The undergraduate Creative Writing major at the University of Illinois is one of the oldest of its kind in the country. The major combines small workshops (with three-course sequences in poetry or fiction, plus select nonfiction classes) and a variety of literature courses. The result is a strong but flexible program that prepares students for work or graduate study in a variety of fields.
Students in the undergraduate program can also get professionalization skills in editing and publishing through a for-credit course developing issues of the online version of the award-winning literary journal, Ninth Letter, and through work on Montage Arts Journal, run by CW students and featuring literary and visual art by University of Illinois undergraduate student writers and artists. Creative writers at Illinois can apply for a variety of writing awards and take advantage of our special exchange study abroad program, with more opportunities coming soon.
Through our program, writers shape their literary voices, develop distinctive styles, and intensify their critical, editorial, and storytelling skills. Students write about what matters most to them and develop professional abilities while honing their powers of expression. Interested students have the option to combine their Creative Writing major with a Game Studies and Design Interdisciplinary Certificate.
Note: We also offer a minor. Please visit our creative writing minor requirements page for more details.
Creative Writing Major Requirements
Literature for Creative Writers (6 credit hours)
- CW 100: Introduction to Creative Writing
- CW 200: Reading for Writers
Craft (3 credit hours)
- CW 243: The Craft Essay: Creative Reading, Reflection, and Revision
Creative Writing Workshops (12 credit hours)
Creative Writing majors must complete at least one of the following 3-course (9-hour) sequences:
- CW 106: Poetry Workshop I
- CW 206: Poetry Workshop II
- CW 406: Poetry Workshop III
or
- CW 104: Fiction Workshop I
- CW 204: Fiction Workshop II
- CW 404: Fiction Workshop III
The remaining 3 hours in this category can be satisfied by a fourth CW Workshop outside of the chosen sequence. CW 404 and CW 406 may be repeated once for credit, but may not be repeated to fulfill this requirement.
Writing and Literature (3 credit hours)
3 hours of Writing and Literature coursework, either:
- 3 hours of non-Workshop CW coursework (CW 460, or another approved non-Workshop CW course)
or
- 3 hours of ENGL coursework
Additional Literature Coursework (12 credit hours)
12 additional hours of approved coursework, including:
- 9 hours of approved ENGL Literature coursework or related courses in other departments with approval.
- 3 hours of an ENGL Difference & Diaspora course or a related course in another department with approval.