English, Creative Writing Minor

Program Description

The Creative Writing minor in English offers students a series of introductory and advanced creative writing courses, in addition to practical guidance on publication. Building on a strong basis in literature and language studies, students have the opportunity to develop their skills in either fiction writing or poetry writing as well as to take elective coursework in playwriting and creative non-fiction. The majority of courses are intensive workshops with a focus on peer and faculty comments, the study of craft, and the reading of contemporary and classic literature. Graduates of our program include novelists Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni and Alexandria Constantinova Szeman and poet Rachel Danielle Peterson. The English Department Visiting Writers Series brings nationally known poets and writers to campus for readings and workshops. The English Club, an organization open to all students, hosts open mikes and coffee-house style readings each year.

Admission Requirements

Any student eligible for admission to the College of Liberal Arts is eligible for admission to the Creative Writing minor. Non-native speakers of English seeking admission to any  undergraduate program in English must meet one of the following minimum language proficiency requirements:

• TOEFL: 79
• IELTS: 6.5
• PEARSON PTE: 58, or
• Satisfactory completion of LEAP level 4 TOEFL substitution

Learning Outcomes 

Students in the Creative Writing Minor will be:

• Familiar with the discipline of creative writing and the value of criticism in the creative process;
• Able to write in their chosen creative forms.

For additional information:

• English, Creative Writing Minor
• Department of English Language and Literatures
• College of Liberal Arts