Creative Writing Minor

Creative Writing

Undergraduate Minor

Program Delivery

On Campus, Online, Hybrid

Total Credits

21 Credits

About the Program

The Creative Writing Minor, offered by the English Department, is an intensive program designed for students who are passionate about writing and wish to pursue careers in writing, editing, and publishing, or those who want to teach creative writing. 

This program is also beneficial for students who want to study literature from the perspective of a writer or who wish to enhance their academic studies with a focus on creative writing.


Focus of Study

The minor provides a comprehensive immersion in the art of literature, offering exposure to different genres and helping students to develop their writing and editing skills. 

Students minoring in Creative Writing will choose one genre of specialization—either poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction—in which to complete a sequence of introductory, intermediate, and advanced writing workshops, but they will also take a small sampling of courses from all three genres.

Overall, the Creative Writing Minor is an excellent opportunity for students to develop their creative and analytical abilities related to reading, writing, and presenting written texts.


Program Requirements

  • A minimum of 21 credit hours of ENGL coursework
    • 9 credit hours must be upper-division (3000+ level)
    • English majors may complete this minor with 18 credits, while non-English majors will need 21 credits.
       
  • All courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better

Program Coursework

Core Courses

Complete all of the following:

  • ENGL 2030 - Introduction to Creative Writing - Poetry
  • ENGL 2040 - Introduction to Creative Nonfiction
  • ENGL 2050 - Introduction to Creative Writing - Fiction

Intermediate Genre Courses

Complete one course from your genre of specialization:

  • ENGL 3030 - Intermediate Creative Writing - Poetry
  • ENGL 3040 - Intermediate Creative Nonfiction
  • ENGL 3050 - Intermediate Creative Writing: Fiction
Advanced Genre Course

Complete one course from your genre of specialization:

  • ENGL 4100 - Advanced Fiction Writing
  • ENGL 4125 - Advanced Poetry Writing
  • ENGL 4150 - Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing
Exploration in Creative Writing Course

Complete one of the following courses:

  • ENGL 3060 - Special Topics in Creative Writing OR
  • ENGL 3170 - Riverrun Literary and Arts Journal
English Elective

It is recommended that this elective be filled with the unused course listed in the Exploration of Creative Writing row above, but this is not required.


Please note:

  • Non-English majors are encouraged to contact the Creative Writing Coordinator for guidance on their choice of elective.
  • English majors do not need to take the elective. English majors may complete the minor with 18 credit hours.

For details on coursework and degree requirements, please visit the Academic Catalog.


Admission Details

To learn more about admission requirements and the application process, please visit the UCCS Admissions page.

Additional resources for Admissions: