Creative Writing MIN
Program Purpose
The creative writing minor offers students a structured way to pursue creative writing as a complement to their chosen major. Students increase their understanding of and ability to produce literary art, as well as develop general critical and creative skills that can be applied to academic and professional work.
Learning Outcomes
Area Mastery
Creative writing minors will understand the principles of creative writing, including form, technique, and style.
Creative writing minors will deepen their area mastery by interpreting and evaluating both published works and the works of peer writers.
Creative writing minors will apply what they have learned to produce poems, stories, or essays of publishable quality.
Creative writing minors will become familiar with publishing processes and improve as writers by preparing their work for publication in literary journals/presses and by participating in the writing community.
Creative Writing MFA students become life-long learners who conduct effective and ethical inquiry by asking meaningful questions about their writing practice, the literature they read and write, and the ways literature can help them gain both professional experience and spiritual insight.
Evidence of Learning
Direct Measures
1. Writing workshops will introduce students the conventions of creative writing and help them to develop skills in particular genres, including poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.
2. Workshops will prepare students to present and/or publish their creative work in professional venues available locally, regionally, and nationally.
3. Workshops will feature course evaluations which will measure, in part, student perception of their learning, especially through additional course-specific questions.
4. Workshops will feature on-going professor-student conferences and other written responses to student work and progress.
Indirect Measures
1. In coordination with University and College alumni surveys, the creative writing faculty will conduct surveys of their students in the semester they complete their advanced workshop.
Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement
Assessment of program-level objectives is done in coordination with the creative writing faculty during regular section meetings. The program may also be assessed during the annual fall assessment meeting and during the college's annual assessment retreat.