Program Overview

Creative Writing Certificate of Achievement

Related Degrees & Certificates

• AA Associate in Arts Degree Program: English (60 units)
• AA-T Associate in Arts Degree for Transfer: English (60 units)

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities include:

• Writer
• Advertising copywriter
• Arts administrator
• Creative director
• Digital copywriter
• Editorial assistant
• Magazine journalist
• Newspaper journalist
• Web content manager
• Screenwriter
• Content marketing manager

The certificate would also be useful in the following careers:

• Academic librarian
• Curriculum developer
• Public librarian
• Film director
• Information officer
• Marketing executive
• Primary school teacher
• Secondary school teacher
• Post-secondary school teacher
• Public relations officer
• Social media manager

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing this program will be able to:

• Recognize and evaluate authors’ use of the conventions of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.
• Create original works of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and drama, applying the appropriate conventions for each genre and incorporating craft elements introduced in the program.
• Develop and refine a creative process.
• Compile a professional portfolio of creative work and prepare for publication.
• Research potential markets and prepare for publication.

Recommended High School Preparation

• Coursework in English, Literature, Journalism

University Transfer Program

Use Assist to identify lower division major preparation for the California State University and the University of California systems. For independent or out-of-state colleges and universities use their catalogs to locate this information. Transfer Services can assist you to gather this information.

University Transfer Program (60–70 transferable units)

• California State University
• University of California
• Independent Colleges and Universities

Program Overview

For both new and experienced writers, the Creative Writing Program provides a safe place to learn and practice the crafts of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. Students learn to read as writers, produce original work, understand the creative process, and both give and receive critiques as part of a community. The Certificate of Achievement in Creative Writing is awarded to students who complete a sequence of creative writing courses, electives in literature and related subjects, and a portfolio of their fiction, creative nonfiction, and/or poetry under faculty supervision.

Program Requirements

Requirements

• Required Core Courses: 15 units
  • ENGL 161: Creative Writing I (3 units)
  • ENGL 162: Creative Writing II (3 units)
  • ENGL 163: Creative Writing III (3 units)
  • Any two Literature courses listed below:
    • LIT. 101: Twentieth-Century Literature (3 units)
    • LIT. 113: The Novel (3 units)
    • LIT. 115: The Short Poem in English: A Survey (3 units)
    • LIT. 150: Crime and Detective Fiction (3 units)
    • LIT. 151: Shakespeare (3 units)
    • LIT. 154: Introduction to LGBT Literature (3 units)
    • LIT. 155: Comics and the Graphic Novel (3 units)
    • LIT. 156: Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature (3 units)
    • LIT. 201: American Literature I (3 units)
    • LIT. 202: American Literature II (3 units)
    • LIT. 220: Introduction to World Literature (3 units)
    • LIT. 231: Survey of English Literature I (3 units)
    • LIT. 232: Survey of English Literature II (3 units)
    • LIT. 266: African American Literature (3 units)
• Required Selective courses: 3 units
  • Choose one course from the following:
    • Any Literature course listed above not used as core requirement (3 units)
    • OR
    • DGME 101: Writing for Mass Media (3 units)
    • FILM 100: Introduction to Film (3 units)
    • FILM 153: Screenwriting (3 units)
    • FILM 154: Expanded Scriptwriting Skills (3 units)
• Total Required Units: 18