The Creative Writing minor will develop your skills in writing, creativity and critical thinking by allowing you to think and write imaginatively, independently and in community—all important abilities for any career path. A great compliment to any major, the Creative Writing minor will prepare you for success in various careers and graduate programs.
Program Overview
Creatively express yourself and think critically in any setting.
A Creative Writing minor is designed to serve all majors, not just English majors. It aids in coursework by developing writing, creativity and critical thinking which can be applied to any aspect of your life and career. You will also gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the human condition, as represented through creative expression. In this minor, students have the opportunity to take a variety of courses, including Introduction to Creative Writing, Critical Approaches to Literature, and Scriptwriting, where they analyze literature and writing through a variety of lenses.
At Western, there are many opportunities to present, perform and practice your skills. Join the Wordhorde group, which hosts poetry slams and open mic nights, or work as a consultant for other students in the Writing Center. Before graduation, you’ll edit a literary anthology and prepare your own work to submit to magazines and publishers.
Hands-on Experience
You’ll gain real life experience through the Creative Writing program by editing a literary anthology and preparing your own work for submission to magazines and publishers.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
The Creative Writing minor enhances students' skills in writing, creativity, and critical thinking. A complement to any major, the curriculum prepares students to think and write imaginatively, independently, and in community - abilities necessary for success in various careers and graduate school.
English majors and minors must complete the required course ENG 250 Critical Approaches to Literature with a minimum grade of “C” before registering for upper-division courses in English.
A minimum of 21 credits is required for a Minor in Creative Writing including:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 161 | Introduction to Creative Writing (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| ENG 250 | Critical Approaches to Literature | 3 |
| ENG 405 | Advanced Writing | 3 |
| ENG 445 | Literary Magazine Submission and Production | 3 |
| Two of the following: | 6 | |
COM 306 | Scriptwriting | |
ENG 300 | Creative Writing: Fiction | |
ENG 301 | Creative Writing: Poetry | |
ENG 303 | Creative Writing | |
ENG 305 | Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction | |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
ENG 331 | Literature and Ethnicity: Studies in: | |
ENG 334 | Poetry: Studies in: | |
ENG 335 | Drama: Studies in: | |
ENG 336 | Prose: Studies in: | |
ENG 337 | Women Writers | |
ENG 358 | Global Literatures: Studies In: Topic Variable | |
ENG 370 | Myth and Culture | |
ENG 371 | Literary Theory and Criticism | |
ENG 372 | British Literature: Medieval and Renaissance Texts | |
ENG 373 | British Literature: Milton through the Romantics | |
ENG 374 | British Literature: The Victorians to the Present Day | |
ENG 384 | American Literature Early to Civil War | |
ENG 385 | American Literature-Civil War to Present | |
Careers
Take the first steps toward your dream career.
Career preparation is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling role in hundreds of professional fields after graduation.
The data is automatically collected by Lightcast, a firm that sources job market data. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.
Scholarships
Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your scholarships!Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your scholarships!Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Get Involved
Take your education beyond the classroom.
Get the hands-on learning experience you need to apply your knowledge and launch your career.
- Wordhorde: This group hosts poetry slams and open mic nights.
- Writing Center: Work as a writing consultant for the greater campus community.
- Western Theatre Company: A student-run program that provides quality live performances to the campus and Gunnison community.
- Top O’ the World: A student-run monthly paper offering opportunities in newswriting, photography, editing, designing and advertising sales.
Express Yourself
The Creative Writing minor will teach you how to creatively express yourself personally and professionally.
News & Research
Department Information
Communication Arts, Language & Literature (CALL) Department
Department Chairperson
Jack Lucido, MFAProfessor of Communication Arts, Director of Film Studies, Chair of CALL Department
Administrative Assistant
Cindy PetitoAdministrative Assistant III
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Taylor Hall 216
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231
