The writing minor offers a flexible curriculum for students interested in creative writing (fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and other forms) or professional writing and publishing (editing and publication design, technical communication, visual design, and writing for digital media).

Students have publishing and editing opportunities with several student publications: Neon, the student literary and arts magazine; The Minaret, the University of Tampa’s student newspaper; The Moroccan, the student yearbook; Q, an undergraduate research journal; Royal Road, a student-produced research journal; and others. Students earn academic credit and gain practical, real-world experience working for these publications.

The minor offers students unique opportunities to meet and interact with acclaimed literary figures during Writers at the University events and the Scholars’ Symposia. Renowned writers, professors, editors and publishers visit campus for readings, lectures and question-and-answer sessions. Held throughout the year, these events enrich the perspective of students. Past guests have included Kinitra Brooks, Peter Coviello, Cord Whitaker, Michael Connelly, Arthur Flowers, Nick Flynn, Colson Whitehead, Francine Prose, Amy Hill Hearth, Terrance Hayes, Miranda July, Tracy K. Smith, George Saunders, Margaret Atwood, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, and Li-Young Lee.

Topics of Study

• Fiction
• Creative nonfiction
• Poetry
• Digital writing
• Technical writing 
• Professional editing
• Visual rhetoric and design
• Publication editing and design
• Detective fiction
• Horror 
• Science Fiction 

Career and Graduate School Opportunities

Writing students in recent graduating classes have been accepted into a variety of excellent law, MFA, and other graduate programs throughout the nation, including Emory University, Indiana University, New York University, Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, Iowa State University, the University of South Florida, and the University of Florida. 

Writing students succeed in careers across industries. Recent graduates from the English and Writing program work for the JET Program, Macmillan Publishers, The Tampa Bay Times, The Brandon News, Hillsborough Public Schools, Alachua County Schools, PriceWaterhouse Coopers, WTSP-TV, Raymond James, the Tampa Chamber of Commerce and Diamond Shamrock. 

Experiential Learning Opportunities

• Student Organizations and Publications  
  
  • International English Honors Society, Sigma Tau Delta
  • Neon, student literary magazine
  • The Moroccan, student yearbook
  • Q, undergraduate research journal
  • Royal Road, undergraduate research journal
  • University of Tampa Press
• Saunders Writing Center
• Writers at the University
• Scholars’ Symposia

Internships

• ALS Foundation
• American Red Cross
• CNN-Atlanta
• Creative Loafing
• Florida Aquarium
• Florida Blood Services 
• Fox Television/Channel 13
• Maverick Media
• Raymond James
• Ruth Eckerd Hall 
• Schifino Lee Advertising in downtown Tampa
• Today Show
• Tampa Bay Business Journal
• Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center 
• Tampa Bay Times
• University of Tampa Press
• What’s UP? — a street paper in Washington, D.C.
• Winner Koenig Advertising 
• WMNF Community Radio 88.5 — in local and international news