The BA in English with a Creative Writing Emphasis provides students with foundational knowledge in literature, writing and practice, critical thinking, literary theory, culture and diversity, literary citizenship, and the power of language that will empower them to innovate, communicate, and discover the necessary skills to thrive in their professional career paths and serve their community. The Creative Writing emphasis also prepares students for the professional opportunities in the creative writing world, MFA programs, and the rewarding and challenging world of publishing.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Read literature as a writer with particular attention to style, context, and elements of craft.
2. Practice writing and revision in multiple genres with attention to elements of craft and style.
3. Develop the critical, analytical, and editing skills necessary to evaluate works in progress and participate in a creative writing community.
4. Demonstrate an awareness of the literary, cultural, and historical contexts within which creative writing occurs, including the influence of the past and present on artistic choices.
5. Generate an original body of creative writing culminating in a manuscript-length work of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or a hybrid genre.
6. Attend literary events and gain a basic knowledge of literary publishing.

Outcomes Assessment Activities

• A central file of course syllabi with representative assignments is maintained by the department for inspection by the committee and other qualified persons.
• All English majors begin the program with ENG 114 Introduction to Creative Writing (GT-AH1) (3 c.h.) and ENG 201 Introduction to Literary Theory (3 c.h.) which establish the emphasized professional standards and the writing and analytical skills students will have acquired in the program. All students in ENG 114 submit a final notebook and ENG 201 write a final paper, which are submitted to the department chairperson or committee for assessment.
• All English majors take ENG 493 Senior Seminar (3 c.h.) and ENG 414 Advanced Creative Writing Workshop (3 c.h.) emphasizing professional standards and synthesizing the writing and analytical skills students have acquired in other English classes. All students in ENG 493 write a senior research paper, one copy of which is submitted to the department chairperson for dissemination for review. In order to pass ENG 493, students must demonstrate satisfactory levels of achievement in meeting the program goals.
• English Program faculty review final materials from ENG 114, ENG 201, ENG 414, and ENG 493 on an annual basis and prepare an analysis of what they reveal about the program's success.
• The English Program administers a student-satisfaction questionnaire to all senior English majors each year. Similar questionnaires are sent to recent graduates and representative employers on a periodic basis.
• The English Program faculty consider the English curricula at leading comparable institutions and apprise the department of innovations worthy of consideration.

 Specific Program Requirements

• Students should consult with an advisor in English prior to registration.
• All major courses must be completed with a C or better. 
• Students must fulfill the University foreign language requirements for the BA degree: first year world language (6-8 credit hours), or ENG 106 & WL 100, or ASL 101 & ASL 102. International students are still required to complete the language requirements. 
• For teaching endorsement requirements, see the Teacher Education Program section.

Program Overview 

Specific Core Requirements

Specific Co-Curricular Requirements

The English faculty supports and encourages English majors’ involvement in student organizations and participation in tutoring activities in the community and on campus.

• Faculty advisors meet individually with each of their students on a regular basis to help plan schedules and discuss educational and career goals. Advisors maintain an accurate and up-to-date record of each student’s progress towards completion of the requirements for the major.
• All English majors will participate in a senior-year seminar in which all of the writing and analytical skills acquired in other English classes will be synthesized. Students in the class will be expected to complete a senior research project.

Planning Sheet

Disclaimer: The Planning Sheet is designed as a guide for student's planning their course selections. The information on this page provides only a suggested schedule. Actual course selections should be made with the advice and consent of an academic advisor. While accurately portraying the information contained in the college catalog, this form is not considered a legal substitute for that document. Students should become familiar with the catalog in effect at the time in which they entered the institution.

Note: In addition to requirements for the major and general education, students must complete either:

1. Any minor degree program listed in the catalog other than their major; or
2. 18 credit hours outside of the major.

Students may not use the same credits to satisfy requirements for both major and minor degrees, or use credits taken to satisfy general education requirements.