Creative Writing Program: Typical Program of Study
Major requirements for the creative writing concentration differ from the literature concentration in two respects:
- One ENG historical period elective is required instead of four, and it must be in 19th or 20th/21st century literature;
- Four elective courses are required in Creative Writing (CRW), as described below (the remaining three courses may be in ENG, CRW and/or CMM).
A typical CRW student would:
- Begin with CRW 385,
- Go on to an advanced workshop (such as (CRW 392),
- Try out a second genre (required): Playwriting, Poetry, Scriptwriting, Creative Nonfiction, then
take any fourth workshop
Note: If the student wants to propose an honors degree in CRW, that fourth workshop must be an advanced workshop in the genre of the proposed honors project. A mixed genre project is also possible.
Honors Degree in Creative Writing
Possible sequences and combinations for students pursuing an honors degree in creative writing:
For an emphasis on poetry:
- CRW 385: Creative Writing Workshop (freshmen year)
- CRW 391: Advanced Poetry Workshop (sophomore year)
- CRW 386: Introduction to Playwriting (fulfilling requirement for 2 workshops in separate genres; junior year)
- CRW 391: Advanced Poetry Workshop (senior year; students completing an honors project would do so while enrolled in this course)
- ENG contemporary/modern elective in literature or film, taken any time.
For an emphasis on fiction:
- CRW 385: Creative Writing Workshop (freshmen year)
- CRW 392: Advanced Fiction Workshop (sophomore year)
- CRW 395: Creative Nonfiction Workshop (fulfilling requirement for 2 workshops in separate genres; junior year)
- CRW 392: Advanced Fiction Workshop (senior year; students completing an honors project would do so while enrolled in this course)
- ENG contemporary/modern elective in literature or film, taken any time.
For an emphasis on playwriting:
- CRW 385: Creative Writing Workshop (freshmen year)
- CRW 386: Introduction to Playwriting (sophomore year)
- CRW 392: Advanced Fiction Workshop (fulfilling requirement for 2 workshops in separate genres; junior year)
- CRW 389: Writing the One Act Play (senior year; students completing an honors project would do so while enrolled in this course)
- ENG contemporary/modern elective in literature or film, taken any time.
For an emphasis on creative nonfiction:
- This sequence should be put together in consultation with Dan Roche, keeping in mind the new “Writing About Special Topics” course proposal. (Mike Streissguth will need to be consulted.)
- For a mixed genre emphasis (student decides which advanced workshop he/she will take while completing the mixed genre honors thesis):
- CRW 385: Creative Writing Workshop (freshmen year)
- CRW 391: Advanced Poetry Workshop (sophomore year)
- CRW 392: Advanced Fiction Workshop (fulfilling requirement for 2 workshops in separate genres; junior year)
- CRW 392: Advanced Fiction Workshop OR CRW 391: Advanced Poetry Workshop (senior year; (senior year; students completing an honors project would do so while enrolled in either course)
- ENG contemporary/modern elective in literature or film, taken any time.