Creative Writing

Welcome to the Creative Writing Major at WSU. Below, please find the curricular requirements for the major. In addition, there are ample ways to engage with students and faculty; see this overview of the creative writing community at WSU.

Courses

Core (2 courses, 6 credit hours):

  • Engl 251: Introduction to Creative Writing: Exploring the Genres
  • Engl 302: Introduction to English Studies

UPPER-DIVISION REQUIREMENTS (11 courses, 33 credit hours; Prerequisite of Engl 251 for any upper-division creative writing course):

  • Engl 352: Creative Writing: Poetry
  • One 300-level prose course from the following:
    • Engl 351: Creative Writing: Fiction
    • Engl 353: Creative Writing: Nonfiction
  • Engl 446: Form and Theory in Creative Writing (Note: Prerequisite of two college-level creative writing courses for 446)
  • Two advanced creative writing workshops from the following (courses repeatable for credit):
    • Engl 451: Advanced Creative Writing: Prose
    • Engl 452: Advanced Creative Writing: Poetry
  • One course from the following:
    • Engl 357: Editing and Publishing
    • Engl 402: Technical and Professional Writing
    • Engl 498: Internship in publishing or editing internship (3 credits)
    • Engl 499: Independent Study in Creative Writing (3 credits)
  • Three upper-division literature courses, including at least one at 400-level course. At least one course must be a writers-of-color class so designated by the Undergraduate Studies Committee. Advisor must approve all courses.
  • One literature or creative writing elective.

Note: Majors in all options must have two [M] (writing intensive) courses in English. Of the 120 total credit hours required for the bachelor’s degree at WSU, forty credit hours must be in upper-division courses. For course descriptions and suggested four-year degree sequences, see the current WSU catalog.

Exit Questionnaire

In all options, students are required to complete an exit questionnaire before graduation.

Potential Careers

  • Biographer
  • Blogger/Vlogger/Influencer
  • Columnist
  • Comics Script/Graphic Book Writer
  • Content Creator/Copywriter
  • Creative Advertising Writer
  • Creative Writing Instructor
  • Essayist/Memoirist
  • Freelance Writer
  • Ghostwriter
  • Greeting Card Author
  • Journalist
  • Librarian
  • Linguist
  • Literary Agent
  • Literary Editor
  • Lyricist/Songwriter
  • Novelist
  • Playwright
  • Poet
  • Professor
  • Screenwriter/TV Script Writer
  • Travel Writer
  • Video Game Storyteller
  • Writing Coach/Consultant