Writing Seminars, Bachelor of Arts

Source: https://e-catalogue.jhu.edu/arts-sciences/full-time-residential-programs/degree-programs/writing-seminars/writing-seminars-bachelor-arts/ Parent: https://e-catalogue.jhu.edu/programs/

Writing Seminars Major Requirements

(Also see Requirements for a Bachelor's Degree)

Introduction to Fiction & Poetry I or Introduction to Fiction & Nonfiction and Introduction to Fiction & Poetry II are courses required for all majors and others who want to take advanced courses in writing seminars. They serve as pre-requisite courses to all other courses offered by the department. Students must take a minimum of 15 credits at the 300-level or higher towards the Writing Seminars major; these fifteen credits can come from any combination of Writing Seminars courses and courses towards the outside requirements (literature, history, philosophy).  Majors must receive a grade of C- or better in all courses required for the major and no major requirements may be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory.

Students who matriculated before 2023 have a requirement of four literature courses, up to two of which can be Readings classes taken within the Writing Seminars.  The current literature requirements - two literature courses outside the department and two Readings classes within the department -- apply to students matriculating in 2023 and after.

Writing and Communication in the Major

Students must complete at least 6 credits of Writing and Communication foundational ability coursework in one major. For this major, students can fulfill this requirement by completing 220.105 and 220.106, each of which is a required 3 credit courses for the major.

Course List

1 : Two classes of literature at the 100-400 level, in the Department of English (060) or cross-listed in English (with the exception of Expository Writing). Courses in literature offered in departments other than English, whether in the original language or in translation, also fulfill this requirement when the department is numbered AS.212-216 (German and Romance Languages and Literatures) and AS.300 (Contemporary Thought and Literature).

2 : Three additional elective courses.  Any Writing Seminars course numbered above "The Craft of Fiction" (220.200) or "The Craft of Poetry" (220.201) may be used to fulfill this requirement.  Courses cross-listed with The Writing Seminars may count here with approval from the DUS; approval is given for courses with a strong creative writing component (e.g., 061.205, Introduction to Screenwriting).

3 : Languages automatically accepted towards this requirement include American Sign Language, Ancient Greek, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Yiddish.  Students with language proficiency in one of these languages or other languages may obtain waivers for this requirement.  The Office of Academic Advising website has information on the waiver process, or you may speak to the DUS for assistance.

4 : Any course that exclusively studies literature originally written in a language other than English can count towards this requirement.  A course on literature in translation may count towards the literature requirement orthe language requirement for the Writing Seminars major but may not double count.  Any Writing Seminars Readings class focusing exclusively on work in translation may count towards the language requirement orthe readings classes requirement but may not double count.

Sample Program of Study

Honors

A GPA of 3.5 or better in all major requirements is required to earn honors in the major.