Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 Academic Catalog

English, Creative Writing Concentration, BA

The undergraduate concentration in Creative Writing, offered by the Department of English and Comparative Literature , invites students to become involved in the creation of new literary art. Like all English majors, Creative Writing concentrators begin their studies with the three-course Transatlantic survey sequence, giving them a solid grounding in literary history. Later, they take writing workshops in various genres, including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and scriptwriting. They are encouraged to work on the Department’s 150-year-old literary magazine, Reed, and to participate in other literary programming on campus, for example the readings and conversations with visiting authors sponsored by SJSU’s Center for Literary Arts.

Program Learning Outcomes

Summary of Degree Units

University Graduation Requirements	35
Major Preparation	9-19
Major Core Requirements	24-25
Concentration Requirements	16
Major Elective	3-4
University Electives	18-30
Total	120

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

University Requirements

Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment, and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Note Abbreviations ).

Core Lower Division General Education (24 units)

Of the 39 units required by the university, 15 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Courses that meet GE Areas A1, A2, A3, B4, or F must be passed with a “C-” or better to meet the requirement. Consult with a major advisor for details.

Note: Students who have completed the ADT Transfer degree (under SB 1440) for this major will have completed all lower division GE requirements and should follow the 60 unit guarantee roadmap. Meet with an advisor prior to registering for your first semester for the 60 unit roadmap or specific questions.

Upper Division General Education (3 units)

Of the 9 units required by the university, 6 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Consult with major advisor for details.

American Institutions (6 units)

Complete one 6-unit sequence of American Institutions (US123) courses, which also satisfies GE Area D. Students may also satisfy the American Institutions Requirement with other courses, but these may not satisfy other GE areas.

The American Studies sequence (AMS 10 /AMS 11 ; 6 units) satisfies the American Institutions Requirement and additional GE Areas (see course descriptions for details).

Consult with a major advisor to select the appropriate sequence.

U.S. History and Government (6 units)

Complete One US1: US History Course

AMS 10 - Stories that Make America 3 unit(s) (C2+US1)
HIST 15 - Essentials of U.S. History 3 unit(s) (D+US1)
HIST 170S - Topics in American History: American Identities and Institutions 3 unit(s) (S+US1)

Complete One US23: US Constitution and California Government Course

AMS 11 - Visions of Democracy 3 unit(s) (D+US23)
POLS 15 - Essentials of U.S. & California Government 3 unit(s) (D+US23)
POLS 16 - Power and Ideas in American Politics 3 unit(s) (C2+US23)
POLS 170V - American Politics in Global Perspective 3 unit(s) (V+US23)

Physical Education (2 units)

All SJSU undergraduate students, regardless of major, have an opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills in physical activities. To accommodate students’ needs and interests, the university offers a diverse selection of activity courses .

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

At SJSU, students must pass a Writing in the Disciplines (100W) course with a grade of C or better (C- not accepted) to meet graduation requirements. For this major, the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) is satisfied by a course in the major.

Major Preparation (9-19 units)

ENGL 71 - Creative Writing 3 unit(s) (C1)
One year of foreign language study at the college level or equivalency through examination 0-10 unit(s)
ENGL 2 - Critical Thinking and Writing 3 unit(s) (A3)

Complete one course (3 units):

ENGL 1A - First Year Writing 3 unit(s) (A2)
ENGL 1AS - First-Year Writing: Stretch English II 3 unit(s) (A2)

Major Requirements (43-45 units)

Core Courses (24-25 units)

ENGL 50 - Beginnings to the American Experiment 3 unit(s)
ENGL 60 - Literatures of the Atlantic World, 1680‐1860 4 unit(s)
ENGL 70 - Emerging Modernisms and Beyond 3 unit(s)
ENGL 100W - Writing Workshop 4 unit(s) (WID)

Literature for Global Understanding (3 units)

Complete one course:

ENGL 123A - Literatures of the Americas 3 unit(s) (V)
ENGL 123B - Literatures of Africa 3 unit(s) (V)
ENGL 123C - Literatures of the Pacific 3 unit(s) (V)
ENGL 123D - Literatures of Asia 3 unit(s) (V)

Shakespeare (4 units)

Complete one course:

ENGL 144 - Shakespeare I 4 unit(s)
ENGL 145 - Shakespeare and Performance 4 unit(s)

American Literature & Ethnicity (3-4 units)

Complete one course:

ENGL 165 - Black American Literatures 4 unit(s)
ENGL 169 - Ethnicity in American Literature 3 unit(s) (S)

Creative Writing Concentration (16 units)

Courses may be repeated a maximum of 2 times. Complete four courses from:

ENGL 130 - Writing Fiction 4 unit(s)
ENGL 131 - Writing Poetry 4 unit(s)
ENGL 133 - Reed Magazine 4 unit(s)
ENGL 135 - Writing Nonfiction 4 unit(s)
ENGL 178 - Creative Nonfiction 4 unit(s)

Major Elective (3-4 units)

Any one upper division English Course 3-4 unit(s)

About

English, Creative Writing Concentration, BA

University Requirements

Core Lower Division General Education (24 units)

Upper Division General Education (3 units)

American Institutions (6 units)

African American Studies (6 units)

Asian American Studies (6 units)

Chicana and Chicano Studies (6 units)

U.S. History and Government (6 units)

Complete One US1: US History Course

Complete One US23: US Constitution and California Government Course

Physical Education (2 units)

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

Major Preparation (9-19 units)

Complete one course (3 units):

Major Requirements (43-45 units)

Core Courses (24-25 units)

Literature for Global Understanding (3 units)

Shakespeare (4 units)

American Literature & Ethnicity (3-4 units)

Creative Writing Concentration (16 units)

Major Elective (3-4 units)

University Electives or Minor (18-30 units)

Total Units Required (120 units)