Writing, Language and Literature

Students studying outdoors

Writing, Language and Literature Department

UW-Superior’s Department of Writing, Languages and Literature focuses on the study of languages, literature, and cultures from an international perspective. You’ll be able to choose from a variety of learning paths, with majors and minors in Writing, English and English Education, as well as minors in Spanish and Global Studies. You also have the option of taking part in one of our correlated language study away programs.

You’ll learn from faculty who are published authors and have won numerous awards for their work. You will have the opportunity to be inspired creatively by these accomplished and dedicated instructors, as well as benefit from their professional experiences and networks.

Curriculum Curated with Local Professionals

The Writing Program founded its Community Advisory Board in Spring 2015. The purpose of the board is to provide input and ideas regarding the Writing curriculum. Each spring, we invite this group of local professional writers, editors, and publishers to review our curriculum, talk with faculty and students, and share ideas about what they believe graduates will encounter in various positions in the field.

Undergraduate Programs

The WLL Department is full of wisdom about the nuances and power of language in today’s information age. My experiences with professors and coursework have only been positive, and I feel supported and prepared for my future enterprises as a writer.

Isabelle Hoida,
Writing

As a first-generation student, it was important to me to choose a school and program that held my interest, challenged me, and supported me. The writing program at UWS did that – and I’m eternally grateful for the privilege of learning here. 

Hannah Neece,
Writing, Communication

Through my time in the BFLA program and learning from the English professors here at UW-Superior, I have felt so welcomed. I feel so honored have been taught by such kind and unbelievably knowledgeable individuals. Everyone I have worked with has shown their true admiration for English and it truly shines through within the courses.

Grace Baker,
Broad Field Language Arts
✓

Visiting Writers Series

The Visiting Writers Series brings accomplished authors to UW-Superior for literary readings, class visits, and informal conversation with students and community members on the writer’s craft. Readings are free and open to the public. Past visiting writers include Linda LeGarde Grover (short fiction), Francesca Abbate (poetry), Louis Jenkins (prose poetry), Ellen Baker (historical fiction), and Chad Faries (memoir).

The Nemadji Review

Writing majors, writing minors, and all UW-Superior students have the opportunity to take part in the publication of the student-run literary magazine, The Nemadji Review. This print journal is published annually in the spring; includes creative and scholarly work by UW-Superior students as well as undergraduates from other colleges; and is entirely compiled, edited, and designed by student staff.

Careers in Writing Night

This annual event brings students interested in writing careers together with professional writers in the community for one-on-one conversations and mentoring. The evening is co-hosted by Career Services and the Writing Program.

✓

UW-Superior offers four English as a Second Language (ESL) courses to help international students in their first semester adapt to the challenges of learning in English at the college level. These ESL courses are designed specifically for degree-seeking or exchange students who have met the minimum English proficiency requirement for undergraduates and have been admitted to UW-Superior.

Newly-admitted international students may be required to take the UW-Superior ESL Placement Test. Based on their placement test scores, students may be required to enroll in one or more ESL courses, in addition to other university courses, during their first semester.

Prospective students who want to earn a degree and whose English level is below the minimum proficiency requirement may apply for conditional admission to UW-Superior. For information about international undergraduate admissions at UW-Superior, visit International Admissions.

NOTE: The ESL courses at UW-Superior are not a full-time ESL program, and the courses are NOT intended for international students whose main purpose is to study ESL full-time.

Meet the Department

Jayson Iwen
Professor & Dept. Chair
Stacey Amo
Teaching Associate Professor
Caitlin Knoll
Senior Lecturer
Joan Bell-Kaul
Senior Lecturer
Sarah Schaaf
Senior Lecturer
Kate Nolin-Smith
Senior Lecturer, ESL/WLL
Daniel Lawrence
Associate Professor
Heather McGrew
Teaching Professor
Deborah Faul
Senior Lecturer
Anne-Marie Pilon
Lecturer
Megan Muthupandiyan
Assistant Professor
Hilary Fezzey
Professor
Shilo Morlang
Senior Lecturer
Carmen Britton
Administrative Assistant III
Jamie White-Farnham
Markwood Center Library Director
Jeanette Pucheu
Associate Professor
Emilee Howland
Teaching Assistant Professor
Nicholas Sloboda
Professor
Elizabeth Grbavcich
Teaching Professor
Tina Higgins Wussow
Senior Lecturer
Julie Gard
Professor of Writing