THE CREATIVE WRITING MAJORS FAQ

Q. The requirements for a major in Creative Writing have changed. Why?

A. The changes are the result of more than two years' discussion of the major by Creative Writing faculty, and informal consultation with students. Our goal was a curriculum that prepares majors thoroughly for intermediate and advanced writing workshops, and encourages a degree of specialization in one genre.

Q. I'm already a Creative Writing major? Do the requirements affect me?

A. No. Students who have already declared a major will graduate under the old requirements.

Freshmen and transfer students entering in Fall 2005 will be under the new program of major requirements.

Students who enrolled in Emory prior to Fall 2005 and who plan to declare a Creative Writing major will be allowed to choose either the new or old program.

Q. What are the new major requirements?

At least two of the five required workshops must be in the same genre (either fiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, or creative nonfiction.)

Students are encouraged to continue study in the same genre as their intro workshops, but this is not a requirement.

One semester of CW honors, or a CW independent study, may be substituted for one writing workshop, with the approval of the student's Creative Writing advisor.

B. Six 300 level English courses (English 300 or above)

At least two courses concentrating mainly on poetry.
At least two courses concentrating mainly on prose.
At least two courses in writing of the 19 th century or earlier.

Majors should take advantage of the advising system when planning a program of study. Creative Writing faculty advisors are responsible for allowing credit for literature courses that are a mixture of prose and poetry, for example, and may also choose to allow credit for one 200 level English course from the approved list of those courses acceptable for the English major.

Students specializing in playwriting may substitute courses in drama for some part of the poetry or prose requirement, but not for all of either; the decision to allow the substitution rests with the major's Creative Writing advisor.

Q. Can I still take literature courses offered by other Departments or Programs?

A. If a course is cross-listed with English, you may use it to satisfy the requirement for six 300 level literature courses. But again, check with your advisor to see how the content of the course fits with the content emphasis required of the six English courses taken for the major.

Q.   How can I be sure I'm taking the right courses?

A.   See your Creative Writing advisor before you register to make sure the courses you're planning to take fit the content requirements. Waiting a semester (or two), and then trying to get them approved retroactively, is much more time consuming than simply checking to see if the courses meet the requirements.

Q. How else will I know that I'm on track to graduate as a CW major?

A. Creative Writing advisors watch the progress of every student by periodically checking his or her file. Students are contacted if questions arise. You may also request an appointment with your advisor at any time to review your progress toward graduation.

Q. What do I do if my advisor isn't available for some reason?

A. If a faculty member is on leave, his or her advisees are assigned to other faculty in the Program. Lists of Creative Writing faculty members and their advisees are posted to the Creative Writing conference on Learnlink at the beginning of each semester. If you have a question as to which faculty member is your advisor, please contact Paula Vitaris ( pvitari@emory.edu ) in the Creative Writing Program office. You'll always have an advisor assigned to you. But you can also ask questions of any faculty member in Creative Writing, at any time.

Q. How do advisors stay in touch with their advisees in Creative Writing?

A. The Program maintains a conference on Learnlink entitled "Creative Writing." This conference appears on the desktop of all majors. We post announcements to this conference, including lists of advisees by faculty advisor, deadlines for applying for CW courses, and information regarding other Program changes. We also post more general announcements there. Your advisor has a subfolders with this conference, and he or she will post messages to advisees there.

Q. If I've talked to my advisor, and I'm still having problems with requirements for the major, what do I do?

A. See the director of the Program, who will involve you and your advisor in solving the problem.

Q. Are there other reasons to see my advisor?

A.   Creative Writing faculty are knowledgeable about graduate writing programs, academic and non-academic careers in writing, sustaining a writing life after graduation, and other issues of concerns to our majors.