Major in Creative Writing

Course Planning

The Bachelor of Arts with a major in Creative Writing offers courses at all four undergraduate levels. Students can declare a Creative Writing major or minor at any time. This program has significant flexibility, particularly in the first and second year.

In order to complete a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Creative Writing, students need to complete 75 required credits, that includes BA requirements and major requirements, and 45 elective credits for a total of 120 credits.

Year 1

Students take introductory course in four primary areas: poetry, creative nonfiction, fiction and drama. CRWR students also take VISA 106: Introduction to Digital Media as a foundation course for further study, plus any 3 credits from Art History, Creative and Critical Studies, Music, Theatre, or Visual Arts.

Sample Year One

Year 2

Students take at least one intermediate workshop in poetry or fiction, in addition to courses in English and Theory and Practice of Creative Writing to provide a broad knowledge of literary history and practice. Students can also use 3 credits from CRWR 205: Popular Fiction or  CRWR 210: Power of Story towards their degree.

Sample Year Two

Years Three and Four

Students take a minimum of two advanced workshops in creative writing including CRWR 380: Writing of the Short Story; CRWR 381: Writing of Poetry; CRWR 382; Topics in Creative Writing, and CRWR 384: Spoken Word. Students must also complete 12 credits from the 4^th year professionalizing course which include:  CRWR 470: Portfolio (may be taken twice for a total of 6 credits); CRWR 471: Writing of the Novel (6 credit year-long course); CRWR 472: Editing and Publishing; CRWR 473 (3): Writing and Community Learning; CRWR 474 (3): Writing with Media.

Other Requirements include 3 upper-level credits of ENGL or WRLD; 3 upper-level credits of ENGL in Canadian literature. 6 upper-level credits from ARTH, CCS, CRWR, CULT, ENGL, FILM, THTR, VISA, or WRLD. With permission, students may take an upper-level FREN, GERM, JPST, or SPAN literature course for this elective.

Sample Year Three

Sample Year Four

Note: We recommend you meet with an advisor or program coordinator to decide which elective or BA requirement courses you take in each term as there are many choices available.