Creative Writing and English Studies (Bachelor of Arts Degree)

The fall of 2009 marks the beginning of a new major in the Humanities Division: Creative Writing and English Studies. This Bachelor of Arts degree is an innovative program that allows students to focus on a combination of these two distinctive fields in a way that both prepares them for graduate programs in creative writing and literature and careers in the publishing field, education, professional writing and other related fields.  

This program is set up to first teach the academic skills necessary in a scholarly pursuit of creative writing and literary studies and then move into an advanced program where students are able to focus on both the specific types of literature and genres of writing that are of greatest interest to the student. 

This process is accomplished through a careful balance of writing and English courses beginning at the 100- and 200-levels that introduce students to the various genres and the skills necessary to work within the different writing and literary disciplines. Students then move into a series of 300- and 400-level courses which will focus on their own individual skills as writers and their specific interests in literary studies. Students work extensively in areas of specialty during these final years of undergraduate study and develop the skills necessary to meet their career and educational goals. This process allows students to both be self-directed and stay structured and disciplined through the process. Our goal is to help students find, refine and strengthen their own unique voices while simultaneously strengthening their skills in literary analysis and criticism and expand their knowledge of literary studies. 

Learning takes many forms and is not limited to just classroom experiences. Our philosophy is to assist students in discovering what they feel they are meant to do with their professional lives and to help each student meet his or her individual goals.

Click here to view the online gallery of SVC writing.

CREATIVE WRITING AND ENGLISH STUDIES MAJOR PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENT

All students majoring in Creative Writing and English Studies are required to construct a Major Portfolio. These portfolios will differ according to the individual student’s career and educational goals. The selections of work included will be made by the students and will include both creative work and critical work completed during their college career. The papers, and other work as appropriate, should demonstrate clearly the skills mastered through the student’s academic endeavors at Southern Vermont College. English and Creative Writing faculty will advise and guide students through the process of portfolio construction with an eye on the student’s educational and career goals.

Program of Study Requirements Credits
General Core Requirements 42/45
Major Requirements
  • Cw100 Introduction to Creative Writing
  • Cw200 Introductory Workshop
  • Cw215 A Writer's View

Three of the following:

  • Cw311 Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop I 
  • Cw312 Advanced Nonfiction Writing Workshop I
  • Cw313 Advanced Play Writing Workshop I 
  • Cw314 Advanced Poetry Writing Workshop I
  • Cw321 Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop II
  • Cw322 Advanced Nonfiction Writing Workshop II
  • Cw323 Advanced Play Writing Workshop II
  • Cw324 Advanced Poetry Writing Workshop II
  • Cw335 Topics in Creative Writing
  • Cw480 Senior Creative Writing Workshop 
  • Cw350 Performance and Publication
  • Cw407 Theories of Writing
  • Literature Studies Courses - Genre Surveys  
  • En203 Introduction to Literature 
  • En221 Fiction
  • En222 Drama
  • En223 Poetry

    En304 Shakespeare

    En318 Literary Criticism

    Literature Before 1700

  • En203 British Literature I
  • En205 American Literature I
  • En315 Major Authors: Early Period
  • En330 Topics in Literature: Early Period Literture After 1700
  • En204 British Literature II
  • En206 American Literature II
  • En220 Modern Poets
  • En305 The Novel: An Exploration
  • En316 Major Authors: Later Period
  • En317 Major Authors: Modern Period
  • En331 Topics in Literature; Later Period
  • En332 Topics in Literature; Modern Period Literature of Diverse Cultures and Peoples
  • En311 World Literature
  • En320 Literature and Society
  • En435 Topics in Literature of Diverse Cultures and Peoples
  • Capstone Experience: Cw492 Senior Seminar/Thesis OR En492 Senior Thesis 
 54
General Electives 21/24
Total Credits 120