BFA candidates must complete a minimum of 124 hours of undergraduate study. In addition to meeting UNCW's Basic Studies requirements, the students must complete 51 hours toward the major in creative writing:
• 27 hours of courses in the Department of Creative Writing. These hours must include one course in forms of creative writing. At least 18 of these hours must be in workshop courses in at least two different genres of creative writing, and should include CRW 496, Senior Seminar in Writing, as well as a three-course writing sequence in fiction, poetry or creative nonfiction.
• 15 hours of approved literature or forms courses in the Department of English, the Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures, and/or the Department of Creative Writing. At least four of the literature courses must be at the 300-400 level. At least one course should be in literature before 1800, and at least one in literature after 1800.
• 3 hours in course work beyond the Basic Studies level in Fine Arts (Art, Theater, or Music) or Film Studies.
• 6 hours in course work beyond the Basic Studies level in one of the following areas: Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, or Humanities.
View a PDF of the Degree Requirements
Requirements for the Minor in Creative Writing
18 credit hours, of which at least 9 must come from courses at the 300-level or above; complete one sequence of writing workshop courses in fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction; 3 hours in forms of creative writing; 3 hours in literature in the Department of English or the Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures; 3 hours of electives in the Department of Creative Writing; an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Requirements for the Certificate in Publishing
The Certificate in Publishing is open to BFA majors in Creative Writing. For students interested in pursuing a career in book or journal publishing, or graduate school in a related field, the certificate enhances professional credentials.
Courses include
CRW 321 Books and Publishing (required)
CRW 322 Editing for Publication (required)
CRW 323 Bookbuilding (required)
CRW 324 Special Topics in Publishing
CRW 460 Publishing Practicum (may be repeated once)
Prerequisite for practicum is any two other courses in the publishing sequence. Completion of four or more courses, for a minimum of 12 credit hours, with or without practicum, fulfills requirements for the Certificate in Publishing.
Requirements for Departmental Honors in Creative Writing
Departmental Honors in Creative Writing will consist of a project with a specific theme designed by the student after consultation with the creative writing faculty member who will act as the honors project director. This project will include an academic/research component that will complement or provide the foundation for the creative portion of the project (for example, should the student choose to write creative nonfiction centered on the local marshlands, the student would first research the marshland and read work by other environmental writers). This academic component will be negotiated with the honors project director.
The Honors Project will be completed in the course of three two-hour semesters or two three-hour semesters for a total of six hours credit. All honors program requirements, including thesis and oral presentation must be fulfilled. Please note that this thesis is separate from, and in addition to the BFA thesis already required for the BFA degree. The length requirement for the honors project is as follows: poetry, 10–15 pages; fiction or creative nonfiction, 20–30 pages. A combined-genre project would require the approval of the honors project director.
BFA Questions: Lavonne Adams, BFA coordinator: adamsl@uncw.edu
