The Department of Writing and Rhetoric Studies seeks to equip students for both academic success and participation in the full range of rhetorical occasions they will encounter in their lives as citizens and professionals.

In addition to a wide range of topics in rhetoric and composition studies including literacy studies, women's rhetoric, writing pedagogy, computers and composition, Writing andRhetoric Studies also offers reading- and writing-intensive instruction to first-year students that is sensitive to their individual needs, abilities, and interests.

For example, the department designates sections of freshman writing courses (WRIT 100 and GWRIT 103) each semester for students for whom English is a second language (ESL) and students who are in the Honors Program.

To promote excellence in writing, the Writing Program sponsors e-Vision, an electronic publication of student essays written in composition courses, and Write On! a campus-wide academic writing contest.