Creative Writing - Bachelor of Arts (30 credits) (30 credits plus 11-13 credits of experiential learning)
Focusing on the genres of Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Writing for Children and Young Adults and Scriptwriting, the Creative Writing Major allows students to integrate theory and practice in a course of study that blends critical writing, creative writing, professional experience and emphasis on publication. Students work closely with faculty on strategies for composition and revision, while approaching the work of master writers through craft-based analysis. Intimate classroom settings foster a collaborative approach to learning via the interaction between peers and faculty where students and faculty push each other to achieve the best and most honest work possible. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers a course in Magazine Production that yields our Literary Arts Magazine, Commonthought. Students have the chance to participate in all aspects of the publication process from submission to editing to layout to final publication. Students also have access to a variety of professional internships in a wide range of settings, including literary arts magazines, arts organizations, and publishers, which offer opportunities to explore careers in writing in the greater Boston area. Outcomes of the Creative Writing Major: Students will study classic and contemporary masterworks of English and American Literature in order to be able to describe and apply the conventions of writing in multiple genres Students will read works and write at an advanced level in a chosen genre Students will learn to critique and improve their own writing and that of their peers through craft-based analysis, workshops with instructors and peers Students will explore strategies for publication of their work Students will apply their skills in an appropriate internship setting Students will explore opportunities for graduate study as indicated by number of students applying to graduate programs
Degree Requirements Required Core (12 Credits): CCRWT 1400
Introduction to Creative Writing
3
CCRWT 4000
Senior Seminar in Creative Writing
3
CLITR 3320
History of the English Language
3
CLITR 2116
English Literature II (1800 - Present)
3
CLITR 2120
American Literature
3
And choose ONE:
Support Courses (6 Credits): Choose CLITR or CHUMS courses at the 3000-Level and above, with at least 3 credits focusing on your genre of study from the following: CLITR 3028
Modern American Drama
3
CLITR 3100
Changing Views of Nature in American Literature
3
CLITR 3131
Nineteenth Century American Novel
3
CLITR 3200
Postcolonial Dialogues in Hispanic Literature: Spain, Latin America and Modernism
3
CLITR 3240
World Drama from the Greeks to the 17th Century
3
CLITR 3250
World Drama from the 18th Century to the Present
3
CLITR 3310
The Family in Literature
3
CLITR 3312
The Plays of Shakespeare
3
CLITR 3313
Comedy
3
CLITR 3314
Tragedy
3
CLITR 3315
Contemporary Latin American Women Writers
3
CLITR 3317
Marriage and Dangerous Liaisons in the Novel
3
CLITR 3328
Contemporary American Literature
3
CLITR 3329
Contemporary Ethnic Literature
3
CLITR 3336
British and American Poetry
3
CLITR 3337
Short Fiction and Novella
3
CLITR 3338
Women in Literature
3
CLITR 3400
Major Authors
3
CLITR 3500
The New York School and the American Avant-Garde in the 1950s
3
CLITR 3670
Bildungsroman: Novel of Self-Development
3
CLITR 3888
Selected Topics in Literature
3
CLITR 4999
Independent Study
CHUMS 3300
Travel/Study London
3
CHUMS 3317
Romanticism in the Arts: Literature, Painting, and Music
3
CHUMS 3331
The Shock of the New: European and American Culture at the Turn of the 20th Century
3
CHUMS 3500
Postcolonial History and Literature
3
CHUMS 3600
Medieval History and Literature
3
19
Creative Writing Craft and Reflection (12 Credits): Choose TWELVE credits from the following, of which THREE must be 3000 level or higher and SIX must be in the study of your chosen genre. Note that any LCRWT course will also count towards this category. CCRWT 2000
Art and Craft of Creative Non-Fiction
3
CCRWT 2090
The Art and Craft of Script Writing
3
CCRWT 2300
The Art and Craft of the Short Story
3
CCRWT 2310
The Art and Craft of Poetry
3
CCRWT 2400
Art and Craft of Writing Children's and Young Adult Literature
3
CCRWT 2430
Magazine Production
3
CCRWT 3000
Advanced Poetry
3
CCRWT 3001
Advanced Scriptwriting
3
CCRWT 3100
Advanced Creative Non-Fiction
3
CCRWT 3201
Advanced Short Fiction
3
CCRWT 3300
Autobiographical Writing
3
CCRWT 3400
Genre Fiction Seminar
3
CCRWT 3450
Advanced Writing Children's and Young Adult Literature
3
CCRWT 3888
Selected Topics in Creative Writing
3
CCRWT 4349
Senior Thesis in Creative Writing
4
Professional / Experiential Component (11-13 Credits): If the student declares an Education and a Liberal Arts major, the internship requirement must be satisfied with student teaching. However, all Education majors must select CCRWT 2430 in their Craft and Reflection choices. If the student declares any other double major, the internship requirement must be satisfied in the major with the greater number of credits in its experiential component. If they’re the same, the student may choose one. Every effort will be made to have one of the internships encompass the objectives of the other major. Students may choose to do an additional internship in their other major. CCRWT 2430
Magazine Production
3
CHUMS 2200
Internship Planning and Preparation
1
CHUMS 3100
Humanities Field Work and Seminar I
3
CHUMS 4100
Humanities Field Work and Seminar II
46
CHUMS 2200 or any other 1000-level field-based course (e.g. CEDUC 1352, CHMSR 1551, CMGMT 1451, CMGMT 1701).
Other Requirements: Foreign Language Competency Competencies in foreign language for the Creative Writing Major are fulfilled by: 1. taking two semesters of American Sign Language, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish at the university level. 2. If students enter Lesley with the proficiency to take American Sign Language II, Chinese II, French II, German II, Italian II, Portuguese II or Spanish II, and they pass that course, this will also satisfy the foreign language competency. 3. Students who have already achieved a proficiency equal to two full semesters of college language instruction before entering Lesley have the following options for satisfying this requirement: a. Before entering Lesley, students may take an AP language exam or CLEP exam and satisfy the language requirement if they score a grade of four or higher (AP) or 50 or above (CLEP). b. After entering Lesley, students who wish to demonstrate language competency will be referred to the Foreign Language Coordinator. c. Students may take a competency exam in any of the languages offered at Lesley under the supervision of the Foreign Language Coordinator. This exam will be equivalent to a final exam given to students in American Sign Language II, Chinese II, French II, German II, Italian II, Portuguese II, or Spanish II. A grade of B or higher in this test will waive the language requirement; a grade ranging from C to B- will place student at the second semester level. d. Students who wish to demonstrate language competency in any other foreign language must take the CLEP or an equivalent exam as approved by the Foreign Language Coordinator.