Catalog 2010 - 2011

The Creative Writing Minor is designed for the student who has interest in developing skills as a creative writer (in fiction, poetry, and/or creative nonfiction) and in pursuing the formal study of literature as a form of cultural expression. The study of creative writing involves: producing original works of creative writing in more than one genre; exploring major literary traditions and literary-theoretical perspectives; examining the ways in which literature shapes and influences culture; recognizing the socio-cultural and historical contexts of literature; and examining one's own socio-cultural position as a writer. The Creative Writing Minor fulfills the Humanities PEAK.

The Creative Writing Minor consists of 18 credits:

• ENG-299T (any version) (3 cr)
• Two writing workshops (only one of which may be Journalism) from:
  • ENG-218 Poetry Writing Workshop I (3 cr)
  • ENG-219 Fiction Writing Workshop I (3 cr)
  • ENG-220 Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop I (3 cr)
  • JOURN-200 Principles & Practices of Journalism: Print (3 cr)
• One subsequent writing workshop from:
  • ENG-318 Poetry Writing Workshop II (3 cr)
  • ENG-319 Fiction Writing Workshop II (3 cr)
  • ENG-320 Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop II (3 cr)
• ENG-280 Theory & Methods of the Study of Literature
  or
  an additional 300-level writing workshop (3 cr)
• Three credits of Fine Arts. A liberal arts curriculum values breadth and exposure to both the Fine Arts & Humanities. Therefore, any student completing a minor in Creative Writing must also complete a course in Art, Music, or Theatre.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Analytical Reasoning
• Communicate clearly, persuasively and confidently in writing
• Critically interpret literature
• Understand and interpret literature as a form of human imagination and expression
• Understand how the literary tradition has helped shape the world
• Critical Thinking

In addition, in successfully completing a minor in Creative Writing students should be able to:

• produce polished creative written work and articulate the place of that work in the literary tradition (with regard to traditions of genre and literary history)
• discuss the socio-cultural and historical contexts of literature
• demonstrate a basic familiarity with major literary traditions and themes
• contribute meaningfully to creative writing workshop discussions of the works of both their peers and professional, published authors
• discuss some of the ways in which their own encounters with texts are shaped and limited by culturally-influenced assumptions concerning individuality, situatedness, and reality.