Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in English and a Major Concentration in Creative Writing
Program Learning Outcomes for the BA Degree with a Major in English and a Major Concentration in Creative Writing
Upon completing the BA degree with a major in English, students will be able to demonstrate:
- Competence in literary and cultural analysis.
- Understanding of literature and culture in relation to its historical and socio-cultural contexts.
- Disciplinary-specific methodological, critical, and theoretical training.
- Critical writing skills in papers of varying length.
- Disciplinary-specific research knowledge.
Additionally, upon completing the BA degree with a major in English and a major concentration in Creative Writing, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate skills in producing original works of fictional prose, literary essays, poetry, plays, and/or screenplays in English.
Requirements for the BA Degree with a Major in English and a Major Concentration in Creative Writing
For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BA degree with a major in English, and a major concentration in Creative Writing, must complete:
- A minimum of 11 courses (33-34 credit hours, depending on course selection) to satisfy major requirements.
- A minimum of 120 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 7 courses (21 credit hours) taken at the 300-level or above.
- A maximum of 4 courses (12 credit hours) from study abroad or transfer credit. For additional departmental guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab.
- The requirements for the major concentration in Creative Writing.
The department recommends that all English majors take courses in British and American history and, if they plan to do graduate work, at least 6 hours of upper-level courses in a foreign language. AP course credit is not permitted to count towards the major.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the major’s academic advisor or, where applicable, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in English and a Major Concentration in Creative Writing | 33-34 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the BA Degree with a Major in English and a Major Concentration in Creative Writing | 120 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements 1 | ||
| English Core | ||
| ENGL 200 | GATEWAYS TO LITERARY STUDY | 3 |
| ENGL 300 | PRACTICES OF LITERARY STUDY: READING METHODS | 3 |
| Pre-1800 and Pre-1900 (Historical Foundations) | ||
| Select 2 courses from Pre-1800 and Pre-1900 courses (see course list below). At least 1 of the 2 selected courses must be in fields designated as Pre-1800. | 6 | |
| Critical Race, Postcolonial, and Gender Studies (Diverse Traditions) | ||
| Select 1 course from Critical Race, Postcolonial, and Gender Studies courses (see course list below). | 3 | |
| Major Concentration in Creative Writing | ||
| Select 5 courses from the Major Concentration in Creative Writing (see below for Major Concentration requirements) | 15-16 | |
| Research Workshop | ||
| ENGL 411 | RESEARCH WORKSHOP | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours for the Major in English and a Major Concentration in Creative Writing | 33-34 | |
| Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements * | 55-56 | |
| University Graduation Requirements * | 31 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| * | Note: University Graduation Requirements include 31 credit hours, comprised of Distribution Requirements (Groups I, II, and III), FWIS, and LPAP coursework. In some instances, courses satisfying FWIS or distribution requirements may additionally meet other requirements, such as the Analyzing Diversity (AD) requirement, or some of the student’s declared major, minor, or certificate requirements. Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements include general electives, coursework completed as upper-level, residency (hours taken at Rice), and/or any other additional academic program requirements. |
| 1 | Specific course offerings will vary from semester to semester. |
Course Lists to Satisfy Requirements
The following lists of courses can be used to satisfy the requirements of the major when available. Specific course offerings will vary from semester to semester. Courses not on the list may be taken upon approval of the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. Requirements fulfilled by special topics field courses can vary.
Pre-1800 and Pre-1900 (Historical Foundations)
Students must complete a total of 2 courses (6 credit hours) at the 200-level or above in periods before 1900. Of the 2 courses, 1 course (3 credit hours) must be from the approved Pre-1800 coursework, but only one may be a Shakespeare course. The second required course may be an additional course from the Pre-1800 coursework or an approved Pre-1900 course.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-1800 (Historical Foundations) | ||
| ENGL 210 | BEGINNINGS: BRITISH LITERATURE TO 1800 | 3 |
| ENGL 254 | THE HISTORY OF LOVE | 3 |
| ENGL 274 | HEAVEN AND HELL | 3 |
| ENGL 311 | TOPICS IN MEDIEVAL LITERATURE AND/OR CULTURE | 3 |
| ENGL 314 / MDEM 319 | MEDIEVAL ROMANCE | 3 |
| ENGL 316 / MDEM 316 / SWGS 305 | CHAUCER | 3 |
| ENGL 317 / MDEM 317 / SWGS 301 | ARTHURIAN LITERATURE | 3 |
| ENGL 320 | SHAKESPEARE ON FILM | 3 |
| ENGL 321 | SHAKESPEARE | 3 |
| ENGL 322 | TOPICS IN SHAKESPEARE | 3 |
| ENGL 323 | RENAISSANCE DRAMA | 3 |
| ENGL 328 | JOHN MILTON: RADICAL THOUGHT THEN AND NOW | 3 |
| ENGL 331 | PERSON, ANIMAL, THING: LITERATURE AND THE EXPERIMENTAL IMAGINATION 1640-1800 | 3 |
| ENGL 332 | LITERATURE OF THE BRITISH ENLIGHTENMENT | 3 |
| ENGL 333 | 18TH CENTURY BRITISH FICTION | 3 |
| ENGL 340 | CALDERWOOD SEMINAR IN PUBLIC WRITING | 3 |
| ENGL 360 | AMERICAN LITERATURE BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR | 3 |
| ENGL 430 | EMPIRE AND BRITISH LITERATURE 1700-1950 | 3 |
| Pre-1900 (Historical Foundations) | ||
| ENGL 211 | BRITISH LITERATURE: ROMANTICISM TO THE 20TH CENTURY | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | HISTORY OF THE NOVEL | 3 |
| ENGL 251 | READING POETRY | 3 |
| ENGL 260 | WHAT IS AMERICAN LITERATURE | 3 |
| ENGL 262 | WHODUNIT & OTHER MYSTERIES: DETECTIVE FICTION AND FILM NOIR | 3 |
| ENGL 337 | GOTHIC AMERICAN LITERATURE: TERROR, HORROR, THE GROTESQUE, AND THE SUBLIME IN AMERICAN CULTURE | 3 |
| ENGL 338 | BRITISH ROMANTICISM | 3 |
| ENGL 339 | ROMANTICISM: RUINS, RACE, AND REVOLUTION | 3 |
| ENGL 341 | VICTORIAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE | 3 |
| ENGL 342 / SWGS 372 | SURVEY OF VICTORIAN FICTION | 3 |
| ENGL 343 / SWGS 343 | JANE AUSTEN'S WORLDS | 3 |
| ENGL 344 | ACCOUNTING FOR DICKENS | 3 |
| ENGL 361 | US LITERATURE FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO WWI | 3 |
| ENGL 441 | VICTORIAN STUDIES | 3 |
| ENGL 459 | STUDIES IN LITERATURE AND ECOLOGY | 3 |
| ENGL 461 | 19TH-CENTURY AMERICAN STUDIES | 3 |
Critical Race, Postcolonial, and Gender Studies (Diverse Traditions)
Students must complete 1 course (3 credit hours) at the 200-level or above that focuses on African American, Chicano/a, Asian American, ethnic, global, postcolonial, diasporic or gender and sexuality studies.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 222 / ASIA 222 | THE WORLD AND SOUTH ASIA | 3 |
| ENGL 230 | INTRODUCTION TO LATINX LITERATURE | 3 |
| ENGL 263 | LATINX RESEARCH AND WRITING LAB | 3 |
| ENGL 266 | GRAPHIC NOVELS IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERARY TRADITION | 3 |
| ENGL 267 | INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE | 3 |
| ENGL 279 | BLACK SCI-FI & SPECULATIVE FICTIONS | 3 |
| ENGL 315 | INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY TRANSLATION | 3 |
| ENGL 354 / SWGS 364 | QUEER LITERARY CULTURES | 3 |
| ENGL 359 | WRITING NEW ORLEANS—THE CITY AS MUSE | 3 |
| ENGL 369 / SWGS 329 | THE AMERICAN WEST AND ITS OTHERS | 3 |
| ENGL 370 / SWGS 370 | AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE | 3 |
| ENGL 371 / SPAN 396 / SWGS 354 | CHICANO/A LITERATURE | 3 |
| ENGL 372 | ASIAN AMERICAN LITERATURE | 3 |
| ENGL 376 | SOUTHEAST ASIAN LITERATURE IN ENGLISH | 3 |
| ENGL 379 | THIRD WORLD LITERATURE | 3 |
| ENGL 380 | CONTEMPORARY ANGLOPHONE LITERATURES | 3 |
| ENGL 381 / SWGS 327 | TOPICS IN WOMEN WRITERS | 3 |
| ENGL 382 / SWGS 380 | FEMINIST THEORY | 3 |
| ENGL 383 | GLOBAL FICTIONS | 3 |
| ENGL 387 | TOPICS IN CULTURAL STUDIES | 3 |
| ENGL 389 / SWGS 389 | YOUTH STUDIES | 3 |
| ENGL 393 | BLACK MANHATTAN: 1915-1940 | 3 |
| ENGL 394 | TONI MORRISON & WILLIAM FAULKNER SEMINAR | 3 |
| ENGL 398 | SLAVERY IN 20TH AND 21ST CENTURY FILM AND FICTION | 3 |
| ENGL 430 | EMPIRE AND BRITISH LITERATURE 1700-1950 | 3 |
| ENGL 471 | EARLY MEXICAN AMERICAN WRITING & PRINT CULTURE | 3 |
Major Concentration: Creative Writing
Students must complete a minimum of 5 courses (15-16 credit hours, depending on course selection) from departmental (ENGL) course offerings with the creative writing designation. Of these 5 courses, students must complete at least 3 courses (9-10 credit hours, depending on course selection) at the 300-level or above, and at least 1 course (3-4 credit hours, depending on course selection) at the 400-level or above. The remaining required course can be selected from any of the approved Creative Writing coursework.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-level Elective | ||
| Select up to 1 course from the following (or select additional coursework at the 300-level or 400-level as listed below): | 3 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY EDITING & PUBLISHING | ||
| LITERARY EDITING & PUBLISHING / THE RICE REVIEW | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING | ||
| TOPICS IN CREATIVE WRITING | ||
| FORMS OF POETRY | ||
| WRITERS ON WRITING | ||
| 300-level (or above) Electives | ||
| Select a minimum of 3 courses from the following: | 9-10 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO FICTION WRITING | ||
| SCREENWRITING | ||
| PLAYWRITING | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO POETRY WRITING | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE NONFICTION WRITING | ||
| TOPICS IN FICTION WRITING | ||
| TOPICS IN POETRY WRITING | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO PODCASTING | ||
| TOPICS IN CREATIVE NONFICTION WRITING | ||
| NONFICTION NATURE WRITING | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY TRANSLATION | ||
| FAIRY TALES AND FEAR TALES WRITING | ||
| GRAPHIC NOVEL | ||
| WRITING ON ART AND LITERATURE | ||
| ADVANCED FICTION WRITING | ||
| WRITING LONGER FICTION: NARRATIVE DESIGN | ||
| CRAFT OF THE NOVELLA | ||
| ADVANCED POETRY WRITING | ||
| ADVANCED CREATIVE NONFICTION WRITING | ||
| 400-level Elective | ||
| Select a minimum of 1 course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| ADVANCED FICTION WRITING | ||
| WRITING LONGER FICTION: NARRATIVE DESIGN | ||
| CRAFT OF THE NOVELLA | ||
| ADVANCED POETRY WRITING | ||
| ADVANCED CREATIVE NONFICTION WRITING | ||
Policies for the BA Degree with a Major in English and a Major Concentration in Creative Writing
Program Restrictions and Exclusions
Students pursuing the major in English and a major concentration in Creative Writing should be aware of the following program restrictions:
- As noted in Majors, Minors, and Certificates, students may not major and minor in the same subject.
- Students pursuing the major in English and a major concentration in Creative Writing may not additionally declare the minor in Creative Writing.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the designated transfer credit advisor for the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content). The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with the applicable transfer credit advisor as well as their academic program director when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the major in English should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guidelines:
- No more than 4 courses (12 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards the major. Exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the major advisor.
- The English department does not award Rice equivalent course transfer credit for coursework taken at community colleges, “for-profit” universities, or two-year colleges. Exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the major advisor.
Distribution Credit Information
The determination of distribution credit eligibility is done initially as part of the new course creation process. Additionally, as part of an annual roll call coordinated each Spring by the Office of the Registrar, course distribution credit eligibility is routinely reviewed and reaffirmed by the Dean’s Offices of each of the academic schools.
Faculty and leadership in the academic schools are responsible for ensuring that the courses identified as distribution-credit-eligible meet the criteria as set in the General Announcements. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet graduation requirements by completing coursework designated as distribution-credit-eligible at the time of course registration.
Distribution courses from English (ENGL) aim to develop students' critical and aesthetic understanding of texts and the arts, lead students to examine ideas and values, and introduce students to the craft of writing as it poses conceptual and intellectual problems. They engage students with works of culture that have intellectual importance by virtue of the ideas that they express, their historical influence, mode of expression, and critical engagement with established cultural assumptions and traditions.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the English website: https://english.rice.edu/.
Opportunities for the BA Degree with a Major in English and a Major Concentration in Creative Writing
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.
Study Abroad Program for English Majors at the University of Exeter
English majors may opt to spend the spring semester of their junior year at the University of Exeter in the U.K. Students planning to do so should complete ENGL 200 and ENGL 300 by the fall semester of their junior year (the semester preceding study abroad). At Exeter, students will take 2 courses or modules (each worth 30 Exeter credits) from Rice’s approved list of Exeter Courses.
The approved courses taken abroad will be articulated on the Rice transcript as ENGL 325 (two instances of 3 credit hours each) with the remaining credit hours articulated as general TRAN credit. Final Exeter grades will also appear on the Rice transcript and be counted in the student's overall Rice GPA. With pre-approval from the Department, ENGL 325 may additionally count toward major field requirements (Pre-1800, Pre-1900, or Critical Race, Postcolonial, and Gender Studies).
For more information, please consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the English department and the Rice Study Abroad Office.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the English website: https://english.rice.edu/.