Creative Writing (BA)

This program is offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences/English Department and is only available at the St. Louis main campus.

Program Description

The student with a major in creative writing takes courses in fiction, poetry, drama, creative nonfiction, and translation, as well as selected literature courses. We also offer a minor in creative writing. 

Learning Outcomes

 Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Read as a writer, understanding and analyzing a range of literary strategies, such as language, voice, and form.
• Produce accomplished creative work that demonstrates a command of literary strategies in fiction, poetry, drama, and other literary genres.

Degree Requirements

For information on the general requirements for a degree, see Baccalaureate Degree Requirements under the Academic Policies and Information section of this catalog.

• 36 required credit hours
• 3 international language requirement credit hours
• Applicable University Global Citizenship Program hours
• Electives

English courses completed with a grade lower than C- do not count toward fulfilling the specific course requirements of the major.

At least 21 credit hours within the major must be completed at Webster University.

International Language Requirement

• A minimum of three hours in a non-native language is required in addition to the requirements for the major. Courses used toward the international language requirement may also be used to fulfill general education requirements or a major/minor in a foreign language.
• Transfer students who have completed their 3 credits at an institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled the requirement, as are students who have scored a "3" or higher on an Advanced Placement exam in a non-native language.
• For students whose native language is not English, a passing grade on the TOEFL will count as their foreign language requirement. Students who are from bilingual families but have no evidence of academic study of the second language on a transcript will need to take one course.

Curriculum

The 36 credit hours required for the creative writing major include the following:

Core Courses (12 hours)

• ENGL 1900 Introductory Seminar in Literary Analysis (3 hours)
• ENGL 2020 British Literature I (3 hours)
• ENGL 2030 British Literature II (3 hours)
• ENGL 2050 U.S. Literature (3 hours)
• ENGL 4600 Portfolio Review (0 hours)

12 hours from the following list:

• ENGL 2150 Creative Writing: Poetry (3 hours)
• ENGL 2160 Creative Writing: Fiction (3 hours)
• ENGL 2170 Creative Writing: Playwriting (3 hours)
• ENGL 2180 Creative Writing: Nonfiction (3 hours)
• ENGL 2190 Creative Writing: Translation (3 hours)
• ENGL 4400 Advanced Creative Writing* (1-3 hours)

3 hours from the following list:

• ENGL 3030 Topics in Poetry (3 hours)
• ENGL 3040 Topics in Fiction (3 hours)
• ENGL 3050 Topics in Drama (3 hours)

6 hours from the following list**:

• ENGL 3100 Modern Drama (3 hours)
• ENGL 3130 Contemporary Drama (3 hours)
• ENGL 3140 Women and Literature (3 hours)
• ENGL 3190 Comedy and Satire (3 hours)
• ENGL 3210 Tragic Themes (3 hours)
• ENGL 3300 20th Century American Poetry (3 hours)
• ENGL 3500 Contexts (1-3 hours)
• ENGL 3900 Myth and Classical Literature (3 hours)
• ENGL 4000 Myth and Modern Literature (3 hours)
• ENGL 4030 Literature of Latin America (3 hours)
• ENGL 4130 Seminar in a Single Author (3 hours)
• ENGL 4150 Shakespeare (3 hours)
• ENGL 4500 Literary Criticism (3 hours)

3 hours of ENGL Electives

• Any ENGL course at the 2000 level or above

*ENGL 4400 requires instructor permission, and may be repeated with instructor permission.

**At least 6 hours from this list must be taken at the 3000-4000 level

****With appropriate topic

Students may repeat ENGL 2150, ENGL 2160, ENGL 2170, ENGL 2180, and ENGL 2190 one time for credit with permission of the instructor.

Special Study Opportunities

Internships

Creative writing majors can perform writing internships with businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies for course credit if taken as part of ENGL 4620 Practicum.

Practicum

Creative writing majors are offered experiential learning opportunities under the direction of departmental faculty. Credit hours vary.

Departmental Honors in Creative Writing

With the English Department's approval, a creative writing major may earn recognition as an outstanding student in the department by completing additional requirements, as follows:

• Complete at least 45 hours in residence at Webster University.
• Maintain a GPA of 3.5 in English coursework completed at Webster University.
• Complete at least six credit hours of a foreign language with a grade of B or higher in each semester, or test out of that requirement. 
• Further explore cultures other than British or U.S. in one of four ways: complete at least three additional credit hours of foreign language with a grade of C or higher; complete an approved course in literature in translation; complete an approved course in world literature; or participate in study abroad.
• Complete three hours of the following: an additional Topics course (if content differs); an additional literature course at the 3000-4000 level; three hours of ENGL 4400.
• Complete at least one credit hour of ENGL 4620 Practicum, prior to the student's final semester. 
• Through consultation with an English Department advisor and successful completion of the Petition to Write the Honors Thesis, secure the approval of the department to proceed with the Honors Thesis. This step should be completed by the Monday before the mid-semester break prior to the student's graduation semester. 
• Complete ENGL 4900 Thesis Workshop. Guidelines for writing the thesis can be found on the department's website. Students who successfully complete ENGL 4900 will earn one credit hour, for a total of 41 credit hours. 
• Receive Honors on the thesis by writing a thesis that meets departmental standards for exceptional work. A student who received Honors on the thesis will be enrolled in the 0-credit ENGL 4910 Honors Thesis course before the end of the semester in which the thesis is completed. 

Admission

Students who are interested in applying to this degree program should see the Admission section of this catalog for general requirements. For more information, contact the English Department directly.