Creative Writing, BALAS

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Creative Writing

Undergraduate Degree Programs in English

Majors:

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Creative Writing

Graduation Requirements

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.

Minimum hours required major and supporting course work: 36 hours in CW and ENGL courses. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus, of which at least three (3) hours must be Creative Writing Courses CW 404 and CW 406

University Requirements

The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.

General Education Requirements

Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.

Composition I4-6
Advanced Composition3
fulfilled by CW 243
Humanities & the Arts (6 hours)6
fulfilled by CW 100 and any other course approved as Humanities & the Arts
Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours)6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)6
Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course)3
Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course)3
Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) 3
Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I)6-10
Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English, or completion of the third semester in two different languages other than English is required)0-20
Major Requirements
Literature for Creative Writers6
CW 100
Intro to Creative Writing
CW 200
Reading for Writers
Craft3
CW 243
The Craft Essay: Creative Reading, Reflection, and Revision
Creative Writing Workshops12
12 hours of Creative Writing Workshops, including at least one of the following
3-course (9-hour) Workshop sequences:
CW 106
& CW 206
& CW 406
Poetry Workshop I
and Poetry Workshop II
and Poetry Workshop III
or
CW 104
& CW 204
& CW 404
Fiction Workshop I
and Fiction Workshop II
and Fiction Workshop III
The remaining 3 hours in this category can be satisfied by a fourth CW Workshop outside of the chosen sequence. 1
Writing and Literature3
3 hours of Writing and Literature coursework, either:
3 hours of non-Workshop CW coursework (CW 460, or another approved non-Workshop CW course) 2
or
3 hours of ENGL coursework 3
Additional Literature Coursework 412
12 additional hours of approved ENGL coursework, including:
9 hours of approved ENGL Literature coursework 5
3 hours of an ENGL Difference & Diaspora course 6
Total Hours36
1

CW 404 and CW 406 may be repeated once for credit, but may not be repeated to fulfill this requirement.

2

Some sections of CW 199, CW 202, and CW 463 may or may not count as a non-Workshop class, depending on the topics offered in a given semester.

3

These hours must be taken at the 200-level or above.

4

A maximum of 3 hours of 100-level coursework may be counted towards the Additional Literature Coursework requirement.

5

Chosen from a list maintained by the Creative Writing Program and the English Advising Office.

6

Chosen from the Difference & Diaspora list maintained by the English Program and the English Advising office.

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Creative Writing

Sample Sequence

This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.

First Year
First SemesterHours
Free Elective course1
CW 1003
General Education course3
Language Other Than English (3rd level)4
Composition I or General Education course4
 15
Total Hours 15
First Year
Second SemesterHours
CW 104 or 1063
General Education course3
Language Other Than English (4th level)4
General Education course or Composition I3
Free Elective course3
 16
Total Hours 16
Second Year
First SemesterHours
CW 204 or 2063
CW 2003
General Education course3
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Second Year
Second SemesterHours
ENGL Literature coursework3
CW 2433
General Education course3
General Education course3
Free Elective course2
 14
Total Hours 14
Third Year
First SemesterHours
CW 404 or 2063
ENGL Difference & Diaspora course3
General Education course3
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Third Year
Second SemesterHours
Creative Writing Workshop coursework3
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Fourth Year
First SemesterHours
Writing & Literature coursework3
ENGL Literature coursework3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Fourth Year
Second SemesterHours
ENGL Literature coursework3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15

Total Hours: 120

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Creative Writing

  1. Concepts: Students will identify, analyze, and use the elements of literary craft appropriate for their chosen writing genre.
  2. Writing: Students will develop a personal style, apply craft techniques that they learn during workshops, and choose from several strategies to revise written work.
  3. Workshop: Students will identify and learn to use the most effective worship practices.  They will learn how to critique the written work of their peers, both orally and in writing, in constructive and mutually beneficial ways.
  4. Reading: Students will read, analyze, and evaluate contemporary and other literature from the perspective of literary craft and the study of creative writing.
  5. Literary Community and Profession: Students will learn to evaluate, discuss, and research contemporary literary publishing and editing.

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Creative Writing

Department of English

Creative Writing website
English faculty
English & Creative Writing advising

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

overview of college admissions & requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences