The Writing Program
UMSL’s Writing Program supports student writers across the university. We design, build, and teach courses that help the UMSL write with confidence and creativity. Our writing courses reach across the entire campus and all academic disciplines, helping students meet important and required writing and rhetoric coursework for their degrees. We are all writers; and we're here to make sure you're heard.
And we do more than teach awesome courses! The Writing Program also consists of our wonderful Writing Certificate Program, helping writers specialize their skills in both professional and personal writing. The UMSL community is also served by The UMSL Writing Center, which provides writing consultation services all students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The Writing Program also publishes student writing! Our academic journal COPIA celebrates students as writers, and proudly demonstrates that writing matters.
We also proudly partner with many campus resources and initiatives, such as The Digital Humanities Lab, the UMSL Libraries, and the State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO).
Submit to COPIA
COPIA accepts writing from all UMSL students!
That amazing paper you wrote for class deserves to be read and enjoyed! COPIA offers UMSL writing students a venue to publish their best academic work. Having writing presented for real-world audiences and for real purposes motivates our commitment, care, and complexity in writing.
Your writing matters. Share it with the world.
Writers Talk Writing
Writers Talk Writing is a conversation series hosted by the UMSL English Writing Program as a space to listen and discuss writing practices and processes with UMSL writers. We are all writers! Professors, students, and staff members in the UMSL community are writing all of the time. In these conversations, we show (and celebrate) the practices and processes of UMSL writers in today’s world.
Find the right course!
We offer a rich and meaningful series of writing courses. The only question is how far will you go?
- Starting out? You'll be taking English 1100, First-Year Composition. This is a primer course that teaches emerging college writers the foundations of academic writing and prepares them for further coursework.
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Junior-Level Writing Requirement. All UMSL students earning a Bachelor's degree must take a 3000-level writing course. We have many options for this requirement, including courses in Technical Communication (3130), Writing in the Sciences (3160), Business Writing (3120), Literature and Analysis (3090), as well as our generalists sections (3100). These courses refine your skills and make you a sharper, more attuned writer ready to do a variety of professional and personal writing work.
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Want to level up ever further? We offer professional writing certificates that specialize writing to fit particular work and creative contexts. Build up your credentials by earning a Business and Technical Writing Certificate, Professional Writing Certificate, or Creative Writing Certificate.
Contact Us
Need to talk, get advised, or collaborate? Please reach out!
Dr. Lauren Obermark, Writing Program Administrator
Dr. Lauren Terbrock-Elmestad, Asst. Writing Program Administrator
Jeanne Allison, Writing Certificate Program Coordinator
Dr. Chris Schott, Writing Center Coordinator
Do you love teaching writing?
Teach writing in a program that treats instructors like colleagues. The Writing Program is always looking for talented and eager writing instructors. We support our adjunct faculty with shared course resources and a collaborative teaching community. You're invited to bring your own expertise and teaching style while working in an environment of support. Interested teachers should reach out with a resume/CV and cover letter to Writing Program Administrator, Dr. Lauren Obermark.
