Mar 28, 2024  
Course Catalog 2008-2009 
    
Course Catalog 2008-2009 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Creative Writing


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: College of Arts and Sciences

Sylvia Watanabe, Associate Professor; Program Co-Director, Sem I
Dan Chaon, Pauline Delaney Associate Professor; Program Co-Director
, Sem II
Pamela Alexander, Associate Professor
Kazim Ali, Assistant Professor
Adam Giannelli, Visiting Assistant Professor
Jessica Grim, Lecturer

Affiliate Faculty:
David Walker, Professor of English

The Creative Writing Program is a rigorous program for student writers of serious purpose who want to develop their potential through a series of workshops and independent projects. Students work through a syllabus of reading, exercises, and assignments in classes that divide their time between presentations of assignments and discussions of student work. There is a large demand for writing courses at all levels. Most courses and all independent projects require an application and writing sample in the relevent genre(s). Students who receive a grade of B or lower in CRWR 201 cannot be guaranteed entry into the major. 

Major


Majors must complete at least 37 hours: 25 in Creative Writing and 12 in literature. The creative writing courses must include the following: Creative Writing 201; three of the six 300- level workshops (poetry, fiction, playwriting, nonfiction, translation, screenwriting) that are offered on a regular basis; and a four-credit capstone requirement which might be fulfilled through a single independent project (470) of  substantial quality or by the combination of a project with practica (485), directed readings, and other appropriate courses worked out in consultation with an advisor and the program director.

Twelve hours of literature (in English, in translation, or in a foreign language) are also required above the 100 level (except in East Asian Studies, where some 100-level literature courses may count.) If you are uncertain whether a specific course counts toward the literature requirement, please check with the Director of Creative Writing.

First-year students are advised to take CRWR 110 and 120, but only one of these courses will count toward the 25 creative writing hours required for the major.

Students must have taken CRWR 201 before applying for the 300-level poetry or fiction workshops, and must have completed the relevant 300-level workshop (and normally at least one other 300-level workshop as well) before pursuing an independent project in a given genre.

CRWR 470, 475, 480 and 485 are repeatable for credit.  CRWR 331 does not count toward the major.

Courses in which a student has earned a letter grade lower than a C-/CR or P cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the major.


 

 

Playwriting Concentration


The basic major requirement of 37 credits is reconfigured as follows: In Creative Writing, at least 20 hours, which must include CRWR 201, 330, 470 (in playwriting) and 480 (in playwriting). At least 13 hours must be taken at the 300 or 400 level, and at least one other 300-level workshop is recommended. In theater and other departments, at least 14 hours, including at least nine in literature (from English, Theater, or other departments), at least six of which must focus on drama; and at least five in acting, design, or technical theater taught by the Theater Department.

Transfer of Credit


Transfer students should consult with the Director of Creative Writing immediately upon acceptance to the College, and should apply immediately for admittance to Creative Writing 201. Even so, junior transfer students will find it almost impossible to complete the major in four semesters. While transfer students are normally given credit toward the major for courses taken elsewhere (with the approval of the Director of Creative Writing), equivalent course credit is almost never given for any of the four required workshops. Only half of the 12 literature hours may be transferred; those also require approval of the director.

Winter Term


Various faculty will sponsor projects on worthwhile topics that students have carefully designed in consultation with them before the registration deadline.

Introductory Courses


No  application is required, but it is highly recommended that interested students contact Ms. Overstreet in the  program office to be waitlisted for a course  the semester prior to its being offered.

  • CRWR 155 - Graphic Narrative
  • CRWR 180 - Small Prose Forms

Workshops


Admittance is by application only. Please see the program website or bulletin board for submission  deadlines.  Successful applicants will be notified by the instructors and class lists will be posted on the program bulletin board prior to Add/Drop.  We regret that the number of applications prevents us from replying to all those who apply.

Gateway


The completion of 201 is a pre-requisite to most 300-level workshops

Elective


An application is required, but  completion of 201 is not a pre-requisite.

 

Advanced


Independent Work


Cross-Referenced Courses


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: College of Arts and Sciences