English, Creative Writing and Literature Concentration, BA

Department: English

The Creative Writing concentration in English introduces students to the craft and practice of writing creative nonfiction, fiction and poetry while immersing them in the study of literature. Emphasis in creative writing courses is placed on the fine arts “workshop” and on the process of manuscript development from the drafting stage to submission for publication. Students in the concentration gain hands-on experience in writing, revising, editing, reading and publishing that fosters and develops their critical thinking skills. The concentration also exposes students to a rich variety of contemporary literatures in English while grounding them in the literature of different historical periods, nations, genres and traditions.

Learning Outcomes

Grade Requirement

Majors must achieve a minimum grade of “C” in ENGL 101/101E - Writing Rhetorically and ENGL 102 - Writing Rhetorically with Sources . Credit earned in ENGL 101/101E and ENGL 102 may not be applied to the major.

The Department of English will permit a major to use only one passing grade below “C-” to satisfy requirements in the English major. An additional grade below “C-” will require the major to take another English course.

Course Requirements

Foundations in Literary Study (6 credits)

ENGL 203 - Writing about Literature
Complete one course, selected from the following
ENGL 223 - Survey of British Literature to 1800
ENGL 234 - Survey of American Literature

200-Level Electives (6 credits)

Research Methods (3 credits)

Additional Research Methods courses may count as elective credit after the requirement has been satisfied, with department approval via the “Substitue or Waive a Requirement in my Major” form.

Literature Before 1900 (6 credits)

Choose any 2 courses

300 and 400 Level Electives (12 credits)

Research Methods and Capstone Seminar courses may count as elective credit, after the requirement has been satisfied with department approval via the “Substitue or Waive a Requirement in my Major” form. Students may choose from the Pre-1900 Literature courses listed above as well.

Students double-majoring in English and Elementary Education may count ELED 314 - Literacy and Language for Emergent Readers and Writers toward the elective requirement with approval via the “Substitue or Waive a Requirement in my Major” form.

Complete two courses, selected from the following:
ENGL 371 - Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop
ENGL 372 - Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop
ENGL 392 - Advanced Poetry Writing Workshop
Complete 6 additional credits, students may choose any of the following, a third course from ENGL 371 ENGL 372 ENGL 392 or additional credits from the Pre-1900 Literature courses listed above.
ENGL 303 - Writing Our Heritages
ENGL 305 - History of the English Language
ENGL 312 - Modern British Fiction
ENGL 315 - Ethnic American Literature
ENGL 318 - African American Literature II
ENGL 323 - Introduction to Linguistics
ENGL 324 - Language and Society
ENGL 325 - Cultural Rhetorics
ENGL 326 - Native American Writing and Rhetoric
ENGL 328 - Women Writers: The Female Tradition since 1900
ENGL 329 - Modern American Fiction
ENGL 330 - Recent American Fiction
ENGL 336 - American Modernism
ENGL 346 - Southern Literature
ENGL 350 - Recent British Fiction
ENGL 356 - Modern American Drama
ENGL 354 - 20th-Century British Drama
ENGL 357 - Recent American Drama
ENGL 373 - The Bridge Journal
ENGL 374 - Grant Writing
ENGL 377 - Postcolonial Literature and Theory
ENGL 382 - Modern and Contemporary Irish Literature
ENGL 388 - Topics in Film
ENGL 389 - Topics in Writing
ENGL 390 - Theories of Writing
ENGL 391 - Modern Literary Criticism
ENGL 393 - Modern British Poetry
ENGL 395 - Studies in Recent American Poetry
ENGL 399 - Topics in Literature
ENGL 490 - Literary Studies in Oxford
ENGL 498 - Internship in English

Senior Seminar (3 credits)

Complete one course. Additional seminars may also be taken for elective credit after requirement has been satisfied with department approval via the “Substitute or Waive a Requirement in my Major form. The seminar requirement satisfies the CWRM requirement.

ENGL 494 - Seminar: Special Topics (with a creative writing or literature topic, and permission of the department chairperson)
ENGL 495 - Seminar: British Literature and Culture
ENGL 496 - Seminar: American Literature and Culture
ENGL 497 - Seminar: World Literatures and Cultures

Culturally Diverse Literature

Satisfy the Culturally Diverse Literature requirement by completing at least one approved culturally diverse course at the 200, 300 or 400 level. This requirement may be met by selecting a course from the list below that also fulfills another program requirement.

Total minimum credits: 36

Core Curriculum Requirements

A minimum of 120 earned credit hours is required for graduation. These earned hours include the Core Curriculum Requirements as specified in the Core Curriculum section of this catalog and at the Core Curriculum website, www.bridgew.edu/corecurriculum. For additional graduation requirements, see the Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog.