With a degree in English Writing and Rhetoric (ENGW), students graduate from St. Edward’s confident that they can write effectively, whether they are going on to graduate school or entering the workforce. 

In fact, the ENGW major at St. Edward’s University carries above-average prestige because there are only a handful of such programs at the undergraduate level in universities across the U.S.  Students can get a master's or doctorate degree in a major such as ours (a Rhetoric and Composition M.A. and Ph.D.), but not a bachelor's degree.

As surveys indicate, employers value writing skills as critical.  And our ENGW major places great emphasis on teaching students “real world” writing suitable for workplace contexts—clear, succinct, precise writing suited to particular readers, formatted in a layout appropriate for those readers.  Several of our courses focus either completely or in large measure on this type of writing and graphic design.  And we offer students excellent internships in non-academic settings. 

A special note about the non-academic writing we teach:  In our program, students develop flyers, brochures, websites, grant proposals, and handbooks.  We encourage students to compose such texts for businesses or non-profit organizations around Austin, so students end up with published documents they can list on their resumes.  Our ENGW majors, then, generally graduate with very attractive evidence that they can write well, evidence that is valued by both graduate school admissions committees and potential employers.

This major is an excellent choice for a range of undergraduates.  While some of our majors will ultimately be creative writers, teachers, or technical writers, more of our majors go on to law school (arguably, ENGW provides the best undergraduate preparation for someone who plans to become a lawyer) or end up in careers in advertising, publishing, public relations, the foreign service, or administrative jobs in a wide range of businesses. 

ENGW is also an ideal choice for students who know they will probably go to graduate school some day, but don’t know what field they’re interested in at this time. Any graduate school admissions committee considering an applicant with an English Writing and Rhetoric degree will be impressed by the degree.  Committee members will assume ENGW majors can think critically and write effectively, both necessary for success in graduate school.

Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to major or minor in a discipline that will prepare you for your future, regardless of what career path you take.