BACK Department of English · University of Wisconsin

English Major: Creative Writing Requirements - Fall 2005 and later


All students are required to take English 215, 216, and 217 and also must complete one of these courses in the 4-credit format. The fourth credit is a writing-intensive workshop focusing on drafts and revision of papers required by the course. Note that only intermediate/advanced courses count in the major.

 

215: British Literature before 1750

   

216: British and Anglophone Literature from 1750 to the Present

   

217: American Literature

   

A course in Shakespeare (219, 220, 226, 417, 418)

   

A Course in Modern or Contemporary Literature 1900 - Present
(223, 477, 478, 500, 501, 503, 504, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 516, 517, 518, 519, 610, 611, 612, 630, 631, 633, 635, 649, 650, 662, 672)

   

Any English elective numbered 215 and above (intermediate/advanced)

   

A 300 Level Creative Writing Workshop

   

A 300 Level Creative Writing Workshop

   

A 300 Level Creative Writing Workshop

   

695: Directed Creative Writing Course (Generally Spring Semester)

 

TOP BACK Major Requirements: Creative Writing Emphasis for Fall 2005 and later

At least 10 intermediate or advanced courses for a minimum of 31 credits. This includes the requirement that one course, selected from English 215, 216, or 217 must be taken in the 4 credit format. The classes are distributed as follows:

  • At least one course taken in the 4 credit format (selected from 215, 216, 217)
  • English 215: British Literature Before 1750 (3-4 cr)
  • English 216: British and Anglophone Literature from 1750 to the present (3-4 cr)
  • English 217: American Literature (3-4 cr)
  • One course in Shakespeare (3 cr):
    • 219 Shakespearean Drama (pre-1600)
    • 220 Shakespearean Drama (post-1600)
    • 226 Introduction to Shakespeare
    • 417 Shakespeare (pre-1600)
    • 418 Shakespeare (post-1600)
  • A Course in Modern or Contemp. Lit. 1900-Present (3 cr)
  • Any Elective numbered 215 and above (I/A level) (3 cr)
  • Three workshops chosen from Eng. 300-307 (9 cr)
    • 300 Creative Writing: Introductory Fiction & Poetry
    • 301 Creative Writing: Intermediate Fiction Workshop
    • 302 Creative Writing: Intermediate Poetry Workshop
    • 303 Creative Writing: Advanced Fiction Workshop
    • 305 Creative Writing: Advanced Poetry Workshop
    • 307 Creative Writing: Special Topics Workshop
  • English 695: Directed Creative Writing Course (3 cr)
    (Generally offered in Spring Semester Only)

* * * * * *

  • American Electives:
    • 223 V. Nabokov: Russian & American Writing
    • 509 Selected Major Modern American Poets
    • 605 Outstanding Figure(s) in Early Am. Lit.
    • 606 Theme in Early American Literature
    • 608 Colonial and Early Romantic American Literature
    • 609 Major American Novelists
    • 610 The American Short Story
    • 611 Major American Prose Writers
    • 612 Voices of American Humor
    • 613 Major American Poets
    • 618 Literature of the American Renaissance
    • 619 Three American Novelists
    • 621 Three American Authors Before 1865
    • 625 Outstanding Figure(s) of 19th C. Am. Lit.
    • 626 A Study of a Theme in 19th C. Am. Lit.
    • 629 American Literary Realism
    • 630 Study of a Theme in 20th C. American Lit.
    • 631 Outstanding Figure(s) of Cont. Am. Lit.
    • 633 Modern American Literature Since 1914
    • 635 Selected Minor American Novelists, 1914-1945
    • 649 Modernity in Native American Literature
    • 650 Contemp. Amer. Indian Lit. Since 1953
    • 662 Selected Topics in Multicultural American Lit.
    • 672 Selected Topics in Afro-American Literature
  • British Electives:
    • 438 British Drama 1750-1900
    • 460 The English Novel: 19th Century
    • 461 Intellectual Opinion 19th C. Eng. Lit.
    • 463 Romantic Poetry
    • 464 The Romantic Age
    • 465 Studies in Romantic Literature
    • 466 Studies in Victorian Literature
    • 467 Outstanding Figure(s) 19th C. English Lit.
    • 468 A Study of a Theme in 19th C. English Lit.
    • 471 Victorian Prose
    • 473 Victorian Poetry
    • 477 The Irish Literary Revival
    • 478 Modern Irish Drama
    • 479 Late Victorian and Edwardian Literature
    • 500 Outstanding Figure(s) of Contemp. Eng. Lit.
    • 501 Selected Major British Novelists
    • 503 James Joyce
    • 504 A Study of a Theme in 20th C. English Literature
    • 507 Modern British Literature Since 1914
    • 510 Selected Major Modern British/Irish Poets
    • 517 The Irish tradition
    • 518 The Scottish Tradition
    • 519 Englishness and Jewishness
  • NOTE: These classes are British electives when designated as Lecture 8; American electives when designated as Lecture 9:
    • 506 Modern Drama written in English
    • 508 Recent Drama in English
    • 511 Recent Fiction in English
    • 512 Recent Poetry in English
    • 513 Mod. British or Amer. Lit. and Its Backgrounds
    • 516 Topics in 20th C. Literature in English
  • Electives in Criticism:
    • 551 Studies in Criticism
    • 551 English Literary Criticism
    • 552 American Literary Criticism
    • 553 Modern Critical Theories
  • Electives in Genre:
    • 354 Introduction to Children's Literature
    • 523 Postcolonial Theatre
    • 524 Indian Writers Abroad
    • 561 Studies in Dramatic Literature
    • 563 Studies in Narrative Literature
    • 565 Studies in Poetry
  • Electives in Gender:
    • 248 Women in Ethnic Am. Literature (e)
    • 249 Women in Literature 1200-1900
    • 250 Women in Literature
    • 570 Women's Tradition in the Novel
    • 571 Women in Modern Literature in English
    • 574 Special Topics in Women's Writing and Feminist Theory
  • Electives in Multicultural Literature:
    • 270 Survay of Asian American Lit. (e)
    • 275 American Indian Oral Literatures (e)
    • 591 Topics in Ethnic and Minority Lit. (e)
    • 593 Lit. of Jewish Identity in America (e)
    • 595 Asian American Women Writers (e)
    • 649 Modernity in Native American Literature
    • 650 Contemp. Amer. Indian Lit. Since 1953
    • 662 Select Topics: Multi-cultural Am. Lit. (e)
    • 672 Selected Topics in Afro-Am. Lit. (e)
  • Pre-1800 Electives:
    • 359 Beowulf (prereq: English 320)
    • 360 The Anglo Saxons
    • 361 Study of Outstanding Figure(s) of Medieval Eng. Lit.
    • 362 Study of a Theme in Medieval English Literature
    • 365 Early Medieval Lit. (1066-1350)
    • 367 Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
    • 368 Chaucer's Courtly Poetry
    • 369 Contemp. and Immediate Successors of Chaucer
    • 400 The Sixteenth Century (exclusive of Spenser)
    • 401 Study of Outstanding Figure(s) of 16th C. Lit.
    • 402 A Study of a Theme in 16th C. English Literature
    • 405 Spenser
    • 411 English Drama before Shakespeare
    • 415 Elizabethan Drama Including Shakespeare
    • 419 English Drama in the Time of Shakespeare
    • 420 Seventeenth-Century Literature, 1600-1660
    • 425 Study of Outstanding Figure(s) in 17th C. Eng. Lit.
    • 426 A Study of a Theme in 17th C. English Literature
    • 434 Milton
    • 437 British Drama 1660-1750
    • 438 British Drama 1750-1900
    • 440 Anglo-French Literary Relations, 1660-1800
    • 441 Study of Outstanding Figure(s) in 18th C. Eng. Lit.
    • 442 A Study of a Theme in 18th C. English Literature
    • 444 English Literature 1660-1745
    • 445 English Literature 1745-1798
    • 459 The English Novel: 18th Century
  • Students should be aware that the English Dept. does not offer the entire major curriculum during Summer Sessions. Unless students need only electives to complete the major, they cannot do so in the summer session.

TOPBACKAdditional Creative Writing Course Information

Students who are unable to register for courses by touch-tone phone (i.e. who lack necessary prerequisites, or find the courses to be closed) may apply with a writing sample on Monday of the last week of classes. Samples should typically consist of 3 poems or 1 short story, and should be submitted to Ron Kuka, 6195B Helen C. White Hall. Please include an application form (available in 6195 or 7195 Helen C. White Hall) specifying a ranked list of courses preferences, your year in school, your student number, and your phone number.

English 301-307 may be repeated for credit toward the Creative Writing Emphasis. English 300 may not be repeated for credit toward the Creative Writing Emphasis. In general, we recommend that students try not to repeat the same course from the same instructor.

Although we encourage creative writing majors to take both fiction and poetry workshops, students may take any 300-level creative writing workshops (note: English 300 is the only workshop course that cannot be repeated for credit toward the emphasis) to fulfill the requirement for an English Major with a Creative Writing Emphasis. It is not necessary to take an advanced level workshop. English 203 does not count toward credit in the major.

Students should not register for more than one creative writing class in any given semester without prior approval of the Program Director. English 695 cannot be taken concurrently with another creative writing class.

Students who wish to concentrate in creative writing must declare an English major and take all of the required courses (except for one pre-1800 course) plus three 300-level workshops and one Directed Study (English 695). After completing the three 300-level workshops (or while taking the third workshop) a student may register register for English 695 (offered only in the spring semester). Admission to English 695 constitutes admission into the creative writing program. The designation "Emphasis in Creative Writing" will then be added to the student's official transcript. A graduating Senior who has not completed three workshops, and is therefore ineligible to take English 695, should complete the standard English Major by taking pre-1800 literature course. 300-level workshops count as electives under the standard English major.

Note to Graduate students, Special Students, and Transfer students: You are encouraged to apply for 300-level workshops by submitting a writing sample to the Program Director on Monday of the last week of classes in the semester prior to that in which the desired course is offered. Spaces will be reserved for successful applicants who cannot officially register until a later date.

A writing assignment is sometimes required for the first day of class. Check with your instructor after enrolling.

Please direct questions to Ron Kuka, 6195B Helen C. White Hall (263-3374) or Rom Wallace, 6195H Helen C. White Hall (263-3705).

TOP BACK