English Major, Creative Writing Emphasis

Major Requirements

Writing workshops engage students in the dynamic process of creating their own poems, stories, novellas, essays, or memoirs. Creative writing students are also invited into a wider literary community beyond the classroom -- on campus -- that includes working on Colgate's student edited journal, The Portfolio, meeting writers at guest readings on campus and the possibility of giving their own readings in various venues on and off campus. Because the creation of literature is inseparable from the study of literature, students majoring in English/CW fulfill all the requirements for the English major while also taking at least three creative writing workshops.

11 total courses:

The 6 required courses of the English Major listed here:

• at least two survey courses. Survey courses encompass a broad range of material, allowing students to appreciate how writers influence one another and observe (and perhaps reconsider) canonicity, that is, how some writers have come to be considered more significant than others. Survey courses are normally completed at the 200 level. Survey courses: ENGL 200, ENGL 201, and ENGL 202
• at least one literature course at the intermediate (300) level from each of three historical periods: medieval/early modern (to 1700), the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (1701-1900), the twentieth and twenty-first centuries (1901 to now)
• at least one seminar in literature, that is, a course at the 400-level in which students engage in advanced reading, discussion, and writing about a specific literary topic
• 3 creative writing workshops
• 2 literature electives at any level

Workshops

ENGL 217 may be taken only once. Instructor permission is necessary for admission to creative writing courses at the 300 and 400 levels.

Three workshop courses chosen from among the following:

• ENGL 217 - Introductory Workshop in Creative Writing (may be taken only once)
• ENGL 374 - Creative Nonfiction Workshop
• ENGL 376 - Playwriting II
• ENGL 377 - Fiction Writing Workshop
• ENGL 378 - Poetry Writing Workshop
• ENGL 477 - Advanced Workshop

GPA Requirement

Passing grades must be earned in all courses counted for this major, with a GPA of 2.00 averaged over all courses taken in the department.

Honors and High Honors

Students interested in pursuing honors can find the additional requirements on the English and Creative Writing department page.

English and Creative Writing Department

For more information about the department, including Faculty, transfer credit, awards, etc., please visit the English and Creative Writing Department catalog page.