Creative Writing BA Courses | Department of English

Students on the quad on the first day of school.

Two students sit on a bench in the Quad on a sunny day

Our undergraduate course offerings move from introductory courses in both poetry and prose through intermediate-level speciality courses into advanced-level workshop courses. In introductory courses, students read a breadth of literature representing a range of stylistic possibilities and cultural backgrounds while experimenting with different approaches to form; in advanced-level courses, completed work is often shared and critiqued in a seminar format.

200-Level Courses

Course	Description	Prerequisites
English 283	Beginning Verse Writing Intensive study of the ways and means of making a poem. Writing exercises and readings by published authors will be assigned. Course may involve workshopping of student writing, but will not be devoted entirely to this practice.	None
English 284	Beginning Short Story Writing Introduction to the theory and practice of writing the short story. Writing exercises and readings by published authors will be assigned. Course may involve workshopping of student writing, but will not be devoted entirely to this practice.	None
English 285	Writers on Writing Experiencing literature from the inside. Members of the creative writing faculty and other practicing writers discuss their poetry, fiction, and literary nonfiction, literary inspiration, artistic practice, and the writer's life.	None

300-Level Courses

Course	Description	Prerequisites
English 383	The Craft of Verse Intensive study of various aspects of the craft verse. Readings in contemporary verse and writing using emulation and imitation. Prerequisite: ENGL 283; ENGL 284.	English 283 English 284
English 384	The Craft of Prose Intensive study of various aspects of the craft of fiction or creative nonfiction. Readings in contemporary prose and writing using emulation and imitation.	English 283 English 284

400-Level Courses

Course	Description	Prerequisites
English 483	Advanced Verse Workshop Intensive verse workshop. Emphasis on the production and discussion of student poetry.	English 383 English 384
English 484	Advanced Prose Workshop Intensive prose workshop. Emphasis on the production and discussion of student fiction and/or creative nonfiction.	English 383 English 384
English 485	Novel Writing Experience in planning, writing, and revising a work of long fiction, whether from the outset, in progress, or in already completed draft form. Course may focus on the novella or novella. Readings by published authors may be assigned.	English 384
English 486	Playwriting Experience in planning, writing, and revising a play, whether from the outset, in progress, or in already completed draft form.