Jul 26, 2025

2025-2026 SUNY Potsdam Academic Catalog

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2025-2026 SUNY Potsdam Academic Catalog

Creative Writing, B.A.

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The Creative Writing major hones students’ abilities to write and think imaginatively and critically. Students select workshops in creative nonfiction, drama, fiction, poetry, and screenwriting. Students learn strategies for crafting original expression while courses in literary study further allow them to contextualize their art. Students are expected to attend and give public readings of creative works, assist with literary publications, read extensively in their chosen genre(s), and complete a senior portfolio of polished pieces.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

Creative Writing B.A. students will be able to:

   • demonstrate competence to write and/or speak clearly in a variety of frameworks and genres.
   • demonstrate the ability to think critically, creatively, and/or construct coherent arguments using claims and reasons supported by credible sources.
   • demonstrate drafting, editing, and publishing skills and practices of a writer and critic.
   • participate in writing activities that support the campus, local, and greater writing community through their work and various literary arts activities.

Program Requirements

Required Courses: 14 Credits

COMP 201 - Writing Arguments 4 Credit(s)
COMP 202 - Introduction to Creative Writing 4 Credit(s)
COMP 490 - Writing Supervision 3 Credit(s)
LITR 200 - Literary Traditions 3 Credit(s)
or
LITR 201 - Patterns of Literature 3 Credit(s)

300-Level Creative Writing Electives: 8 Credits

select two

COMP 302 - Fiction Workshop I 4 Credit(s)
COMP 303 - Poetry Workshop I 4 Credit(s)
COMP 306 - Playwriting Short Plays 4 Credit(s)
COMP 307 - Creative Nonfiction Workshop I 4 Credit(s)
COMP 308 - Writing Fiction for Children 4 Credit(s)
COMP 309 - Screenwriting Workshop I 4 Credit(s)
COMP 310 - Playwriting Full length Plays 4 Credit(s)

400-Level Creative Writing Elective: 4 Credits

Select one

COMP 412 - Fiction Workshop II 4 Credit(s)
COMP 413 - Poetry Workshop II 4 Credit(s)
COMP 416 - Playwriting Workshop II 4 Credit(s)
COMP 417 - Creative Nonfiction Workshop II 4 Credit(s)
COMP 419 - Screenwriting Workshop II 4 Credit(s)

Applied Writing Electives: 8 Credits

select two

COMP 301 - Advanced Research Writing 4 Credit(s)
COMP 304 - Technical Writing 4 Credit(s)
COMP 305 - Editing and Revising 4 Credit(s)
COMP 307 - Creative Nonfiction Workshop I 4 Credit(s)
COMP 311 - Writing in a Digital Age 4 Credit(s)
COMP 312 - Writing in New Media 4 Credit(s)
COMP 316 - Magazine Article Writing 4 Credit(s)
COMP 318 - Writing for the Arts 4 Credit(s)
COMP 321 - Writing about the Environment 4 Credit(s)
COMP 322 - Grant Writing 4 Credit(s)
COMP 330 - The Rhetoric of Film 3 Credit(s)
COMM 308 - Writing for Mass Communication 3 Credit(s)

Upper Division Literature Elective: 3 Credits

select one

LITR 301 - American Writers 3 Credit(s)
LITR 302 - British Writers 3 Credit(s)
LITR 303 - World Writers 3 Credit(s)
LITR 304 - Literary Nonfiction 3 Credit(s)
LITR 305 - Short Story 3 Credit(s)
LITR 306 - Drama 3 Credit(s)
LITR 307 - Poetry 3 Credit(s)
LITR 308 - The Novel 3 Credit(s)
LITR 309 - Topics in Literary Genres 3 Credit(s)
LITR 321 - Topics in Literary Sub Genres 3 Credit(s)
LITR 324 - Crime and Detective Fiction 3 Credit(s)
LITR 325 - Utopian Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 330 - Topics in Film 4 Credit(s)
LITR 344 - Parody 3 Credit(s)
LITR 346 - Satire 3 Credit(s)
LITR 347 - Metaphor 3 Credit(s)
LITR 348 - Irony 3 Credit(s)
LITR 351 - Nature and Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 352 - Nationality and Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 353 - Social Movements and Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 354 - Psychology and Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 355 - Identity and Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 356 - Race and Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 358 - Class and Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 359 - Literary Themes 3 Credit(s)
LITR 371 - Classical Heritage 3 Credit(s)
LITR 372 - Biblical Heritage 3 Credit(s)
LITR 373 - Mythical Heritage 3 Credit(s)
LITR 374 - Classical Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 380 - Literary Criticism 3 Credit(s)
LITR 407 - Medieval Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 408 - Chaucer 3 Credit(s)
LITR 410 - Shakespeare I Comedies 3 Credit(s)
LITR 411 - Shakespeare II History and Tragedies 3 Credit(s)
LITR 412 - British Renaissance Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 413 - British Enlightenment Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 414 - British Romanticism 3 Credit(s)
LITR 419 - Victorian Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 421 - British Modernism 3 Credit(s)
LITR 422 - Contemporary British Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 423 - Commonwealth and Post Colonial Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 429 - Topics in British Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 430 - Advanced Topics in Film 4 Credit(s)
LITR 434 - Colonial American Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 435 - American Romanticism 3 Credit(s)
LITR 436 - American Realism and Naturalism 3 Credit(s)
LITR 437 - American Modernism 3 Credit(s)
LITR 438 - Post War American Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 439 - Contemporary American Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 445 - American Women Writers 3 Credit(s)
LITR 446 - African American Writers 3 Credit(s)
LITR 447 - Native American Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 448 - North Country Adirondack Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 449 - Topics in American Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 451 - World Literature Peoples 3 Credit(s)
LITR 452 - World Literature Places 3 Credit(s)
LITR 453 - World Literature Themes 3 Credit(s)
LITR 454 - Canadian Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 455 - Irish Literature 3 Credit(s)
LITR 471 - Renaissance 3 Credit(s)
LITR 472 - Enlightenment 3 Credit(s)
LITR 473 - Romanticism 3 Credit(s)
LITR 474 - Realism 3 Credit(s)
LITR 475 - Modernism 3 Credit(s)
LITR 476 - Postmodernism 3 Credit(s)
LITR 479 - Topics in Aesthetic Movements 3 Credit(s)

Note(s)

In addition to formal instruction, each student in the Creative Writing major will be expected to attend public readings of creative works, give public readings of creative works, assist with literary publications, and read extensively in their chosen genre(s).
Ordinarily, no more than two courses may be used to satisfy the requirements for both the English and the Communication majors. No more than 6 credits in the minor can be used to satisfy other college major or minor requirements. No more than one reduced-time course (e.g. Winter or Summer Session course lasting fewer than six weeks) may be used to satisfy the requirements for the major.
Students graduating with a Creative Writing major (B.A.) must complete the major requirements with at least a 2.0/S grade in each course.

Total Credit Hours Required: 37

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