Undergraduate English Major in Writing
The undergraduate writing major offers students disciplined training in creative writing. Writing courses are conducted as workshops to provide feedback, foster peer review skills, and nurture talent. Writing majors examine poetry, fiction and nonfiction with a writer's eye while developing their own work. Students' creative development is guided by instructors who are respected writers themselves. The specific course of study in the writing major is based on genre — fiction, creative nonfiction or poetry – while literature courses provide a substantial grounding in analyzing literary texts and using literary theory. In introductory and advanced writing workshops, writing students develop their craft and technique and gain facility in giving and receiving constructive feedback through peer critique and the workshopping process.
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About English Major in Writing
English Major in Writing Goals & Curriculum
Program Goals
Graduates will be prepared to:
- Write effectively, with a distinct voice or style, and a grasp of compositional elements in poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction
- Analyze literary works from a craft perspective, focusing on technique and composition
- Offer informed, constructive critiques of other students’ creative work
- Demonstrate skill in composing in more than one genre, as well as drafting and revising
- Recognize, analyze and interpret closely and critically the use of language across a range of literary texts
- Demonstrate knowledge of major works, movements and genres of English and American literature in their cultural, historical and intellectual contexts
- Write clear and compelling literary analysis with textual substantiation and intellectual integrity
Curriculum
Choose from two degree programs for the English writing major. The bachelor's degree requirements are 45 units total and include distribution, writing, and elective courses, and the major requirements.
English Writing major requirements
- ENGLISH 206 Reading and Writing Poetry*
- ENGLISH 207 Reading and Writing Fiction or ENGLISH 208 Reading and Writing Creative Nonfiction
- ENGLISH 300 Seminar in Reading and Interpretation
- ENGLISH 392 The Situation of Writing*
- 2 300-level advanced writing workshops
- 1 300-level writing elective
- 6 literature courses including: 2 in English literature before 1830; 2 in English, American or postcolonial literature after 1830
*course availability varies year to year
Undergraduate English Major in Writing Courses
Explore Undergraduate English Writing Courses for descriptions, locations, and schedules. Classes are held on Northwestern's Evanston or downtown Chicago campuses, and meet once weekly in the evening or on Saturdays.English Writing Major Admission & Transfer Policy
Application to Northwestern University School of Professional Studies bachelor's degree programs is completed online. Once admitted, many students create a shorter path to degree completion by applying transfer credit. View detailed application instructions and transfer credit policies on the Admission & Transfer Policy page.
English Writing Major Tuition & Financial Aid
The School of Professional Studies offers competitive tuition rates for undergraduate courses. The Tuition & Financial Aid page lists current per-course tuition rates in addition to financial aid and scholarship opportunities.
Registration for English Writing Majors
Registration for courses opens 8 to 10 weeks before each quarter and is accessed CAESAR, Northwestern's online student records system. View course registration timelines and instructions on the Registration Information page.
Career Options for English Writing Majors
The English Major in Writing develops versatile writers who use their advanced skills in an array of fields. For details, see the Career Options page.
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