Creative Writing

This course of study offered by the Department of English is designed to develop a student’s ability to read literature responsibly and imaginatively, to foster an understanding and appreciation of our literary inheritance, and to provide the historical perspective from which to evaluate contemporary writing and to produce it.

Program Learning Goals

English Major Creative Writing Requirements

General Requirements:  Students majoring in English must complete a minimum of 39 hours in English. A minimum of 27 hours must be earned in upper-division courses.  None of the required 39 hours may be taken Pass/Fail.  Only courses completed with a grade of C- (1.7) or better may be counted toward the major.  Students must achieve a minimum cumulative major GPA of 2.0. All graded attempts in required and elective courses are calculated in the major GPA.  A minimum of 15 upper-division (3000-level and above) credit hours of work in the English Major must be taken with the CU Denver English faculty. Core composition courses ENGL 1010, 1020, and 2030 do not count toward the English Major. 

NOTE:  Double majors in English and English Writing must complete 63 hours total for both majors.

Advanced Standing:  CLEP and AP credit will not count toward the English Major or the English Writing Major.  Such credit may apply toward the College writing requirement (ENGL 1020 and 2030) or be counted as general electives. Check with CLAS Advising for details.

Minors: The English Department also offers minors in Literature, Film Studies, and English Writing, Rhetoric and Technology.  Courses counted in a minor cannot be counted toward the major. 

Honors Program:  Latin Honors may be earned by participating in the department’s Honors Program.  You are encouraged to begin the program in your junior year.  The program requires additional coursework and affords you the opportunity to work individually with the professor of your choice.  Speak to a professor or click on this link (https://clas.ucdenver.edu/english/latin-honors) for more information on honors in the English Department.

Internships: Internships are also available to students who have completed over 60 credit hours; for information, contact The Experiential Learning Center at 303-315-7258 in the Tivoli, Suite 260.  Internships count as upper-division electives.

Catalog 

I.  Required Courses (15 credit hours)

• ENGL 2450 Introduction to Literature
• ENGL 3020 Poetry Workshop
• ENGL 3050 Fiction Workshop
• ENGL 4025 Advanced Poetry Workshop
• ENGL 4055 Advanced Fiction Workshop

II. Area Requirements (9 hours) Choose 1 track:

A. Fiction OR B. Poetry

A.  Fiction

• ENGL 4610 Narrative: Form & Theory 
• ENGL 4850 Senior Fiction Workshop  

Choose 1 course

• ENGL 4200 Survey of the English Novel to 1900 
• ENGL 4220 African-American Literature 
• ENGL 4230 The American Novel 
• ENGL 4236 The American Short Story 
• ENGL 4802 Special Topics in Creative Writing (Emphasis in Fiction) 

B.  Poetry 

• ENGL 4160 Poetics  
• ENGL 4820 Senior Poetry Workshop 

Choose 1 course. 

• ENGL 4166 History of American Poetry 
• ENGL 4801 Special Topics in Creative Writing (Emphasis in Poetry) 

III. Required Electives (15 hours) Choose 5 courses.  

The first seven courses below are strongly recommended. However, any upper division ENGL course not  already completed for another major requirement can be applied as an elective.
*Courses with an asterisk may be taken more than once, if the topic/titles differ. 

• ENGL 3001 Critical Writing   
• ENGL 3106 Writing for Print Media 
• ENGL 3416 Magazine Writing 
• ENGL 4800 Special Topics in Creative Writing* 
• ENGL 4801 Special Topics in Creative Writing: Poetry*
• ENGL 4802 Special Topics in Creative Writing: Fiction* 
• ENGL 4810 Literary Editing Practicum 
• ENGL _______ Any 3000 or 4000 level 
• ENGL _______ Any 3000 or 4000 level 
• ENGL _______ Any 3000 or 4000 level 
• ENGL _______ Any 3000 or 4000 level 
• ENGL _______ Any 3000 or 4000 level 

To complete this major: 39 Credit Hours

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