Fiction Degree Requirements

BA IN FICTION WRITING MAJOR

The Fiction Writing Department offers a four-year writing program leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fiction Writing. The program is structured around the nationally acclaimed Story Workshop® method of teaching writing, originated and developed by the department's former chairperson, John Schultz. The Story Workshop courses teach the writing of fiction and creative nonfiction. The department also offers a variety of Critical Reading and Writing classes, as well as elective specialty writing courses such as science fiction, children's writing, creative nonfiction, and publishing, on a level and scope unequaled in undergraduate programs. Columbia writing graduates have published widely in all of these areas, and possess training enabling them to obtain jobs in a broad range of communications-related fields.

Fiction Writing Majors Degree Requirements:

Fiction Writing Minor:

A Fiction Writing minor must meet all the requirements for the other major in addition to taking the following hours in the Fiction Writing Department::

The Fiction Writing minor is designed to allow students to combine their major fields of study with a sequence of writing courses that will improve reading, writing, listening, speaking, and creative problem-solving skills. The Fiction Writing minor is of interest to students who realize the great importance of writing in most careers. Many Fiction Writing courses carry Writing Intensive credit for the college's composition requirement.

Note: Prerequisites must be met, where required, before registering for any course.

* The sequence of core workshops includes Fiction Writing I, Fiction Writing II, Prose Forms I, and Fiction Writing Advanced. Fiction Writing Advanced is repeatable for credit.

** Fiction Writing majors must meet the Humanities /Literature portion of the college's General Studies distribution requirement in addition to the 8-12 hours of Critical Reading and Writing required for the Fiction Writing major. However, Humanities/Literature courses need not be taken prior to registering for the fiction writing courses. Effective as of Fall Semester 1997

BFA IN FICTION WRITING MAJOR

This degree is a natural extension of the 44-credit BA program, and includes specializations in Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Playwriting, Electronic Applications, Publishing, and Story Workshop â Teaching. A service learning or internship component is required, and students choose between two capstone courses that provide a culminating experience and lead to products (a portfolio of creative work or a teaching journal/essay) with specific career outcomes. Finally, through a variety of recommended courses in other departments, this program provides solid, focused pathways for students to extend their applications of Fiction Writing training and to explore interdisciplinary possibilities.

BFA in Fiction Writing Major Degree Requirements:

* The sequence of core workshops includes Fiction Writing I, Fiction Writing II, Prose Forms I, and Fiction Writing Advanced. Fiction Writing Advanced is repeatable for credit.

** Fiction Writing majors must meet the Humanities /Literature portion of the college's General Studies distribution requirement in addition to the 8-12 hours of Critical Reading and Writing required for the Fiction Writing major. However, Humanities/Literature courses need not be taken prior to registering for the fiction writing courses.

Note: Students who want to apply to the BFA program will need to meet with a Fiction Writing Department Faculty member when they have completed 60 credit hours of coursework.