BA - Writing Studies as a major
Major, Second Major, Supporting
If you’re fascinated by the history and creative activities of humankind and how this shapes societies and our future, then a Bachelor of Arts (BA) is for you. Our graduates are in demand for their flexible skills, practical outlook and depth of understanding they bring to their roles.
Do you love expressing yourself in words? Enjoy a learning environment in which you can explore your creativity as a writer of poetry, fiction or creative non-fiction. Acquire the skills in written communication that you can apply in business environments, or learn to write for digital media or for the screen.
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Education and Society
- English
- Environmental Planning
- Geography
- History
- Human Development
- International Languages and Cultures
- Law
- Linguistics
- Music
- Māori and Indigenous Studies
- Māori Language/Te Reo Māori
- Pacific and Indigenous Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Population Studies
- Psychology
- Screen and Media Studies
- Social Policy
- Sociology
- Theatre Studies
Apply to enrol
Key information
| Years: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Points: | 360 |
| Start Dates: | Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July) |
| Estimated Fees* (Domestic): | $6,776 - $7,821 per year |
| Estimated Fees* (International): | $29,425 - $38,305 per year |
| Entry Requirements: | Undergraduate International |
| Area of Study: | |
| All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). *Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. | |
Career opportunities
- Copy Writer
- Digital and Broadcast Media Writer
- Journalist
- Literary Non-Fiction Writer
- Public Relations Practitioner
- Report Writer
- Speech Writer
- Teacher
Degree Planner
Degree planner — BA in Writing Studies
Year 1
Any 100 level
paper listed below
Any 100 level
paper listed below
One from List A
Field of the Degree
100 level
Field of the Degree
100 level
Elective
Elective
Year 2
Any 200 level
WRITE paper
Any 200 level
paper listed below
One from List B
Field of the Degree
200 level
Elective
Elective
Elective
Year 3
Any 300 level
WRITE paper
Any 300 level
paper listed below
Any 300 level
paper listed below
One from List C
Elective
Elective
Elective
- Major
- Compulsory
- Elective
BA Papers
Lists A, B and C
List A: Academic Foundations
- ARTSC103 Rights and Reasons
- ARTSC105 Language in Context
- ENSLA103 Undergraduate Research Writing for ESL Students
- ENSLA202 Oral Skills for Academic English
List B: Cultural Perspectives
Any Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies paper, or- ANTHY101 Exploring Cultures: Introduction to Anthropology
- ANTHY102 Exploring Cultures: Aotearoa and the Pacific
- ANTHY201 Patriots, Racists, and Foreigners: Ethnicity and Identity in Global Perspective
- DSIGN252 Cultural Perspectives for Design
- EDUCA200 Te Hononga Tangata
- ENGLI200 Global Fictions
- GEOGY219 Māori Lands and Communities
- INTLC221 Understanding East Asia
- INTLC225 The French-speaking World from Astérix to Zombies
- LINGS203 Language, Society and Culture
- Any MAORI paper
- Any PACIS paper
List C: Work-Integrated Learning
- ALPSS301 Work-integrated learning - Placements
- ALPSS363 The Impact Lab
- ARTSW300 Arts and Cultural Festivals
- ARTSW301 Professional Practice in the Arts (prerequisites ARTSC110 - so open to all BA students)
- ARTSW302 Work-Related Project in the Arts (prerequisites ARTSC110 - so open to all BA students)
- GEOGY328 Geographical Information Systems
- LINGS301 Research Apprenticeship
- MEDIA307 Professional Studio Production
- PHIL0318 Work Ethics
- POLCY318 Global Environmental Politics and Policy
- POPST300 Population Studies Work-related Project
- PSYCH301 Psychology Research Assistantship
- SOCSC301 Work-Integrated Learning - Work-Related Project
- WRITE396 Writing Studies Work Placement
*Please consult our Student Advisors for the correct work-integrated learning paper.
Subject to approval
Papers
Papers available within Writing Studies
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.
100 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARTSC105 | Language in Context | 15.0 | 24A (Online) |
| Language in Context is an essential paper for students of a broad range of disciplines where language and communication are a focus. Students are given the tools to examine how human language reflects our histories, our social selves, and our immediate physical contexts. We observe how language is used to reinvent and to reinforce ... | |||
| ENGLI100 | Telling the Story | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper examines the deep stories which are at the core of the English literary tradition and the wider Western canon, using picturebooks, fairytales, popular film, detective fiction and short stories. | |||
| WRITE100 | Writing for Academic Success | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton), 24A (Online), 24A (Tauranga), 24B (Hamilton), 24B (Online), 24B (Tauranga), 24JS (Hamilton), 24JS (Online) & 24JS (Tauranga) |
| The paper gives opportunities for undergraduate students to develop their academic literacy skills. It begins with general academic communication and research skills and then embeds academic literacy practice within disciplines of study. | |||
200 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGLI201 | Utopias and Dystopias | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| 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. | |||
| LINGS203 | Language, Society and Culture | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| In this paper, we explore cultural diversity through language. We develop understandings of the way that language both reflects, and is used to construct diverse social and cultural identities and practices. We will look at multiple examples of both linguistic and cultural research, as well as learning from our own diverse experien... | |||
| PUBRL204 | Contemporary Public Relations Writing | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| Modern communications professionals write to represent organisations across many different audiences, purposes and contexts. PUBRL204 teaches students to select and use a range of genres from established media to emerging digital platforms. | |||
| WRITE201 | Food Writing | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper uses writing about food, including recipes, memoirs, restaurant reviews and researched food writing, as the primary materials in a learning experience with an intensive applied writing focus. | |||
| WRITE202 | Creative Writing: Voice and Image | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| This course explores the basic elements of imaginative writing - image and voice - concentrating the student's attention on the central writing practices of 'seeing' and 'saying.' | |||
| WRITE203 | Creative Writing: Inspiring Work | 15.0 | 24G (Hamilton) |
| This intensive, workshop-based paper, taught by award-winning novelist Catherine Chidgey, examines the concept of inspiration as it applies to creative writing. Students will consider historical theories of artistic inspiration as well as the methods of practising writers. Thematic lectures around the central topic will address rit... | |||
| WRITE205 | Writing for the Screen | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper explores foundational concepts in writing for the screen and develops practical skills in the application of these concepts during workshop sessions. The paper is organised around four main topic areas: world-making, characters, structures, and scenes/sequences. Students will produce a portfolio of writing, including pro... | |||
300 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGLI301 | Genre Studies: Challenging Forms | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper is an intensive study of specific literary forms such as tragedy, poetry, travel writing, autobiography, and crime writing. The focus will vary from year to year. | |||
| LCOMM301 | Professional Speaking | 15.0 | No occurrences |
| This highly practical paper focuses on the skills, principles, and practices of developing and delivering professional speeches and presentations across a wide range of professional purposes and contexts | |||
| LINGS301 | Research Apprenticeship | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| This paper provides students with an opportunity to pursue an extended research project, in a sub-discipline of linguistics or anthropology (e.g. sociolinguistics, typology, documentation, anthropology), focusing on a heritage language/culture. | |||
| LINGS304 | Applied Linguistics | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper provides an introduction to areas of research and professional practice in applied linguistics, including language acquisition, second language teaching, language planning, lexicography, translation, forensic linguistics and speech language therapy. | |||
| SCIEN300 | Science Communication | 15.0 | 24G (Hamilton) |
| This paper discusses different ways in which science can be communicated by scientists to others. It gives students opportunities to practise verbal, written, visual and other forms of communication. The paper includes interacting with mainstream media, how to construct compelling stories, dealing with controversial topics, and pre... | |||
| WRITE300 | Creative Writing: Creative Non-fiction | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| This course explores the key elements of creative non-fiction writing, engaging with a variety of non-fiction texts including memoir, biography, the personal/lyric essay, and auto/biographical meta-fiction. | |||
| WRITE390 | Directed Study | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) & 24B (Hamilton) |
| This independent but guided writing project is compulsory for students majoring in Writing Studies and is only available to students majoring in Writing Studies. | |||
| WRITE396 | Writing Studies Work Placement | 15.0 | 24X (Hamilton) |
| In this paper, students work as interns in a professional workplace where excellent writing is core business. Assessment is based on a written report and on workplace performance. | |||
500 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALPSS591 | Research Project | 30.0 | 24X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga) |
| A research report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical or practice-led investigation (up to 12,500 words maximum). | |||
| ALPSS592 | Dissertation | 60.0 | 24X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga) |
| A research report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical or practice-led investigation (up to 25,000 words maximum). | |||
| APPLN501 | Research Methods in Applied Linguistics | 30.0 | 24B (Hamilton) & 24B (Online) |
| The overall aim of this paper is to provide students with a critical awareness of a range of issues and skills associated with carrying out research in the area of applied linguistics. | |||
| CWRIT594 | Creative Writing Thesis | 120.0 | 24X (Hamilton) |
| This paper will provide students the opportunity to devise, carry out and revise an independent and original creative writing manuscript, while receiving supervision and peer feedback within a creative workshop environment. Students are selected by portfolio assessment: application portfolios due by the first Friday in June. | |||
| LCOMM583 | Leadership, Communication and Transformation | 30.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| 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 shape meanings through images and words. We will also explore a range of ideas about what it means to lead and the assumptions, beliefs, and values embedded and shaped in diverse leaders... | |||
| LLTED522 | Teaching Writers | 30.0 | 24A (Online) |
| This paper provides an opportunity for participants to build a professional community in which they critically consider theories, discourses, and experiences that influence writers and teachers of writing. This class layers conceptual and practical elements of writing and teaching writers, and participants are expected to develop d... | |||
| LLTED523 | The Joy and Disruption of Children's Literature | 30.0 | 24B (Online) |
| 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 contexts. The course begins by covering a wide scope of current issues in children's literature and ends with an opportunity for students to gain deep knowledge of a topic of their choi... | |||
| MEDIA501 | Critical and Creative Approaches to Research | 30.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper identifies the constraints and freedoms of research methods, and places a strong emphasis on research as an intellectual, theoretical, and processual activity as well as the roles of interdisciplinary projects in creating unique methodological and conceptual media research. | |||
| MEDIA507 | Theory and Research in Action | 30.0 | 24A (Hamilton) & 24B (Hamilton) |
| In this supervised paper, students will produce a pilot study utilising appropriate research frameworks and methodologies to form the basis of a topic which will support the completion of a robust dissertation. | |||
| WRITE503 | Professional Writing Internship | 30.0 | 24X (Hamilton) |
| This paper allows students to gain professional writing experience in the workplace, under the guidance of an academic supervisor and the specialist supervision of a workplace mentor. | |||
| WRITE546 | Creative Writing: Writing and Embodiment | 30.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| A writing-intensive paper focused on the ways in which 'embodiment' is key in generating vital characters, shaping dramatic narratives, and crafting resonant sentences aware of the sensory impact of language. | |||
| WRITE590 | Directed Study | 30.0 | 24A (Hamilton) & 24B (Hamilton) |
| This paper involves an independent but guided writing project on a topic of the student's choice. | |||
| WRITE593 | Professional Writing Thesis | 90.0 | 24X (Hamilton) |
| This paper will provide students the opportunity to devise, carry out and revise an independent thesis focussed on a specialised field of writing studies, under appropriate supervision and guidance. | |||
900 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| CWRIT900 | Creative Writing PhD Thesis | 120.0 | 24I (Hamilton), 24J (Hamilton), 24K (Hamilton) & 24X (Hamilton) |
| No description available. | |||
Scholarships and prizes
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships
Subject Requirements
For more information about subject requirements, please refer to the Catalogue of Papers for the most up to date information. If you have any questions and need more advice, contact one of our friendly student advisors on phone:
Contacts
School of Arts
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4922
General and Undergraduate Email Enquiries: [email protected]