Program: English, B.A.: Creative Writing Concentration - CSU East Bay

Roadmaps Are Now Available!

curriculum plan icon

See links below! Students should meet with an advisor regarding their Program Roadmap.

English, B.A. Program (120 units)

Program Description

The university offers the B.A. degree in English with three distinct concentrations: literature, creative writing, and English language and literacies. The student seeking a degree must observe the general university requirements stated elsewhere in this catalog as well as the specific departmental requirements stated here.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a B.A. in English from Cal State East Bay will be able to:

analyze and interpret literary genres represented by a range of texts;
write in clear and cogent prose;
demonstrate knowledge of key English language texts, including multicultural works;
use critical theory to examine literary texts;
conduct research relevant to the discipline of English studies and analyze connections among literary works and social issues.

Program Roadmaps

These program roadmaps represent recommended pathways through the program. Please see an advisor to create an education plan that is customized to meet your needs.

4-Year Freshmen Roadmaps

2-Year ADT Roadmaps

Career Opportunities

Advertising Copy Writer • Author/Critic • Bookstore Manager • Continuity Writer • Corporate Communications Director • Foreign Service Office • Freelance Journalist/Writer • Greeting Card Editor/Writer • Lawyer • Librarian • Media Specialist • Newspaper Reporter • Public Information Officer • Publication Editor • Publicity Director • Publishing Agent • Radio/TV Agent • Script Writer • Teacher/Professor • Writer

Degree Requirements

The B.A. degree requires a total of 120 units.
- The major consists of 52 units (students must complete with a grade point average of 3.0 or better);
- General Education (GE) & Graduation Requirements (GR) consists of 57 units;
- Free electives may consist of 11 units (actual number of free elective units may depend on GE/GR units).

Note: It may be possible to double count units within the graduation requirement. It may also be possible that a course satisfies both a graduation requirement and a major requirement. Students should contact their program and AACE advisors for information.

English Major Requirements (52 units)

Note: All courses must be completed with grade C- or better to be counted toward the major.

Lower Division Core

The following 12 units are required:

ENGL 204 - Writing About Literature Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-C2
Take one (1) additional lower- or upper-division English major elective course for 4 units.
Choose one (1) course in creative writing for 4 units:
ENGL 205 - Beginning Workshop in Fiction Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-C1
ENGL 206 - Beginning Workshop in Poetry Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-C1

Upper-Division Core

The following 12 units are required:

Choose one (1) course in writing or theory for 4 units:
ENGL 303 - Advanced Expository Writing Units: 4
ENGL 304 - Introduction to Technical and Professional Writing Units: 4
ENGL 307 - Intermediate Workshop in Creative Nonfiction Units: 4
ENGL 340 - Critical Theory of Literature Units: 4
Choose one (1) course in linguistics for 4 units:
ENGL 350 - Study of Language Units: 4
ENGL 351 - Modern English Grammar Units: 4
Choose one (1) course in Shakespeare for 4 units:
ENGL 411 - Shakespeare I Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C
ENGL 412 - Shakespeare II Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C

Concentrations

The Department of English offers three concentrations for degree candidates. Students must choose one (1) of the following concentrations for 24 units as a major requirement:

Senior Capstone Requirement

The following senior capstone for 4 units is required to complete the major:

ENGL 499 - Senior Seminar Units: 4

Creative Writing Concentration

English majors with a concentration in creative writing must complete six (6) additional courses for 24 units as described below:

One (1) beginning workshop for 4 units, whichever course was not taken in the core curriculum:
ENGL 205 - Beginning Workshop in Fiction Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-C1
ENGL 206 - Beginning Workshop in Poetry Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-C1
One (1) intermediate or advanced workshop course for 4 units:

ENGL 305 Intermediate Workshop in Fiction

ENGL 406 Advanced Workshop in Poetry
Take an additional two (2) workshop courses for 8 units:

Note: ENGL 305, 405 & 406 may be taken a second time for a total of 8 units for this section only
ENGL 305 - Intermediate Workshop in Fiction Units: 4
ENGL 307 - Intermediate Workshop in Creative Nonfiction Units: 4
ENGL 405 - Advanced Workshop in Fiction Units: 4
ENGL 406 - Advanced Workshop in Poetry Units: 4
Take two elective courses for an additional 8 units: one (1) upper division course in 20th or 21st century literature and one (1) elective, from the following English Course Types:
- American/Global Literature
- American Literature
- British Literature (except ENGL 309)
- Foundation (ENGL 204 only)
- Global Literature (except ENGL 330, 342, 343, 446)
- Language/Grammar (except ENGL 450, 451)
- Literary Theory
- World Literature

Other Undergraduate Degree Requirements

In addition to major requirements, every student must also complete the University’s baccalaureate requirements for graduation, which are described in the Undergrad Baccalaureate & Program Requirements chapter of this catalog.