High Writing Emphasis (generally):
* English: This is the most obvious choice. All aspects of the major, from literature analysis to creative writing, involve extensive writing.
* Journalism: Students produce news stories, features, opinion pieces, and potentially other media forms, all requiring significant writing skills.
* Creative Writing: This is entirely focused on writing fiction, poetry, screenplays, etc. Expect a heavy workload of drafting, revising, and workshop participation.
* History: Historical research and analysis almost always involves extensive writing, whether in the form of essays, research papers, or theses.
* Philosophy: Articulating complex arguments and engaging in critical analysis requires strong writing skills.
* Political Science: Analyzing policy, conducting research, and writing policy papers are central components.
* Religious Studies: Similar to history and philosophy, research and interpretation demand substantial writing.
* Comparative Literature: Analyzing literature across different cultures and languages often involves extensive written work.
* Writing Studies/Rhetoric & Composition: These programs focus on the theory and practice of writing, so the amount of writing is exceptionally high.
* Legal Studies (Pre-Law): While not strictly "writing" programs, pre-law tracks and legal studies often require extensive legal writing in the form of briefs and memos.
Moderate to High Writing Emphasis (depending on specialization):
* Sociology: Research papers and analysis are common.
* Anthropology: Ethnographic writing and research reports can involve substantial writing.
* Psychology (some areas): Research papers and literature reviews are required, especially in some research-focused areas.
Important Considerations:
* Specific Courses: Even within a program, the amount of writing can differ widely between specific courses. A history major might have a low writing load in one semester and a very high one in another.
* Program Requirements: Look closely at the course descriptions and program requirements for each university to determine the expected writing workload.
* Faculty Expectations: The amount of writing can also depend on individual professors' expectations and teaching styles.
Ultimately, the best way to determine the writing intensity of a specific university program is to examine the course syllabi and speak with current students or faculty. Don't just rely on the program's general description.