BS Computer Science + Writing and Rhetoric

Bachelor of Science 2024 through2025

Computer Science + Writing and Rhetoric

About the Program Untitled 1

Students majoring in the BS Computer Science + Writing and Rhetoric program are forbidden from double-majoring in the BS Computer Science (all concentrations), BS Game Programming, and BS Information Technology programs; as well as from minoring in Computer Science and Information Technology.

Curriculum Requirements

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Major Requirements (Computer Science)

  • MAT 140 Discrete Mathematics I
  • MAT 141 Discrete Mathematics II
  • CSC 241 Introduction to Computer Science I
  • CSC 242 Introduction to Computer Science II
  • CSC 300 Data Structures I
  • CSC 301 Data Structures II
  • CSC 321 Design and Analysis of Algorithms
  • CSC 373 Computer Systems I
  • CSC 374 Computer Systems II
  • One course from the following:
    • CSC 347 Concepts of Programming Languages
    • CSC 376 Distributed Systems
    • SE 350 Object-Oriented Software Development
  • Eight (8) additional credit hours, can be any 300-level CSC, CSEC, DSC or SE.

Major Requirements (Writing and Rhetoric)

    Foundations Core
    Application Core
    Writing in Communities and Professions

    Select one of the following:                  

    • WRD 205 History of Literacies and Writing
    • WRD 206 Professional Writing
    • WRD 240 Argumentative Writing
    • WRD 241 The Essay From Print to New Media
    • WRD 242 Writing with Ai
    • WRD 280 Writing in the Sciences
    • WRD 282 Ethics of Public and Professional Writing
    • WRD 283 Environmental Writing
    • WRD 284 Sports Writing in America: Myths, Memories, Heroes and Villains
    • WRD 286 Writing with Photographs
    • WRD 300 Composition and Style
    • WRD 301 Workplace Writing: Theory and Practice
    • WRD 309 Topics in Writing, Rhetoric and Discourse
    • WRD 320 Topics in Professional Writing
    • WRD 321 Writing in the Legal Profession
    • WRD 322 Writing and Metadata
    • WRD 323 Editing
    • WRD 324 Writing for Public Health and Health Care
    • WRD 325 Rhetoric in Crisis Contexts
    • WRD 326 Grant and Proposal Writing
    • WRD 327 Content Writing
    • WRD 340 Writing and Revising
    • WRD 345 Ghostwriting
    • WRD 371 Mentoring Youth in Community Writing Groups
    • WRD 372 Digital Storytelling
    • WRD 376 Fieldwork in Arts Writing
    • WRD 377 Writing and Social Engagement
    • WRD 395 Writing Center Theory and Pedagogy
    • WRD 396 Writing Fellows Theory and Practice
    • *May be repeated for credit when the topic is different
    Rhetorical History, Theory, and Analysis

    Select one of the following:                  

    • WRD 208 Introduction to Reasoned Discourse
    • WRD 209 Genre and Discourse
    • WRD 220 How Language Works
    • WRD 231 Googling God: Religious Practices in Digital Culture
    • WRD 232 The Language of Disability
    • WRD 260 Rhetorical Analysis
    • WRD 262 The Rhetoric of Everyday Texts
    • WRD 263 Reading Between the Grooves: The Rhetorical Power of Popular Music
    • WRD 265 Social Movement, Social Media, and American Identities
    • WRD 266 Leveling Up: The Social Rhetoric of Video Games
    • WRD 281 Writing Censorship
    • WRD 285 Truth in Disguise: The Rhetoric of Satire
    • WRD 287 The Comic Book As Visual Argument
    • WRD 288 Rhetoric and Popular Culture
    • WRD 289 Writing About Rights
    • WRD 306 Rhetorical Traditions
    • WRD 330 Language and Linguistics
    • WRD 360 Topics in Rhetoric
    • WRD 361 Topics in Alternative Rhetorics
    • WRD 362 Semiotics
    • WRD 363 Visual Rhetoric
    • WRD 364 Chicago Women Rhetors
    • WRD 365 Migration and Storytelling
    • WRD 368 Global Englishes
    • WRD 378 Teaching English As A Second Language in Chicago
    • WRD 390 Rhetoric and Public Writing
    Major Field Electives

    The equivalent of three additional 4-hour electives may be drawn from the two elective categories above or from the following:                  

    • WRD 207 Introduction to Writing and Rhetoric
    • WRD 290 Writer's Tools Workshop
    • WRD 291 The Scientific Research Poster
    • WRD 398 Internship
    • WRD 399 Independent Study
    • Note: CSC 243 Python for Programmers and a CS elective can take the place of CSC 241 & CSC 242
Experiential Learning (EL) Requirement

All Writing and Rhetoric majors are required to take one EL-designated course within the major. WRD courses designated both EL and LSP EL will fulfill the major’s EL requirement and the Liberal Studies Experiential Learning requirement simultaneously. An LSP EL course taken outside of WRD will not count toward the EL major requirement.

Senior Capstone Options
  • One course from the following

Liberal Studies Requirements

  • LSP 110 Discover Chicago
    OR LSP 111 Explore Chicago
  • LSP 112 Focal Point Seminar
  • WRD 103 Composition and Rhetoric I
  • WRD 104 Composition and Rhetoric II
  • LSP 200 Seminar on Race, Power, and Resistance
  • 1 Experiential Learning
  • 3 Arts & Literature
  • 2 Historical Inquiry
  • 2 Philosophical Inquiry
  • 2 Religious Dimensions
  • 1 Scientific Inquiry - lab
  • 3 Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry

Open Electives

Open Elective Credit Hours are required to meet the minimum graduation requirements of 192 hours. Open electives may be taken from any unit at DePaul.

Modern Language Requirement (MLR)

All students will be required to demonstrate competence in a modern language (i.e., a language other than English) equivalent to the proficiency attained from one year of college-level language study. If taken at DePaul, language courses typically apply as open electives.

This Modern Language Requirement (MLR) may be demonstrated by:

  • placing into 104 or above on the DePaul language placement exam
  • completing the last course or earning AP or IB credit for the last course in the first-year college sequence of any language (e.g., 103 for DePaul language classes)
  • completing a college course or earning AP or IB credit for a college course beyond the first-year level in any language (e.g., 104 or above for DePaul language classes)
  • completing the final course of a four-year sequence of the same modern language in high school*
  • completing a proctored exam by BYU and passing the exam (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)
  • completing a proctored Written Proficiency Test (WPT) by Language Testing International (LTI) and achieving a score of Beginner High or above (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)

*Students are strongly encouraged to take the DePaul language placement exam even if they have met the MLR via study of a language in high school. This will ensure continuation of language at the proper level.

Please note: Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Requirement.

Students who complete an Inter-College Transfer (ICT) to the College will abide by the MLR in place on the effective date of the ICT, regardless of when they first matriculated at DePaul.


Liberal Studies

The Liberal Studies program is the general education portion of the curriculum at DePaul University. Students must earn a grade of D or better in all courses taken to satisfy these requirements. The only exception is the Capstone course which is considered also a major requirement and WRD 103 and WRD 104 in which students need to earn a C- or better.

Students may choose to take some CDM courses that carry Liberal Studies credit but they cannot double count them if they are part of the major requirements. A complete list of courses that carry Liberal Studies credit can be found on the Liberal Studies website along with an overview of the Liberal Studies requirements for this program. Students can search for courses that satisfy a particular Liberal Studies requirement on campusconnect.


Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements.

Degree Requirements

Students in this degree must meet the following requirements

  • complete a minimum of 192 credit hours (generally 48 courses)
  • Earn a grade of C- or higher in WRD 103, WRD 104, and all Major and Minor courses
  • Earn a grade of D or higher in all other Liberal Studies and Open Elective courses
  • maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher

Students who earn a cumulative DePaul University GPA

  • between 3.500 and 3.699 will graduate cum laude
  • between 3.700 and 3.849 will graduate magna cum laude
  • of at least 3.850 will graduate summa cum laude

For DePaul's policy on repeat courses and a complete list of academic policies see the DePaul Undergraduate Handbook in the Course Catalog.