Credits in Residence

Students must complete 21 credits of major-applicable coursework at Utah State University.

Course Requirements

Core/Explore Requirements (9 credits)

Students must complete 9 credits of exploration courses. Students must choose one course from each section: culture, literature, and writing. 

Students should complete the exploratory requirements as early as possible.

Creative Writing Emphasis

Minimum GPA for Admission: 2.5 within all English courses (other than ENGL 1010, ENGL 2010, CLEP, AP, etc.); 2.5 USU cumulative (including courses taken for another USU major); 2.5 career total (including transfer credits) for new transfer students

Minimum GPA for Graduation: 2.5 within major courses; 2.0 USU cumulative; 2.0 career total

Minimum Grade Accepted: C within major courses (no grades of pass/fail). B- or better in ENGL 3420, ENGL 3430 and ENGL 3440.

Number of required credits: 42

Other Requirements: Grammar Challenge Exam (score of at least 80 percent) or ENGL 1410   

This emphasis is devoted to the art of literary writing: fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and drama. Through practice in specific genres and a comprehensive study of literature, students learn the craft of literary writing as discovered and practiced over the last three thousand years of written human culture. The emphasis prepares undergraduates for graduate work in creative writing and develops critical, cognitive, and writing skills applicable in numerous professional fields.

Since creative writers must have a broad knowledge of literature, students first complete two of the 3000-level literature history courses that provide an overview of major periods, authors, and genres in American, British and World literature. They also take ENGL 2600 - Literary Analysis, which introduces methodologies of literary criticism.

Also at the 3000-level, students begin their work as creative writers, taking three introductory writing courses in three genres: fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. 

At the 4000 and 5000-level, students concentrate their training as creative writers, taking three courses in advanced fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction writing, which can be repeated, as well as the Special Topics in Creative Writing course. They also take two courses focused on the study of a single author, a course in the study of one’s chosen genre or a course in Literature and Culture.

Creative Writing Residency Requirements

As part of the 21 credits completed at Utah State University to meet department residency requirements, Creative Writing students must complete two of the three advanced Creative Writing courses at Utah State University.