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miami university
Department of English
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Contact Us

356 Bachelor Hall
Miami University
Oxford, OH 45056
tel:513.529.5221
fax: 513.529.1392
english@muohio.edu

This page last updated on
January 7, 2008

Undergraduate Program

Majors

Creative Writing

Artist's accordion bookAt the heart of the creative writing major are four writing courses, which progress through the introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels.

The introductory course engages students in the writing of both fiction and poetry; students subsequently choose between intermediate courses and advanced workshops devoted to each genre. A three-course sequence in theory and practice creates opportunities for cohesion and integration, and the capstone examines theoretical issues in the writing of fiction or poetry, grounds the discussion in the reading of work which takes up those issues, and then asks students to respond through their own writing.

The Creative Writing major was revised in 2003. The Pre- and Post-2003 major requirements are listed below.

2003 and beyond: Major Requirements

(36 semester hours)

Prerequisite Literature Courses

Both of these:

Note: These courses must be taken either before or coincident with 300-level writing courses in the same genre.

British Literature Courses

One course from each of the three groups below:

A. Courses before 1700:

B. Courses between 1700 and 1880:

C. Courses after 1880:

Note: Major Writers courses (ENG 440) and Special Topics courses (ENG 490) may be used to fulfill a British literature requirement when the course meets the historical period requirements.

American Literature Courses

One course from each group below:

A. Courses before 1900:

B. Unrestricted Courses

Genre

One of these:

Contemporary Writing

One of these:

Issues in Creative Writing

One of these:

Creative Writing

This one:

Note: ENG 226 is the prerequisite for the 300-level courses.

Nine additional hours of creative writing at 300- and 400-levels, from these courses:

Note: (1) ENG 320 is the prerequisite for ENG 420; ENG 330 is the prerequisite for ENG 430. Students must take an intermediate and advanced course in the same genre, poetry or fiction. (2) Courses may be taken a second time. Repeat credits will not count toward the major requirement of nine (9) hours of creative writing courses, but will count toward the 128 hours required for a degree.

Note: 12/17/07
This information was taken from the Miami Bulletin. Please check the MUB for possible changes in course availabilty.

Pre-2003 Major Requirements

1. ENG 226 Introduction to Creative Writing: Short Fiction and Poetry (3).

226 is the prerequisite for the 300-level courses.

2. Creative Writing Courses.

Choose 9 hours from the following:

ENG 320 is the prerequisite for ENG 420; ENG 330 is the prerequisite for 430. Poetry and fiction courses should be taken in sequence. The 400-level courses may be taken twice, with any instructor.

3. Surveys of British Literature.

Both of these:

4.Upper-level course in British Literature.

Choose 3 hours from the following:

5. American Literature Courses.

Choose 6 hours from the following:

6. Genre Courses.

Choose 3 hours from the following:

6. ENG 310 Contemporary Writing for Creative Writers (3)

7. ENG 460 Capstone in Creative Writing: Issues in Creative Writing (3).

8. Related Courses.

Two courses (6-8 hours) in a foreign language literature (above 202-level), either in the original language or in translation. These courses must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor on a form available in 356 Bachelor Hall.