English, Creative Writing Option BA

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Introduction

Please click here to see English department information.

The course of study offered by the Department of English is designed to develop a student’s ability to read literature responsibly and imaginatively, to foster an understanding and appreciation of our literary inheritance and to provide the historical perspective from which to evaluate contemporary writing and to produce it. Students who complete the program in English are expected to have mastered the ability to express their ideas in creative work.

These degree requirements are subject to periodic revision by the academic department, and the College reserves the right to make exceptions and substitutions as judged necessary in individual cases. Therefore, the College strongly urges students to consult regularly with their major advisor and CLAS advisor to confirm the best plans of study before finalizing them.

Program Delivery

This is an on-campus program.

Declaring This Major

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Students planning to major in English must consult with an advisor as soon as possible.
Students may choose only one of the three options in the English major.

General Requirements

To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.

CU Denver General Graduation Requirements
CU Denver Core Curriculum
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Graduation Requirements
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Program Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 39 ENGL credit hours.
Students must complete a minimum of 27 upper division (3000-level and above) ENGL credit hours.
Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 for all courses applied to major requirements.
Students must complete all major courses, taken at CU Denver and all transfer courses applying to major requirements with a minimum grade of C-(1.7). Students cannot complete major or ancillary course requirements as pass/fail.
Students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours with CU Denver faculty.

Program Restrictions, Allowances and Recommendations

ENGL 1010, 1020 and 2030 do not apply to the major.
Internship/cooperative education courses may be counted toward the major for students who have junior standing or higher.
Students are not to exceed 56 English credit hours (any level).
Double majors in English and English Writing are exempt from the 56-hour rule and must complete 63 hours total for both majors.
The English Department also offers a minor in Literature, Writing, Creative Writing and Film Studies. Courses counted in a minor cannot be counted toward the major.
At least 15 upper division level ENGL credit hours must be taken with CU Denver faculty.
Latin Honors may be earned by participating in the Department’s Honors Program. You are encouraged to begin the program in your junior year. The program requires additional coursework and affords you the opportunity to work individually with the professor of your choice. Handouts are available in the English office.

Take the following required course:
ENGL 2450 - Introduction to Literature
Complete the following poetry or fiction section:

Poetry Track

Take all of the following courses:
ENGL 3020 - Poetry Workshop
ENGL 3050 - Fiction Workshop
ENGL 4025 - Advanced Poetry Workshop
ENGL 4160 - Poetics
ENGL 4820 - Senior Poetry Workshop
Take one of the following courses:
ENGL 4080 - History of English Language
ENGL 4166 - History of American Poetry
ENGL 4320 - History of Poetry in English
ENGL 4800 - Special Topics in Creative Writing (emphasis in poetry)

Fiction Track

Take all of the following courses:
ENGL 3020 - Poetry Workshop
ENGL 3050 - Fiction Workshop
ENGL 4055 - Advanced Fiction Workshop
ENGL 4610 - Narrative: Form and Theory
ENGL 4850 - Senior Fiction Workshop
Take one of the following courses:
ENGL 4200 - Survey of the English Novel to 1900
ENGL 4230 - The American Novel
ENGL 4236 - The American Short Story
ENGL 4800 - Special Topics in Creative Writing (emphasis in fiction)

Electives

Take six upper-division English electives. Any 3000 or 4000 level course will count unless previously taken. These courses must not repeat. The courses below indicate those especially recommended.