Courses
Enrolling in Creative Writing Courses
General education courses and Beginning Workshops are open to all students via the standard pre-registration process. Other courses require consent, and some may require submission of work for evaluation. These courses may prioritize students in the major. Note: Students who have not formally declared the major will not receive priority in consent-based courses. Those interested in the major should meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies before the end of Autumn Quarter of third year.
Applications for consent-only courses must be received by the specified deadlines.
For more information on Fundamentals and Technical seminars, please visit this page.
Creative Writing courses for the general education requirement in the arts
These multi-genre courses are introductions to topics in Creative Writing and satisfy the general education requirement in the arts in the College. General education courses are generally taught under two headings—"Reading as a Writer" and "Intro to Genres"—and will feature class critiques of students’ creative work. Open to all undergraduate students during pre-registration. These courses do not count towards the major in Creative Writing, but students in the major may use these courses to satisfy their general education requirement in the arts.
Beginning Workshops
These courses are intended for students who may or may not have writing experience, but are interested in gaining experience in a particular genre. Courses will be focused on the fundamentals of craft and will feature workshops of student writing. Open to all undergraduate students during pre-registration.
Fundamentals of Creative Writing courses
Focuses on a current debate relevant to all forms of literary practice and aims to develop cohort solidarity, promote a culture of exchange, and induct students into a reflection on practice that will service their artistic and professional development. Priority is given to declared majors. Student must apply for these courses through the online submission form. For more information, visit this page.
Technical Seminars
These seminars enlarge students' technical resources through extensive reading and analysis of contemporary literature and provide practice-based training in technical skills. Priority is given to declared majors. These courses are open to graduate students as well. Student must apply for these courses through the online submission form. For more information, visit this page.
Advanced Workshops
These courses are intended for students with substantive writing experience in a particular genre. Advanced workshops will focus on class critiques of student writing with accompanying readings from exemplary literary texts. Priority is given to students in the major, minor, or the Creative Writing Option of the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities. All students may apply to take the course by submitting the CW Workshop Submission Form, found at creativewriting.uchicago.edu. A writing sample in the genre of the relevant course is required for faculty review. Specific submission requirements appear in the course descriptions.
Thesis/Major Projects
This course will revolve around workshops of student writing and also concentrate on the larger form students have chosen for their creative thesis. Priority is given to students in the major, minor, or the Creative Writing Option of the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities. All students may apply to take the course by submitting the CW Workshop Submission Form, found at creativewriting.uchicago.edu. A writing sample in the genre of the relevant course is required for faculty review. Specific submission requirements appear in the course descriptions.
