Program Overview

Creative Writing Certificate

The Creative Writing Certificate is designed for writers looking to develop their voice and produce original work. This certificate guides students as they deepen their writing practices and sharpen their critical and stylistic skills. Students may choose to focus on writing fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, while also getting exposure to related literary and publishing work, such as editing and feature writing. The workshop-based course structure helps to strengthen craft and build an original portfolio of work.

Requirements

To earn the Certificate in Writing, students must complete 15 hours in selected writing courses with a grade point average of 3.0 or better. The specific requirements for the Creative Writing Certificate are as follows:

• Students must take at least two of the following English courses: 3030, 3040, 4130, 4140, 4895, 4890, and at least one must be a 4000-level course.
• Courses for the certificate should be chosen with the guidance of the Writing Certificate Program Coordinator.

Course Options

The following courses are available for the Creative Writing Certificate:

• 2000-Level Courses:
  • ENGL 2030: Beginning Poetry Writing Workshop (CW)
  • ENGL 2040: Beginning Fiction Writing Workshop (CW)
  • ENGL 2330: Introduction to Poetry (Lit)
  • ENGL 2340: Introduction to Fiction (Lit)
  • ENGL 2350: Introduction to Drama (Lit)
• Creative Writing and Literature Courses:
  • ENGL 3030: Poetry Workshop: Lyric and Form
  • ENGL 3040: Fiction Workshop: Narrative Structure
  • ENGL 3090: Writing About Literature
  • ENGL 3100: Junior-Level Writing
  • ENGL 4130: Advanced Poetry Writing
  • ENGL 4140: Advanced Fiction Writing
  • ENGL 4160: Special Topics in Writing (Advanced poetry and fiction workshop)
  • ENGL 4890: Writing Internship
  • ENGL 4892: Independent Writing Project (limited availability)
  • ENGL 4895: Editing
• Professional Writing Courses:
  • ENGL 2080: Advertising Copywriting (or MEDIA 2080)
  • ENGL 3150: Feature Writing (or MEDIA 3150)
  • ENGL 4860: Editing

Capstone Course

The capstone course may be 4130, 4140, 4890, or 4895. If 4890 is used, it will be an internship in literary publishing, feature writing, or advertising copywriting. To use 4130 or 4140, the student must obtain the coordinator's permission and do extra work in the course. The "Editing Litmag" course, 4895, may also be used as the final course for this certificate.