Major in English, Creative Writing Concentration | Colorado State University Catalog

Students at CSU engage in classroom writing exercise and discuss publications. Text reads "Creative Writing"

Do you enjoy writing stories, poetry, or creative nonfiction? The Creative Writing concentration gives students the opportunity to strengthen their creative writing skills. Beginning, intermediate, and advanced courses centered on craft infuse students’ writing and reading skills with imagination. Intermediate and advanced courses are primarily workshop classes in which students read and discuss one another’s work, offering experience in problem-solving, collaborative discovery, and the development of an individual voice. Students in the Creative Writing concentration also take a variety of English and literature courses that prepare them to be writers by instructing them in literary traditions and styles. An internship program for all English majors offers Creative Writing students positions that may lead to employment in fields ranging from writing, publishing, communications, and education to the social sciences, computer science, healthcare, and industry.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Discover how to write compelling short stories, poems, personal essays, and more.
Gain a firm knowledge of literary craft terms, techniques, forms, and genre-specific conventions in one or more chosen genres (fiction, poetry, or nonfiction).
Learn to closely read, analyze, and discuss published and peer-produced texts with attention to form, structure, voice, word choice, and more. Students build these critical skills in writing workshops and literature courses.
Learn how creative writing connects with fields like communications, history, education, healthcare, environmental and natural resources, psychology, and more.
Build practical skills in analyzing and revising written creative expression, thinking critically about how subtle changes can make a big difference in how what we write is understood and received.
Use creative writing to explore big questions about language, self, culture, and our world.
Hone an understanding of the creative process as a pathway towards better critical and intuitive thinking, as well as problem-solving.
Meet visiting writers performing at the top of the field through the Creative Writing Reading Series.
Learn to engage diverse audiences through flexible writing methods.

Where can a Creative Writing degree take you?

The Creative Writing concentration is a gateway to a wide range of careers where clear language, compelling communication, and proficient analytical thinking are key. Creative writers can be found in law, technology, education, the arts, healthcare, environmental sciences, and of course publishing. Here are just some of the paths recent graduates have taken:

Graduate School in English and/or Creative Writing

K–12 English Language Arts Teacher

Curriculum and Materials Developer

Bookseller

Law School

Content Strategist for an investment company

Grant Writer for healthcare industry

Foreign Service

Forest Service Ranger

Managing Editor

Published Author

Effective Fall 2025

For graduation, an English major must attain a minimum grade point average of 2.000 in all Composition (CO) and English (E) courses. Students may enroll in either the standalone major or (at most) one of the concentrations under the Major in English.

Freshman
		AUCC	Credits
CO 150	College Composition (GT-CO2)	1A	3
E 150	English Studies Symposium		3
SPCM 200	Public Speaking		3
Select one course from the following:			3
E 200	Inquiry-Based Teaching and Communicating (GT-AH2)	3B
E 202	Language Use in Society (GT-AH2)	3B
E 204	Creative Writing as Transformative Practice (GT-AH2)	3B
E 206	Language for Activist Rhetoric and Writing (GT-AH2)	3B
E 237	Introduction to Science Fiction (GT-AH2)	3B
Select one course from the following:			3
E 236	Short Fiction	3B
E 238	Contemporary Global Fiction (GT-AH2)	1C
E 240	Introduction to Poetry
E 242	Reading Shakespeare (GT-AH2)	3B
E 245	World Drama (GT-AH2)	1C
E 270	Introduction to American Literature (GT-AH2)	3B
E 276	British Literature--Medieval Period to 1800 (GT-AH2)	3B
E 277	British Literature--After 1800 (GT-AH2)	3B
1B		1B	3
1C		1C	3
Biological and Physical Sciences		3A	4
Electives			5
	Total Credits		30
Sophomore

E 210	Beginning Creative Writing (GT-AH2)	1C	3
Select one course not previously taken from the following:			3
E 200	Inquiry-Based Teaching and Communicating (GT-AH2)	3B
E 202	Language Use in Society (GT-AH2)	3B
E 204	Creative Writing as Transformative Practice (GT-AH2)	3B
E 206	Language for Activist Rhetoric and Writing (GT-AH2)	3B
E 237	Introduction to Science Fiction (GT-AH2)	3B
E *** English Elective			3
Biological and Physical Sciences		3A	3
Historical Perspectives		3D	3
Social and Behavioral Sciences		3C	3
Electives			12
	Total Credits		30
Junior

Select one course from the following:			3
CO 300	Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)	2
CO 301A	Writing in the Disciplines: Arts and Humanities (GT-CO3)	2
CO 301B	Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)	2
CO 301C	Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3)	2
CO 301D	Writing in the Disciplines: Education (GT-CO3)	2
CO 302	Writing in Digital Environments (GT-CO3)	2
Select one course from the following pre-reqs for Capstones:			3
E 301	Framing Texts and Critical Theory in Equity	4A,4B
E 305	Principles of Writing and Rhetoric	4A,4B
E 310	Researching and Writing Literary Criticism	4A,4B
E 320	Introduction to the Study of Language	4A,4B
E 341	Literary Criticism and Theory	4A,4B
Select one course from the following:			3
E 311A	Intermediate Creative Writing: Fiction
E 311B	Intermediate Creative Writing: Poetry
E 311C	Intermediate Creative Writing: Nonfiction
Upper-Division English/Composition Electives¹			6
Second field²			3
Electives			12
	Total Credits		30
Senior

Select one course from the following (Must match subtopic of E 311A, E 311B, or E 311C in Junior year):			3
E 412A	Creative Writing Workshop: Fiction
E 412B	Creative Writing Workshop: Poetry
E 412C	Creative Writing Workshop: Nonfiction
Select one course from the following:			3
E 465	Topics in Literature and Language	4C
E 466	Integrated English Studies Capstone	4C
Upper-Division English/Composition Electives¹			12
Second field²			9
Elective³			3
	Total Credits		30
	Program Total Credits:		120

¹: Select Upper-Division English/Composition electives in consultation with advisor.
²: The department requires majors to complete a second field. This may be met by completing the second semester of the second year of a foreign language or by completing 12 credits of upper division courses in a coherent field of study outside English.
³: Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
For graduation, an English major must attain a minimum grade point average of 2.000 in all Composition (CO) and English (E) courses.

*Freshman*
Semester 1		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
CO 150	College Composition (GT-CO2)	X		1A	3
E 150	English Studies Symposium	X			3
Choose one class from the following:		X			3
E 200	Inquiry-Based Teaching and Communicating (GT-AH2)			3B
E 202	Language Use in Society (GT-AH2)			3B
E 204	Creative Writing as Transformative Practice (GT-AH2)			3B
E 206	Language for Activist Rhetoric and Writing (GT-AH2)			3B
E 237	Introduction to Science Fiction (GT-AH2)			3B
1B			X	1B	3
1C			X	1C	3
	Total Credits				15
Semester 2		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
SPCM 200	Public Speaking	X			3
Select one course from the following:		X			3
E 236	Short Fiction			3B
E 238	Contemporary Global Fiction (GT-AH2)			1C
E 240	Introduction to Poetry
E 242	Reading Shakespeare (GT-AH2)			3B
E 245	World Drama (GT-AH2)			1C
E 270	Introduction to American Literature (GT-AH2)			3B
E 276	British Literature--Medieval Period to 1800 (GT-AH2)			3B
E 277	British Literature--After 1800 (GT-AH2)			3B
Biological and Physical Sciences			X	3A	4
Electives			X		5
AUCC 1B and CO 150 must be completed by the end of Semester 2.		X
	Total Credits				15
*Sophomore*
Semester 3		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
E 210	Beginning Creative Writing (GT-AH2)	X		1C	3
Select one course from the following:		X			3
E 200	Inquiry-Based Teaching and Communicating (GT-AH2)			3B
E 202	Language Use in Society (GT-AH2)			3B
E 204	Creative Writing as Transformative Practice (GT-AH2)			3B
E 206	Language for Activist Rhetoric and Writing (GT-AH2)			3B
E 237	Introduction to Science Fiction (GT-AH2)			3B
E*** English Elective			X		3
Biological and Physical Sciences		X		3A	3
Social and Behavioral Sciences			X	3C	3
	Total Credits				15
Semester 4		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
Historical Perspectives			X	3D	3
Electives			X		12
AUCC 3A (Biological and Physical Sciences), AUCC 3B (Arts and Humanities), AUCC 3C (Social and Behavioral Sciences), and E 210 must be completed by the end of Semester 4.		X
	Total Credits				15
*Junior*
Semester 5		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
Select one course from the following pre-reqs for Capstones:		X			3
E 301	Framing Texts and Critical Theory in Equity			4A,4B
E 305	Principles of Writing and Rhetoric			4A,4B
E 310	Researching and Writing Literary Criticism			4A,4B
E 320	Introduction to the Study of Language			4A,4B
E 341	Literary Criticism and Theory			4A,4B
Select one course from the following:		X			3
E 311A	Intermediate Creative Writing: Fiction
E 311B	Intermediate Creative Writing: Poetry
E 311C	Intermediate Creative Writing: Nonfiction
Upper-Division English/Composition Electives		X			3
Electives			X		6
	Total Credits				15
Semester 6		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
Select one course from the following:		X			3
CO 300	Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)			2
CO 301A	Writing in the Disciplines: Arts and Humanities (GT-CO3)			2
CO 301B	Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)			2
CO 301C	Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3)			2
CO 301D	Writing in the Disciplines: Education (GT-CO3)			2
CO 302	Writing in Digital Environments (GT-CO3)			2
Upper-Division English/Composition Elective		X			3
Second Field Course		X			3
Electives			X		6
	Total Credits				15
*Senior*
Semester 7		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
Select one course from the following:		X			3
E 465	Topics in Literature and Language			4C
E 466	Integrated English Studies Capstone			4C
Upper-Division English/Composition Elective		X			6
Second Field Courses		X			6
	Total Credits				15
Semester 8		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
Select one course from the following:		X			3
E 412A	Creative Writing Workshop: Fiction
E 412B	Creative Writing Workshop: Poetry
E 412C	Creative Writing Workshop: Nonfiction
Upper-Division English/Composition Elective		X			6
Second Field Course		X			3
Elective		X			3
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.		X
	Total Credits				15
	Program Total Credits:				120