Creative Writing, B.A.

 Bison image - General Education Course

 Cap graduation image - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

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

Core Curriculum
Core 1: Critical Thinking
FYS 100First Yr Sem Critical Thinking3
MTH 121 Bison image  Cap graduation image Concepts and Applications (CT)3
Critical Thinking Course3
Core 2
ENG 101 Bison image  Cap graduation image Beginning Composition3
ENG 201 Bison image  Cap graduation image Advanced Composition3
CMM 103 Bison image  Cap graduation image Fund Speech-Communication3
MTH 121 Bison image  Cap graduation image Concepts and Applications (CT)3
Core II Natural/Physical Science4
Core II Humanities3
Texting the World(CT) (recommended)
Core II Social Science (Milestone course)3
Core II Fine Arts3
Additional University Requirements
ENG Writing Intensive
ENG Writing Intensive
Multicultural or International
ENG 499 Bison image Senior Capstone (not offered in summer)3
College-Specific
Foreign Language 1013
Foreign Language 1023
Foreign Language 203 3
Foreign Language 204 3
COLA Humanities 3
COLA Literature3
COLA Literature3
COLA Social Science 3
COLA Social Science 3
COLA Social Science3
COLA Natural/Physical Science 4
COLA International 3
COLA Multicultural3
Major-Specific
ENG 350 Cap graduation image Intro to Textual Analysis (must be taken within the first 9 hours of coursework within the major)3
ENG 355 Cap graduation image Intro to Critical Theory (not offered in summer)3
ENG 360Intro Creative Writing3
ENG 499 Bison image Senior Capstone (not offered in summer)3
Contemporary Literature3
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 469Teaching Creative Writing3
or ENG 470 Form/Theory: Creative Writing
English Electives (choose from any 200-, 300-, or 400-level ENG class)6
Free Elective
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective1

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!

 Bison image - General Education Course

 Cap graduation image - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

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.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First SemesterCredit Hours
ENG 101 Bison image  Cap graduation image Beginning Composition 3
FYS 100 First Yr Sem Critical Thinking 3
Core II Social Science 3
COLA Social Science (Milestone course) 3
CMM 103 Bison image  Cap graduation image Fund Speech-Communication 3
UNI 100 Freshman First Class 1
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
Core II Humanities 3
Texting the World(CT) (recommended)
ENG 201 Bison image  Cap graduation image Advanced Composition 3
Core I Critical Thinking 3
MTH 121 Bison image  Cap graduation image Concepts and Applications (CT) 3
Core II Fine Arts 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Year
First Semester
ENG 350 Cap graduation image Intro to Textual Analysis 3
Core II Physical/Natural Science 4
Foreign Language 101 3
ENG 360 Intro Creative Writing 3
Multicultural or International 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
ENG 355 Cap graduation image Intro to Critical Theory 3
COLA Social Science 3
COLA International 3
Foreign Language 102 3
ENG Creative Writing Sequence 3
 Credit Hours15
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 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
ENG Creative Writing Sequence 3
COLA Physical/Natural Science 4
COLA Social Science 3
Foreign Language 204 3
Select one of the following: 2 3
Free Elective
Form/Theory: Creative Writing
 Credit Hours16
Fourth Year
First Semester
ENG English Elective 3
ENG Contemporary Literature 3
COLA Multicultural 3
COLA Humanities 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
ENG 499 Bison image Senior Capstone (C) 3
ENG English Elective 3
Free Elective 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours120
1

Free Elective if taking ENG 470 Form/Theory: Creative Writing in Spring

2

ENG 470 Form/Theory: Creative Writing if ENG 469 Teaching Creative Writing wasn't taken in Fall