# 2026-2027 Course Catalog
**Source**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/creative-writing-balas/
**Parent**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/
*for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Creative Writing*
---
## **Undergraduate Degree Programs in English**
### **Majors:**
- [English, BALAS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/english-balas/) with concentrations:
- [English, English Concentration, BALAS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/english-balas/english/)
- [English, English Teaching Concentration, BALAS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/english-balas/english-teaching/)
- [English, Topics in English Concentration, BALAS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/english-balas/english-topics/)
- [Creative Writing, BALAS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/creative-writing-balas/)
*for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Creative Writing*
---
**Graduation Requirements**
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
Minimum hours required major and supporting course work: 36 hours in CW and ENGL courses. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus, of which at least three (3) hours must be Creative Writing Courses [CW 404](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20404 "CW 404") and [CW 406](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20406 "CW 406")
**University Requirements**
The university and residency requirements can be found in the [Student Code](https://studentcode.illinois.edu/article3/part8/3-801/) (§ 3-801) and in the [Academic Catalog](http://catalog.illinois.edu/general-information/degree-general-education-requirements/).
**General Education Requirements**
Follows the [campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements](https://courses.illinois.edu/gened/DEFAULT/DEFAULT). Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Composition I | | 4-6 |
| Advanced Composition | | 3 |
| fulfilled by [CW 243](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20243 "CW 243") | | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | | 6 |
| fulfilled by [CW 100](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20100 "CW 100") and any other course approved as Humanities & the Arts | | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | | 6 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | | 6 |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | | 3 |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | | 3 |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | | 6-10 |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English, or completion of the third semester in two different languages other than English is required) | | 0-20 |
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Major Requirements | | |
| Literature for Creative Writers | | 6 |
| [CW 100](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20100 "CW 100") | Intro to Creative Writing | |
| [CW 200](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20200 "CW 200") | Reading for Writers | |
| Craft | | 3 |
| [CW 243](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20243 "CW 243") | The Craft Essay: Creative Reading, Reflection, and Revision | |
| Creative Writing Workshops | | 12 |
| 12 hours of Creative Writing Workshops, including at least one of the following | | |
| 3-course (9-hour) Workshop sequences: | | |
| [CW 106](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20106 "CW 106") & [CW 206](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20206 "CW 206") & [CW 406](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20406 "CW 406") | Poetry Workshop I and Poetry Workshop II and Poetry Workshop III | |
| or | | |
| [CW 104](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20104 "CW 104") & [CW 204](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20204 "CW 204") & [CW 404](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20404 "CW 404") | Fiction Workshop I and Fiction Workshop II and Fiction Workshop III | |
| The remaining 3 hours in this category can be satisfied by a fourth CW Workshop outside of the chosen sequence. 1 | | |
| Writing and Literature | | 3 |
| 3 hours of Writing and Literature coursework, either: | | |
| 3 hours of non-Workshop CW coursework ([CW 460](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20460 "CW 460"), or another approved non-Workshop CW course) 2 | | |
| or | | |
| 3 hours of ENGL coursework 3 | | |
| Additional Literature Coursework 4 | | 12 |
| 12 additional hours of approved ENGL coursework, including: | | |
| 9 hours of approved ENGL Literature coursework 5 | | |
| 3 hours of an ENGL Difference & Diaspora course 6 | | |
| Total Hours | | 36 |
1
: CW 404 and CW 406 may be repeated once for credit, but may not be repeated to fulfill this requirement.
2
: Some sections of CW 199, CW 202, and CW 463 may or may not count as a non-Workshop class, depending on the topics offered in a given semester.
3
: These hours must be taken at the 200-level or above.
4
: A maximum of 3 hours of 100-level coursework may be counted towards the Additional Literature Coursework requirement.
5
: Chosen from a list maintained by the Creative Writing Program and the English Advising Office.
6
: Chosen from the *Difference & Diaspora* list maintained by the English Program and the English Advising office.
*for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Creative Writing*
---
## **Sample Sequence**
*This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.*
*Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the [Degree and General Education Requirements page](http://catalog.illinois.edu/general-information/degree-general-education-requirements/)**.*
| First Year | |
| --- | --- |
| First Semester | Hours |
| Free Elective course | 1 |
| [CW 100](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20100 "CW 100") | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 |
| | 15 |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| First Year | |
| --- | --- |
| Second Semester | Hours |
| [CW 104](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20104 "CW 104") or [106](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20106 "CW 106") | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (4th level) | 4 |
| General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| | 16 |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| Second Year | |
| --- | --- |
| First Semester | Hours |
| [CW 204](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20204 "CW 204") or [206](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20206 "CW 206") | 3 |
| [CW 200](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20200 "CW 200") | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| | 15 |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| Second Year | |
| --- | --- |
| Second Semester | Hours |
| ENGL Literature coursework | 3 |
| [CW 243](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20243 "CW 243") | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 |
| | 14 |
| Total Hours 14 | |
| Third Year | |
| --- | --- |
| First Semester | Hours |
| [CW 404](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20404 "CW 404") or [206](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CW%20206 "CW 206") | 3 |
| ENGL Difference & Diaspora course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| | 15 |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| Third Year | |
| --- | --- |
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Creative Writing Workshop coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| | 15 |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| Fourth Year | |
| --- | --- |
| First Semester | Hours |
| Writing & Literature coursework | 3 |
| ENGL Literature coursework | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| | 15 |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| Fourth Year | |
| --- | --- |
| Second Semester | Hours |
| ENGL Literature coursework | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| | 15 |
| Total Hours 15 | |
**Total Hours: 120**
*for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Creative Writing*
---
1. **Concepts:** Students will identify, analyze, and use the elements of literary craft appropriate for their chosen writing genre.
2. **Writing:** Students will develop a personal style, apply craft techniques that they learn during workshops, and choose from several strategies to revise written work.
3. **Workshop:** Students will identify and learn to use the most effective worship practices. They will learn how to critique the written work of their peers, both orally and in writing, in constructive and mutually beneficial ways.
4. **Reading:** Students will read, analyze, and evaluate contemporary and other literature from the perspective of literary craft and the study of creative writing.
5. **Literary Community and Profession:** Students will learn to evaluate, discuss, and research contemporary literary publishing and editing.
*for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Creative Writing*
---
## [Department of English](http://www.english.illinois.edu/)
[Creative Writing website](https://english.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate-studies/majors-minors/creative-writing-major)\
[English faculty](https://english.illinois.edu/directory/specialty-areas)\
[English & Creative Writing advising](https://www.english.illinois.edu/undergraduate/advising/)
## [College of Liberal Arts and Sciences](https://las.illinois.edu)
**overview of college admissions & requirements:** [Liberal Arts & Sciences](https://catalog.illinois.edu/schools/las/academic-units/)