Creative Writing: Bachelor of Arts Major and Minor
Description
The KPU Creative Writing Department offers students a community of creativity in which writers discover a purposeful craft and explore the gifts of the imagination. We offer award-winning faculty, small class sizes, and a wealth of online courses for learners not able to attend class at a KPU campus.
Teaching in the Creative Writing Department is based on foundational principles of mentorship, humility, discovery, purposefulness, and learner autonomy. Faculty demonstrate an authentic spirit of inquiry intended as a model for learners. In turn, learners engage with a teaching environment that is collaborative, innovative, creative, and respectful. We embrace emerging and experimental teaching methods and research-driven pedagogy in support of a dynamic educational community that is innovative, interdisciplinary, and socially and culturally responsible. In the Creative Writing Department, learner engagement extends beyond the classroom to encompass community and industry partners and peers.
Career Opportunities
Creative writing is a vital and foundational skill which will allow students to further themselves in a variety of careers ranging from those traditionally associated with writing such as literary creation, publishing, editing, and communications to new media, marketing, publicity, advocacy and education. Creative writing also allows students who develop interests in other fields, or who go on to postgraduate study in other disciplines, to apply their skill sets to any area they choose - whether in the humanities, arts, trades, social sciences or sciences.
Program Admission Requirements
In addition to Kwantlen's General university admission requirements, including the undergraduate-level English Proficiency Requirement, the following program admission requirements apply:
Year One Admission:
- English 12 with a 'B' (or equivalent)
- Mathematics:
- Minimum grade of 'C' in Pre-Calculus 11, Principles of Mathematics 11, or Applications of Mathematics 12 (or equivalent); or
- Minimum grade of 'C+' in Foundations of Mathematics 11 (or equivalent); or
- Minimum grade of 'C-' in Pre-Calculus 12 or Foundations of Mathematics 12 (or equivalent)
Year Three Admission:
- 60 credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 (including all 1100- and 2000-level major/minor program requirements).
- Grade of 'C' in all required 1000-and 2000-level courses, including the English writing requirement (ENGL 1100 and one of either ENGL 1202 or 1204, or equivalent).
- Two Quantitative courses (total of six or more credits).
- 12 credits of breadth courses
- Mathematics:
- Minimum grade of 'C' in Pre-Calculus 11, Principles of Mathematics 11, or Applications of Mathematics 12 (or equivalent); or
- Minimum grade of 'C+' in Foundations of Mathematics 11 (or equivalent); or
- Minimum grade of 'C-' in Pre-Calculus 12 or Foundations of Mathematics 12 (or equivalent); or
- Minimum grade of 'C+' in the above Two Quantitative courses (three credits of which must be from the Faculty of Science & Horticulture)
- Second language at the Grade 11 level or 6 credits of post-secondary language courses in the same language. Note: Students need only achieve a passing grade to fulfill this requirement. Beginner's or Introductory Language 11 courses are ineligible to meet this requirement. Students who can demonstrate competency in a second language may request an assessment to have this requirement waived.
Qualifying Year
Students who do not qualify upon initial application to KPU may be eligible for entry to the Qualifying Year. Students who possess at least a 'C' in English 12 (or equivalent) and a passing grade in either Pre-Calculus 11, Principles of Math 11, Foundations of Mathematics 11, Applications of Math 12 (or equivalents) will be able to apply for entry to the BA Qualifying Year. Students will be admitted to the BA program in the second year provided they have successfully completed appropriate qualifying courses. Other applicants who do not qualify are encouraged to consult an Educational Advisor for the appropriate qualifying courses that satisfy the application criteria.
Program Continuance Requirements
Current BA students must meet the following requirements to continue into their 3rd year of study. Registration access to third or fourth year courses is first awarded to students who have completed the following:
- 60 credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 (including all 1100- and 2000-level major/minor program requirements).
- Grade of 'C' in all required 1000-and 2000-level courses, including the English writing requirement (ENGL 1100 and one of either ENGL 1202 or 1204, or equivalent).
- Two Quantitative courses (total of six or more credits).
- 12 credits of breadth courses
- Second language at the Grade 11 level or 6 credits of post-secondary language courses in the same language. Note: Students need only achieve a passing grade to fulfill this requirement. Beginner's or Introductory Language 11 courses are ineligible to meet this requirement. Students who can demonstrate competency in a second language may request an assessment to have this requirement waived.
Program Requirements
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree must complete all requirements in the Bachelor of Arts Framework in addition to their major or minor program requirements.
Creative Writing Major
This major will require higher grades than a C; please check the pre-requisites for each course.
Core requirements:
| All of: | |||
| CRWR 1100 | Introduction to Creative Writing I | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 1110 | Introduction to Creative Writing II | 3 credits | |
| ENGL 1100 | Introduction to University Writing | 3 credits | |
| One of ENGL at the 1200-level or equivalent | 3 credits | ||
| Two of: | |||
| CRWR 1240 | Introduction to New Media | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 2140 | Writing and Creativity on the Web | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 2300 | Drama, Fiction and Poetry I | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 2310 | Drama, Fiction and Poetry II | 3 credits | |
Plus four courses in three of the following five streams (totaling 36 credits):
| Fiction | |||
| CRWR 3100 | Techniques in Short Fiction | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 3200 | Short Fiction | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 4100 | Advanced Short Fiction l | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 4200 | Advanced Short Fiction ll | 3 credits | |
| Poetry | |||
| CRWR 3110 | Poetic Forms and Techniques | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 3210 | Advanced Poetic Forms and Techniques | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 4110 | Advanced Poetry l | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 4210 | Advanced Poetry ll | 3 credits | |
| Screenwriting | |||
| CRWR 3120 | Screenwriting I | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 3220 | Screenwriting II | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 4120 | Advanced Screenwriting l | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 4220 | Advanced Screenwriting ll | 3 credits | |
| Creative Nonfiction | |||
| CRWR 3130 | Creative Nonfiction I | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 3230 | Creative Nonfiction II | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 4130 | Advanced Creative Nonfiction l | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 4230 | Advanced Creative Nonfiction ll | 3 credits | |
| New Media | |||
| Courses are currently being developed | |||
Creative Writing Minor
Students in the Bachelor of Arts Minor program must complete the following courses:
1000 Level
| 6 credits of Creative Writing: | |||
| CRWR 1100 | Introduction to Creative Writing I | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 1110 | Introduction to Creative Writing II | 3 credits | |
| 6 credits of English as follows: | |||
| ENGL 1100 | Introduction to University Writing | 3 credits | |
| One of ENGL at the 1200-level or equivalent | 3 credits | ||
2000 Level
| 6 credits of Creative Writing: | |||
| CRWR 2300 | Drama, Fiction & Poetry I | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 2310 | Drama, Fiction & Poetry II | 3 credits | |
3000 Level
|
12 credits in two areas of concentration:
Choose two courses: |
|||
| CRWR 3100 | Techniques of Short Fiction | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 3110 | Poetry Forms & Techniques I | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 3120 | Screenplay I | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 3130 | Creative Non-Fiction | 3 credits | |
| Choose the two courses that follow those from above: | |||
| CRWR 3200 | Short Fiction | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 3210 | Poetry Forms & Techniques II | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 3220 | Screenplay II | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 3230 | Creative Non-Fiction II | 3 credits | |
4000 Level
| 6 credits in the two areas of concentration chosen above: | |||
| CRWR 4100 | Advanced Fiction Workshop | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 4110 | Advanced Poetry Workshop I | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 4120 | Advanced Screenwriting I | 3 credits | |
| CRWR 4130 | Advanced Creative Non-Fiction | 3 credits | |
Credential Awarded
Upon successful completion of the major program students are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Arts. Transcripts will indicate a Major in Creative Writing.
Upon successful completion of the minor as part of a Bachelor of Arts program, transcripts will indicate a Minor in Creative Writing.
