English Major with a Creative Writing Concentration
Premised on the belief that the study of literature and the practice of writing are mutually reinforcing, the English major with a creative writing concentration emphasizes the interrelations among creative writing, digital media, criticism, and scholarship. As an integrated concentration in the English department with a dual focus on literature and creative work, the creative writing concentration combines literature courses, small writing workshops, and practical industry training to prepare students for advanced study or careers in writing, media, and publishing. In addition, our concentrators benefit from the resources provided by New York City, a worldwide center for literary publishing.
Students can apply for admission to the English major with a creative writing concentration in the fall semester of their sophomore or junior year. Applicants will submit a cover letter (1,000 words maximum) and a writing sample (prose, poetry, or any mixture of genres - 1,500 words maximum), to be reviewed by a panel of creative writing faculty. To access the online application, visit our website.
The English major with a Creative Writing concentration consists of a total of eleven required courses:
Requirements for the Class of 2026 and Beyond
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| One Texts and Contexts course 1 | 3 | |
| One Literary Theories course | 4 | |
| ENGL 3000 | Literary Theories | 4 |
| or COLI 3000 | Literary Theories | |
| One Introduction to Creative Writing course | 4 | |
| Introduction to Creative Writing | ||
| Three Creative Writing electives 2 | 12 | |
| Four Literature electives 3 | 16 | |
Two Historical Distribution courses | ||
One Race and Social Justice course | ||
One additional Literature elective course 4 | ||
| One Creative Writing Capstone course | 4 | |
| Creative Writing Capstone | ||
- 1
A list of courses fulfilling the Texts and Contexts requirement can be seen on the core curriculum page. Texts and Contexts courses have the TC attribute.
- 2
Creative Writing electives are courses with the CVW attribute.
- 3
Literature electives are any course of three or more credits with the ENGL subject code or ENGL attribute code, with the following exceptions: ENGL 1102 Composition II, ENGL 2000 Texts and Contexts, ENGL 3003 Introduction to Professional Writing, and courses with the CVW, PPWF or PPWD attributes.
- 4
Because some Literature electives will double count as both Historical Distribution and Race and Social Justice courses, concentrators may end up being able to take more than one additional Literature elective course.
Requirements for the Class of 2025 and Earlier
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| One Texts and Contexts course 1 | 3 | |
| One Literary Theories course | 4 | |
| ENGL 3000 | Literary Theories | 4 |
| or COLI 3000 | Literary Theories | |
| Four Creative Writing electives 2 | 16 | |
| Four Literature electives 3 | 16 | |
Two Historical Distribution courses | ||
One Race and Social Justice course | ||
One additional Literature elective course 4 | ||
| One Creative Writing Capstone course | 4 | |
| Creative Writing Capstone | ||
- 1
A list of courses fulfilling the Texts and Contexts requirement can be seen on the core curriculum page. Texts and Contexts courses have the TC attribute.
- 2
Creative Writing electives are courses with the CVW attribute.
- 3
Literature electives are any course of three or more credits with the ENGL subject code or ENGL attribute code, with the following exceptions: ENGL 1102 Composition II, ENGL 2000 Texts and Contexts, ENGL 3003 Introduction to Professional Writing, and courses with the CVW, PPWF or PPWD attributes.
- 4
Because some Literature electives will double count as both Historical Distribution and Race and Social Justice courses, concentrators may end up being able to take more than one additional Literature elective course.
Requirements in Detail/Supplementary Information
Grades
Courses in which a student receives a grade of D or F will not count toward the concentration. Courses taken on a Pass/Fail basis cannot be counted towards the English Major with Creative Writing Concentration requirements.
The English Major with a Creative Writing Concentration and the Core Curriculum
Concentrators may count English electives taken to meet the following core requirements toward the concentration: Advanced Literature Core, ICC, EP3, Values/EP4, American Pluralism, and Global Studies.
Literary Theories Requirement
All concentrators are required to take Literary Theories (ENGL 3000 or COLI 3000). This course is usually taken during a student's junior year, but sophomores may also enroll. Literary Theories introduces students to debates in literary and critical theory. The goal of these courses is to reflect on reading strategies, textual practices, and language itself. Students will engage with a range of critical, theoretical, and social issues shaping the field of literary studies today.
Creative Writing Requirement
Three courses that have been designated by the English department as Creative Writing courses are required for the concentration (four for the class of 2025 and earlier). These courses have the CVW attribute code and are included in departmental course listings. Advanced students may, with permission, also take graduate-level creative writing courses. These courses have the CVWG attribute code and are included in departmental course listings.
Historical Distribution Requirement
At least two of the courses that students take for the concentration must cover literature from a historical period before 1850. The goal of the Historical Distribution requirement is to encourage students to learn about a diverse range of historical periods and literary forms. Historical Distribution courses have the ENHD attribute code and are included in departmental course listings.
Race and Social Justice Requirement
Concentrators are required to take one course with the Race and Social Justice designation. These courses will introduce students to literatures from minority, ethnic, diasporic, postcolonial, colonial, and/or global traditions. They also aim to examine issues of race through the lenses of ethics, social justice, respect for human dignity, and the sustainability of the world in which we live. These courses have the ENRJ attribute code and are included in departmental course listings.
Creative Writing Capstone Requirement
ENGL 4705 Creative Writing Capstone will introduce graduating students to the realities of the writer's life, which necessarily involves not just individual work but also affiliation, cooperation, and community. In the capstone course, students will create and revise portfolios that comprise their creative, scholarly, and extracurricular work during their four years at Fordham. Additionally, students will work collaboratively to put together a public exhibition of a creative writing project.
Additional Information
- Concentrators will receive credit toward the concentration for certain courses offered by other departments and programs if they carry an ENGL attribute or an ENGL course number. Up to two additional cognate courses in other departments or programs that are deemed relevant to the major may be counted with permission of the associate chair. Relevant courses offered in other areas are listed in the Bulletin.
- Up to two courses may be double counted between concentration and major. That is, each of the two courses may be counted for both the concentration and another, related major. Only one course may be double counted between concentration and minor.
- Up to two courses taken abroad with content deemed relevant to the concentration may be considered for credit toward the concentration.
- For students who transfer from another school to Fordham, the department will consider counting up to two courses taken prior to arrival at Fordham toward the concentration.
- Credits earned for internships do not count for credit toward the concentration. Internship credits do count for general credits toward graduation. In order to receive academic credit for an internship, you must have completed 60 academic credits, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and register for a tutorial with a faculty member who agrees to serve as your academic adviser. Depending on the amount of academic work involved in the tutorial, your faculty mentor will suggest that you register for a one- or two-credit tutorial. Internships are graded on a Pass/Fail basis.
- Advanced Placement credits in English Literature and in English Language count toward a student's total number of credits in the college but not within the concentration. A score of 4 or 5 in AP English Literature will count toward college elective credits.
Availability
The major in English with a creative writing concentration is available at Fordham College at Rose Hill, Fordham College at Lincoln Center, and Fordham's School of Professional and Continuing Studies at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center.
Fordham College at Rose Hill students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the Core Curriculum.
Fordham College at Lincoln Center students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the Core Curriculum.
Professional and Continuing Studies students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the PCS Core Curriculum and any additional electives that may be required to earn a minimum of 124 credits.