Writing Studies Subject regulations

Effective writing, and the critical and analytical skills it demands, is as essential for a university education as it is in professional life beyond the university. Taken either as a stand-alone major or as a supporting subject, Writing Studies foregrounds critical and cultural awareness, develops an understanding of how language works, and fosters the creativity and intellectual independence which are the prerequisites for excellent academic, professional and creative writing.

Writing Studies is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Arts (BA). Writing Studies may also be taken as a second major or minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.

To complete Writing Studies as a single major for the BA, students must gain 135 points from the papers listed for Writing Studies including 105 points above 100 level, and 60 points above 200 level. Students must complete WRITE202 and WRITE390, 15 points at 300 level from ENGLI papers listed for the Writing Studies major and at least 15 further points in WRITE papers at 300 level.

To complete Writing Studies as part of a double major for the BA or other undergraduate degree, students must gain 120 points from the papers listed for Writing Studies, including 90 points above 100 level, and 45 points above 200 level. Students must include WRITE202 and WRITE390.

To complete a minor in Writing Studies, students must complete 60 points from the papers listed for Writing Studies, including WRITE202 and a further 15 points above 100 level.

A graduate programme in Writing Studies is also available through the Master of Professional Writing. For further details, see Professional Writing, or contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office.

Note:

Students are encouraged to contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office for programme advice.

Other qualifications

Prescriptions for:

Writing Studies papers

100 Level 200 Level 300 Level 500 Level

Code and paper title	Points
ARTSC105 Language in Context Language in Context is an essential paper for students of a broad range of disciplines where language and communication are a focus. Students are...	15	25B (Online)
ENGLI100 Telling the Story This paper examines the deep stories which are at the core of the English literary tradition and the wider Western canon, using picturebooks...	15	25A (Hamilton)
WRITE100 Writing for Academic Success The paper gives opportunities for undergraduate students to develop their academic literacy skills. It begins with general academic communication and...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Online) & 25A (Tauranga) & 25B (Hamilton) & 25B (Online) & 25G (Hamilton) & 25JS (Hamilton) & 25JS (Online) & 25JS (Tauranga)

Code and paper title	Points
ENGLI201 Utopias and Dystopias This paper provides an introduction to utopian and dystopian writing and the way in which literature gives voice to the dreams and fears of humanity.	15	25B (Hamilton)
LINGS203 Language, Society and Culture In this paper, we explore cultural diversity through language. We develop understandings of the way that language both reflects, and is used to...	15	25A (Hamilton)
PUBRL204 Contemporary Public Relations Writing Modern communications professionals write to represent organisations across many different audiences, purposes and contexts. PUBRL204 teaches...	15	25A (Hamilton)
WRITE201 Food Writing This paper uses writing about food, including recipes, memoirs, restaurant reviews and researched food writing, as the primary materials in a...	15	25A (Hamilton)
WRITE202 Creative Writing: Voice and Image This course explores the basic elements of imaginative writing - image and voice - concentrating the student’s attention on the central writing...	15	25B (Hamilton)
WRITE203 Creative Writing: Inspiring Work This intensive, workshop-based paper, taught by award-winning novelist Catherine Chidgey, examines the concept of inspiration as it applies to...	15	25G (Hamilton)

Code and paper title	Points
ENGLI301 Genre Studies: Challenging Forms This paper is an intensive study of specific literary forms such as tragedy, poetry, travel writing, autobiography, and crime writing. The focus will...	15	25B (Hamilton)
LINGS301 Research Apprenticeship This paper provides students with an opportunity to pursue an extended research project, in a sub-discipline of linguistics or anthropology (e.g...	15	25B (Hamilton)
SCIEN300 Science Communication in Society and the Workplace This paper discusses different ways in which science can be communicated by scientists to others. It gives students opportunities to practise verbal...	15	25C (Hamilton)
WRITE300 Creative Writing: Creative Non-fiction This course explores the key elements of creative non-fiction writing, engaging with a variety of non-fiction texts including memoir, biography, the...	15	25A (Hamilton)
WRITE390 Directed Study This independent but guided writing project is compulsory for students majoring in Writing Studies and is only available to students majoring in...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25B (Hamilton)
WRITE396 Writing Studies Work Placement In this paper, students work as interns in a professional workplace where excellent writing is core business. Assessment is based on a written report...	15	25X (Hamilton)

Code and paper title	Points
ALPSS591 Research Project A research report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical or practice-led investigation (up to 12,500 words maximum).	30	25X (Hamilton) & 25X (Tauranga)
ALPSS592 Dissertation A research report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical or practice-led investigation (up to 25,000 words maximum).	60	25X (Hamilton) & 25X (Tauranga)
CWRIT594 Creative Writing Thesis This paper will provide students the opportunity to devise, carry out and revise an independent and original creative writing manuscript, while...	120	25X (Hamilton)
LCOMM583 Leadership, Communication and Transformation Our focus in this paper will be on leadership communication, or the ways leaders and followers interact and the ways leaders attempt to create and...	30	25A (Hamilton)
LLTED522 Teaching Writers This paper provides an opportunity for participants to build a professional community in which they critically consider theories, discourses, and...	30	25A (Hamilton)
LLTED523 The Joy and Disruption of Children's Literature In this paper we engage with the depth and traditions of current scholarship in the field of children’s literature using texts from a wide range of...	30	25B (Hamilton)
MEDIA501 Critical and Creative Approaches to Research This paper identifies the constraints and freedoms of research methods, and places a strong emphasis on research as an intellectual, theoretical, and...	30	25A (Hamilton)
MEDIA507 Theory and Research in Action In this supervised paper, students will produce a pilot study utilising appropriate research frameworks and methodologies to form the basis of a...	30	25B (Hamilton)
WRITE501 Writing for Publication This paper explores different forms of published output, including poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction, writing for advertising, digital and...	30	25A (Hamilton)
WRITE503 Professional Writing Internship This paper allows students to gain professional writing experience in the workplace, under the guidance of an academic supervisor and the specialist...	30	25X (Hamilton)
WRITE590 Directed Study This paper involves an independent but guided writing project on a topic of the student's choice.	30	25A (Hamilton) & 25B (Hamilton)
WRITE593 Professional Writing Thesis This paper will provide students the opportunity to devise, carry out and revise an independent thesis focussed on a specialised field of writing...	90	25X (Hamilton)

2025 Catalogue of Papers information current as of 23 Dec 2024 01:00am

Writing Studies Subject regulations

Other qualifications

Writing Studies papers

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