What do creative writers need most? The knowledge and skill to improve the effectiveness of writing through revising, critiquing, and reimagining their creative projects.
If you are an IU Columbus student in the Indiana University Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English degree program, you can choose a concentration in Creative Writing.If you are an IU Columbus student in another major, you can pursue a Creative Writing minor.
As a Creative Writing student, you will experience, practice, and improve your creative expression through a range of courses and workshops. In addition, you will:
Work closely with published faculty, read and critique a variety of experimental, canonical, and original texts.
Participate in intensive workshops to develop and practice your writing craft with a community of writers.
Consider wider audiences for your creative work through internships, educational field trips and travel, capstone courses, and community projects.
Be encouraged to submit your original creative work to the university’s student literary magazineTalking Leaves.
Explore our course descriptions to get a better feel for whether a concentration or minor in creative writing is right for you.
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, you will need the following courses.
Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences (3 courses; 9 cr.)
One Social Science course
One Arts & Humanities course
One Social Science or Arts & Humanities course
ENG-W 131 with a grade of C or higher
ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills or ENG-W 270 Argumentative Writing Skills (grade of C or higher)
UCOL-U 110 or DLA-L 110 First Year Experience (waived for transfer students with 18 or more credits)
Computer Proficiency/Logic (If computer proficiency is already proven or waived, then a Logic course is required)
Arts & Humanities 100 or 200 level courese not in your first major field of study
Social Science 100 or 200 level course not in your first major field of study
World Language and Culture (All English students are required to complete first-year competency in a world language)
Advanced courses: 40 credits must be completed at the 300-400 level, including courses within the major
Gateway Course (6 cr.)
ENG W206 Introduction to Creative Writing ENG W207 Introduction to Fiction Writing
Concentration Core (12 cr. in at least two genres, including at least 3 cr. at the 400 level)
ENG W301 Writing Fiction
ENG W302 Screenwriting
ENG W303 Writing Poetry
ENG W305 Writing Creative Nonfiction
ENG W401 Advanced Fiction Writing
ENG W403 Advanced Poetry Writing
ENG W411 Directed Writing (only with permission)
English Experience (9 cr.)
Three Literature courses 200-400 level or higher; at least one at 300-400 level
Language, Pedagogy and Editing (3 cr.)
ENG W365 Theory and Practice of Editing
ENG W210 Literacy and Public Life
ENG W310 Language and the Study of Writing
ENG Z204 Rhetorical Issues in Grammar and Usage
ENG Z205 Intro to the English Language
ENG E450 Capstone Seminar
Any additional credit hours needed to reach the minimum of 120 credits hours required to graduate.
Minoring in Creative Writing
To pursue a minor in Creative Writing at IU Columbus, contact Maggie Evans for an application form. The form should be completed and submitted when you are enrolled in your final creative writing class.
To earn a minor in creative writing, students must take 15 credit hours from the courses below. In order for a course to count toward the completion of the creative writing minor, you must receive a grade of “C” or better.
One career that creative writing students often pursue is teaching in the humanities at a university, college, or high school. In this case, you will continue pursue study to earn a master’s or doctoral degree after completing your bachelor's degree. If graduate study is not what you had in mind, careers in these fields are possibilities:
Computer and information technology, including social media management, Web development, and graphic design
Business administration in public and private sectors
Publishing, editing, writing, and English translation
The arts, including theatre, music, dance, and other types of performing arts companies, and museums and cultural organizations, including nonprofits
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at iups@iu.edu or by visiting IUPD.
