Program update

As of the fall semester of 2007, there will be new courses in the Creative Writing Program that will include beginning, intermediate, advanced, and senior level workshops in poetry, fiction, and literary nonfiction, as well as seminars that will address craft and literary issues. There will also be single sections in both semesters of playwriting, filmwriting, and the multi-genred Structure and Style.

Students in both Columbia College and The School of General Studies will have the option to major in creative writing. There will be ample opportunities for non-majors to take our classes.

Creative Writing majors will focus in one genre: poetry, fiction, or literary nonfiction. Majors will be required to take at least one workshop outside their genre.

Some of the seminars that can be taken by both majors and non-majors will address multi-genre and cross-genre artistic exploration. Beginning workshops will be geared – with the use of readings and exercises – toward expanding a student’s sense of possibility with regard to the fluidity of the various genres.

The major will be comprised of 5 workshops (at least one of which must be in a genre outside a student’s major focus), 4 seminars, and 3 related courses.

For the fall semester of 2007, Senior Workshops will be open to graduating seniors who are completing the Columbia College Creative Writing Program and the General Studies lit/writing major. In this way, current students will be able to graduate and complete the Program or major they came to Columbia to do. As we go forward the Senior Workshop will be reserved for majors. It should be noted that advanced workshops will maintain an equal level of commitment and quality so that all students, regardless of their major, will be well served.

Majors and non-majors will be able to take beginning, intermediate, and advanced workshops.

Students will apply to the major with writing samples.

Students will be asked to submit writing samples to be admitted to all intermediate, advanced, and senior level workshops.

Procedures by which students may apply to classes and to the new major will be available on this site and in the Undergraduate Creative Writing office located in 612 Lewisohn Hall on February 19th.

Beginning level workshops are open to students from the 2nd semester of their first year through their senior year without the submission of a writing sample. Admission to beginning workshops will be on a first come first served basis. This is consistent with our current policy regarding Structure and Style. The number of beginning workshops scheduled to be taught in the fall 2007 academic year directly equals the number of Structure and Style sections currently offered. There will be NO reduction in student service in this regard.

We are aware that many students are currently enrolled in creative writing courses and are committed to the completion of the existing GS literature/major or the Columbia College Creative Writing Program. Present majors and Program students will be permitted to take the newly offered courses to complete their requirements. The following is a list of old courses and their new equivalents so that you can understand how your classes will be viewed under the new system.

Structure and Style 1 & 2 = Beginning Workshops in any genre
Short Prose Forms = Intermediate Fiction Workshop
Narrative Forms = Intermediate Fiction Workshop
Tactics of Fiction = Intermediate Fiction Workshop
Free Verse and Poetic Forms = Intermediate Poetry Workshop
Tactics of Nonfiction = Intermediate Nonfiction Workshop
Personal Essay = Intermediate Nonfiction Workshop
Fiction Workshop = Advanced Workshops
Poetry Workshop = Advanced Poetry Workshop
Nonfiction Workshop = Advanced Nonfiction Workshop
Honors Workshop = Senior Workshop

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I am a first year Columbia College student and would like to take a writing workshop. What are the prerequisites? What if I am a General Studies student?
A: The Columbia College prerequisite for a Beginning Workshop is either University Writing or Lit Hum. For General Studies students the prerequisite is University Writing.

Q: I’ve taken Structure and Style I and II. Does this count as one Beginning Workshop or two?
A: If you’ve taken both they count as two Beginning Workshops.

Q: I'm a rising senior. Will I be able to complete this new major?
A: If you have not already declared a creative writing major, it is doubtful that you can fulfill the requirements in one year. Since four seminars are required (in addition to five workshops and three related courses), and since there are no course equivalencies for the seminars (because courses like these have not been offered before), the Writing Division does not feel that the major could be completed with the proper integrity.

Q: I have taken several writing classes and literature classes with the intention of declaring a GS Literature /Writing major. Am I too late to declare the old major?
A: Yes, you must be apply this spring to the new major. If accepted, your writing classes will count toward the new major.

Q: I have a different major but want to pursue writing classes at Columbia. Will I be able to take high-level workshops and seminars?
A: You will be eligible for all classes except senior workshops, though preference will sometimes be given to majors. You must submit a writing sample for workshops at the intermediate level or above.

Q: What are the course equivalencies between the courses in the old program and the courses in the new program?
A:
Structure and Style 1 & 2 = Beginning Workshops in any genre
Short Prose Forms = Intermediate Fiction Workshop
Narrative Forms = Intermediate Fiction Workshop
Tactics of Fiction = Intermediate Fiction Workshop
Free Verse and Poetic Forms = Intermediate Poetry Workshop
Tactics of Nonfiction = Intermediate Nonfiction Workshop
Personal Essay = Intermediate Nonfiction Workshop
Fiction Workshop = Advanced Workshops
Poetry Workshop = Advanced Poetry Workshop
Nonfiction Workshop = Advanced Nonfiction Workshop
Honors Workshop = Senior Workshop

Q: Can I major in Dramatic Writing or Screenwriting?
A: We are pleased to offer sections in Dramatic Writing and Screenwriting as electives, but in these genres we do not offer a major.

Q: I am an incoming freshman. Can I take a creative writing course?
A: Creative Writing courses will not be open to you until the spring semester of your first year.

Q: Will Barnard Creative Writing courses count toward the new major?
A: Yes, one Barnard course can be counted.

Q: How many Undergraduate Creative Writing workshops can a student take
each semester?
A: Students can take only one Undergraduate Creative Writing workshop
each semester.

Q: How many seminars can a student take each semester?
A: Students are advised to take one seminar each semester. If there is
a compelling reason to take more than one seminar in a semester,
please discuss the situation with an Undergraduate Creative Writing
advisor.

Q: Can I take one workshop and one seminar in the same semester?
A: Yes.

Q: Can I complete the Undergraduate Creative Writing major if I plan to
study abroad?
A: It is possible to complete the major with study abroad, but students
should discuss this situation with an Undergraduate Creative Writing
advisor as soon as possible in order to plan an appropriate program
of study.