The Program in Writing offers introductory writing as well as advanced coursework in the areas of Creative Writing, Nonfiction Writing, and Science Writing.
Advisors
Students with questions about the Writing majors, how to declare a major, or how its requirements can be fulfilled, should make an appointment with any of following individuals.
| Nick Montfort Major Advisor (spring) montfort@mit.edu | Shariann Lewitt Major Advisor slewitt@mit.edu | Tom Levenson Minor Advisor levenson@mit.edu | Tom Levenson Concentration Advisor levenson@mit.edu |
Major
http://catalog.mit.edu/degree-charts/writing-course-21w/
Choose at least two subjects in the major that are designated as communication-intensive (CI-M) to fulfill the Communication Requirement.
Take two required subjects
| 21W.THT | Writing Pre-Thesis Tutorial (6 units) |
| 21W.THU | Writing Program Thesis (CI-M) (12 units) Undergraduate Thesis Manual (PDF) |
Take one of the following subjects
| 21W.757 | Fiction Workshop (CI-M) |
| 21W.758 | Genre Fiction Workshop (CI-M) |
| 21W.759 | Writing Science Fiction (CI-M) |
| 21W.762 | Poetry Workshop (CI-M) |
| 21W.765[J] | Interactive Narrative (CI-M) |
| 21W.770 | Advanced Fiction Workshop (CI-M) |
| 21W.771 | Advanced Poetry Workshop (CI-M) |
| 21W.777 | Science Writing in Contemporary Society (CI-M) |
| 21W.786[J] | Social Justice and The Documentary Film (CI-M) |
And select nine subjects, one of which is normally introductory, that form a cohesive unit. Up to six subjects may also count toward the Institute HASS requirement.
Joint Degree Programs in Writing
Humanities and Engineering (21E) degree and Humanities and Science (21S) degree: Joint degree programs are offered in Writing in combination with a field in engineering or science (the 21E and 21S degrees). Students completing a joint degree are required to complete 7 Writing subjects (with a focus on creative, science or nonfiction writing), a Writing Pre-thesis and Thesis, and 6 subjects in an engineering or science major.
Minor in Writing
The Minor in Writing consists of six subjects focusing on one of the three areas mentioned above, arranged into two tiers of study as follows:
Tier I
Take one subject from the following
| 21W.011 | Writing and Rhetoric: Rhetoric and Contemporary Issues |
| 21W.012 | Writing and Rhetoric: Food for Thought |
| 21W.013 | Writing and Rhetoric: Introduction to Contemporary Rhetoric |
| 21W.014 | Writing and Rhetoric: Exploring Visual Media |
| 21W.015 | Writing and Rhetoric: Writing about Sports |
| 21W.016 | Writing and Rhetoric: Designing Meaning |
| 21W.021 | Writing and Rhetoric: MIT Inside, Live |
| 21W.022 | Writing and Experience: Reading and Writing Autobiography |
| 21W.031 | Science Writing and New Media: Explorations in Communicating about Science and Technology |
| 21W.034 | Science Writing and New Media: Perspectives on Medicine and Public Health |
| 21W.035 | Science Writing and New Media: Elements of Science Writing for the Public |
| 21W.036 | Science Writing and New Media: Writing and the Environment |
| 21W.041[J] | Writing about Literature |
| 21W.042[J] | Writing with Shakespeare |
| 21W.755 | Writing and Reading Short Stories |
| 21W.756 | Writing and Reading Poems |
Tier II
Five subjects from among the remaining writing subjects.
Concentration in Writing
The Concentration in Writing consists of four subjects chosen in consultation with the Concentration Advisor. Ordinarily, of these four, no more than one will be at the introductory level (21W.0xx, 755, 756). In addition, of the four, three will form a coherent group within one of the major categories of the curriculum.
A student may choose to go beyond the Concentration requirement, and build a Minor in the field. It is not then necessary to complete a separate Concentration, but the student must still fill out the Concentration Proposal and Completion forms.
You may see a list of Writing subjects offered this semester here: cmsw.mit.edu/education/subject-lists/writing/ and a full list of subjects in the Writing program here: student.mit.edu/catalog/m21Wa.html. All classes used for the Concentration in Writing must carry a HASS designation.