The creative writing minor offers students the option to focus on their own creative process and development towards life-long artistic involvement while sharpening their overall writing skills for all walks of life. Up to two courses may count simultaneously toward the English major and the creative writing minor. Ursinus College strongly believes that a rigorous content-based major is the best preparation for a creative life. The creative writing minor is designed to work in harmony with any Ursinus major. This interdisciplinarity fosters a richness of diversity, focus and collaboration that benefits the entire creative writing program.

Requirements for Minor in Creative Writing

A minor concentration in Creative Writing consists of at least five Creative Writing courses, completed by a capstone experience of ENCW-420 or ENCW- 494W.

One of the CW courses below the 400-level may be replaced by the following: Any ENGL course; MCS-207, 208; or IDS-290. Up to two ENCW courses may count toward both the Creative Writing Minor and the English major. Participation required at staff level on The Grizzly (demonstrated by receiving one or more credits in MCS-009 –016) or The Lantern (demonstrated by a listing as editor or reader in one or more issues).

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ENCW-106 Introduction to Creative Writing

A mixed-genre introduction to writing fiction, poetry, and one other genre (such as memoir or playwriting), in a workshop environment. Students will closely engage with a variety of texts in each genre, learn genre conventions and craft techniques, and write and revise original work. Three hours per week.  Four semester hours. (A.)

ENCW-205. Fiction Writing

A beginning course in the writing of fiction, with special attention to the short story. Students will study technical aspects of the craft and a variety of examples of the genre. Students will write short stories, receive critical responses, and make extensive revisions. Three hours per week.  Four semester hours. (A.)

ENCW-206. Poetry Writing

A beginning course in the writing of poetry. Students will study selected works, learn traditional forms of the lyric, and write original verse in those forms. Students will make extensive revisions, based on responses from peers and the professor. Three hours per week.  Four semester hours. (A.)

ENCW/MCS-207. Introduction to Journalism

This course introduces students to the principles of journalism, including: information gathering, writing, editing and presentation of news under deadline. Students also explore issues related to libel, visual literacy, and changing audience demographics through the critical analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of various media outlets. Three hours per week.  Four semester hours.

ENCW/MCS-208. Journalistic Storytelling in the 21st Century

In this course, students will consider how the digital era has brought upheaval to the world of journalism, including changes to the ways journalists report, tell stories, and relate to audiences. In the second half of the semester, students will create multimedia content that meets the challenges and takes advantage of the opportunities of digital media. Prerequisite: ENCW/MCS-207 or permission of instructor. Three hours per week.  Four semester hours.

ENCW-209. Memoir Writing

A beginning course in the writing of memoir, with attention to the personal essay. Students will study selected examples of the genre and write original work rooted in personal experience that incorporates a connection to the larger world. Students will make extensive revisions based on responses from peers and the professor. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (A.)

ENCW-215. Topics in Poetry (sample titles: Spoken Word, Persona, Prose Poems)

Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (A.)

ENCW-216. Topics in Fiction (sample titles: Myth & Fairytale, Flash fiction, Science Fiction)

Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (A.)

ENCW-217. Topics in Creative Nonfiction  (sample titles: Travel Writing, Philly Word / Literary Culture)

Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (A.)

ENCW-218. Topics in Hybrid & Digital forms (sample titles: Hybrid Texts, DIY Publishing, Word & Image)

Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (A.)

ENCW-305. Advanced Fiction Writing

A workshop course in fiction writing Students will have the opportunity to develop skills first established at the 200-level. Prerequisite: ENCW-205, or permission of instructor. Three hours per week.  Four semester hours. (A.)

ENCW-306. Advanced Poetry Writing

A workshop course in poetry writing Students will have the opportunity to develop skills first established at the 200- level. Prerequisite ENCW-206, or permission of instructor. Three hours per week.  Four semester hours. (A.)

ENCW-309. Advanced Creative Nonfiction

A workshop course in creative nonfiction. Students will have the opportunity to develop skills first established at the 200- level. Prerequisite: ENCW-209, or permission of instructor.  Three hours per week.  Four semester hours. (A.)

ENCW-319. Special Topics in Advanced Creative Writing

A workshop course in an area of advanced creative wring not covered by other courses. Students will have the opportunity to develop skills first established at the 200 level. Prerequisites will vary. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (A.)

ENCW-420. Senior Portfolio in Creative Writing

A workshop course in creative writing offering students the opportunity to receive significant critical responses on a portfolio of works of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or hybrid forms. Prerequisites: senior standing or permission of instructor, plus at least three ENCW courses. Three hours per week.  Four semester hours. (A.)

ENCW-493. Independent Study in Creative Writing

This course is open to candidates for honors in Creative Writing and to other students with the permission of the department chair.  Four semester hours. (XLP.)

ENCW-494W. Honors in Creative Writing

A continuation of course ENCW493 for students approved for honors in Creative Writing. Prerequisite: ENCW-493. When this course is used to fulfill the capstone experience in the major, the student will be required to give a substantial oral presentation of the research project, either to the departmental honor society or to another group approved by the project adviser.  Four semester hours. (XLP.)