Brothers Advertising, Pittsburgh – Marketing

Study Away Opportunities

Allegheny offers sponsored study-away programs in more than 15 countries across the world.

Faculty and Staff

Christopher Bakken

Professor

Ph.D., The University of Houston; M.F.A., Columbia University; B.A., University of Wisconsin, Madison

Frequently Asked Questions About the Writing Program

Are there any clubs and activities available for Writing students?

Yes, there are multiple campus organizations that can benefit students in the Writing program, such as The Campus (Newspaper) Club. Explore all Allegheny College clubs and organizations.

Program Contact

Jennie Votava

Frederick F. Seely Chair of English Literature; Associate Professor of English

Email(814) 332-4334