CREATIVE WRITING
certificate
Certificate information
If you live to write, if writing is your all-consuming passion, the General Writing emphasis may be for you. You’ll take courses in a variety of genres, including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, playwriting and screenwriting.
Or maybe you’re more concerned with making a living as a writer? If so, the Professional Writing emphasis focuses on applied areas of study such as nonfiction/journalism, screenwriting, technical writing, and writing for multimedia.
Either way, you’ll receive top-level instruction and be part of a program that features a visiting writers series, student readings, writing-based internships, and a capstone course.
The Certificate in Creative Writing requires a total of 18 units. Students must take two core courses (6 units), then 4 courses (12 units) from their selected track--the General Emphasis or the Professional Writing Emphasis--with the possibility of substituting one of those courses from a list of recommended electives.
For more information contact:
Program Director, David Starkey
at 805-965-0581 ext. 2345
Click here to download a pdf of the requirements for the Creative Writing Certificate.
The Courses
The Certificate in Creative Writing requires a total of 18 units. Students must currently take both core courses (6 units); then 4 courses from their selected track--Creative Writing Emphasis or Professional Writing Emphasis (12 units), with the possibility of substituting one of those courses from the elective list (3 units). Each emphasis has a list of recommended electives. (A capstone course is currently in development and should be ready for the first cohort of students in Spring 2009.)
Certificate of Completion in Creative Writing (18 units)
Core Courses (6 units)
ENG 110: Composition and Reading, 3 Units OR
ENG 110HR: Composition and Reading, Honors, 3 Units
ENG 270: Introduction to Creative Writing, 3 Units
Plus select one of the following emphases:
I. General Emphasis: Choose 12 units from:
ENG 271P: Topics in Creative Writing: Poetry and Experimental Forms, 3 Units
ENG 271F: Topics in Creative Writing: Fiction, 3 Units
ENG 271NF/JOURN 271: Topics in Creative Writing: Nonfiction, 3 Units
ENG 271D: Topics in Creative Writing: Drama and Screenplays, 3 Units
Note: Students may substitute two of the courses from the list of electives below for two of these four General emphasis courses.
II. Professional Writing Emphasis: Choose 12 units from:
ENG 173/FILMST 173: Introduction to Screenwriting, 3 Units
ENG 271NF/JOURN 271: Topics in Creative Writing: Nonfiction, 3 Units
CIS 181/ENG 181: Technical and Professional Writing, 3 Units
JOURN 101: Reporting/Writing I, 3 Units
Note: Students may substitute two of the courses from the list of electives below for two of these four Professional Writing emphasis courses.
Overall List of Electives
ENG 221: Survey of British Literature, 3 Units
ENG 221GB: Survey of British Literature, 3 Units
ENG 222: Survey of British Literature, 3 Units
ENG 222GB: Survey of British Literature, 3 Units
ENG 225: American Literature, 3 Units
ENG 226: American Literature, 3 Units
ENG 226HR: American Literature, Honors, 3 Units
ENG 231: World Literature, 3 Units
ENG 232: World Literature, 3 Units
ENG 236: Sacred Literature, 3 Units
ENG 237: Sacred Literature, 3 Units
*+ENG 240: Contemporary Fiction, 3 Units
*+ENG 241: Contemporary Women Writers, 3 Units
*+ENG 242: Contemporary Dramatic Literature, 3 Units
*ENG 251: Introduction to Poetry, 3 Units
+ENG 261: Literature and Film, 3 Units
ENG 262: Shakespeare, 3 Units
FILMST 174: Screenwriting II, 3 Units
*Recommended Electives for General Emphasis
+Recommended Electives for Professional Writing Emphasis