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  • Scientific and Technical Writing
WVU Morgantown

Scientific and Technical Writing, B.S.

  • Overview
  • Admissions Requirements
  • Major
  • Degree Progress
  • Learning Outcomes

Degree Offered

  • Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing and Editing
  • Bachelor of Sciences in Scientific and Technical Writing

Students may not earn both a B.A. and a B.S. in Writing Studies.

Nature of the Program

With a BA or BS degree in Writing Studies, you will learn to translate complex information into clear prose for diverse audiences and analyze how information flows through organizational structures. As you apply these skills in a capstone internship with a local business, non-profit, or government agency, you will see your writing come alive.

Regardless of what subjects you’re interested in and what careers you’re considering post-graduation, the BA degree in Professional Writing and Editing or the BS degree in Scientific and Technical Writing will improve the writing and communication skills that employers value.

When choosing between the BA degree in Professional Writing and Editing or the BS degree in Scientific and Technical Writing, individuals typically consider the path that most closely matches their future plans. The BA degree is well suited to students who are interested in the needs of an increasingly global society and want to make a difference as writers or editors for nonprofits, government agencies, and other professions. The BA’s emphasis on rhetorical, cultural, and linguistic competencies also prepares students for advanced academic work in a range of fields, including the humanities and legal studies. The BS degree is well suited to students who have an interest in science, healthcare, or technology and want to pursue professional careers where they convey complex topics clearly to the public. The BS degree also prepares students for the writing and research skills they need for advanced academic work.

Students who earn a degree in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences must complete the University requirements, the College requirements for their specific degree program, and their major requirements. Both the BA in Professional Writing and Editing and the BS in Scientific and Technical Writing are SpeakWrite certified programs.

4+1 Option

Qualified students pursuing a BA or BS in Writing Studies may earn up to 12 hours of graduate credit during their junior and senior year.  These credits can count toward the master's program in Professional Writing and Editing, enabling them to complete their M.A. in one year following their undergraduate degree.

Minors

All students have the possibility of earning one or more minors; follow the link for a list of all available minors and their requirements. Please note that students may not earn a minor in their major field.

Publications

Calliope, a publication of WVU student writing, is sponsored by the Department of English and the English Honorary and Club.

Mountaineer Undergraduate Research Review, publishes outstanding research articles, literature reviews, and policy briefs principally authored by undergraduates of any major at West Virginia University. MURR is a student-led publication housed within the West Virginia University Office of Undergraduate Research. 

Resilience is a digital, peer-reviewed journal of the Environmental Humanities. It provides a forum for scholars from across the humanities disciplines to speak to one another about their shared interest in environmental issues and to engage in an evolving conversation about what the humanities contributes to living and thinking sustainably in a world of dwindling resources.

Admissions for 2026-2027

  • First Time Freshmen are admitted directly to the major.
  • Students transferring from another WVU major or from another institution with fewer than 24 credits and at least a 2.0 overall GPA are admitted directly to the major.
  • Students transferring from another WVU major or from another institution with 24 credits or more and at least a 2.0 overall GPA must meet the following requirement prior to being admitted to the major: a 2.0 GPA in all ENGL classes taken.

Major Codes:                         

B.S. Scientific and Technical Writing = 14F5

B.A. Professional Writing and Editing = 14F4

General Education Foundations

Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.

NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.

Course List
Code Title Hours
General Education Foundations
F1 - Composition & Rhetoric3-6
ENGL 101
& ENGL 102
Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric
and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research
or ENGL 103
Accelerated Academic Writing
F2A/F2B - Science & Technology4-6
F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning3-4
F4 - Society & Connections3
F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past3
F6 - The Arts & Creativity3
F7 - Global Studies & Diversity3
F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree)9
Total Hours31-37

Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete WVU General Education Foundations requirements, Eberly Edge Program requirements, major requirements, and electives to total a minimum 120 hours.

Departmental Requirements for the B.S. in Scientific and Technical Writing

  • Calculation of GPA in the major:  Students must earn a grade of C- or better in all courses that are counted toward the STW Major Requirement plus. If a course is repeated, all attempts will be included in the calculation of the GPA unless the course is eligible for a D/F repeat.
  • Writing and Communication Requirement: The Scientific and Technical Writing B.S. students fulfill the Writing and Communication Skills requirement by completing ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 (or ENGL 103), and two additional SpeakWrite Certified Courses TM.
  • Capstone Requirement: The university requires the successful completion of a Capstone course.  Scientific and Technical Writing majors must complete three credits of WRIT 491A to meet this requirement. 

Curriculum Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
University Requirements56
Eberly Edge Requirements15
Scientific and Technical Writing Requirements49
Total Hours120

University Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits)
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 4, 5, 6 and 718
WRIT 1911
General Electives37
Total Hours56

Eberly Edge Program Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
EDG 1: Data and Society 3
EDG 2: Effective and Civil Communication3
EDG 3: Ethics and Civil Responsibility3
EDG 4: Global and Regional Perspectives3
EDG 5: Practicing Arts & Sciences (ARSC 380)3
EDG 6: EEDG High Impact Experience (WRIT 480)
Total Hours15

Scientific and Technical Writing Major Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
STEM FOUNDATIONS*19
Mathematics:
MATH 150
Applied Calculus
or MATH 155
Calculus 1
Life and Natural Sciences:
Select 2 pairs:
BIOL 115
& 115L
& BIOL 117
& BIOL 117L
Principles of Biology
and Principles of Biology Laboratory
and Introductory Physiology
and Introductory Physiology Laboratory
CHEM 111
& 111L
& CHEM 112
& CHEM 112L
Survey of General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry 1
and Survey of Chemistry 1 Laboratory
and Survey of General Organic Biological Chemistry 2
and Survey of Chemistry 2 Laboratory
or CHEM 115
& 115L
& CHEM 116
& CHEM 116L
Fundamentals of Chemistry 1
and Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 Laboratory
and Fundamentals of Chemistry 2
and Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 Laboratory
PHYS 101
& 101L
& PHYS 102
& PHYS 102L
Introductory Physics 1
and Introductory Physics 1 Laboratory
and Introductory Physics 2
and Introductory Physics 2 Laboratory
or PHYS 111
& 111L
& PHYS 112
& PHYS 112L
General Physics 1
and General Physics 1 Laboratory
and General Physics 2
and General Physics 2 Laboratory
SUST 101
& 101L
& SUST 201
& SUST 201L
Sustainable Earth
and Sustainable Earth Laboratory
and Earth System Science
and Earth System Science Laboratory
or SUST 101L
& SUST 207
& SUST 207L
Sustainable Earth Laboratory
and Climate System Science
and Climate System Science Laboratory
CORE COURSES12
WRIT 202
Introduction to Writing Studies
WRIT 301
Writing Theory and Practice
WRIT 302
Editing
WRIT 304
Business and Professional Writing
or WRIT 305
Technical Writing
TOPICAL AREA6
Select one area
Science and Health
WRIT 407
The Writing of Health and Medicine
Public Writing
ENGL 403
& WRIT 450
Proposal and Grant Writing
and Intro to Forensic Linguistics
Personalized Topic
Select 2 ENGL or WRIT courses in consultation with an adviser
UPPER-DIVISION ELECTIVES *9
Select three ENGL or WRIT courses at the 300 level not taken for the Core or Topical requirements
WRIT 303
Multimedia Writing
WRIT 304
Business and Professional Writing
WRIT 305
Technical Writing
WRIT 306
Topics in Digital Humanities
ENGL 309
Approaches to Teaching Composition
ENGL 312
Creative Writing Workshop: Fiction
ENGL 314
Creative Writing Workshop: Non-Fiction
ENGL 321
History of the English Language
ENGL 329
Topics in English Language
ENGL 331
Topics in Genre
ENGL 338
Environmental Criticism
ENGL 383
Introduction to Cultural Studies
WRIT 407
The Writing of Health and Medicine
WRIT 408
Rhetoric and Science
WRIT 450
Intro to Forensic Linguistics
WRIT 460
Appalachian Englishes
CAPSTONE3
WRIT 480
Capstone Internship
Total Hours49
*

STEM foundation courses are common to most STEM majors and excluded from the calculation of the percentage of upper-division courses.

**

Students may select up to 3 credits outside ENGL or WRIT courses with permission from a WRIT adviser.

Plan of Study

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENGL 101 (F1 Course 1)3ENGL 102 (F1 Course 2)3
ENGL 1911Science Course 24
EDG 1: Data and Society 3EDG 2: Effective and Civil Communication3
SCIENCE COURSE 14MATH 150 (F3)3
GEF 43General Elective 2
General Elective1 
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
WRIT 2023WRIT 3013
WRIT 305 or 3043WRIT 3023
EDG 3: Ethics and Civil Responsibility3EDG 4: Global and Regional Perspectives3
Science Course 34Science Course 44
General Elective2General Elective2
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ARSC 380 (EDG 5)3WRIT 480 ( EDG 6)3
Topical Area Course 13Topical Area Course 23
Upper-Division Elective Course 13Upper-Division Elective Course 33
Upper-Division Elective Course 23GEF 63
GEF 53General Elective 3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
General Elective3GEF 73
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Total credit hours: 120

Degree Progress

  • At the end of their second semester in the program, students will have completed ENGL 101, 102, 191, 199, and WRIT 202.
  • After three semesters students will have completed 9 additional credits of WRIT courses above WRIT 202.
  • After four semesters in the program, students will have completed 12 additional credits in WRIT.
  • All majors must meet with an English department adviser each semester
  • All majors must meet with an English department adviser to select electives appropriate for their degree and career interests.

Major Learning Outcomes

Scientific and Technical Writing

Upon successful completion of the BS degree in Scientific and Technical Writing, majors will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes.

  • Students will identify, understand, and explain the major concepts of Scientific and Technical Writing.
  • Students will develop rhetorical literacies and apply these to linguistic structures and genre conventions across diverse cultures and contexts.
  • Students will develop the functional literacies related to digital and print writing and editing and apply them to contexts and audiences appropriately.
  • Students will understand scientific principles relevant to the field as they locate, evaluate, and appropriately apply primary and secondary research materials from a variety of sources (e.g., scholarly and professional sources as well as informal print, visual, or digital sources).
  • Students will demonstrate the critical literacies, problem-solving skills, and professional behaviors that make a strong scientific and technical writer across genres and media (print, visual, aural, digital).
  • Anthropology
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  • English
  • English/​Secondary Education
  • Forensic Biology
  • Forensic Chemistry
  • Forensic Examiner
  • History
  • Integrated Studies
  • International Studies
  • Mathematics
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Neuroscience
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Professional Writing and Editing
  • Psychology
  • Regents Bachelor of Arts
  • Scientific and Technical Writing
  • Social Studies/​Secondary Education
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  • Sociology
  • Sustainability Studies
  • Women's and Gender Studies

WVU Morgantown

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Morgantown, WV 26506
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