Creative Writing Concentration
The English Department’s Concentration in Creative Writing bridges the traditions of literary studies with the innovations needed in today’s creative market place. Students take a strong core of literature to meet their individual interests and career goals. Part of the program is a tiered system of Creative Writing Workshops–two at the entry level that will include poetry, fiction, and nonfiction as well as two at the intermediate level in poetry,fiction, nonfiction, or scriptwriting that the student will choose. Students can also select from a variety of workshop courses such as Children’s Literature, Young Adult Writing, Script and Playwriting, Memoir, and Advanced Poetry and Fiction courses in which they work with faculty members who are professional, published writers. All English majors do either a Career Internship (with opportunities to work with local presses, publishing companies, and creative arts organizations) or Student Teaching for Certification. Both are well supported by Arcadia’s close proximity to Philadelphia.
Requirements
Credits
60 credits as listed below, with Undergraduate Curriculum requirements and electives to total a minimum of 120 credits
Nine English courses
Four Core Required Courses:
- EN 199 Interpreting Literature
- EN 202 Research Writing for English Majors
- EN 300 The Junior Seminar
- EN 388 Senior Creative Writing Seminar
Five 200 level courses (20 credits)
- EN 212 Writing Poetry and Fiction
One 200-level course in “Topics in African Diasporic Literature,” which must be chosen from this list:
- EN 219 Literary Themes and Forms
- EN 220 Selected Authors
- EN 230 Literature of the African Diaspora
- EN 231 Short Fiction of the African Diaspora
- EN 237 Literature of Revolution
One 200-level course in “Topics in Identity and Social Justice,” which must be chosen from this list:
- EN 219 Literary Themes and Forms
- EN 220 Selected Authors
- EN 223 Contemporary Short Fiction
- EN 224 Native American Fiction
- EN 225 Introduction to Queer Fiction
- EN 226 Detective Fiction
- EN 229 Voices of America
- EN 237 Literature of Revolution
Two 200-level Creative Writing Workshop Courses
- EN 211 Creative Nonfiction Workshop
- EN 240 Intermediate Fiction Writing
- EN 241 Intermediate Poetry Writing
Five 300-level Required Courses (20 credits)
Two 300-level Creative Writing Workshop Courses
- EN 343 Writing for Children
- TH 350 Playwriting
- EN 368 Tell It Slant: Memoir Writing Workshop
- EN 375 Fiction Writing Workshop
- EN 378 Poetry Writing Workshop
- CM 408 Screenwriting
One 300 level Literature Elective from the list below or EN399: Senior Literature Seminar
- EN323 Modern American Literature
- EN327 The Discovery of Adulthood in British and American Fiction
- EN328 William Faulkner
- EN330 Cinema of the African Diaspora
- EN332 Literature and the Law
- EN335 Special Topics in American Literature
- EN336 Asian Literature
- EN341 The (Neo) Slave and Emancipation Narrative
- EN344 Special Studies Seminar
- EN347 Tales of the City: Urbanism in Global Literature
- EN349 The Short Novel
- EN350 Major Authors Seminar
- EN351 Jane Austen
- EN353 Mark Twain
- EN355 Southern Fiction
- EN359 Literature after War
- EN360 Contemporary American Autobiography
- EN361 Seminar: Modern Drama
- EN362 A Few Great Novels
- EN365 The Contemporary Moment
- EN366 Kerouac and His Sources
- EN384 Graphic Fiction Adaptations from Literature and Life
- EN387 Women, Writing, and Rhetoric
Two 300-level Courses in “Topics in European Literature” or “Topics in U.S. Literature” or “200-level or 300-level Topics in Global Literature”
300-level course in “Topics in European Literature”
- EN320 Classical and Medieval European Literature
- EN327 The Discovery of Adulthood in British and American Fiction
- EN321 European Renaissance and Enlightenment Literature
- EN342 Ireland in Twentieth Century Film and Literature
- EN344 Special Studies Seminar
- EN346 Russian Fiction
- EN350 Major Authors Seminar
- EN351 Jane Austen
- EN359 Literature after War
- EN361 Seminar: Modern Drama
- EN362 A Few Great Novels
- EN363 Modernism & Postmodernism
- EN364 Seminar: The Lyric
- EN381 Modern British Literature and Culture
300-level course in “Topics in U.S. Literature”
- EN323 Modern American Literature
- EN327 The Discovery of Adulthood in British and American Fiction
- EN328 William Faulkner
- EN344 Special Studies Seminar
- EN335 Special Topics in American Literature
- EN350 Major Authors Seminar
- EN353 Mark Twain
- EN355 Southern Fiction
- EN359 Literature after War
- EN360 Contemporary American Autobiography
- EN361 Seminar: Modern Drama
- EN362 A Few Great Novels
- EN366 Kerouac and His Sources
200-level 300-level course in “Topics in Global Literature”
200-level Courses
- EN220 Selected Authors
- EN219 Literary Themes and Forms
- EN234 Travel Writing
- EN237 Literature of Revolution
300-Level Courses
- EN336 Asian Literature
- EN344 Special Studies Seminar
- EN347 Tales of the City: Urbanism in Global Literature
- EN350 Major Authors Seminar
- EN359 Literature after War
- EN362 A Few Great Novels
Accepted Modern Languages and Cultures Courses
- IT314 Introduction to Italian Literature
- FR310 French Women Writers and Other Troublemakers
- FR314 Readings in French
- FR385 French Literary Movements
- SP314 Contemporary Spanish Literature
- SP315 Contemporary Latin American Literature
- SP324 Survey of Spanish Literature
- SP325 Survey of Latin American Literature
- SP327 Iconic Women of Spain
- US234 Representations of the Spanish Civil War
- US236 Christian, Jewish, Muslim Spain: From Eden to Exile
- US261 Representations of the Holocaust
Career Internship
EN 371 Career Internship in English
Recommended
Courses in modern language and literature, history, religion, philosophy, art, and music as well as electives appropriate to specific professional objectives such as a career in business, law, radio or television.
Literature Concentration
The English Department’s Concentration in Literature offers courses in literature, creative writing, and professional writing. The literature courses approach texts from thematic, biographical, formal, historical, and socio-cultural perspectives. Literature is explored in its relation to the past and its relevance to people’s lives in the present. All courses stress critical thinking and problem-solving as essential aspects of the composing and interpreting process. In the senior year, every student takes the Capstone course and writes a culminating paper presented on Thesis Day.
The English major has been recognized nationally as preparation for a wide variety of careers and for graduate study in several fields. Our curriculum’s emphasis on critical thinking, effective writing and oral communication prepares students for many paths after graduation listed here.
- Graduate school in English literature, law, library science, creative writing and journalism.
- Careers in research, communications, government, publishing, editing, public relations and business, and teaching.
- Teaching at the secondary level (with Secondary Education Certification for public schools) and at the college level (with a graduate degree).
All English majors do either a Career Internship or Student Teaching for Certification. Both are well supported by Arcadia’s close proximity to Philadelphia.
Requirements
Credits
60 credits as listed below, with Undergraduate Curriculum requirements and electives to total a minimum of 120 credits
Four Core Courses
- EN 199 Interpreting Literature
- EN 202 Research Writing for English Majors
- EN 300 The Junior Seminar
- EN 399 Senior Literature Seminar
200-Level Required Courses
One 200-level course in “Topics in African Diasporic Literature,” which must be chosen from this list:
One 200-level course in “Topics in African Diasporic Literature,” which must be chosen from this list:
- EN 219 Literary Themes and Forms
- EN 220 Selected Authors
(depending on the topic)
- EN 231 Short Fiction of the African Diaspora
- EN 237 Literature of Revolution
One 200-level course in “Topics in Identity and Social Justice,” which must be chosen from this list:
- EN 219 Literary Themes and Forms
- EN 220 Selected Authors
- EN 223 Contemporary Short Fiction
- EN 224 Native American Fiction
- EN 225 Introduction to Queer Fiction
- EN 226 Detective Fiction
- EN 229 Voices of America
- EN 237 Literature of Revolution
Two 200-level Literature Electives, which must be chosen from this list:
- EN 219 Literary Themes and Forms
- EN 220 Selected Authors
- EN 222 Lewis & Tolkien
- EN 223 Contemporary Short Fiction
- EN 224 Native American Fiction
- EN 225 Introduction to Queer Fiction
- EN 226 Detective Fiction
- EN 227 Philadelphia in Literary and Cultural Context
- EN 229 Voices of America
- EN 230 Literature of the African Diaspora
- EN 231 Short Fiction of the African Diaspora
- EN 232 Louise Erdrich
- EN 233 Shakespeare
- EN 237 Literature of Revolution
300-Level Required Courses
One 200 or 300-level course in “Topics in Global Literature,” which must be chosen form this list:
200-Level Courses
- EN 220 Selected Authors
- EN 219 Literary Themes and Forms
- EN 234 Travel Writing
- EN 237 Literature of Revolution
300-Level Courses
- EN 336 Asian Literature
- EN 344 Special Studies Seminar
- EN 347 Tales of the City: Urbanism in Global Literature
- EN 350 Major Authors Seminar
- EN 359 Literature after War
- EN 362 A Few Great Novels
Accepted Modern Languages and Culture Courses
- IT 314 Introduction to Italian Literature
- FR 310 French Women Writers and Other Troublemakers
- FR 314 Readings in French
- FR 385 French Caribbean Literature and Culture
- SP 314 Contemporary Spanish Literature
- SP 315 Contemporary Latin American Literature
- SP 324 Survey of Spanish Literature
- SP 325 Survey of Latin American Literature
- SP 327 Iconic Women of Spain
- US 234 Representations of the Spanish Civil War
- US 236 Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Spain: From Eden to Exile
- US 261 Representations of the Holocaust
One 300-level course in “Topics in European Literature,” which must be chosen from this list:
- EN 320 Classical and Medieval European Literature
- EN 327 The Discovery of Adulthood in British and American Fiction
- EN 321 European Renaissance and Enlightenment Literature
- EN 342 Ireland in 20th Century Film and Literature
- EN 344 Special Studies Seminar
- EN 346 Russian Fiction
- EN 350 Major Authors Seminar
- EN 351 Jane Austen
- EN 359 Literature after War
- EN 361 Seminar: Modern Drama
- EN 362 A Few Great Novels
- EN 363 Modernism and Postmodernism
- EN 364 Seminar: The Lyric
One 300-level course in “Topics in U.S. Literature,” which must be chosen from this list:
- EN 323 Modern American Literature
- EN 327 The Discovery of Adulthood in British and American Fiction
- EN 328 William Faulkner
- EN 344 Special Studies Seminar
- EN 335 Special Topics in American Literature
- EN 350 Major Authors Seminar
- EN 353 Mark Twain
- EN 355 Southern Fiction
- EN 359 Literature after War
- EN 360 Contemporary American Autobiography
- EN 361 Seminar: Modern Drama
- EN 362 A Few Great Novels
- EN 366 Kerouac and His Sources
One 300-level Literature elective, which must be chosen from this list:
- EN 323 Modern American Literature
- EN 327 The Discovery of Adulthood in British and American Fiction
- EN 328 William Faulkner
- EN 330 Cinema of the African Diaspora
- EN 332 Literature and the Law
- EN 335 Special Topics in American Literature
- EN 336 Asian Literature
- EN 341 The (Neo) Slave and Emancipation Narrative
- EN 342 Ireland in 20th Century Film and Literature
- EN 344 Special Studies Seminar
- EN 346 Russian Fiction
- EN 347 Tales of the City: Urbanism in Global Literature
- EN 349 The Short Novel
- EN 350 Major Authors Seminar
- EN 351 Jane Austen
- EN 353 Mark Twain
- EN 355 Southern Fiction
- EN 359 Literature after War
- EN 360 Contemporary American Autobiography
- EN 361 Seminar: Modern Drama
- EN 362 A Few Great Novels
- EN 365 The Contemporary Moment
- EN 366 Kerouac and His Sources
- EN 384 Graphic Fiction Adaptations from Literature and Life
- EN 387 Women, Writing and Rhetoric
Career Internship
- EN 371 Career Internship in English
Three Additional Requirements
One Professional Writing Course, which must be chosen from this list:
200-Level Courses
- EN 217 Journalism I
- EN 218 Business Writing
- CM 213 Writing and Communication
- CM 219 Introduction to Public Relations
- EN 314 Writing for Magazines
300-Level Courses
- EN 315 Technical Writing
- EN 316 Writing for the Health Industry
- EN 318 Journalism II
- EN 372 Special Studies in Writing
- EN 374 Grant Writing for Nonprofits
- EN 376 Writing for Digital Media
- CM 303 Digital Content and Marketing
- CM 313 Multimedia Publishing and Production
- CM 319 Writing for Television
One Writing Course (Professional or Creative)
200-Level Courses
- EN 211 Creative Nonfiction Workshop
- EN 212 Writing Poetry and Fiction
- EN 217 Journalism I
- EN 218 Business Writing
- CM 213 Writing and Communication
- CM 219 Introduction to Public Relations
- EN 240 Intermediate Fiction Writing
- EN 241 Intermediate Poetry Writing
300-Level Courses
- EN 314 Writing for Magazines
- EN 315 Technical Writing
- EN 316 Writing for the Health Industry
- EN 318 Journalism II
- EN 343 Writing for Children
- EN 368 Tell It Slant: Memoir Writing Workshop
- EN 372 Special Studies in Writing
- EN 374 Grant Writing for Nonprofits
- EN 375 Fiction Writing Workshop
- EN 376 Writing for Digital Media
- EN 378 Poetry Writing Workshop
- CM 303 Digital Content and Marketing
- CM 313 Multimedia Publishing and Production
- CM 319 Writing for Television
- TH 350 Playwriting
400-Level Courses
- CM 408 Screenwriting
Recommended
Courses in modern language and literature, history, religion, philosophy, art and music as well as electives appropriate to specific professional objectives such as a career in business, law, radio or television.
