Writing in the Wilderness course to be offered next semester

By Bryce Johnson

Nicole Shaker, co-editor-in-chief of The Current and senior double major in computer science and communication, has not had the chance to write as much as she wanted during her college years. Until now.

Next semester, Shaker is planning to write in the wilderness along with other students enrolled in WRIT 4900: Special Topics: Writing in the Wilderness, a grant-funded course by the Modern Language Association. Students will explore the relationship between writing and nature.

It is the first time NSU is offering a course where students will write and interact in wild spaces, visit local parks and go on field trips. They will learn about how writing impacts and benefits the environment.

“I am really looking forward to spending time writing because it’s one of my hobbies, and I don’t really get to do it because of my class workload,” Shaker said. “I’m excited for the travel portion because I love nature, and this will give me an excuse to get out more.”

Claire Lutkewitte, professor in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts, designed the course and is looking forward to teaching it. Lutkewitte was  awarded a grant from the MLA, which covers the cost of the course.

“It is an ExEL class, and students are going to be working on several major projects in which they investigate the ways in which writing can have an impact on our environments,” Lutkewitte said.

Some of the projects include writing a proposal, using writing to address challenges faced by the local environment and social media’s influence in wild spaces.

Lutkewitte is arranging a guided tour through a local park in Broward County.

“We’re going to be joined by someone who works in the field for the Department of Parks in Broward County, who is going to be taking us on this guided hike to talk a little bit about the history of the park, to talk about the wildlife that calls that park home, and then talk about the challenges that that park faces moving forward and how perhaps writing could help mitigate some of those problems,” Lutkewitte said.

Lutkewitte was drawn to the class because of her interest in writing, technology and local wildlife areas.

“With the challenges that the world faces, one being climate change, for example, I think that writing can play an important part of solving those challenges,” Lutkewitte said.

Lutkewitte said students across all majors can join the course.

“There’s not a career on this planet that doesn’t involve writing, and preserving natural wild areas should be a concern for everyone,” Lutkewitte said. “I think this class could certainly benefit everyone in that regard in terms of sharpening their writing skills.”

The Writing in the Wilderness course will meet on Thursdays from 3 to 5:50 p.m. in the Alvin Sherman Library, Research and Information Technology Center, starting on Jan. 4. The only prerequisite is COMP 2000.

For more information:

You can register for the course by looking up the Course Reference Number (31766) in the Self-Service Banner.