Creative Writing Major
The Creative Writing Major includes four tracks: poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and cross-genre (students choose one).
Students may declare the cross-genre track of the major at any time, with no application process or prerequisites.
Admission to the poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction track is by application only and is normally based on a manuscript of creative work from ENGLISH 206-0 Reading & Writing Poetry, ENGLISH 207-0 Reading & Writing Fiction, or ENGLISH 208-0 Reading & Writing Creative Nonfiction. The department accepts applications to these tracks of the Creative Writing Major early each spring. First-year students may not apply.
A strong literature component and a course in the history and culture of literary production anchor the Creative Writing Major within a context of general literacy.
Students must also complete the Undergraduate Registration Requirement and the degree requirements of their home school.
Double-counting note: Weinberg College prohibits double-counting a department course toward some other major or minor, except where this is explicitly permitted in this catalog. Weinberg College does allow double-counting a department course toward a general bachelor's degree requirement (i.e. degree requirements other than majors or minors). Other programs or schools may have their own restrictions that supersede this, so check the relevant parts of this catalog for possible limits.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Department Courses (13 units) | |
| 3 introductory courses: | |
| Reading & Writing Poetry | |
| Reading & Writing Fiction | |
| Reading & Writing Creative Nonfiction | |
| ENGLISH 300-0 | Seminar in Reading and Interpretation |
| 1 200- or 300-level English department literature course | |
| 4 300-level English department literature courses | |
At least 1 on works written before 1830 1 | |
At least 1 on works written after 1830 1 | |
| ENGLISH 392-0 | The Situation of Writing |
| Three additional courses based on track: | |
Poetry Track: | |
| Theory and Practice of Poetry and Theory and Practice of Poetry and Theory and Practice of Poetry | |
Fiction Track: | |
| Theory & Practice of Fiction and Theory & Practice of Fiction and Theory & Practice of Fiction | |
Creative Nonfiction Track: | |
| Theory and Practice of Creative Nonfiction and Theory and Practice of Creative Nonfiction and Theory and Practice of Creative Nonfiction | |
Cross-genre Track: three courses chosen from the following: | |
| Advanced Poetry Writing | |
| Advanced Fiction Writing | |
| Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing | |
| Advanced Creative Cross-Genre Writing | |
- 1
Pre- or post-1830 criteria associated with a course can vary with different class offerings; check quarterly English course listings.
Students who matriculated in Spring 2025 or earlier can choose to opt into the current requirements listed here or can choose to follow requirements as outlined in a Catalog edition corresponding to their prior quarters of enrollment. The Office of the Registrar maintains an archive of Catalog editions.
Honors in Creative Writing
Interested creative writing majors should apply to the Honors program early in spring quarter of the junior year. Over fall and winter of the senior year, admitted students enroll in ENGLISH 399-0 Independent Study and work one-on-one with a faculty mentor to complete a significant writing, creative media, or literary translation work (ENGLISH 399-0 does not count toward requirements for the major). Students whose projects and grades meet department criteria are recommended to the college for graduation with honors. For more information, visit the department website and see Honors in the Major.