Students earn the Certificate in Writing by completing 18 hours in selected writing courses with a grade point average of 3.0 or better. The creative writing emphasis focuses the students' efforts toward producing original fiction or poetry and can include other literary endeavors such as writing creative nonfiction, editing, feature writing, and copywriting. The specific requirements for the Creative Writing Emphasis are listed below.
Courses for the certificate should be chosen with the guidance of Jeanne Allison, program coordinator (447 Lucas Hall, 516-5587; allisonjea@umsl.edu). If the student elects to complete English 4890 as one of the courses for the certificate, he or she should schedule a meeting with the coordinator to make arrangements for the internship.
When the student has completed requirements for the certificate, the coordinator will notify the university registrar and the college from which the student will graduate. Upon the student's graduation, completion of the Creative Writing Certificate will be noted on the official transcript and a certificate will be mailed to the student's residence. Students who have graduated before completing the Certificate in Writing will receive the certificate in the mail and will have the certificate entered on their official transcripts.
To receive this certificate, the student must take 18 hours chosen from the courses listed below. Students must take at least two of the following English courses: 3030, 3040, 4130, 4140, 4895, 4890 and at least one must be a 4000-level course.
| 2000-Level Courses (Students may take no more than two 2000 level courses) |
| ENGL 2030 |
Beginning poetry Writing Workshop (CW) |
| ENGL 2040 |
Beginning fiction Writing Workshop (CW) |
| ENGL 2330 |
Introduction to Poetry (Lit) |
| ENGL 2340 |
Introduction to Fiction (Lit) |
| ENGL 2350 |
Introduction to Drama (Lit) |
| Creative Writing and Literature Courses |
| ENGL 3030 |
Poetry Workshop:Lyric and Form |
| ENGL 3040 |
Fiction Workshop: Narrative Structure |
| ENGL 3090 |
Writing About Literature |
| ENGL 3100 |
Junior-Level Writing |
| ENGL 4130 |
Advanced Poetry Writing |
| ENGL 4140 |
Advanced Fiction Writing |
| ENGL 4160 |
Special Topics in Writing (Advanced poetry and fiction workshop) |
| ENGL 4890 |
Writing Internship |
| ENGL 4892 |
Independent Writing Project (limited availability) |
| ENGL 4895 |
Editing Litmag |
| Professional Writing Courses (Students are encouraged to take at least one professional writing course, but no more than two.) |
| ENGL 2080 |
Advertising Copywriting (or MEDIA 2080) |
| ENGL 3150 |
Feature Writing (or MEDIA 3150) |
| ENGL 4860 |
Editing |
The capstone course may be 4130, 4140, 4890, or 4895. If 4890 is used, it will be an internship in literary publishing, feature writing, or advertising copywriting. To use 4130 or 4140, the student must obtain the coordinator's permission and do extra work in the course. The "Editing Litmag" course, 4895, may also be used as the final course for this certificate.