Creative Writing
English majors concentrating in Creative Writing will complete a 39 credit combination of literature courses and workshops in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. Students are encouraged to explore a variety of styles, genres, literary forms, and methods of written expression. As workshops will vary in style, students are allowed to repeat advanced-level workshops (with different instructors) for credit. Introductory and intermediate workshops provide a foundation for the beginning writer, while advanced workshops allow the more experienced writer to further develop hers or his own style and voice. In addition to coursework, students are encouraged to attend readings and to submit their work to Promethean (the official literary journal of City College), the CCNY Spring Poetry Festival, and to the Annual English Department Awards & Prizes.
Creative Writing Concentration Major Requirements
In addition to satisfying CCNY’s core requirements (checked by the Dean’s Office, NAC 5/225), English majors must complete 3 credits of Gateway (ENGL 25000) and 36 additional credits in Creative Writing concentration as outlined below. 39 credits total are required of English major. No more than 12 transfer credits may be used to fulfill major requirements. Publishing courses do not meet the requirements for either the English major or minor.
1. All majors must take English 25000 which is a pre-requisite to all 300- and 400-level Literature classes and it must be taken at the beginning of your work for the major.
2. All majors must also take one additional 200-level Literature course (a Genre Survey, a Historical Survey, or a Literatures of Diversity course). This class is a pre-requisite to taking 300- and 400-level Literature classes and must be taken at the beginning of your work for the major.
3. All majors must take two 300-level Literature courses. One 300-level Literature class may be taken concurrently with 200- level Literature class, but completing the Gateway class and an additional 200-level Literature course is a pre-requisite for further enrollment in 300- and 400-level Literature classes.
4. All majors must take two 400-level Literature courses. Completing two 300-level Literature classes is a pre-requisite for enrollment in 400-level Literature classes.
Further Requirements for Creative Writing Concentration:
18 credits (six classes) of Creative Writing courses (22000 and above) and 3 credits of Literature courses at any level. Completion of ENGL 22000 and ENGL 22100 are pre-requisites for Advanced Creative Writing workshops. Certain creative writing workshops may be taken repeatedly for credit.
List of Courses
Mandatory Gateway course for all English Majors (3 cr.):
Introduction to Literary Study: ENGL 25000
Additional Courses (36 cr.):
(Please note: ENGL 32100 and ENGL 32200 may be taken twice for credit, and ENGL 32000 may be taken three times for credit)
Introduction to Creative Writing (22000)
Intermediate Creative Writing (22100)
Creative Writing (22000 or above)
Creative Writing (23000 or above)
Creative Writing (32000 or above)
Creative Writing (32000 or above)
Elective Literature (200-level)
Elective Literature (200-level or above)
Elective Literature (300-level)
Elective Literature (300-level)
Elective Literature (400-level)
Elective Literature (400-level)
Additional Information on Courses
Each semester the English Department prepares an undergraduate course description booklet providing detailed information on all 22000-and-higher-level courses to be offered in the following semester. Booklets are available in the main office, NAC 6/219. For more information, advising, registration, or to sign up as a major or minor, please meet with an undergraduate English advisor in NAC 6/219 or call (212) 650-5407.
