Creative Writing

Stanford’s Creative Writing Program--one of the best-known in the country--cultivates the power of individual expression within a vibrant community of writers. Many of our English majors pursue a concentration in creative writing, and the minor in Creative Writing is among the most popular minors on campus. These majors and minors participate in workshop-based courses or independent tutorials with Stegner Fellows, Stanford’s distinguished writers-in-residence.

English Major with a Creative Writing Emphasis

The English major with a Creative Writing emphasis is a 78-unit major. These courses are comprised of 38-units of English courses and 40-units of Creative Writing courses.

English majors with a Creative Writing emphasis should note the following:

  • All courses must be taken for a letter grade.
  • Courses taken abroad or at other institutions may not be counted towards the workshop requirements.
  • Any 190 series course (190F, 190G, etc.), 191 series course (191T, etc.), or 192 series course (192V, etc.) counts toward the 190, 191, or 192 requirement.
  • PWR 1 is a prerequisite for all creative writing courses.

Minor in Creative Writing

The Minor in Creative Writing offers a structured environment in which students interested in writing fiction or poetry develop their skills while receiving an introduction to literary forms. 

In order to graduate with a minor in Creative Writing, students must complete the courses below in prose, poetry, or fiction to film tracks. Courses counted towards the requirements for the minor may not be applied to student's major requirements. 26-30 units are required. All courses must be taken for a letter grade.

Prose Track

  • Introductory Prose course, 5 units
    • Complete 1 course in either the ENGLISH 90 or ENGLISH 91 series
  • Introductory Poetry course, 5 units
    • Complete 1 course in the ENGLISH 92 series
  • Short Story Literature course, 3-5 units
    • List of approved courses
    • Lecture (LEC) or seminar (SEM) course only; workshop (WKS) courses do not satisfy this requirement
  • Intermediate or Advanced Prose courses, 10 units
    • Complete 2 intermediate/advanced prose courses
    • Acceptable course combinations include:
      • 2 courses from ENGLISH 190 series (e.g., 190 and 190V)
      • 2 courses from ENGLISH 191 series
      • 1 course from 190 series and 1 course from 191 series
      • 1 course from 190/191 series and ENGLISH 290
      • 1 course from 190/191 series and ENGLISH 291
      • ENGLISH 290 and ENGLISH 291
  • Literature Elective, 3-5 units
    • Complete 1 elective course in English literature
    • Lecture (LEC) or seminar (SEM) course only; workshop (WKS) courses do not satisfy this requirement

Total Units: 26-30

 

Poetry Track

  • Introductory Poetry course, 5 units
    • Complete 1 course in the ENGLISH 92 series
  • Introductory Prose course, 5 units
    • Complete 1 course in either the ENGLISH 90 or ENGLISH 91 series 
  • ENGLISH 160: Poetry and Poetics, 3-5 units
  • Intermediate or Advanced Poetry courses, 10 units
    • Acceptable course combinations include:
      • 2 courses from ENGLISH 192 series (e.g., 192 and 192V)
      • 1 course from 192 series and ENGLISH 292
  • Literature Elective, 3-5 units
    • Complete 1 elective course in English literature
    • Lecture (LEC) or seminar (SEM) course only; workshop (WKS) courses do not satisfy this requirement

Total Units: 26-30

 

Fiction into Film

  • ENGLISH 90: Fiction Writing, 5 units
  • ENGLISH 190F: Fiction into Film, 5 units
  • ENGLISH 190SW: Screenwriting Intensive, 5 units
  • Intermediate or Advanced Prose course, 5 units
    • Complete 1 course from the ENGLISH 190 series or complete ENGLISH 290
  • Short Story Literature course, 3-5 units
    • List of approved courses
    • Lecture (LEC) or seminar (SEM) course only; workshop (WKS) courses do not satisfy this requirement
  • Literature Elective, 3-5 units
    • Complete 1 elective course in English literature
    • Lecture (LEC) or seminar (SEM) course only; workshop (WKS) courses do not satisfy this requirement

  • Total Units: 26-30

     

Creative Writing minors should note the following:

  • To declare a Creative Writing minor, visit the Student page in Axess. To expedite your declaration, make sure to list all courses you have taken or plan to take for your minor.
  • All courses must be taken for a letter grade.
  • Any 190 series course (190F, 190G, etc.), 191series course (191T, etc.), or 192 series course (192V, etc.) counts toward the 190, 191, or 192 requirement.
  • PWR 1 is a prerequisite for all creative writing courses.

For more information, visit the Stanford Creative Writing Program.

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