The Creative Writing option within the English major is available by competitive admission only. Students who apply to the Creative Writing option must have already been admitted to the English major or must apply simultaneously to the English major and the Creative Writing option. (This program is open to day students only; there is no Creative Writing option in the Evening Degree Program.)
Effective Autumn 2012 through Spring 2013. For those declaring the Creative Writing option in the English major between Autumn 2012 and Spring 2013. If you were admitted to Creative Writing in Autumn 2013 or later, please follow current requirements.
A minimum of 60 credits in English
ENGL 301 (Introduction to English Language and Literature) and writing link ENGL 297 (Writing in the Humanities): 10 credits.
Grades of 2.0 or above required in both courses.
(These courses are renumbered versions of ENGL 202 and 197 beginning Autumn 2010, but the content remains the same. If you took ENGL 202 and 197, you can use these as prerequisites when you apply to the English major, and you can use them toward the major in place of the new course numbers, ENGL 301 and 297.)
ENGL 283(Beginning Verse Writing) and ENGL 284 (Beginning Short Story Writing): 10 credits.
Both courses (or transfer equivalents) must be completed for a student to be eligible to apply for admission to the Creative Writing option.
English Literature Core: 10 credits.
At least 5 credits from each of two categories. All courses must be taken at the 300 level or above. Note that all students must complete at least 15 credits in pre-1900 literature.*
English Literature Electives: 10 credits.
All courses must be taken at the 300 level or above. Note that all students must complete at least 15 credits in pre-1900 literature.*
ENGL 383 (The Craft of Verse) and ENGL 384 (The Craft of Prose): 10 credits.
Both of these courses must be completed before students may move up to the 400-level workshops.
Approved 400-level Creative Writing courses: 10 credits.
(ENGL 483, 484, 485, 486, 487, 493).
*Pre-1900 Literature:
At least 15 credits in ENGL courses must be focused on pre-1900 literature. (These pre-1900 literature credits may overlap with English Literature Core courses within the English major requirements.)
Limit on 200-level ENGL credit:
No more than 15 credits in 200-level ENGL courses (including required courses ENGL 297, 283, and 284) may be applied toward the English major: all other English credits must be taken at the 300 or 400 level.
GPA Requirements:
All English majors must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.00 in all UW ENGL courses.
Residency:
At least 25 ENGL credits applicable to the English major must be taken in residence at the UW Seattle.
For assistance with planning and for questions, please consult English Undergraduate Advising.
Department of English Admission and Continuation Policy (PDF) (rules for satisfactory progress)