English (Creative Writing) - Bachelor of Arts

In addition to meeting the English basic skills requirement, the student majoring in Creative Writing must complete 42 credits in English beyond ENGL 1110G Composition I satisfying the following requirements.

Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements, Viewing a Wider World requirements, and elective credits to total at least 120 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.

Prefix Title Credits
General Education
Area I: Communications10
English Composition - Level 1 1
English Composition - Level 2 1
Oral Communication 1
Area II: Mathematics 1, 23-4
Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences10-11
Area III: Laboratory Sciences Course (4 credits) 1
Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences Course (3 credits) 1
Either an Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences Course or Social/Behavioral Sciences Course (4 or 3 credits) 1
Area V: Humanities 13
Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts 13
General Education Elective 13-4
Viewing A Wider World 36
Departmental/College Requirements
ENGL 310Critical Writing 43
Select three from the following: 4,59
The Bible as Literature3
American Literature I3
American Literature II3
History of Argument3
British Literature I3
British Literature II3
Select one from the following: 43
Theory and Criticism: Rhetoric and Culture3
Theory and Criticism: Literature and Culture3
Theory and Criticism: Film, Media and Culture3
Select a minimum of two different Creative Writing workshops from the following:6
Creative Writing: Prose3
Creative Writing: Poetry3
Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction3
Creative Writing: Playwriting3
Screenwriting I3
Select two advanced Creative Writing Workshops from the following (300-level workshops are prerequisites for 400-level workshops in the same genre):6
Advanced Creative Writing: Prose Workshop3
Advanced Creative Writing: Poetry Workshop3
Advanced Creative Writing: Nonfiction Prose3
Select two from the following:6
Form and Technique in Fiction3
Form and Technique in Poetry3
Select 9 additional credits from English courses numbered 400-499.9
Second Language Requirement: (required- see the section at the bottom of the page)0-8
Electives, to bring the total credits to 120 629-40
Total Credits120
1

See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses

2

A Mathematics course is required for the degree but students may need to take any prerequisites needed to enter the course first.

3

See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.

4

Students may make 1 or 2 of the following substitutions:

5

These 18 credits should be completed before the student enrolls in 400 level courses.

6

Elective credit may vary based on second language requirements, prerequisites, dual credit, AP credit, double majors, and/or minor coursework. The amount indicated in the requirements list is the amount needed to bring the total to 120 credits and may appear in variable form based on the degree. However students may end up needing to complete more or less on a case-by-case basis and students should discuss elective requirements with their advisor.

Second Language Requirement

For the Bachelor of Arts in the English, with a Concentration in Creative Writing, there is a one year second language requirement; the options to complete this requirement are listed below. The number of credits that a student needs to take may vary depending on what level they come in with. Please speak with an advisor for more information as to which courses you will need to take to fulfill the second language requirement for this degree.

Option 1:

Prefix Title Credits
Complete one of the following sequences:
FREN 1110
FREN 1120
French I
and French II
4-8
GRMN 1110
GRMN 1120
German I
and German II
4-8
JAPN 1110
JAPN 1120
Japanese I
and Japanese II
4-8
SPAN 1110
SPAN 1120
Spanish I
and Spanish II
4-8
PORT 1110
PORT 1120
Portuguese I
and Portuguese II
3-6
For Heritage Speakers:
SPAN 1210
SPAN 1220
Elementary Spanish for Heritage Learners I
and Spanish for Heritage Learners II
3-6
or SPAN 2210 Spanish for Heritage Learners III

Option 2:

Prefix Title Credits
Complete the following sequence for American Sign Language (with a C- or better):
SIGN 1110American Sign Language I3
SIGN 1120American Sign Language II3

Option 3:

Prefix Title Credits
Challenge the 1120 level for the following courses:
FREN 1120French II4
or GRMN 1120 German II
or JAPN 1120 Japanese II
or SPAN 1120 Spanish II
OR
Challenge the 1120/1220/2210 level for the following courses:
PORT 1120Portuguese II3
or SPAN 1220 Spanish for Heritage Learners II
or SPAN 2210 Spanish for Heritage Learners III

Option 4:

Pass a three-credit, upper-division course (numbered 300 or above) taught in a second language by the department of Languages and Linguistics.

Option 5:

Obtain college certification of completion of three years of a second language at the high school level with a grade of C- or higher in the second-year level.

Option 6:

By obtaining certification of a working knowledge of a Native American language from the American Indian program director.

Option 7:

By obtaining, from the head of the Department of Languages and Linguistics, certification of a working knowledge of a second language if such language is not taught at NMSU.

Option 8:

In the case of a foreign student who is required to take the TOEFL exam admission, the dean will automatically waive the second language requirement.

A Suggested Plan of Study for Students

This roadmap assumes student  placement in MATH 1130G Survey of Mathematics and ENGL 1110G Composition I . The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and English. It is only a suggested plan of study for students and is not intended as a contract. Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change.

Plan of Study Grid
FreshmanCredits
ENGL 1110G Composition I 1 4
MATH 1130G Survey of Mathematics 3
FYEX 1112 The Freshman Year Experience 3
Area IV: Social and Behavioral Science Course 2 3
Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts Course 2 3
ENGL 2310G Introduction to Creative Writing 3
Area III: Laboratory Science Course 2 4
Choose from one of the following: 3
Introduction to Communication
Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture
Introduction to Communication Honors
Elective Course(s) 4
 Credits30
Sophomore
Choose from one of the following: 1 3
Professional and Technical Communication Honors
Writing in the Humanities and Social Science
Advanced Composition
Area III: Laboratory Science Course OR Area IV: Social And Behavioral Science Course 2 3-4
2000-level ENGL requirement 1 9
First in Second Language Series of Courses 3-4
Next Course in Second Language Series 1 3-4
ENGL Creative Writing Workshop Course 1,3 3
General Education Elective Course 2 3-4
Elective Course(s) 3
 Credits30-34
Junior
ENGL 310 Critical Writing 3
Choose from one of the following: 3
Form and Technique in Fiction
Form and Technique in Poetry
ENGL Creative Writing Workshop Course 3 3
ENGL Advanced Creative Writing Workshop Course 3
Choose from one of the following: 3
Form and Technique in Fiction
Form and Technique in Poetry
Choose from one of the following: 3
Theory and Criticism: Rhetoric and Culture
Theory and Criticism: Literature and Culture
Theory and Criticism: Film, Media and Culture
VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course 4 6
Elective Course 3
Upper-Division Elective Course 3
 Credits30
Senior
ENGL Advanced Creative Writing Workshop Course 1,5 3
ENGL Elective Course (400-499 level) 1 3
ENGL Elective Course (400-499 level) 1 6
Upper-Division Elective Courses 1 9
Elective Course(s) 9
 Credits30
 Total Credits120-124
1

These courses may have prerequisites and/or co-requisites, and it is the students responsibility for checking and fulfilling all those requirements.

2

See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.

3

Creative Writing Workshop Courses:

4

See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.

5

Advanced Creative Writing Workshop Courses:

  • ENGL 413 Advanced Creative Writing: Prose Workshop
  • ENGL 414 Advanced Creative Writing: Poetry Workshop
  • ENGL 446 Advanced Creative Writing: Nonfiction Prose