The Center for Writing Studies is a community that brings together faculty and graduate students with shared interests in writing studies, broadly defined. We support writers across campus with their writing research, writing pedagogy, and writing skills. Graduate students can get involved in a variety of ways—by attending talks and workshops, teaching an undergraduate writing course, consulting in the Writers Workshop, or pursuing the Graduate Concentration in Writing Studies alongside an MA or a Ph.D.
Undergraduates can take writing courses or pursue employment in the Writers Workshop as consultants or office assistants.
Why Get Involved with the Center for Writing Studies?
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
The study of writing flourishes where diverse perspectives meet. At Illinois, graduate students interested in fostering collaborative inquiry into writing, rhetoric, composition, and literacy can affiliate with the Center for Writing Studies to receive emails about upcoming events and relevant opportunities and to make themselves visible to the broader writing studies community at UIUC. The Graduate Concentration in Writing Studies further connects graduate students across six academic programs—Communications; Curriculum and Instruction; Education Policy, Organization & Leadership; English; Information Sciences; and Linguistics—the concentration provides official documentation of the student’s expertise in writing studies. The Center for Writing Studies strengthens these interdisciplinary links to enrich graduate students’ coursework and research.
Critical Inquiry
Our faculty and students explore how writing evolves, impacts lives, and shapes the world—both positively and negatively. Through seminars like Rhetoric and the Body (Dr. Lindsay Rose Russell), Social Movement Communication (Dr. Josue David Cisneros), and Visual Rhetoric (Dr. Cara Finnegan), we engage in critical conversations about writing’s role in justice and injustice. These discussions are enriched by visiting speakers, coursework in gender and ethnic studies, and initiatives like the Education Justice Project.
Teaching and Leadership Opportunities
We blend scholarship with practical experience. Writing Studies students enjoy the freedom to design and teach courses like Writing Across Media, tailoring their instruction to their unique strengths and interests. They also contribute to impactful research projects, such as Writing Across Engineering and Science, and take on leadership roles within the Center and the Writers Workshop.
Success Beyond Graduation
For over 30 years, our graduates have secured fulfilling careers in academia and beyond. With a strong alumni network, we provide support for professional growth, mentorship, and career development opportunities. Our graduates continue to lead as researchers, educators, and innovators in their fields.
Get Involved—Your Way!
Looking for an easy way to explore Writing Studies? Start by taking our introductory course “Writing Studies” (ENGL 505 / CI 563), to get a feel for the field, or join us at one of the many events hosted by the Center for Writing Studies. From guest lectures and workshops to casual meetups with faculty and peers, these opportunities offer a low-pressure way to engage with our community, learn more about interdisciplinary approaches to writing, and connect with others who share your interests.
Take the Next Step
To get involved in the Center for Writing Studies, graduates can:
Affiliate with CWS. By completing this Expression of Interest Form, graduate students will be enrolled in the Center’s listserv. The Center sends out information about upcoming events, job and conference opportunities, and other items of interest relevant to the field of writing studies.
Participate in CWS events. All graduate students enrolled at the University of Illinois are welcome to attend the Center’s monthly brownbags featuring Illinois faculty and graduate student research, biannual lectures and workshops led by visiting scholars prominent in the field of writing studies, or the annual Gesa E. Kirsch Symposium showcasing the long tradition of excellence in graduate research here at Illinois.
Attend or create a Reading & Working Group. Graduate students currently host and facilitate two working / reading groups based on the interests of our current graduate students.
Enroll in CWS courses. Core and affiliate faculty of the Center for Writing Studies teach a wide range of courses that address how writing evolves, impacts lives, and shapes the world – both positively and negatively. These courses equip students with advanced analytical tools for professional and academic careers in fields of writing education and research, technical writing and communication, cultural studies, first year writing, and multimodal writing. (Completion of a certain set of courses makes graduate students eligible for the CWS Graduate Concentration in Writing Studies.)
Complete the CWS Graduate Concentration in Writing Studies. Graduate students pursuing degrees in Communications (PhD); Curriculum & Instruction (PhD); Educational Policy, Organization & Leadership (EdD or PhD); English (MA or PhD); Information Sciences (PhD); or Linguistics (MATESL or MA) may add a Graduate Concentration in Writing Studies to their transcript. Intentionally flexible, the concentration welcomes students to pursue tailored coursework, selected in consultation with the Director of the Center. To declare interest in the concentration, graduates must (1) email the Center (centerforwritingstudies@illinois.edu), (2) meet with the CWS Director to develop a plan for coursework; (3) complete required coursework, (4) present original research in the area of writing studies at a Graduate Research Forum; and (5) petition the Graduate College to add the Concentration.
Apply for employment opportunities. Through the Center for Writing Studies, you’ll have access to a variety of employment opportunities that offer valuable experience in writing instruction, research, and program support.