Creative Writing, B.A.
The B.A. in Creative Writing can be completed either in-person or online. This program offers a comprehensive learning experience for aspiring writers. Creative Writing majors develop their skills in fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction; they have opportunities to study with talented writers on Marshall’s faculty; and they have the chance to share their own writing in workshops with other writers. Beyond the program’s core genres, students can also pursue electives in screenwriting and a variety of types of literature. This degree helps strengthen skills in communication, analysis and critical thinking. These are skills that are valuable for a career in writing—and important to professional work across a wide range of fields.
The Core Curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking skills and introduce students to basic domains of thinking that transcend disciplines. The Core applies to all majors. Information on specific classes in the Core can be found at https://www.marshall.edu/gened/.
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Core 1: Critical Thinking | ||
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| MTH 121 | Concepts and Applications (CT) | 3 |
| Critical Thinking Course | 3 | |
| Core 2 | ||
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| MTH 121 | Concepts and Applications (CT) | 3 |
| Core II Physical/Natural Science | 4 | |
| Core II Humanities | 3 | |
| Texting the World(CT) (recommended) | ||
| Core II Social Science (Milestone course) | 3 | |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Additional University Requirements | ||
| ENG Writing Intensive | ||
| ENG Writing Intensive | ||
| Multicultural or International | ||
| ENG 499 | Senior Capstone (not offered in summer) | 3 |
| College-Specific | ||
| Foreign Language 101 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 102 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 203 or MC, I, or GLC Course | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 204 or MC, I, or GLC Course | 3 | |
| COLA Humanities | 3 | |
| COLA Humanities | 3 | |
| COLA Humanities | 3 | |
| COLA Social Science | 3 | |
| COLA Social Science | 3 | |
| COLA Social Science | 3 | |
| COLA Physical/Natural Science | 4 | |
| Major-Specific | ||
| ENG 350 | Intro to Textual Analysis (must be taken within the first 9 hours of coursework within the major) | 3 |
| ENG 355 | Intro to Critical Theory (not offered in summer) | 3 |
| ENG 360 | Intro Creative Writing | 3 |
| ENG 499 | Senior Capstone (not offered in summer) | 3 |
| Contemporary Literature | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | ||
| American Literature after 1914 | ||
| Contemporary Literature | ||
| 20th C Brit & Irish Poetry | ||
| 20th C American Poetry | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| ENG Level 400 Literature Elective | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Milton | ||
| Shaks Com, Tragi & Rom | ||
| Chaucer | ||
| Shaks Hist & Tragedies | ||
| 19th C British Novel | ||
| Victorian Poetry | ||
| Victorian Nonfiction | ||
| Addiction Literature | ||
| American Lit to 1830 | ||
| American Lit 1830-1865 | ||
| American Lit 1865-1914 | ||
| American Literature after 1914 | ||
| Studies in Authors or Genre | ||
| International Literature | ||
| Young Adult Literature | ||
| Contemporary Literature | ||
| 20th C Brit & Irish Poetry | ||
| 20th C American Poetry | ||
| Modernism | ||
| Medieval British Lit | ||
| Selected Topics in Film | ||
| Gender and Sexuality in Film | ||
| British Romantic Poets | ||
| World Lit to Renaissance | ||
| World Lit Since Renaissance | ||
| Advanced Critical Theory | ||
| Teaching Creative Writing | ||
| Form/Theory: Creative Writing | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Independent Study (when so designated by Chair) | ||
| Independent Study (when so designated by Chair) | ||
| Independent Study (when so designated by Chair) | ||
| Independent Study (when so designated by Chair) | ||
| Creative Writing Sequence | ||
| Choose 6 hours from the following, and then 3 hours in an additional genre: | 9 | |
| Poetry: | ||
| Creative Writing Poetry | ||
| Poetry Workshop | ||
| Fiction: | ||
| Creative Writing Fiction | ||
| Fiction Workshop | ||
| Creative Nonfiction: | ||
| Creative Writing: Nonfiction | ||
| Creative Nonfiction | ||
| ENG 469 | Teaching Creative Writing | 3 |
| or ENG 470 | Form/Theory: Creative Writing | |
| English Electives (choose from any 200-, 300-, or 400-level ENG class) | 6 | |
| Free Elective | ||
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 1 | |
Major Information
- The total number of free electives will depend on the amount of double and triple counting of requirements. Core II and COLA requirements may not be double counted.
- See course attributes each semester for courses that meet multiple requirements.
- Questions about requirements should be directed to your English Department advisor (304-696-6600) or to the College of Liberal Arts (304-696-2350).
- Students must earn a C or better in ENG 201 Advanced Composition, all ENG courses for the major, and all foreign language courses.
- Forty-eight credit hours (sixteen 3-hour courses) must be at the 300/400 level.
- Minimum of 120 hours to graduate.
- No more than six hours of ENG courses at the 200-level may count toward the BA degree in English. No credit hours in ENG with a grade lower than C may count toward the BA degree in ENG.
- Creative Writing majors who carefully select courses can earn a double major in Literary Studies by taking only 4 additional Literary Studies classes. Meet with your advisor to plan your choices!
Semester Plan
A Creative Writing degree can give you the critical thinking, writing, and presentation skills you’ll need for success in this quick and quickly-changing world. Our program is flexible, so you can pursue a wide range of interests. Our courses give you the ability to think differently, to expand on and augment the ideas and work made in all fields, not just literature. Where you go from here is up to you (though we’ve got some ideas for you). But our courses are designed to hone not just your writing, but your thinking skills, too. Our faculty and staff are dedicated. All this to say, really, we plan on preparing you for a successful professional life as well as an invaluable way of thinking, about everything.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| Core II Social Science | 3 | |
| COLA Social Science | 3 | |
| UNI 100 | Freshman First Class | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Core II Humanities | 3 | |
| Texting the World(CT) (recommended) | ||
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| Core I Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| MTH 121 | Concepts and Applications (CT) | 3 |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ENG 350 | Intro to Textual Analysis | 3 |
| ENG 360 | Intro Creative Writing | 3 |
| Core II Physical/Natural Science | 4 | |
| Foreign Language 101 | 3 | |
| COLA Humanities | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENG 355 | Intro to Critical Theory | 3 |
| ENG Creative Writing Sequence | 3 | |
| COLA Social Science | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 102 | 3 | |
| COLA Humanities | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ENG Level 400 Literature | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Teaching Creative Writing | ||
Free Elective | ||
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| ENG Creative Writing Sequence | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 203 or MC, I, or GLC Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENG Creative Writing Sequence | 3 | |
| COLA Physical/Natural Science | 4 | |
| COLA Social Science | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 204 or MC, I, or GLC Course | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 2 | 3 | |
Free Elective | ||
| Form/Theory: Creative Writing | ||
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ENG English Elective | 3 | |
| ENG Contemporary Literature | 3 | |
| COLA Humanities | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENG 499 | Senior Capstone (C) | 3 |
| ENG English Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |