Overview
The Creative Writing (CREW) Minor is a 6-class/18-credit course of study offered by the Department of English. Any undergraduate student, regardless of primary major, is eligible to apply.
Minors will collaborate in the workshop setting to produce original creative works – including but not limited to: fictional prose, literary essays, cultural criticism, poetry, plays, translation, screenplays, and other media.
The CREW minor fosters community among writers through author visits, public readings, and an emphasis on literary citizenship. In addition to studying the craft of writing, students will also become well-versed in the professional world of writing. Opportunities include competitive local and national internships, as well as work in an editorial capacity on Rice’s nationally award-winning magazine, R2: The Rice Review.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students with a minor in Creative Writing will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship of literature and literary production to their historical and socio-cultural contexts.
2. Provide concrete and constructive editorial critiques with an emphasis on craft, form, and genre – aligned with an author’s perspective and purpose.
3. Produce original creative works–including but not limited to fictional prose, literary essays, cultural criticism, poetry, plays, translation, screenplays, and other media.
Requirements
Students pursuing a minor in Creative Writing will complete:
• a minimum of 6 courses (18 credit hours) in Creative Writing
• at least 3 creative writing courses must be at the 300-level or above
• at least one course must be at the 400-level
• at least one course must be in a second genre or form
Foundation Courses
Students must complete one course (3 hours) of foundational coursework from the following list:
ENGL 113 Introduction to Literary Editing & Publishing
ENGL 114 Literary Editing & Publishing / The Rice Review
ENGL 201 Introduction to Creative Writing
ENGL 205 Writers on Writing
ENGL 301 Introduction to Fiction Writing
ENGL 304 Introduction to Poetry Writing
ENGL 305 Introduction to Creative Nonfiction Writing
Core courses cannot be repeated for credit as electives.
Advanced Workshop Requirement
Students must complete at least one course (3 hours) at the 400-level. Advanced workshop courses are repeatable for credit:
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
Electives
Students may choose up to four elective courses (12 hours) from the following list:
ENGL 113 Introduction to Literary Editing & Publishing
ENGL 114 Literary Editing & Publishing / The Rice Review
ENGL 203 Topics in Creative Writing
ENGL 205 Writers on Writing
ENGL 301 Introduction to Fiction Writing
ENGL 302 Screenwriting
ENGL 303 Playwriting
ENGL 304 Introduction to Poetry Writing
ENGL 305 Introduction to Creative Nonfiction Writing
ENGL 306 Topics in Fiction
ENGL 307 Topics in Poetry
ENGL 308 Podcasting
ENGL 309 Topics in Creative Nonfiction
ENGL 310 Nonfiction Nature Writing
ENGL 315 Literary Translation
ENGL 318 Fairytales & Fear Tales
ENGL 327 Graphic Novel
ENGL 493 Advanced Literary Editing & Publishing
*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 enroll in one relevant course (3 hours) from another department to count toward an elective for the minor. 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
Students may petition to include any relevant elective course (3 hours) not listed here.
Students are encouraged to and may enroll in one relevant English literature course (3 hours) to count toward an elective. A list of all the ENGL courses currently offered by the Department of English may be found here: https://ga.rice.edu/programs-study/departments- programs/humanities/english/#coursestext
First-Year Writing Intensive Courses (FWIS) do not count toward the Creative Writing Minor or the English Major.
Transfer Credits
No more than 2 courses (6 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards the minor. Any requests for such transfer credits will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Creative Writing chairperson.
Reserved Seating for Minors
All declared Creative Writing Minors 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, minors will be able to access these reserved sections.
Declaring the Minor in Creative Writing
Email the English Department’s chair of Creative Writing (ianschimmel@rice.edu) to fill out a minor declaration form. The chair’s signature will be required to successfully submit your form to the Registrar for processing.
Please note: students have until the last day of classes in their penultimate semester to declare the minor.
Contact
Interested students can reach out to the chair of Creative Writing for more information or to declare the minor (ianschimmel@rice.edu).