Overview
The Major Concentration in Creative Writing is an 11-course (33-credit) program of study within the English major that combines training in literary-critical analysis with the opportunity to develop one’s own literary pursuits. Guided by discussions of craft and literary conventions and innovations, students will hone their skills in writing stories, essays, poems, plays, screenplays and graphic novels. The emphasis of this concentration is on literature from the inside-out, with the goal of students generating their own imaginative works. Students will have the chance to work closely with faculty in small workshop-style classes to improve their own writing and that of their peers.
Requirements for the Major Concentration in Creative Writing
Students must complete a minimum of 4 courses from departmental (ENGL) course offerings with the creative writing designation below.
Of these 4 courses, students must complete at least 2 courses (6 credit hours) at the 300-level or above, and at least 1 course (3 credit hours) at the 400-level or above.
ENGL 113 - Introduction to Literary Editing & Publishing
ENGL 114 - Literary Editing & Publishing / The Rice Review
ENGL 201 - Introduction to Creative Writing
ENGL 203 - Topics in Creative Writing
ENGL 204 - Forms of Poetry
ENGL 301 - Introduction to Fiction Writing
ENGL 302 - Introduction to Screenwriting
ENGL 303 - Introduction to Playwriting
ENGL 304 - Introduction to Poetry Writing
ENGL 305 - Introduction to Creative Nonfiction Writing
ENGL 306 - Topics in Fiction Writing
ENGL 307 - Topics in Poetry Writing
ENGL 308 - Introduction to Podcasting
ENGL 309 - Topics in Creative Nonfiction Writing
ENGL 310 - Nonfiction Nature Writing
ENGL 315 - Literary Translation
ENGL 318 - Fairytales and Fear Tales
ENGL 319 - Fantasy and Science Fiction
ENGL 327 - Graphic Novel
ENGL 401 - Advanced Fiction Writing
ENGL 402 - Writing Longer Fiction: Narrative Design
ENGL 403 - Craft of the Novella
ENGL 404 - Advanced Poetry Writing
ENGL 405 - Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing
ENGL 410 or 411 - The Senior Seminar & Research Workshop
*Concentrators may count either ENGL 410 or ENGL 411 toward the concentration’s 400-level requirement, but not both.
**Special Topics courses (ENGL 306, ENGL 307, ENGL 309) may be repeated and applied toward the major concentration if completed under a different course title and description.
Outside Coursework
Students may petition for credit to include a creative writing course offered by another department. Potential courses outside of the department include but are not limited to:
AAAS 300 Writing Black Lives
ARTS 230 Comics & Sequential Art
ARTS 444 Handmade Film
ARTS 327 Documentary Production
ARTS 328 Film Making I
EURO 320 Tell-All: Saying “I” in Contemporary Literature
FILM 327 Documentary Production
FREN 302 Writing Workshop
FREN 401 Translation
GERM 402 German Translation
MDHM 260 Creative Writing for Medical Humanities
SPAN 383 Spanish Creative Writing
Examples of Completed Study
Don Quixote will satisfy the major concentration in creative writing by completing the following program:
ENGL 113, ENGL 301, ENGL 306, and ENGL 401
Jane Eyre will also have satisfied the major concentration in creative writing by completing the following:
ENGL 307, ENGL 404, ENGL 405, and ENGL 410
Declaring the Major Concentration in Creative Writing
The concentration can be declared by students who have declared their primary major as English. Declaring the concentration is a three-step process:
1. Meet with the department’s director of undergraduate studies (DUS) and fill out a major declaration form. The DUS’s signature will be required to successfully submit or alter your major declaration form with the Registrar.
2. Submit your form to the Registrar and then log in to Esther and your “Declaration of Major” form to update the following:
Major Concentration (if applicable): Major Concentration in Creative Writing
3. Email the Creative Writing Concentration Advisor (ianschimmel@rice.edu). This is how you will receive announcements about readings and upcoming events for writers, and specialized advising.
Please note: concentrators have until the last day of classes in their penultimate semester to declare the concentration.
Reserved Seating for Concentrators
All declared Creative Writing Concentrators are able to register for specially reserved seats in all creative writing classes. Please look for the even-numbered sections in your course planner. Upon successful declaration, concentrators will be able to access these reserved sections.
Contact
If you have additional questions about the concentration, please email the chair of Creative Writing, ianschimmel@rice.edu.