Creative Writing Academic Certificate
Description:
The certificate program in Creative Writing is a 33-credit program designed to help students grow as writers and readers. Guided by our accomplished faculty, students will take a sequence of literature and creative writing courses, have opportunities to interact with visiting writers, and attend readings, workshops, festivals and other special events. The program culminates in a capstone course, Portfolio Development, designed to help students prepare to apply to four-year writing programs and develop manuscripts for publication. Students earning the certificate in Creative Writing may elect to continue their education at the College by earning the A.A. degree in Liberal Arts by completing 28 additional credits.
Program Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this program graduates will be able to:
- Examine literature as a model for their original work.
- Understand and use techniques necessary for the mastery of the craft of creative writing.
- Improve their creative writing skills through feedback and continued revision.
- Gain insight into local and national resources for writers and the publication process.
- Complete a portfolio of original work for publication or submission to other creative writing programs.
Program Entry Requirements:
This program is open to all interested students. Students identified as needing developmental course work must satisfactorily complete the appropriate English and mathematics courses as part of their certificate program.
Program of Study and Graduation Requirements:
Receipt of the academic certificate is based on completion of a minimum of 33 credits of required courses, with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 ("C" average).
Course Sequence:
Semester 1
| Course Number and Name | Prerequisites and Corequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 101 - English Composition or ENGL 101H - English Composition I (Honors) | 3 credits | |
| CIS 103 - Introduction to Information Technology | 3 credits | |
| Social Science Elective | 3 credits | |
| ENGL 205 - Creative Writing | 3 credits |
Semester 2
| Course Number and Name | Prerequisites and Corequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Literature course | ENGL 101 must be completed prior to taking any literature courses except for ENGL 190 where ENGL 101 and ENGL 190 may be taken concurrently. | 3 credits |
| ENGL 102 - The Research Paper or ENGL 102H - The Research Paper (Honors) | ENGL 101 with a grade of "C" or better | 3 credits |
| FNMT 101 - Quantitative Reasoning or FNMT 118 - Intermediate Algebra or higher* | FNMT 017 or FNMT 019 completed or FNMT 118 (or higher) placement | 3 credits |
| Directed Elective - Select one of the following: Literature course or ENGL 137 - Introduction to Theater (ENGL 137 recommended for students taking ENGL 282) | ENGL 101 | 3 credits |
| Select one of the following: ENGL 280 - Poetry Writing or ENGL 281 - Fiction Writing or ENGL 282 - Scriptwriting or ENGL 283 - Nonfiction Writing: Memoir and Literary Journalism | For ENGL 280, 281, 282: ENGL 205 For ENGL 283: ENGL 102 or ENGL 205 | 3 credits |
Semester 3
| Course Number and Name | Prerequisites and Corequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: ENGL 280 - Poetry Writing or ENGL 281 - Fiction Writing or ENGL 282 - Scriptwriting or ENGL 283 - Nonfiction Writing: Memoir and Literary Journalism | For ENGL 280, 281, 282: ENGL 205 For ENGL 283: ENGL 102 or ENGL 205 | 3 credits |
| ENGL 285 - Portfolio Development | Two of the following: ENGL 280, 281, 282, 283 one of which may be taken concurrently | 3 credits |
Minimum Credits Needed to Graduate:
33* Some colleges and universities require a mathematics course above FNMT 118. In that case:
- Students who are FNMT 118 ready may take MATH 137 or MATH 150 instead of FNMT 101 or FNMT 118.
- Students who are FNMT 118 ready who intend to transfer to Temple University should take FNMT 118, which is the prerequisite for MATH 161.
- Students with a math placement score above FNMT 118 should take MATH 161 or a higher-level math course.
- Please visit the transfer agreements web page for more information and consult with an advisor when selecting a quantitative reasoning course.
General Education Requirements:
All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above. Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form. To access the form, login to the MyCCP portal, and in the Student tab, under Electronic Forms, click on the Records and Registration Forms link, then choose Request For Course Substitution Of Graduation Requirement link. A more detailed explanation of the College's general education requirements is also available.
For More Information, Contact:
The Division of Liberal Studies, Room BR-21, 1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, Telephone (215) 751-8450; or the College Information Center (215) 751-8010.