Room: E-Building, E-103
Phone: (718) 482-5656
About
The Creative Writing Track of the English major is for students who want to write literature, as well as to read and study it. You’ll experiment to see how far you can push language, and to bring new meaning into the world. You’ll write things that have never yet been written, things that you never knew you could write.
In our program, you’ll write to be read. You’ll get an instant audience in our writing workshops as you work on fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, and things less categorizable; and you’ll develop your craft by listening to, reading and talking about the works of your colleagues. You’ll work closely with your professors, all published writers and passionate teachers. In short, you will participate in a community of writers who share your creative spirit.
Our graduates have gone on to publish novels, volumes of poetry, and plays. Because creative writing involves developing the skill of bringing ideas into language; you can also apply these skills, as our graduates have, in many professional settings, such as law, education, and business.
To fulfill your major, along with our writing workshops, you’ll choose from our many English department courses in literary history, criticism and theory. Our program articulates fully with both Queens and York Colleges, so you will be able to transfer as juniors to either school, among the many other options for transfer. We’ll work with you along the way to help you identify the path that works for you.
The Creative Writing program offers you many opportunities to get your work out to a broader public. We publish a literary magazine, The Lit, host a public Creative Writing “Readathon” and provide other venues for sharing your work. The Journalism program, which works closely with Creative Writing, publishes a newspaper, The Bridge. We also hold readings and talks featuring renowned writers, including those from our own faculty.
Are You Interested In...
Skills You Will Learn
What makes this major unique?
The creative writing major allows students to combine the advanced literature courses that English majors take with a rich variety of workshops in which students learn to write, edit and publish their own creative work. Creative Writing majors have the opportunity to work closely with faculty members who have published widely in prestigious venues, and attend events with and meet working writers. They also have the opportunity to submit their work to our award-winning literary magazine, The Lit, and to gain editorial experience by working on its creation.
Career Possibilities
Like other English degrees, students with a BA or higher in Creative Writing are often highly desired job candidates in fields including communications, advertising, publishing, education, law, and the non-profit sector. Students who wish to further develop their craft and pursue a career in higher education may consider pursuing a MFA, offered at many CUNY schools, as well as a PhD in English with a Creative Writing concentration.
Transfer Possibilities
A. REQUIRED CORE: 12 Credits
English: 6 credits
Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning: 3 credits *
Life & Physical Sciences: 3 credits *
B. FLEXIBLE CORE: 18 Credits
Select one course from each of the five flexible core categories AND one additional course from any flexible core category.
Students are required to select one Urban Study course to complete college requirement. To complete the degree requirements from the Flexible Core, students are advised to select courses from the recommended course selections listed on the program website. Note: Students can select only two courses from any one discipline.
* For a list of approved courses, go to: www.laguardia.edu/Pathways/
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| English: 12 Credits | |
| ENF101 First Year Seminar for English | 3 |
| ENN198 Introduction to Creative Writing | 3 |
| ENG289 Introduction to Literary Studies | 3 |
| ENG295 World Literatures in English | 3 |
| Creative Writing: 3 Credits | |
| Select one course from the following: | |
| ENG271 Poetry Workshop | 3 |
| ENG273 Playwriting Workshop | 3 |
| ENG274 Creative Non-Fiction Workshop | 3 |
| ENG276 Fiction Workshop | 3 |
| ENG277 Creative Writing New Media Workshop | 3 |
| Genre: 3 Credits | |
| Select one course from the following: | |
| ENG250 The Short Story | 3 |
| ENG260 The Novel | 3 |
| ENG265 The Drama | 3 |
| ENG270 Introduction to Poetry | 3 |
| Literary Survey: 6 Credits | |
| Select two courses from the following: | |
| ENG290 British Literature I | 3 |
| ENG291 British Literature II | 3 |
| ENG292 American Literature I | 3 |
| ENG293 American Literature II | 3 |
| ENG294 Classical Literature | 3 |
| Electives: 3 Credits | |
| Select one course from the following: | |
| ENG/ELL110 English Grammar and Syntax | 3 |
| ENG204 Asian American Literature | 3 |
| ENG205 The Bible as Literature | 3 |
| ENG220 Seminar in Teaching Writing | 3 |
| ENG225 Afro-American Literature | 3 |
| ENG235 Cultural Identity in American Literature | 3 |
| ENG245 Images of Women in Literature | 3 |
| ENG247 The Woman Writer | 3 |
| ENG248 Latino/Latina Writing in the United States | 3 |
| ENG261 LGBTQ Literature | 3 |
| ENG266 Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENG268 The Immigrant Experience in American Literature | 3 |
| ENG269 Contemporary Black American Fiction | 3 |
| ENG272 Literature and Film | 3 |
| ENG280 Children’s Literature | 3 |
| ENG288 English Major Internship | 3 |
| ENN191 Art, Politics and Protest | 3 |
| ENN195 Violence in American Art and Culture | 3 |
| ENN240 Literature of the City | 3 |
| ENG/HUC238 Screenwriting | 3 |
| Unrestricted electives: 3 Credits | |
| A second Creative Writing or Genre course may be substituted for an elective course in the major. |
Graduate in Two Years!
Review your Degree Map to stay on track.
Contact Us
Quicklinks
Follow Us