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Bachelor of Arts in English, Creative Writing Emphasis

The emphasis in creative writing helps you develop and hone skills in the writing of original poetry, fiction and nonfiction. Beginning, intermediate and advanced workshops provide thoughtful feedback. 

During your time in the creative writing program, you’ll get one-on-one mentorship from our nationally recognized faculty and have tons of opportunities to create and share your work: You can join our literary magazine, Metaphor, learn to edit, perform at on-campus open mic events and rub shoulders with literary legends at the National Undergraduate Literary Conference.

Our recent graduates have gone on to top 25 MFA programs as well as elite low-residency programs, and to publish books or create their own magazines.

Program Details

The emphasis in creative writing requires the completion of 18 units — a total of 6 courses — within the English major. In addition, you will produce a creative writing portfolio of original fiction, nonfiction and poetry written inside and outside creative writing classes during your time at Weber State.
 

Advisement

As an English major, you’re required to meet with a faculty advisor for course and program advisement. A grade of 2.0 (C) or higher in all major courses is required, in addition to an overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or higher. A minimum of 39 credit hours is required in English courses, of which 36 must be upper-division (3000-4000 level) courses.

No later than the beginning of your third year, you should meet with Abraham Smith or Ryan Ridge, co-directors of the creative writing program. They will assign a faculty mentor for you to work with during your time in the program.

Minor

A minor is required. You may minor in linguistics or professional and technical writing, or choose a minor in another academic department.

Language Requirement

You must take either 12 credit hours of a foreign language or 6 hours of a foreign language and 6 hours of language arts. Any 3000 or 4000 level English class may be used as a language arts course, but one course (3 credits) with a primary emphasis on language or writing is strongly recommended. Courses chosen for the BA language requirement cannot also be counted toward the English major.

Degree Completion

You must complete: 

  • WSU general education, diversity, Bachelor of Arts, major and minor requirements
  • A minimum of 120 credit hours
  • A maximum of 30 hours of residency at WSU
  • A minimum of 40 upper-division credit hours
  • Graduation requirements within 6 years for baccalaureate degrees

To fulfill the Breadth Creative Arts (CA) requirement, you must take ENGL 2250 (Intro to Creative Writing). This course is required before taking upper-division creative writing coursework.

To be cleared for graduation with the creative writing emphasis program endorsement, you must also complete all the requirements for the portfolio and submit it to your faculty mentor three weeks prior to graduation.

Weber State Catalog: Course and degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in English, Creative Writing Emphasis