English B.A., Creative Writing Concentration

Introduction: All students (new, current, and transfer students) who wish to major in English with a concentration in Creative Writing are first classified as pre-majors. Entering first-year students wishing to pursue pre-major status when they POUNCE will be registered for the fall section of Freshman Seminar established for the English/Creative Writing pre-major. Current and transfer students do not have to take this section of Freshman Seminar, but they still must establish their pre-major and major status according to the procedures described below.

Pre-major application procedure: Students establish their pre-major status by completing an application form (available from the Freshman Seminar instructor or from the English and Rhetoric Department Office, Arts & Sciences Building, Room 3-03). It is important to complete and turn in this form at least two weeks before registration prior to the semester the student wishes to enroll in ENGL 2208 Introduction to Creative Writing.

Major application procedure: To be considered for major status, students will submit to the Department of English and Rhetoric Office the following:

1. An application form (available from the department office) and writing sample: 3-5 pages of poetry (poetry may be single-spaced, one poem per page) OR 5 pages for one work of fiction, creative nonfiction, or a dramatic script, typed and double-spaced.
2. Statement of Purpose: 1-2 page essay, typed and double-spaced, expressing the student's reasons for wishing to pursue the English/Creative Writing Major.
3. A printed copy of the student's current Tranguide (available on PAWS).

A faculty committee will evaluate applications based on the aesthetic quality and artistic potential of the student's writing; the student's stated purpose for pursuing this degree; and the student's prior academic record (a 2.00 minimum GPA is required). It is important to submit these materials at least two weeks before registration prior to the semester the student wishes to enroll in the first 3000-level Intermediate Creative Writing course. Before the start of registration, the committee will notify applicants whether or not they have been accepted to the major. (NOTE: Students will still need to earn a "C" or better in ENGL 2208 before they are eligible to take an Intermediate Creative Writing course; majors must earn a "C" or better in all English required courses in order to receive credit towards the degree). Students not accepted may re-submit new application materials for consideration the following semester, but again, must do so two weeks prior to registration. Students not accepted to the major who believe they will re-apply the following semester may (space permitting) register for the first Intermediate Creative Writing course, following the same steps as listed above under "Major Application Procedure."

Procedure for current students who have already had ENGL 2208 (or transfer students who have taken its equivalent elsewhere, as approved by the Creative Writing Program): Students in this category may apply immediately for major status. However, as with other applicants, students must turn in all materials (application forms, writing sample, statement of purpose, tranguide) at least two weeks before registration prior to the semester the student wishes to enroll in the first Intermediate Creative Writing class. Students not accepted to the major who believe they will re-apply the following semester may (space permitting) register for the first Intermediate Creative Writing course, following the same steps as listed above under "major Application Procedure.".

Also, students in this major not enrolled for two consecutive semesters (fall-spring or spring-fall) must re-apply to be re-admitted to the major.

About the Major: As with other Liberal Arts majors in the Fine Arts, the study and practice of Creative Writing require significant time for imaginative creation, reflective revision, and intellectual engagement with both published literary works and the works of one's peers. English majors in the Creative Writing concentration develop not only the critical skills of the traditional English/Literature major but also the creative, artistic skills of the literary author. It is important, therefore, that students understand the time commitment required of this major's sequence of courses and prerequisites. Four or more semesters in the program's Major Requirements are necessary to complete this degree (five semesters, counting the Area F requirement, ENGL 2208 Introduction to Creative Writing, which may have been completed at another college or university). Current or transfer students should consider this sequence of courses and the time commitment required before applying for admission to the major, as a late application may mean that a student will need more time in order to complete this major. Although many of our students choose to pursue graduate studies in Creative Writing (recent graduates have continued their Master of Fine Arts degrees at the University of Wisconsin, New Mexico State University, and the University of South Carolina), many of our students pursue different careers, including public school teaching, film and television work, business, library science, and teaching ESL (English as a Second Language). But our goal for all students pursuing this major is that they learn the discipline of writing and that they eventually strive to publish their work.

After Graduation: Although many of our students choose to pursue graduate studies in Creative Writing (recent graduates have continued their Master of Fine Arts degrees at the University of Wisconsin, New Mexico State University, the University of Maryland, the University of South Carolina, and elsewhere), many of our students pursue different careers, including public school teaching, film and television work, business, library science, and teaching ESL (English as a Second Language). But our goal for all students pursuing this major is that they learn the discipline of writing and that they eventually strive to publish their work.

Prerequisite Sequence: The required sequence of creative writing courses in the English/Creative Writing concentration follows this pattern:

1. ENGL 2208: Introduction to Creative Writing (Pre-Major, Area F); prerequisite to…

2. All Intermediate (Major) Creative Writing courses (choose two): Scriptwriting (3011), Creative Nonfiction (3012), Poetry (3021), and Fiction (3022); each Intermediate genre course is prerequisite to…

3. Upper-level Genre Workshops (for example, the prerequisite for 4011 is 3011, etc.):

ENGL 4011: Scriptwriting

ENGL 4012: Creative Nonfiction Writing

ENGL 4021: Poetry Workshop

ENGL 4022: Fiction Workshop

Students take two 4000-level workshops and may choose to continue in both genres started at the Intermediate level or focus on just one genre. (Note: Students are welcome to take as electives courses in a third genre, staring with the Intermediate genre course in that genre.)

4 . Senior Capstone Experience: English majors in the Creative Writing Concentration have several options to fulfill the Senior Capstone Experience. Two of these options require special skills/commitments and may not be appropriate or available to all students::

The Early College option involves a two semester commitment (fall/spring only) mentoring seventh grade students in the GC Early College. This option requires significant commitment and the ability to interact responsibly with younger students. Interested majors must apply in the spring before their senior year, keeping in mind the fall/spring commitment. Students register for ENGL 4950 Special Topics (capstone credit only for completion of the spring semester).

The Journal Editing option is for students currently (for fall semester of their senior year) or previously selected for the undergraduate staff of The Peacock’s Feet. Spring semester, students who qualify for this option will register for ENGL 4950 Special Topics. This option involves not only editing skills but also journal production and management skills (organization, publicity, and distribution; layout, design, web-based, and other technological applications), related either to The Peacock’s Feet, or the program’s national journal Arts & Letters, or perhaps both.

Other Senior Capstone options are:

The Poetry Translation option: Students interested in this option register for ENGL 4013 Poetry Translation, offered in the spring semester. This course follows a well-defined plan that distinguishes between literal, colloquial, and creative translations, and that explores the degrees of fidelity to the original poem vs. expectations of contemporary poetry in English. The course does not require fluency in another language, but does expect students to be enthusiastic about linguistic and poetic subject matter. This option is limited to students who have taken ENGL 3021 Intermediate Poetry (prerequisite to ENGL 4013) OR who receive the instructor’s permission (requires registration override).

The Interdisciplinary Studies option: Students interested in this option register for IDST 4999 Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone. This course provides students the opportunity to critically examine a particular topic, using an interdisciplinary approach. Students will be expected to engage in an original scholarly or artistic project, developed after consultation with the instructor. Students need to check carefully when this IDST course is offered, fall or spring semester, but often not both semesters.

The Study Abroad option: Currently the program is developing a plan to offer this option. For now, students interested this senior capstone should meet with the Creative Writing Program coordinator as early as possible to discuss options. The most likely option would involve a study abroad experience in the summer after the student’s junior year, or the fall semester of the student’s senior year, followed by the submission of a creative writing project (proposed earlier) based on the study abroad experience. Student would register for ENGL 4980 Study Abroad in the semester that they would complete the project.

Note: Students who graduate in the fall may complete their senior capstone experience in the spring semester prior to their fall graduation semester.

5. ENGL 4031 Creative Writing Seminar. This course addresses both critical and creative subjects relevant to the English major with a concentration in Creative Writing. ENGL 4031 fulfills the English/Creative Writing Major's Senior Exit examination requirement.

Extracurricular Opportunities: Many of our students serve as editors on the undergraduate art and literary magazine The Peacock's Feet or as mentors in our program's "Writing in the Schools" project, working with seventh graders in Georgia College's innovative Early College program. (These opportunities do not have to be connected to the senior capstone experience, although they often will be.) Each year, our program hosts several distinguished visiting writers, who visit classes, meet with students, and present readings and other programs on campus. Students may also participate in the spring "24-Hour Plays" project, in the department chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society, and in the Red Earth student reading series. Students who have started their Senior Capstone projects are eligible to submit work to our program's fall AWP Intro Awards and spring Academy of American Poets University Prize competitions. And each year, the program selects a student for our “Outstanding Major” award. For more details, visit www.gcsu.edu/creativewriting.

Collaborative Learning with graduate students in our MFA program: Our program offers the unique opportunity to work not only with outstanding senior faculty but also with graduate students in our nationally distinguished Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program. Graduate and undergraduate students develop strong mentoring relationships in both curricular and extracurricular activities. Our most accomplished majors may be invited by the Creative Writing Program faculty to participate in graduate-level workshops, either for undergraduate credit or for graduate credit (if taken for graduate credit, hours will not count towards the B.A. degree; student must have senior status and must have taken at least one 4000-level workshop in the appropriate genre). The Early College and Journal Editing senior capstones also involve collaborative learning experiences with MFA graduate students.

Permission of the Department (in consultation with the faculty instructor) is required to begin a Senior Capstone Project (see below); students should take at least one 4000-level workshop in the genre of their Senior Capstone projects prior to starting ENGL 4999 Research hours for the project (see above for when workshops are offered). Students should confer with their advisors and instructors about which genre(s) may be most appropriate for their Senior Capstone project. Students must be in residence to complete the Capstone project. ENGL 4999: Undergraduate Research. Taken the fall or spring semester that the student begins the Senior Capstone Project.

6. ENGL 4031 Creative Writing Seminar and ENGL 4970 Thesis. Taken concurrently in the fall or spring semester after completing ENGL 4999. In ENGL 4970 and ENGL 4031, students complete the Senior Capstone Project and prepare for their Capstone presentations. ENGL 4031 fulfills the English/Creative Writing Major's Senior Exit examination requirement.

Extracurricular Opportunities: Many of our students serve as editors on the undergraduate art and literary magazine The Peacock's Feet or as mentors in our program's "Writing in the Schools" project, working with seventh graders in Georgia College's innovative Early College program. Each year, our program hosts 10-12 distinguished visiting writers, who visit classes, meet with students, and present readings and other programs on campus. Students may also participate in the spring "24-Hour Plays" project, in our chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society, and in the Red Earth student reading series. Students who have started their Senior Capstone projects are eligible to submit work to our program's fall AWP Intro Awards and spring Academy of American Poets University Prize competitions.

Collaborative Learning with graduate students in our MFA program: Our program offers the unique opportunity to work not only with outstanding senior faculty but also with graduate students in our nationally distinguished Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program. Graduate and undergraduate students develop strong mentoring relationships in both curricular and extracurricular activities. Our most accomplished majors may be invited by the Creative Writing Program faculty to participate in graduate-level workshops, either for undergraduate credit or for graduate credit (if taken for graduate credit, hours will not count towards the B.A. degree; student must have senior status and must have taken at least one 4000-level workshop in the appropriate genre). The Early College and Journal Editing senior capstones also involve collaborative learning experiences with MFA graduate students..

Total Credit Hours: 120

Senior Capstone Experience (3 semester hours)

English majors in the Creative Writing concentration may meet the GC Senior Capstone Experience requirement as follows:

1. Study abroad undertaken after completion of at least 72 hours of coursework, met through ENGL 4980. Students who seek Capstone credit for study abroad must register for a 3-hour section of ENGL 4980 in the semester subsequent to their participation in any study abroad program approved by the Department Chair (full-year, semester, or summer). While abroad, students will write a journal or a blog in order to have a timely record of their impressions and experiences. Following their return to Georgia College, they will write a reflective essay of no fewer than 3,000 words, exploring what they have learned from their travel. The instructor of record for ENGL 4980 will award a letter grade for this essay, and it will be the grade for the course. Failure to complete ENGL 4980 by the end of the semester following study abroad will result in a failing grade in the course, and Capstone credit will not be granted;
2. Experiential Learning: Writing in the Schools. Students may apply in the spring semester of their junior year to serve as mentors in the GCSU/Early College Writing in the Schools project. Note that participation in the Early College project is a two semester sequence (fall-spring). Students selected for this teaching/mentoring opportunity will only receive Senior Capstone credit for their spring semester ENGL 4950 Early College credit. This capstone experience requires the student to apply for the project in a competitive process; students may also serve as mentors during their junior years, but will only receive Senior Capstone credit spring semester of their senior year.
3. Experiential Learning: Journal Editing. Students may apply in the spring semester of their year to serve as student editors on The Peacock’s Feet. Note that participation in the Peacock’s Feet project is a two semester sequence (fall-spring). Students selected for this opportunity will only receive Senior Capstone credit for their spring semester ENGL 4950 Early College credit. This capstone experience requires the student to apply for the project in a competitive process; students may also serve as editors during their Junior years, but will only receive Senior Capstone credit spring semester of their Senior year.
4. ENGL 4013 Poetry Translation. Students who have completed ENGL 4021 may, with Department Chair and instructor approval, take ENGL 4013 during their Senior year for Senior Capstone credit.
5. Completion of any approved IDST 4999 Senior Capstone course.

Other Requirements

• Completion of the First-Year Academic Seminar with a passing grade. Students who transfer to GC after the first term are exempt from this requirement, but need to be aware that timely placement in creative writing courses cannot be guaranteed. Note: this course credit (1 hour) does not count toward the 120 earned hours required for graduation
• A grade of C or better is required in all English courses.
• A minimum of 39 semester hours overall must be at the 3000-400 level.
• Fulfillment of University-wide Senior Capstone Experience requirement, as explained above.

Electives (21-30 semester hours)

English majors who need more than one language course to meet the Modern Foreign Language (2002) will have fewer elective hours while others, depending on how they meet the language requirement, will have more elective hours. For example, many students need to take as electives all three language courses (1001, 1002, 2001) before they are prepared to take the required 2002-level course, which means that they would have 21 elective hours. Elective hours may be used to complete a minor; to take other LIT or Creative Writing courses in a third genre (starting with the 3000-level Intermediate section); to pursue courses in other disciplines; and possibly even to work on a second major (although students who wish to pursue that path need to start planning very early). Elective hours help students to a) deepen their experience in their major field; or b) explore new experiences in other fields; but most importantly, c) complete the required 39 hours at the 3000/4000-level (since only 30 are required in the major) as well as the 120 earned hours required for graduation (as only 90 hours total are required in the CORE A-E, Area F, and MAJOR). NOTE that WELLNESS and some other classes DO NOT count towards earned hours.