Creative Writing Certificate Transition Pathway
Information for Creative Writing Certificate Program Students
Effective September 1, 2026, the revised requirements for the Creative Writing Certificate program will come into effect. The Creative Writing Certificate program courses being offered have changed, as well as the number of course requirements, which has been reduced from six (6) to five (5). Going forward, students will focus on their genre of choice (poetry, prose fiction, or creative non-fiction), taking two courses in their chosen genre and one elective outside of their chosen genre.
Program Requirements Prior to and After September 1, 2026
| Original Program Pathway | Revised Program Pathway |
|---|---|
| Prior to September 1, 2026 - Six-Course Program: | After September 1, 2026 - Five-Course Program: |
| Required Courses (two) | Required Course (one) |
| 7000011 Introduction to Creative Writing | 7000011 Introduction to Creative Writing |
| 7000015 Creative Writing through Reading | |
| Elective Courses (choose three) | Genre-Focused Courses (three options) Take two courses from your chosen genre plus one elective course from another genre or a special topics course. |
| 7000012 Writing Short Stories | Poetry: |
| 7000013 Writing Poetry | Introduction to Poetry - NEW! |
| 7000015 Writing a Novel | Advanced Poetry - NEW! |
| 7000016 Writing Mystery | |
| 7000017 Playwriting | Prose Fiction: |
| 7000018 Young Adult Writing | Introduction to Prose Fiction - NEW! |
| 7000019 Writing Creative Non-Fiction | Advanced Prose Fiction - NEW! |
| 7000020 Writing Dialogue | |
| 7000022 Writing for Children | Creative Non-Fiction: |
| 7000023 Writing Flash Narratives | Introduction to Creative Non-Fiction - NEW! |
| 7000024 Writing your own Story | Advanced Creative Non-Fiction - NEW! |
| Capstone Course (required) | Capstone Course (required) |
| 7000021 Creative Writing Capstone Project | 7000021 Creative Writing Capstone Project |
Common Substitutions/Same Course
- Introduction to Creative Writing
- Writing Poetry = Introduction to Poetry
- Writing Creative Non-Fiction = Introduction to Creative Non-Fiction
Please review the options below for the program requirements which apply to your situation.
Apply to receive your parchment and graduate with a Creative Writing Certificate.
If you have successfully completed the six-course requirements listed under the Original Program Pathway (see table above) as of September 1, 2026, you will be eligible to apply to receive your parchment and graduate with a Creative Writing Certificate.
Continue in one of the following pathways:
- If you have completed 7000015 Creative Writing through Reading before September 1, 2026, you have the option to continue with the original program pathway to complete the Creative Writing Certificate using the new genre-focused courses. You also have the option to move into the revised program pathway, with 7000015 Creative Writing through Reading counting as your one elective requirement. Please contact the program manager for the Creative Writing Certificate to discuss course substitutions for both of these options.
- If you haven’t completed 7000015 Creative Writing through Reading by September 1, 2026, you will be required to move into the revised program pathway (see above table) to complete the new course requirements. Elective courses from the original program pathway can be used towards the genre-focused and elective course requirements in the revised program pathway. Please contact the program manager for the Creative Writing Certificate to discuss course substitutions to complete the revised program pathway requirements.