MS in Written Communication - Course Offerings

FALL QUARTER: September 14- November 21, 2009

Chicago Campus, 122 S. Michigan Avenue

Advanced Expository Writing (LAE 500), Monday evenings, 6-8:55. Author Paul McComas guides students in writing short nonfiction pieces suitable for publication.
Writing from Reading (LAE 501), Thursday evenings, 6-8:55. Joanne Koch, director of the graduate writing program and author of nonfiction books and articles, opens doors to non-academic, research-based writing which is lively but reliable.
Editing for Publication (LAE 460) On line course. Patricia Tennison, formerly editor of the movie sections and on-line offerings for the Chicago Tribune, draws on her 20 years of editing and writing experience to help students acquire this essential skill.
English Seminar: Coming of Age Novels (LAE 499). Two Saturday afternoons TBA, 2-5 p.m.

North Shore Campus, 5202 Old Orchard Road, Skokie

Advanced Expository Writing (LAE 500), Tuesday evenings, 6-8:55.
Creative Writing Fiction (LAE 502), Monday evenings, 6-8:55. Novelist Bruce Boyer helps students acquire techniques that will channel their voices and imaginations into compelling narratives.
Teaching Freshman English Composition (LAE 520), Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Maxine Milks trains those who hope to teach writing at community colleges in the latest instructional techniques.

Lisle Campus, 850 Warrenville Road

Advanced Expository Writing (LAE 500) Wednesday evenings, 6-8:55 Patricia Tennison guides students in writing short nonfiction pieces suitable for publication.
Writing from Reading (LAE 501), Tuesday evenings, 6-8:55. Investigative reporter and author John Conroy, guides students to use the latest research methods for their nonfiction writing.

SUMMER QUARTER : June 29 - August 23

Online:Special Topic: Public Relations Writing for Health Crisis Management (LAE495,595)

Chicago Campus, 122 S. Michigan Avenue

Ernest Hemingway, the Outdoorsman: Selected Short Works (LAE 499), Tuesday evenings, 6-8:55 P.M.
Women’s Lives into Literature (LAE 416), Wednesday evenings, 6-9:55 P.M.

Lisle Campus, 850 Warrenville Road

Advanced Written Communication, (LAE 304) Thursday evenings, 6-9:55 P.M.
Narrative Forms, (LAE 518) Monday evenings, 6-9:55 P.M.

North Shore Campus, 5202 Old Orchard Road, Skokie

Screenwriting (LAE 417 and LAE 516), Tuesday evenings, 6:00-8:55P.M.
Special Topic: Nature Sports Afield (LAE 495), TBA.

SPRING QUARTER: APRIL 6 - JUNE 14, 2009

Chicago Campus, 122 S. Michigan Avenue

Reading and Writing the Short Story, Mon.6-8:55p.m. (LAE 413 ) Award-winning writer and veteran teacher Tom Brennan gets to the heart of a good short story and gets you started on writing one in your own distinctive voice. Undergraduates 5 quarter hours, graduates 3 semester hours
Playwriting, Wed. 6-8:55 p.m. (LAE 495 & LAE 595) Joanne Koch, playwright and screenwriter with 16 plays produced around the country introduces you to basic dramatic principles and guides you through writing what may be your first one-act play. Undergrad 5 q.h., grad 3 s.h.
Sportswriting and Beyond, Ira Berkow, Pulitzer Prize winner and 25 year veteran writing feature articles and sports profiles for the New York Times, help you find the human story of celebrities and ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Undergrad 2q.h., grad 1s.h. ( read more about this event in the PDF flyer )
Professional Writer (LAE 512C). 2 Saturdays 9a.m.-noon TBA Bruce Boyer, novelist and marketing specialist, puts you in touch with markets, materials and methods that will you make your writing pay. Grad only 1s.h.

North Shore Campus, 5202 Old Orchard Road, Skokie

Creative Writing:Humor,Joyce Markle, founder of the Written Communication Program and creator of witty marketing campaigns, analyzes what makes people laugh and helps you to use techniques that work. Undergrad 5 q.h., grad 3 s.h
Creative Writing: Children's Books, Wed. 6-8:55 p.m. (LAE 504)Laurie Lawlor, author of 34 books for children of all ages and young adults, helps you find your niche in this expanding field of fiction and nonfiction writing. grad 3 s.h., undergrad by permission
Health Writing, Saturday mornings April 11 and May 2, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (LAE 495;LAE 595). Bonita Brodt, public relations director for a major hospital and veteran journalist allows you to discover opportunities for writing in and about the vast health care field. Grad.1s.h., undergrad 2 q.h.

Lisle Campus, 850 Warrenville Road

Rhetorical Theory, Tues. 6-8:55 p.m. (LAE 510). Steven Masello, Chair of the English Department and Renaissance Scholar, examines the age-old question of “What works?” from an historical perspective, checking in with Artistotle, Longinus
Reading and Writing the Short Story; Saturday, 2:00-5:00 p.m.(LAE 413).Award-winning writer and veteran teacher Tom Brennan gets to the heart of a good short story and gets you started on writing one in your own distinctive voice. Undergrad 5 q.h, grad 3s.h.
Thesis Project(LAE 599) This is the culminating project for graduates of the Master of Science in Written Communication Program,designed to further the careers of writers in their chosen fields.; Times TBA. Graduates only 3 s.h

Special Events coming in Summer 2009

Writers’ Week Workshops: June 23, 25 & 27.To register for Writers' Week go to nl.edu/writersweek
Here’s your chance to learn from outstanding writers in the fields of fiction, nonfiction, and comedy. Sign up for one or more of the 4 workshops or take the 3 of the workshops for one semester hour graduate credit or 2 quarter hours undergraduate credit at a special rate.

Chicago Campus: LAE 486B Writers’ Week Workshops: June 23-27,Tuesday, Thursday evenings, 6:30-9:30 P.M., Saturday 9:30-12:30 and 1:30 to 4:30 (lunch included)

WINTER QUARTER: January 12- March 21, 2009

Chicago Campus, 122 S. Michigan Avenue

Fundamentals of Journalism(LAE 450-CRN 10780) Tuesday evenings, 6-8:55. Patricia Tennison, formerly editor of the movie sections and experience to help students grasp the basics of accurate and engaging journalism.
American Writers: 1945-1970,(LAE 407-CRN 10779) Tuesday evenings, 5:30-9:25. Discover the great post-war writers--including John Updike, Norman Mailer, J.D. Salinger, Philip Roth, James Baldwin, Saul Bellow, Joseph Heller, Sylvia Plath, John Cheever and Philip Roth—by sampling some of their best work.
English Seminar Blogging as Written Communication (LAE 499-CRN 10781 for undergraduates, 2 quarter hours; CRN 10782 for graduates, 1 semester hour). Meets on two Wednesday evenings: January 14 and February 25. Lewis Z.Koch, author, investigative reporter for television and the internet, assesses the impact of the blogosphere and introduces writers to this exciting new outlet for subjective reporting.
Professional Writer II(LAE 512B-CRN 10791, 1 semester hour), Saturday mornings, 9-11:55. Novelist and marketing specialist Bruce Boyer helps graduate students get their writing into print.
Thesis Project LAE 599-CRN 11316, 3 semester hours ) Wednesday afternoons, 2-5 P.M. Graduate writing students design and execute a final project in the field of their choice: a novel, a series of short stories, a nonfiction biographical, autobiographical or investigative piece, a public relations campaign, a play or a screenplay.

North Shore Campus, 5202 Old Orchard Road, Skokie

Fundamentals of Journalism (LAE 450-CRN 11278) Thursday evenings, 6-8:55. Patricia Tennison Instructor.
English Seminar: Dystopian Literature(LAE 499-CRN 10792, 2 quarter hours for undergraduates, CRN 10793 1 semester hour for graduates), Meets on two Saturday afternoons, 1:30-5 P.M., January 17 and February 25.Paul McComas, novelist and short story writer, guides students in understanding books that present disturbing alternate worlds of the future.
Special Topic: Publications Internship(LAE 595-CRN 10795, 1 semester hour or CRN 10921 for 3 semester hours) Meets three Saturday afternoons, 10:00-2 P.M. January 24, February 7 and February 28. MOSAIC is the literary publication produced by graduate writing students, under the guidance of experienced editor and instructor Susan O’Brien. Earn credit while learning how to plan and edit a first-class collection of nonfiction, fiction and poetry.

Lisle Campus, 850 Warrenville Road

Teaching Freshman English Composition (LAE 520-CRN 10794) Saturdays 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. Maxine Milks, experienced composition instructor, works with graduate students who wish to qualify for teaching composition at community colleges and other institutions of higher learning. This course is required for students who want to apply for NLU teaching internships at College of DuPage and other community colleges.

STAR-STUDDED WRITERS’ WEEK WORKSHOPS: June 23-June 28
National Louis University’s Chicago Campus, 122 S. Michigan Avenue. Chicago
sponsored by the Master of Science in Written Communication Program
of the College of Arts & Sciences

GET SMART ABOUT WRITING AT NLU. COME TO WRITERS’ WEEK.

SCHEDULE OF WRITERS’ WEEK WORKSHOPS

Monday, June 23: 5:30-6:30 P. M.
Reception: Welcome to Writers’ Week
Refreshments, book signings in the second floor atrium

6:30-9:00 P.M. Workshop on Writers Wearing Two Hats: Journalism and Fiction
Dawn Turner Trice, columnist Chicago Tribune, author, Only Twice I’ve Wished For Heaven and An Eighth of August.

Tuesday, June 24 6:30-9:30 Workshop on Popular Nonfiction
Robert Kurson, author, Crashing Through and Shadow Divers

Wednesday, June 25 6:30-9:30 Workshop on Covering Politics and the Blogosphere
Rick Perlstein, author, Nixonland and blog writer of The Big Con for the Campaign for America’s Future.

Thursday, June 26 6:30-9:30 Workshop on Literary Agents and Fiction Writing
Timothy Seldes, president, Russell & Volkening New York Literary Agency
& Susan Richards Shreve, author, A Student of Living Things and 12 other adult novels and 30 children’s books, including The Lovely Shoes.

Saturday, June 28, 9:30-12:30 Workshop on Writing Musicals and Plays with Music
John Sparks, author and lyricist, Hans Brinker, Babes in Barns, Einstein,
artistic director Stages Festival of New Musicals at Theatre Building Chicago.

Lunch: 12:30-1:30—with authors and participants

Saturday, June 28, 1:30-4:30 Comedy Writing for Stage & Screen
Tim Kazurinsky, comedy writer and performer for Saturday Night Live,
Screenwriter, About Last Night

Complete information is at www.nl.edu/writersweek.

Course Offerings for the M.S. in Written Communication
and the Certificate in Corporate Written Communication

For campus location information, click here.

GET YOUR MASTER'S IN WRITTEN COMMUNICATION AT NLU

National-Louis University’s Master of Science in Written Communication (MSWC) Program provides students with an undergraduate degree in any field the tools
to become a professional writer. This graduate program offers a unique variety of courses and personal attention from instructors who are published writers.

The MSWC Program includes courses in journalism, screenwriting, feature writing, writing children’s books, editing, writing nonfiction articles and books, novels,
short fiction, as well as courses and internships in teaching freshman composition.

If you have a bachelor’s degree in any field, you may apply for admission, or take up to three courses as a graduate student-at-large before enrolling.
Courses are offered in Chicago, Lisle and Skokie/North Shore.
For more information call Dr. Joanne Koch, director of the NLU graduate writing program, at 312-261-3103.

Previous Written Communication Courses:

FALL QUARTER: September 15- November 23, 2008

Chicago Campus, 122 S. Michigan Avenue

Advanced Expository Writing (LAE 500), Monday evenings, 6-8:55. Author Paul McComas guides students in writing short nonfiction pieces suitable for publication.
Creative Writing Fiction (LAE 502), Tuesday evenings, 6-8:55. Novelist Bruce Boyer helps students acquire techniques that will channel their voices and imaginations into compelling narratives.
The Professional Writer (LAE 512A) Saturdays TBA, 10-1 P.M. Editing (LAE 460) On line course Patricia Tennison, formerly editor of the movie sections and on-line offerings for the Chicago Tribune, draws on her 20 years of editing and writing experience to help students acquire this essential skill.

North Shore Campus, 5202 Old Orchard Road, Skokie

Advanced Expository Writing (LAE 500), Tuesday evenings, 6-8:55. Writing from Reading (LAE 501), Thursday evenings, 6-8:55. Joanne Koch, director of the graduate writing program and author of nonfiction books and articles, opens doors to non-academic, research-based writing which is lively but reliable.

Lisle Campus, 850 Warrenville Road

Advanced Expositiory Writing (LAE 500)Wednesday evenings, 6:00-8:55 P.M.Patricia Tennison guides students in writing short nonfiction pieces suitable for publication.

Intersession: December 1-20, 2008 Chicago Campus

Writing Promotional and Advertising Copy (LAE 461), Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6-8:55 and Saturdays 9-4 P.M. Bruce Boyer, marketing consultant and former creative director at a major advertising agency, coaches students in writing spots for radio and television, as well as print media. Public relations strategies are discussed. Check schedule for exact dates.

SUMMER QUARTER June 30-August 24, 2008

Chicago Campus: 122 S. Michigan Avenue.

LAE 486B Writers’ Week Workshops: June 23-28, Monday-Thursday evenings, 6:30-9:30 P.M., Saturday 9:30-12:30 and 1:30 to 4:30(lunch included. Attend 4 of 6 workshops for 1 semester hour credit. (Complete information at ( www.nl.edu/writersweek.)
LAE 506 Writing and Reading Oral History, Thursday evenings, 6-8:55 P.M.

Lisle Campus: 850 Warrenville Road

LAE 417 & LAE 516: Screenwriting, Monday evenings, 6:00-8:55 P.M.

North Shore Campus: 5202 Old Orchard Road, Skokie

LAE 416: Women’s Lives into Literature, Tuesday evenings, 6:00-8:55 P.M.
LAE 495: Desktop Publishing, Wednesday evenings, 6-8:55 P.M.

For the most up to date schedule, please check the on-line course listings for each quarter by going to the NLU home page, clicking on Current Student, then Course Schedule, then quarter desired, then College of Arts and Sciences and English (LAE), then Search.

SPRING QUARTER April 7, 2008.

Chicago Campus,122 S. Michigan Avenue

Rhetorical Theory (LAE 510) Thursday evenings, 6-8:55. Steven Masello, Chair of the English Department and Renaissance scholar, surveys ideas about writing and literary criticism from Longinus to James Joyce and Jacques Derrida. This is required course for students in the MSWC program.
Editing (LAE 460) Tuesday evenings, 6-8:55 Patricia Tennison, formerly editor of the movie sections and on-line offerings for the Chicago Tribune, draws on her 20 years of editing and writing experience to help students acquire this essential skill.

North Shore Campus 5202 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL

Special Topic:Writing for Older Children and Young Adults (LAE 595) Tuesday evening, 6-8:55. Laurie Lawlor, author of 34 books for children of all ages and for adults, teaches students to develop fiction and nonfiction for children in middle school, high school and beyond.
Reading and Writing the Short Story (LAE 495) Saturday mornings,10:00-1:00 P.M. Tom Brennan, award-winning short story writer, uses outstanding examples of the genre and guides you in techniques for creating your own short fiction.

Lisle Campus, 850 Warrenville Road,

Feature Writing (LAE 515) Wednesday evenings, 6-8:55 Veteran editor and journalist Patricia Tennison guides students in writing news features, profiles and personal experience essays for magazines and newspapers.

WINTER QUARTER January 14 - March 22, 2008.

Chicago Campus: 122 S. Michigan Avenue

Fundamentals of Journalism, LAE 450 (CRN 11020) Monday, 6-8:55p.P.M.-Kevin Williams
Teaching Freshman Composition, LAE 520 (CRN 11021) Saturdays 10-1 P.M.Maxine Milks

North Shore: 5202 Old Orchard Road, Skokie

Editing, LAE460- CRN 11033) Wednesday 6:8:55 P.M. Patricia Tennison
Special Topic: Joyce Carol Oates Seminar (LAE49, undergrad. & LAE595 grad.)3 Saturday mornings, 10-1 P.M. Paul McComas Instructor. One semester hour of credit
Publications Internship, LAE595 (CRN11036) one semester hour of credit, also on Saturdays but at times not to conflict with the Oates seminar.This gives you credit for working on Mosaic.

Lisle Campus, 850 Warrenville Road

Creative Writing: Fiction, LAE 502 (CRN 11028) Thursday, 6-8:55 P.M., Bruce Boyer.

*Advanced Expository Writing is a required course which need not be taken first, but should be taken as soon as possible.

**Rhetorical Theory is a required course that can be taken any time prior to graduation.

To be eligible for a student loan or to shorten degree time, a one-hour course is available every term to be added for a total of four semester hours each term: fall, winter and spring, summer. This pace allows students to complete the degree in two years.

Thesis credit (3-6 hours total) is available every term. Special topics and seminars are added from time to time.

This schedule is a projection, only, for courses in the Written Communication program. Note that the courses actually scheduled for 2008 may differ from this projection. Special topics may be added from time to time. Three-hour courses meet one evening a week. One-hour courses meet for three evenings or Saturdays to be announced.

Contact Information:

Dr. Joanne B. Koch, Director MSWC Program, 312-261-3103, jkoch@nl.edu
Pamela Walker, MSWC Enrollment Representative, 847-465-0575,x5085, pwalker@nl.edu
Bodelais Ulysse, Graduate Registrar, 847-465-5320, Bodelais.Ulysse@nl.edu