Major in Creative Writing

Students who graduate with the Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing will be skilled writers in a major literary genre and have a theoretically informed understanding of the aesthetic, historical, social, and political context of a range of contemporary writing. Students in the major will focus their studies on a primary genre: fiction, poetry, or nonfiction.

The organization of the major incorporates the writing workshop model into a broader education that furthers students’ knowledge of historical and contemporary literary practice, sharpens their critical attention, and fosters their creative enthusiasm.

• 1 Fundamentals in Creative Writing Seminar
• 2 Technical Seminars (in a primary genre)
• 3 Advanced Workshops (at least 2 in primary genre)
• 4 literature courses
  • 1 literary genre course (in a primary genre)
  • 1 literary theory course
  • 1 pre-20th-century literature course
  • 1 general literature course
• 2 Research Background Electives
• 1 Thesis/Major Projects Workshop (winter quarter of 4th year)
• BA Thesis (due in spring quarter; requires work with preceptor over 4th year)

= 13 Courses and a Thesis

Creative Writing courses give priority to students who have declared the major with Vu Tran, the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS). In instances where a class has many more applications than it has spots, priority is determined first by degree program and then by class year.

Fundamentals In Creative Writing Seminar

The Fundamentals in Creative Writing course is an introductory cross-genre seminar to be taken by all students in the major. Every section of the course focuses on a current debate relevant to all forms of literary practice and will introduce students to core texts from each major literary genre.

Technical Seminars (in Poetry, Fiction, or Nonfiction)

These courses are designed to give students a deep grounding in core technical elements of their primary genre. Coursework may involve creative exercises, but papers will focus on analysis of assigned readings.

Advanced Workshops

Critique is the core value and activity of the workshop, and students will practice it under the guidance of the workshop instructor. Advanced Workshops typically focus on original student work.

Literary Genre Courses

This requirement can be met by a cross-listed English course or a course in another literature. For a list of eligible courses, please visit this page.

Literature Courses

A substantial proportion of one of these courses must involve the study of literature written before the twentieth century, and one must fulfill a theory requirement. For a list of eligible courses, please visit this page.

Research Background Electives

Students take two courses outside the Creative Writing program, selected in consultation with the DUS, to support the student’s individual interests and thesis project.

BA Thesis & Workshop

Students work on their BA project over three quarters. Early in Autumn Quarter of their fourth year, students will be assigned a graduate student preceptor, who will lead a series of mandatory colloquia over the course of the year. In Winter Quarter of their fourth year, students will enroll in one of the Thesis/Major Projects Workshops in their genre.
 

Students in the major receive priority in advanced workshops, technical seminars, and fundamentals seminars.

There are two steps to declaring a major in Creative Writing:

1. Meet with the DUS, Professor Vu Tran, to start a major worksheet.
2. Log on to my.uchicago.edu to select the major.

Students who have completed both steps are considered officially declared at the department level and therefore eligible for priority in major courses.