Minor in Writing

Whether you’re a writer of fiction or poetry, a grammar aficionado, or just someone who recognizes the importance of the written word, UNE’s Writing minor may be the perfect program for you. A flexible and interdisciplinary program, the Writing minor is designed to enhance the career readiness of students majoring in everything from the humanities, arts, and social sciences to the natural sciences, business, and the health professions. Through our hands-on and collaborative approach, you’ll learn the fundamentals — with the opportunity to study both creative and professional writing — as well as how to write for your specific discipline. With three out of four employers desiring job candidates with strong written communication skills, having the Writing minor on your transcript will be sure to give you a leg up in whatever profession you choose.

We understand that most writing on the professional level is composed within the context of some other field. Therefore, we designed this minor as an interdisciplinary one that can improve your work within your chosen major and can launch you to greater heights no matter what your profession after graduation. We even consider existing courses in a range of other UNE programs for inclusion in the Writing minor, allowing you to fulfill not just Core — but, in some cases, major requirements — as you complete the minor.

Experiential Learning

If you think of writing as a solitary endeavor, think again. With UNE’s emphasis on hands-on learning, our Writing minor relies on cooperative and engaging activities, from in-class poetry and fiction workshops to collaborative resume and cover letter preparation sessions. You may even become a Writing Fellow and gain professional experience in supporting student writing across a variety of academic disciplines. 

We also encourage you to expand your real-world experiences by seeking internship opportunities. Our Writing minors have previously interned with: 

• Portland Press Herald (journalism intern) 
• Make-a-Wish Foundation (grant writing intern) 
• Parkhurst Dining (social media intern) 
• Maine Women Writers Collection (archives and exhibits intern) 

Written communication abilities, along with teamwork, consistently rank among the top five skills employers seek from college graduates across all fields of employment. The UNE Writing minor, with its mix of foundational, professional, and discipline-specific writing components and its emphasis on collaborative work, sets you up for success — no matter what your major field of study and no matter which profession you ultimately choose.

Whether your future career requires you to write emails, author reports, compose proposals, or create presentations, chances are that writing, in some fashion, is bound to be among your daily tasks. Solid writing skills will be necessary and, in fact, will enhance your professional standing in a number of ways:

• Getting Hired: Make your cover letter stand out in the application pool
• Earning and Maintaining Respect: Demonstrate to your coworkers a high level of professionalism by avoiding grammatical errors and poorly worded sentences
• Making New Discoveries: Impress others with creative and original thoughts born out of the writing process
• Communicating Clearly: Enhance team productivity by preventing confusion and the need for repeated clarification
• Being Persuasive: Exhibit leadership through well-articulated arguments
• Enhancing the Reputation of Your Employer: Represent your business or organization to the outside world in the best light possible

Writing Careers by the Numbers

Undergraduate Admissions