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Writing, Rhetoric & Communications
Environmental Writing and Rhetoric Minor

Minor in Environmental Writing and Rhetoric (EWR)

The Writing Program at ESF is a space where artistic and humanistic insights can find creative ways to address our ecological crisis. The Environmental Writing minor creates a path to develop the expertise of environmentally-minded humanists and artists to make sense of, represent, and respond holistically to the natural world. Students in the minor engage in audience-centered approaches to writing, reading, and communicating across genres and contexts. They develop skills in environmental storytelling, digital literacies, and presentation to better prepare them to be active participants in academic, professional, and civic life.

Why add this minor? Our students find that there are often multiple skill sets that careers demand of them and increasing one’s exposure to, and practice of, writing can help with job placement and security. The minor also provides the ability to flex already existing interests in the creative world, all while exploring how writing functions in public spheres. Whether you love to read or write, the minor provides an opportunity to engage with wide-ranging composition skills, including criticism, creative writing, journalism, publishing, editing, and tutoring.

Contact: Jacob Gedetsis
jagedets@esf.edu 

Contact: Jacob Gedetsis

The Environmental Writing & Rhetoric is minor open to all undergraduates at SUNY ESF. To be eligible for entry into the minor, students need a minimum GPA of 2.70 and have successfully completed the prerequisite courses EWP 190 and EWP 290 or their equivalent (Students may apply for entry to the minor prior to completion EWP 290). Students will need to complete the above EWR Minor Enrollment form, with appropriate signatures from their advisor and the EWR minor coordinator.

Coursework (12 credits total):

Required Core Course (3 Credits)
  • EWP 300: Survey of Environmental Writing
Choose Two Upper Division EWP Courses (6 credits)
  • EWP 311: Urban Environmental Literature
  • EWP 350: Eco-Cinema: Perspectives and Practices
  • EWP 390: Literature of Nature
  • EWP 394: Art of Storytelling
  • EWP 407: Writing for Environmental & Science Professionals
  • EWP 420: Advance Public Presentation Skills
  • EWP 490: Contemporary Literature of Nature
  • EWP 494: Creative Non-Fiction in the Sciences
  • EWP 495: Environmental Journalism

Directed Electives (3 Credits)
  • EWP 401 Capstone Experience (with permission of instructor) or
Another 3 credit, upper division EWP course (300, 400)
Additional relevant 300 and 400-level courses (from ESF or SU) may be acceptable.

Learning Outcomes for the Environmental Writing & Rhetoric (EWR) Minor:

Students in the EWR Minor will learn to:

  1. Explore diverse environmental media to develop critical reading, writing, and interpretation skills.
  2. Demonstrate an ability to craft multimodal stories across genres, including diverse academic, professional, civic, and cultural contexts.
  3. Develop humanistic approaches to environmental questions through the lens of literary traditions, digital communications, and the arts.