Creative Writing Course Offerings

Download information regarding checklists for graduation requirements as well as view the Catalogue.

• 4-year plan for Freshmen - Creative Writing
• 4-year plan for Transfers - Creative Writing
• View the catalogue

Course Requirements for Minor in Creative Writing (24 hours)

ENG 199 Creative Writing Colloquy (0 credits). Taken four semesters. Grade limited to Pass or Fail.
ENG 121 Advanced Freshman English (3), or its equivalent.
ENG 211 Introduction to Creative Writing (3).
ENG 302 History and Grammatical Structures in English (3)
ENG 304 Advanced Poetry Writing (3).
ENG 305 Advanced Fiction Writing (3).
ENG 306 Advanced Nonfiction Writing (3).
ENG 481 Capstone Workshop in Creative Writing (3).
THE 310 Scriptwriting for Production (3).
PHI 275 Aesthetics (3).

Requirements

• Students must pass ENG 199 four semesters before graduating.
• Students must take 3 of the following advanced writing workshops: ENG 304: Advanced Poetry, ENG 305: Advanced Fiction, ENG 306: Advanced Creative Nonfiction, THE 310: Script Writing, and ENG 482: Special Topics Workshop.

Course Requirements for BFA in Creative Writing (50 hours)

Requirements

• Students must pass ENG 199 four semesters before graduating.
• Students must complete at least 3 of the following advanced writing workshops: ENG 304: Advanced Poetry, ENG 305: Advanced Fiction, ENG 306: Advanced Creative Nonfiction, THE 310: Script Writing, and ENG 482: Special Topics Workshop.
• ENG 481 and ENG 494 can be taken in the senior year only. The Director of the Creative Writing Program must approve admission of all students to ENG 494. Students not approved for ENG 494 must take an additional advanced writing workshop or an additional 400-level literature course.
• Students must complete two hours of practicum experience on the campus literary journal (ENG 132) or the campus newspaper (ENG 131). At least one hour of practicum experience must be earned in ENG 132: Principles of Editing.

132	Principles of Editing (2). Prereq: Instructor-s permission. An introductory course designed to teach the fundamentals of publication editing, design, and production. The laboratory and backdrop for this course is the Belhaven University literary journal, the Brogue. Students will meet weekly for lecture, discussion, and staff work. Typically, The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) will be the text for the course, and students will be graded on their adherence to the Manual in their editorial work. Students pursuing the BFA in creative writing must complete at least one semester of CWR 132, but may take additional semesters for elective credit. (Fall only)
133	Procedures in Publishing (2). Prereq: Instructor-s permission. Designed to teach the fundamentals of publication design and production. The laboratory and backdrop for this course is the Belhaven University literary journal, the Brogue. Students will meet weekly for lecture, discussion, and staff work. Texts for this course will include The Chicago Manual of Style and overviews of the publishing industry that address history, procedures, and current developments. Students pursuing the BFA in creative writing must complete at least one semester of CWR 133, but may take additional semesters for elective credit. (Spring only)
199	Creative Writing Colloquy (0). Limited to creative writing majors and minors. Prereq: CWR 211. Informal weekly meeting for the purpose of discussing works in progress. Participants will bring drafts of current works and discuss them under the direction of a creative writing instructor. Four semesters required for creative writing majors and minors. Grade limited to Credit or No Credit. Limited to 6 students. (Fall and spring)
211	Introduction to Creative Writing (3). Designed for students interested in learning and practicing the craft of creative writing, including writing poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Includes discussion of the biblical foundations for creative expression through words and of the Christian writer-s responsibility to art, society, self, and God. Workshop format. Limited to 12 students. (Fall only)
304	Advanced Poetry Writing (3). Prereq: CWR 211. Designed for students interested in practicing advanced techniques of writing poetry in both traditional and open forms. Covers topics including line, form, meter, sound, image, and figurative language. Requires students to submit poems for publication and to participate in a public poetry reading. Workshop format. Limited to 12 students. (Spring only)
305	Advanced Fiction Writing (3). Prereq: CWR 211. Designed for students interested in practicing advanced techniques of writing fiction. Covers topics including point of view, character, setting, plot, dialogue, and voice. Requires students to submit stories for publication and to participate in a public fiction reading. Workshop format. Limited to 12 students. (Fall only)
306	Advanced Nonfiction Writing (3). Prereq: CWR 211. Designed for students interested in practicing advanced techniques of writing nonfiction essays, including such subgenres as memoir and personal narratives, literary journalism, nature writing, travel essays, spiritual narratives, and humorous essays. Requires students to submit essays for publication and to participate in a public reading. Workshop format. Limited to 12 students. (Spring, odd years)
324	Forms and Themes in Poetry (3). A blended literature and writing course (with emphasis on literature) specifically designed for creative writing students. Examines various traditional and nontraditional forms and themes in western and non-western literature. Seeks, through example and analysis, to understand what poetry is, how it has functioned, and what forms it has taken in various cultures, both past and present. Examines forms including epic, lyric, haiku, narrative, sonnet, hymn, and ballad. (Fall only)
325	Forms and Themes in Prose (3). A blended literature and writing course (with emphasis on literature) specifically designed for creative writing students. Examines various traditional and nontraditional forms and themes in western and non-western literature. Seeks, through example and analysis, to understand what prose is, how it has functioned, and what forms it has taken in various cultures, both past and present. Examines forms including myth, folktale, quest narrative, fairy tale, fable, and hero story. (Spring only)
480	Research for Writers (3) Limited to creative writing majors & minors. Prereq: CWR 211, and two 300-level creative writing workshops. Designed for creative writing students who are beginning research for their senior capstone projects. The course will cover various kinds of bibliographical and writing research methods, including the following: library and archival research, online and digital searches, personal interviews and collection of field narratives, observation, travel to particular settings, documentary and film viewing, museum visits, etc. Each student will produce a research portfolio and write academic papers about, and applying, research methodology. (Fall only)
481	Capstone Workshop in Creative Writing (3). Prereq: Senior standing, CWR 211, and two 300-level creative writing workshops. Designed for students interested in completing significant projects for publication. Students declare individual projects in one area of creative writing (e.g. a collection of poems, short stories, or essays; a long prose work or script) at the beginning of the semester, then complete the project under the direction of the instructor. Each student must defend his or her creative work and philosophy of aesthetics paper before a faculty committee. Workshop format. Limited to 6 students. (Spring only)
482	Special Topics Writing Workshop (3). Prereq: CWR 211. Designed for students who want to write in specific genres, including the following: the novel or novella, fantasy fiction, historical fiction, extended works of creative nonfiction, literary journalism, long poems or poem sequences, writing for children and young adults, etc. Each time the workshop is offered, it will focus on a particular genre. At times, the course may be taught by a visiting writer. Requires students to submit essays for publication and to participate in a public reading. Workshop format. Limited to 12 students. (Spring, even years)
494	Teaching Creative Writing (3). Prereq: CWR 211, and two 300-level creative writing workshops. Designed to introduce students to the pedagogy of creative writing instruction. Topics covered will include the design and facilitation of writers- workshops, teaching techniques, formulation of lesson plans, assignment design, feedback and response strategies, and methods for teaching various age groups (children, adults, seniors, etc.). The first half of the semester will focus on lesson design and preparation. During the last half of the semester, each student will complete a supervised internship with a local school, tutoring center, neighborhood center, nursing home, senior citizens- center, home-school association, etc. The Director of the Creative Writing program will assist students in finding a teaching venue.
495	Creative Writing Internship (3). Prereq: Permission of Department Chair. Supervised internship in a field where the student has an opportunity to use his or her writing skills. Internships may be completed in areas such as the following: printing houses, presses and publishers (e.g. University Press of MS), magazines or newspapers, nonprofits and government agencies (e.g. MS Arts Commission, MS Craft Guild and Museum), public relations, and missions organizations. Internships may be completed locally or out of state. All internships require prior approval of the creative writing program director. Students will produce at least 25 pages of writing related to their internship and submit any other work products associated with the experience.