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Undergraduate Creative Writing Major and Minor Program

Undergraduate creative writing students attend a Writing Now Reading Now eventThe creative writing program offers undergraduates the chance to major or minor in its program. The major is a 33 hour program and the minor is a 12 hour program, with offerings in creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry and playwriting.

For either the major or the minor, students must complete:

  • English 101 (3 credits)
  • English 102 (3 credits)
  • Earn at least a B- or above in English 285 Introduction to Creative Writing (3 credits)
    • In Intro to Creative Writing students write poetry and fiction and, depending on the instructor, may also write in other genres.

 

Creative Writing Major

For the creative writing major, a student must complete 33 hours including the following courses: 

Basic Requirements (12 hours)

  • Creative writing students take a break from studyingENGL 322 Origins of Western Literature (3 credits) or ENGL 323 World Literature I (3 credits)
  • ENGL 310 The Nature of Poetry (3 credits)
  • ENGL 320 The Nature of Drama (3 credits) or ENGL 330 The Nature of Fiction (3 credits)
  • English literature class numbered 300 or above

Major Requirements (3 hours)

  • ENGL 285 Introduction to Creative Writing (3 credits)
    (This course must be completed with a grade of B- or better or receive departmental consent for further creative writing coursework.)

Skill Requirements (at least 12 hours)

  • ENGL 301 Fiction Writing (3 credits)
  • ENGL 303 Poetry Writing (3 credits)
  • ENGL 305 Creative Nonfiction Writing (3 credits)
  • ENGL 401 Fiction Workshop (3 credits)
  • ENGL 403 Poetry Workshop (3 credits)
  • ENGL 517 Playwriting I (3 credits)
  • ENGL 518 Playwriting II (3 credits)
  • ENGL 585 Writer’s tutorial: Prose Fiction (3 credits)
  • ENGL 586 Writer’s Tutorial: Poetry (3 credits)

(Except for ENGL 517 and 518, all of these courses may be repeated once for credit.)

Electives (at least 6 hours)

Upper division hours from any other area of emphasis within the department.

Creative Writing Minor

For the creative writing minor, a student must complete 12 hours of creative writing coursework including: 

  • ENGL 285 Introduction to Creative Writing
  • 3 hours of ENGL 310 The Nature of Poetry, ENGL 320 The Nature of Drama or ENGL 330 The Nature of Fiction
  • 9 hours of skill courses listed belowCreative writing students and faculty attend a workshop

Skill Requirements

  • ENGL 301 Fiction Writing (3 credits)
  • ENGL 303 Poetry Writing (3 credits)
  • ENGL 305 Creative Nonfiction Writing (3 credits)
  • ENGL 401 Fiction Workshop (3 credits)
  • ENGL 403 Poetry Workshop (3 credits)
  • ENGL 517 Playwriting I (3 credits)
  • ENGL 518 Playwriting II (3 credits)
  • ENGL 585 Writer’s tutorial: Prose Fiction (3 credits)
  • ENGL 586 Writer’s Tutorial: Poetry (3 credits)

(Except for ENGL 517 and 518, all of these courses may be repeated once for credit.)

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