Writing Seminars Major Requirements

(Also see Requirements for a Bachelor's Degree)

AS.220.105 Introduction to Fiction & Poetry I or AS.220.108 Introduction to Fiction & Nonfiction and AS.220.106 Introduction to Fiction & Poetry II are courses required for all majors and others who want to take advanced courses in writing seminars. They serve as pre-requisite courses to all other courses offered by the department. Students must take a minimum of 15 credits at the 300-level or higher towards the Writing Seminars major; these fifteen credits can come from any combination of Writing Seminars courses and courses towards the outside requirements (literature, history, philosophy).  Majors must receive a grade of C- or better in all courses required for the major and no major requirements may be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory.    

Students who matriculated before 2023 have a requirement of four literature courses, up to two of which can be Readings classes taken within the Writing Seminars.  The current literature requirements - two literature courses outside the department and two Readings classes within the department -- apply to students matriculating in 2023 and after.

Writing and Communication in the Major

Students must complete at least 6 credits of Writing and Communication foundational ability coursework in one major. For this major, students can fulfill this requirement by completing 220.105 and 220.106, each of which is a required 3 credit courses for the major.   

AS.220.105Introduction to Fiction & Poetry I3
or AS.220.108 Introduction to Fiction & Nonfiction
AS.220.106Introduction to Fiction & Poetry II3
Two courses in literature 16
Two courses in the Department of Philosophy. It is recommended that one of these classes be an introductory-level class.6
Two courses in the Department of History. May include courses from History of Art or from History of Science and Technology.6
AS.220.200The Craft of Fiction3
AS.220.201The Craft of Poetry3
Two Readings courses.6
One additional course of fiction at the 300-400 level.3
One additional course of poetry at the 300-400 level.3
AS.220.400Advanced Poetry Workshop3
or AS.220.401 Advanced Fiction Workshop
Three elective courses at the 200-400 level within the department (AS.220.2xx-4xx) 29
Either foreign language proficiency through the second semester of the intermediate level OR basic knowledge of a foreign language through the second semester of the introductory level AND two courses on literature in translation. 3-40-14
Total Credits54-68
1

Two classes of literature at the 100-400 level, in the Department of English (060) or cross-listed in English (with the exception of Expository Writing). Courses in literature offered in departments other than English, whether in the original language or in translation, also fulfill this requirement when the department is numbered AS.212-216 (German and Romance Languages and Literatures) and AS.300 (Contemporary Thought and Literature).  

2

Three additional elective courses.  Any Writing Seminars course numbered above "The Craft of Fiction" (220.200) or "The Craft of Poetry" (220.201) may be used to fulfill this requirement.  Courses cross-listed with The Writing Seminars may count here with approval from the DUS; approval is given for courses with a strong creative writing component (e.g., 061.205, Introduction to Screenwriting). 

3

Languages automatically accepted towards this requirement include American Sign Language, Ancient Greek, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Yiddish.  Students with language proficiency in one of these languages or other languages may obtain waivers for this requirement.  The Office of Academic Advising website has information on the waiver process, or you may speak to the DUS for assistance.  

4

Any course that exclusively studies literature originally written in a language other than English can count towards this requirement.  A course on literature in translation may count towards the literature requirement or the language requirement for the Writing Seminars major but may not double count.  Any Writing Seminars Readings class focusing exclusively on work in translation may count towards the language requirement or the readings classes requirement but may not double count.

Sample Program of Study

First Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
AS.220.1053AS.220.1063
History course #13English literature course #13
First year foreign language4First year foreign language4
 10 10
Second Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
AS.220.201 or 2003AS.220.200 or 2013
Philosophy course #13Course with POS-Tag WRIT-FICT at the 200-400 level3
Second year foreign language3English literature #23
 Second year foreign language3
 9 12
Third Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
Course with POS-Tag WRIT-POET at the 200-400 level3Writing Seminars elective course3
Readings course #13Readings course #23
History course #23Philosophy course #23
 9 9
Fourth Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
Advanced Fiction or Poetry Workshop3Writing Seminars elective course3
Writing Seminars elective course3 
 6 3
Total Credits 68

Honors

A GPA of 3.5 or better in all major requirements is required to earn honors in the major.