Creative Writing Minor

Program Coordinator: John Hoppenthaler (301 Erwin; 252-328-5562; hoppenthalerj@ecu.edu)

The minor in creative writing provides a solid background in appreciating and writing original creative work in four principal genres: fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and play/scriptwriting. The minor also incorporates the study of literature and other disciplines to provide students with the foundations needed to become successful and resourceful readers, intellectuals in various disciplines, and creative writers. Students learn how to read closely as writers and to engage successfully in the practice of literary writing.

This interdisciplinary minor also provides students an overview of the precedents established by writers of many eras, continents, ethnicities, and sensibilities. Students will learn how to analyze, appreciate, and create the components that comprise works of literature.

By creating their own works of literature, student writers should be able to apply what they have learned about the elements of literature to their own work and discover which genres of creative writing they wish to pursue further.

Because undergraduate creative writing students are not expected to specialize in a single genre, the minor requires in its core an introductory workshop course that exposes students to each of the four genres as well as a minimum of two workshop courses in specific genres.

Semester hours that count toward the student’s major may not count towards the creative writing minor. Other appropriate courses, including special topic courses (when the theme is relevant), 5000-level courses, and directed readings may be considered for inclusion as electives upon review by the coordinator. Visit http://www.ecu.edu/cs-cas/engl/EnglishMinor.cfm for more information.

Minimum requirement for the creative writing minor is 18 s.h. of credit as follows: