Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing

The University of Redlands offers one of the first undergraduate majors in creative writing and is nationally recognized for the quality of its graduates. The program of study is unusually intensive, resembling a Master of Fine Arts curriculum rather than a typical undergraduate program because of the structure and demanding nature of the major, the high profile of our faculty, and the classroom practices we employ.

We have spent the last several years evaluating and strengthening our program to incorporate a reorganized Visiting Writers Series that brings nationally recognized artists to campus and to organize a structure for our revitalized literary journal, the Redlands Review. We have adjusted our curriculum to make these activities an integral part of our curriculum and strengthened our graduation requirements to give students more grounding in literature as well as workshop practice.

We meet or exceed all the standards detailed by the Associated Writing programs guidelines for undergraduate creative writing programs and our graduates have distinguished themselves in several fields after leaving Redlands.

The Major

The Creative Writing Department's focus is on the creative process rather than on specialization in any one genre. Requirements are designed to foster a rapport with all forms of literary expression and to promote community among our majors.

1. Foundation courses: CRWR 104 Nonfiction Workshop I, CRWR 105 Poetry Workshop I, and CRWR 107 Fiction Workshop I.
2. Intermediate courses: CRWR 204 Nonfiction Workshop II, CRWR 205 Poetry Workshop II, and CRWR 207 Fiction Workshop II.
3. Advanced Courses: Each student chooses at least one advanced writing course in poetry, fiction, or nonfiction writing: CRWR 304 Nonfiction Workshop III, CRWR 305 Poetry Workshop III, or CRWR 307 Fiction Workshop III.
4. Advanced Seminars: Each student must take at least TWO sections of the CRWR 310 Creative Writing Seminar.
5. Senior Portfolio: CRWR 440 Senior Portfolio - Reading and Drafting and CRWR 441 Senior Portfolio - Revision and Final Project. CRWR 440 and CRWR 441 may not be taken concurrently.

Recommendations:

By the beginning of the sophomore year, the student who intends to major in Creative Writing is expected to choose one of the department's resident writers as an academic advisor and, with that individual, plan an appropriate three-year schedule. Strongly encouraged: Additional advanced level workshops and seminars in all genres.

The Minor

The minor is designed for students to explore creative expression as part of a broad education. The minor in Creative Writing consists of a minimum of 28 credits:

• CRWR 104 Nonfiction Workshop I, CRWR 105 Poetry Workshop I, CRWR 107 Fiction Workshop I, CRWR 204 Nonfiction Workshop II, CRWR 205 Poetry Workshop II, CRWR 207 Fiction Workshop II, CRWR 310 Creative Writing Seminar.
• Advanced level workshops and seminars are recommended.

Visiting Writers Series

The Visiting Writers Series brings to campus acclaimed writers of diverse backgrounds and approaches to share their work and interact with students, faculty, and the larger university and Redlands communities.

At the regularly scheduled, public events, authors read from their work and then participate in open discussion with the audience. A reception and book signing typically follows. Earlier in the day, visiting writers often meet with seminar and workshop students to discuss their work and careers and to engage with faculty in conversations about creative writing.

General Education Requirements

General Education is a broad description of the curriculum that embodies our commitment to a liberal arts education at the University of Redlands. Our general education conveys the range of fields of study, ways of thinking, and practices of scholarship and creativity that enable students to graduate as critical thinkers capable of innovatively and collaboratively adapting to challenges that come their way in the future.

Our general education is comprised of a Liberal Arts Inquiry (LAI) or Liberal Arts Foundation (LAF) curriculum.

• Entering first-year students and transfer students arriving with fewer than 32 credits in Fall 2018 will follow the LAI curriculum.
• All transfer and returning students with 32 credits or more (i.e., sophomores, juniors, and seniors) in Fall 2018 will follow the LAF curriculum.