Creative Writing Concentration and Minor
The Creative Writing program at WVU offers a creative writing concentration for undergraduate English Majors and a minor for students majoring in other areas. It also offers students the opportunity to participate in the life of writing both in and out of the classroom.
Our widely published creative writing faculty, along with a distinguished visiting writers series, and a wide range of creative writing activities, make for an exciting atmosphere for the study of writing. The creative writing faculty includes Mark Brazaitis, James Harms, Ellesa Clay High, Emily Mitchell, Kevin Oderman, Mary Ann Samyn, and Ethel Morgan Smith who collectively have published more than 10 books. Their awards include the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, Fulbright Fellowship, the Bakeless Prize, the PEN/Revson Fellowship, the Ohio State University Press/ The Journal Award , the Iowa Short Fiction Prize, and a West Virginia Commission on the Arts Fellowship.
Our writers and teachers are accessible and dedicated to developing new talent. Within a large, diverse university, it is possible to become an important member of a small, close-knit community of enthusiastic writing faculty and students.
The concentration in creative writing requires 15 credit hours taken in the following sequence:
1. One course, with a grade of ‘B’ or better, from among the following 3 courses:
English 212 – Introduction to Fiction
English 213 – Introduction to Poetry
English 214 – Introduction to Nonfiction
2. One course, after having received a grade of ‘B’ or higher in one of the classes above:
English 312 – Advanced Workshop in Fiction
English 313 – Advanced Workshop in Poetry
English 314 – Advanced Workshop in Nonfiction
3. With permission of the instructor, ENG 318.
4. With permission of the Director of the Creative Writing Program, ENG 418.
5. One additional course from group 1 (which may be taken at any time) or group 2 (which must be taken after the completion of one of the courses in group 1.)
To register for the Creative Writing Concentration or Minor:
1. If you are an English major, see an English advisor in 118 Colson Hall.
2. If you are a major in another department or school, see your major advisor and fill out a Declaration of Minor Field form.
Please direct questions about this concentration/minor to Mark Brazaitis, Director of the Creative Writing Program, at mark.brazaitis@mail.wvu.edu
Professional Writing and Editing Concentration and Minor
Professionally oriented students can take courses in writing for business, industry, and science. Professional writing and editing courses enable students to work with specialized and complex information; to sharpen writing skills necessary for working in areas of business, industry, public relations, journalism, science, medicine, and government; and to develop skills of graphic and textual production for reports, manuals, grants, research proposals, and other business and technical documents. Students majoring in English with a focus on professional writing are encouraged to supplement the major by taking courses in communications, journalism, business, science, computer science, graphic design, or engineering.
Concentration in PWE
Students in any program may enroll in the concentration in PWE. The concentration requires at least 15 hours of coursework in the following distribution.
- English 301: Writing Theory & Practice
- English 302: Editing
- English 303: Multimedia Writing
- English 491A: Professional Field Experience (Internship/Capstone)
PLUS one of the two below:
* English 304: Business and Professional Writing
OR
* English 305: Technical Writing
Minor in PWE
Students in any program may enroll in the minor in PWE. The minor requires at least 15 hours of coursework in the following distribution.
1. English 301: Writing Theory & Practice
2. English 302: Editing
plus three of four below:
3. English 303: Multimedia Writing
4. English 304: Business and Professional Writing
5. English 305: Technical Writing
6. English 221: The English Language
OR
English 321: The History of the English Language
Please direct questions about this concentration or minor to Brian Ballentine, Coordinator for Professional Writing and Editing.