B.F.A. in Creative Writing


Contact Person:
Richard Henry
122 Morey, (315) 267-2010, henryrm@potsdam.edu

59-60 credits required.

The B.F.A. in Creative Writing is a pre-professional degree that offers students intensive training in the writing of fiction, poetry, drama, creative nonfiction, and screenplays. In addition to courses in creative writing, students are required to write a senior thesis, to take courses in literature, to complete a writing-related internship, and to present their work in a solo reading during their final year.

All courses are 3 credits unless noted. Credits are divided as follows:


   Credits
Required Courses:   17
COMP 201 Writing Arguments (4 credits)
  
COMP 202 Introduction to Creative Writing (4 credits)
  
LITR 200
 Literary Traditions OR  
   LITR 201    Patterns of Literature    
LITR 300  Literary Analysis and Research  
INTD 491 Internship (Writing)  
     
Intermediate Courses: select four
   16
COMP 302  Fiction Workshop I  (4 credits)
  
COMP 303 Poetry Workshop I (4 credits)  
COMP 306  Playwriting: Short Plays (4 credits)  
COMP 307 Creative Nonfiction Workshop I (4 credits)  
COMP 308 Writing Fiction for Children (4 credits)  
COMP 309 Screenwriting Workshop I (4 credits)  
COMP 310 Playwriting: Full-length Plays (4 credits)  
COMP 395 Special Topics (Creative  Writing) (4 credits)  
     
Advanced Courses: select two
   8
COMP 412 Fiction Workshop II  (4 credits)  
COMP 413 Poetry Workshop II  (4 credits)  
COMP 416 Playwriting Workshop II (4 credits)  
COMP 417 Creative Nonfiction Workshop II(4 credits)  
COMP 419 Screenwriting Workshop II  (4 credits)  
     
Capstone Project:      3
COMP 490 Writing Supervision   
     
Applied Writing Course:  select one
   3-4
COMP 301 Advanced Research Writing (4 credits)  
COMP 304 Technical Writing (4 credits)  
COMP 305 Editing and Revising (4 credits)  
COMP 311 Writing in a Digital Age (4 credits)  
COMP 316  Magazine Article Writing(4 credits)  
COMP 318  Writing for the Arts (4 credits)  
COMP 395
 Special Topics (Applied Writing) (4 credits)  
COMP 401   Directed Professional Writing   
COMM 308  Writing for Mass Communication   
     
Literature Electives:   12
Four LITR courses at the 300/400/500- level*
*May substitute one 300/400/500- level LNGS course for one literature course

Note: Students are required to give a solo reading during their final year. In addition to formal instruction, all students are expected to attend public readings of creative works, assist with literary publications, and read extensively in her/his chosen genres.