Creative Writing Track Within the English Major

Beginning Fall 2008, the Department of English will offer undergraduates a selective Creative Writing Track within the English Major. The track will require 15 semester hours of coursework in writing, namely

• 6 s.h. in introductory courses in creative writing, fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and other forms of writing,
• and 9 s.h. in intermediate and advanced courses in those areas.

Admission is selective. Since a key part of the training of any writer is learning to become a creative and intelligent reader, one who is aware of the history and traditions of the various genres of writing, students in the Creative Writing Track must also meet all existing requirements for the English major.

Selective Admissions

Students in their junior year (more than 60 s.h.) may apply for the Creative Writing Track. They must have completed 6 s.h. of writing courses and 9 s.h. of other English courses before applying, and they must have at least a 3.3 gpa in all English courses. At the end of each introductory writing course, instructors will report to the Director of the Undergraduate Creative Writing Track the names of the most promising writing students in each class, and these recommendations will serve as one criterion for admission to the Writing Track. Students must also be accepted into an intermediate course on the basis of a portfolio of their writing appropriate to that class. Students may apply to the Creative Writing Track in the preregistration period every semester, beginning with preregistration for Spring 2009, using the application form available on the English Department website (or in the English Department office), to be submitted to the Director of the Undergraduate Creative Writing Track.

Summary of admissions criteria:

• proven competence in introductory writing courses;
  
• successful portfolio of writing in relevant genre to secure admission into an intermediate-level workshop;
  
• gpa in all UI English courses of 3.33 or above;
  
• junior or senior standing.
  

Admissions will be overseen by the Director of the Undergraduate Creative Writing Track and exceptional students who do not meet all of these criteria may petition to have their case considered. The Director will also consider applying transfer credits towards the Track on a case by case basis.

Completing the English Major

In order to graduate in the Creative Writing Track, students must also successfully graduate as English majors, satisfying all the requirements of the English major. Specifically, all students must take 008:005 Introduction to the English Major: The Theory and Practice of Literary Study; at least one course in the six areas listed in the catalog; and at least two courses from each of the historical periods listed in the catalog. (Most courses will satisfy both an area and a historical period requirement.) The courses required for the track will provide a concentration in writing, although students may declare another concentration if they wish.

Courses to satisfy the Creative Writing Track

Introductory Courses

Open to all students. Students on the Creative Writing Track will be required to take at least 6 s.h. from these courses.

• 08C:023 Creative Writing 3 s.h.
• 08C:097 Fiction Writing 3 s.h.
  
• 08C:098 Poetry Writing 3 s.h.
  
• 08N:080 Nonfiction Writing 3 s.h.
  
• 08N:090 Intermediate Nonfiction Writing 3 s.h. [prerequisite 08N:080]
  
• 048:079 Undergraduate Translation Workshop 3 s.h.
  
• 049:062 Playwriting I 3 s.h.
  
• 049:063 Playwriting II 3 s.h. [prerequisite 049:062]

Students may petition the Director of the Creative Writing Track to have other writing courses count toward the requirement if they can demonstrate their relevance. 08C:001 Creative Writing Studio Workshop and 08N:020 Introduction to Creative Nonfiction can satisfy General Education requirements but cannot be counted toward the English major or minor or toward the Creative Writing Track.

Intermediate and Advanced Courses

Open to students accepted into the Creative Writing Track and to other students as space permits. Entry into one of these courses is based on a portfolio of writing (in the genre of the particular workshop being applied for) submitted to the appropriate program (see ISIS for submission and prerequisite details).

• 08C:163 Undergraduate Writers’ Workshop: Fiction 3 s.h.
  
• 08C:166 Undergraduate Writers’ Workshop: Poetry 3 s.h.
  
• 08C:167 Undergraduate Writers’ Seminar 3 s.h.
  
• 08N:120 Advanced Nonfiction Writing 3 s.h.
  
• 08N:150 Undergraduate Essay Workshop 3 s.h.
  
• 049:169 Undergraduate Playwriting Workshop 3 s.h.

Full details about Advanced Courses in the Creative Writing Track will be released in Fall 2008.