English/Creative Writing, BA

Courses that fulfill requirements for the English major have the following code designation in the course description:

AM	American
BE	British & European Literature, 1800-Present
EM	Early Modern, 1500-1800
NW	U.S. Ethnic/Non-Western
PM	Pre-Modern Literature to 1500

Creative Writing courses:

CWF	Creative Writing Fiction
CWP	Creative Writing Poetry
CWN	Creative Writing Non-Fiction
CWD	Creative Writing Drama/Film
CW	Multi-Genre Creative Writing

Requirements

The creative writing program’s goal is to develop the writing skills and encourage the creative talents of undergraduate students. The curriculum for the major and minor includes both traditional literature and beginning and advanced creative writing courses in fiction, poetry, non-fiction, expressive writing, popular genre writing, and script writing. All writing courses include a substantial reading requirement, but with emphasis on craft. The faculty includes regular members of the English Department as well as writers-in-residence from the Northwest. A student interested in the major or minor in English/Creative Writing should speak with the director.

In order to earn the bachelor of arts degree with a major in English/Creative Writing, students must complete a minimum of 180 quarter credits, with a cumulative and a major/program grade point average of 2.00, including the following:

I. Core Curriculum Requirements

Module I: Engaging Academic Inquiry

UCOR 1100 - Academic Writing Seminar
UCOR 1200 - Quantitative Reasoning (or MATH 1010 or above)
UCOR 1300 - Creative Expression and Interpretation
UCOR 1400 - Inquiry Seminar in the Humanities
UCOR 1600 - Inquiry Seminar in the Social Sciences
UCOR 1800 - Inquiry Seminar in the Natural Sciences (or BIOL 1610/1611, 2200, CHEM 1500/1501, PHYS 1050, 1210)

Module II: Exploring the Self and Others

Module III: Engaging the World

II. College of Arts and Sciences Requirements

Modern Languages 1150, 1250, 1350, or equivalent (15)

NOTE:

All students with a major in the College of Arts and Sciences must demonstrate competency through the level of 1350 in a language other than English. This competency is ordinarily achieved by successful completion of the three-course sequence: 1150, 1250, and 1350. Because these courses are a college requirement, no course in the sequence may be taken on a pass/fail, correspondence, or audit basis. Placement into other than the beginning course of the sequence is achieved by acceptable performance on the Modern Language Competency Examination. See the Modern Languages and Cultures Department for details on the examinations. Courses used to satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences modern language requirement may not be used to fulfill major requirements.

Choose one of the following two courses:

III. Major Requirements

60 credits in English, including:

Required areas: (15)

Then choose a 3000-4000 level course from three of the following five area requirements . At least one of these 3000-level courses must include ENGL 3010 , 3011 , 3012 , 3013 , or 3014 . In addition, among the three required area courses at least one course must be at the 4000 level.

Pre-modern Literature, to 1500
Early Modern Literature, 1500-1800
British & European Literature, 1800-Present
American Literature
U.S. Ethnic & Non-Western Literature

Choose courses in at least three genres (3000-4000 level): (20)

Senior Synthesis Capstone: (5)

ENGL 4900 - Senior Synthesis Capstone

NOTE:

A required course may not be used to satisfy two requirements simultaneously.

Policy for University Honors Program Students

Graduates of the University Honors Program who have completed all five of the literature courses in that program may earn an English/Creative Writing major by taking 20 credits of creative writing, 10 credits of literature courses at the 3000-4000 level, and 5 credits in the Senior Synthesis Capstone. They may earn an English/Creative Writing minor by completing 15 credit hours of creative writing courses at the 3000-4000 level.

Additional Information

Literature (2000-level)

2000-level courses are foundational to the advanced study of literature and creative writing. Students will learn to identify different literary genres and conventions, and to develop close reading skills. In “Readings” courses students will develop a coherent sense of the sweep of English and American literary history.

Creative Writing

These courses focus on the craft of imaginative writing in four genres (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scripts) and are available to all students, though priority may be given to English and English/Creative Writing majors.

Literature (3000-level)

3000-level courses build on the skills of close reading developed in 2000-level courses, extend students’ repertoire of interpretive strategies, and teach sound habits of scholarship needed for success in 4000-level courses. 3000-level courses offer a wide range of approaches to literature. Instructors’ teaching strategies and course assignments aim to help students read with sophistication, develop theoretical awareness, and understand disciplinary methods of inquiry and analysis. 3000-level courses are designed for both majors and non-majors. English Majors are advised to complete 3010 , 3011 , 3012 , 3013 , or 3014 before taking a 4000-level literature course.

Writing (3000-level)

3000-level writing courses are designed for writers in any discipline who wish to learn advanced strategies for producing effective prose in a variety of academic, civic, or professional contexts. Prerequisites are UCOR 1100 or equivalent transfer credit, plus junior standing or permission of instructor.

Literature (4000-level)

Courses with a 4000 number are advanced studies in literature and writing that build on the research writing skills developed in 3000-level courses. 4000-level courses have three goals: first, to help students gain a depth of understanding of a focused series of texts, e.g. on a major theme, by one or two authors, or in a particular genre; second, to help students gain an understanding of various theories and methods of literary criticism, as well as learn to apply them to the central texts of the course; and third, to assist students in the writing of a major scholarly paper or creative portfolio. The literary paper will demonstrate close reading, the raising of a literary question in relation to debates among the critics, and the pursuit of an extended and persuasive literary argument.

Departmental Honors

English/Creative Writing Major with Departmental Honors