Minor in English & Creative Writing

The minor in English and Creative Writing is a program that incorporates both creative and critical elements of writing and reading. Students pursuing the minor not only participate in workshop courses through the Creative Writing Department, but also take literature courses from the English Department. 

In their fourth year, students will compile a writing portfolio in their chosen genre—poetry, fiction, or nonfiction—and participate in a thesis workshop alongside majors and MAPH students. The portfolio is not a BA thesis, but represents a body of work that students have either worked on in one of their workshops, or developed in their graduating year. Declared minors get some priority in application-based Creative Writing workshops.

• 2 Workshop courses 
  • At least one workshop must be at the advanced level
• 3 CRWR or ENGL electives 
  • In some cases, we accept literature electives taken through other departments.
• 1 Thesis/Major Projects Workshop to be taken during Winter Quarter of the student's 4th year. 
• 1 portfolio of the student's work (due in spring quarter; requires work with preceptor over 4th year)
   

Notes:

• Courses may not be double counted with the student's major(s) or other minors.
• Courses may not be counted toward general education requirements.
• In some cases, other literature courses can count towards English Literature electives.

Students in the major receive priority in advanced workshops.

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

1. Meet with the Student Affairs Administrator, May Huang, to start a minor worksheet.
2. Log on to my.uchicago.edu to select the minor.

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