Three people reading out loud into a microphone from works placed on a music stand in front of them.
Writing

Curriculum & Courses

Undergraduate Curriculum Overview

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Writing students follow an individualized curricular pathway that allows them to explore a wide range of possibilities for writing and integrating text with the visual arts. Here are the requirements you must meet to earn a BFA in Writing.

    Total Credit Hours

    120

    Writing Core Curriculum

    24 

    • HUM 2001 Literature Survey I (3)
    • HUM 3002 Literature Survey II (3)
    • WRIT 1102 Intro to Writing as Art (3)
    • WRIT 2040 Writing Workshop (3)
    • WRIT 3140 Advanced Writing Workshop (3)
    • WRIT 4001 Generative Seminar (6)
    • CAPSTONE 4900 Undergraduate Thesis for BFAW Seminar (3)

     

    Studio 

    36

    • CP 1010 Core Studio Practice I (3)
    • CP 1011 Core Studio Practice II (3)
    • CP 1020 Research Studio I (3)
    • CP 1022 Research Studio II (3)
    • SOPHSEM 2900 (3)
    • PROFPRAC 3900 (3)
    • Studio Electives—May include additional Writing courses (18)

     

    Liberal Arts 

    36

    • ENGLISH 1001 First Year Seminar I (3)
    • ENGLISH 1005 First Year Seminar II (3)
    • Humanities (9)
    • Social Sciences (9)
    • Natural Sciences (6)
    • Liberal Arts Electives (6)

     

    Art History 

    12

    • ARTHI 1001 World Cultures/Civilizations: Pre-History to 19th Century Art and Architecture (3)
    • Art History Elective at 1000 level (3)
    • Art History Electives (6)

     

    General Electives—Studio, Liberal Arts, Art History, and/or BFAW courses

    12

    Transfer Students

    Total credits required for minimum residency: 60
    Minimum Writing Studio credit: 42

BFAW Thesis Reading

BFAW students participate in the BFAW Thesis Reading in their final spring semester; those students who demonstrate a visual art practice may also apply to exhibit in the fall semester BFA Thesis Exhibition. BFAW students collaboratively conceptualize, edit and produce an annual publication in the Writing Program’s own BookLab, in addition to producing many other independent print, web and performance-based projects.

Courses

The information below updates twice a week—it is possible that changes may occur between updates. Up-to-the-minute information for enrolled students can always be found at PeopleSoft Self-Service.

Title Catalog Instructor Schedule

Description

The beloved writer Italo Calvino penned a book called Six Memos for the Millennium. In it, he describes a variety of qualities that writing can have. These qualities are: lightness, quickness, exactitude, visibility, and multiplicity.
In our class, we will meet day by day to examine stories and novellas in light of the points that Calvino makes. Students will also be asked to make creative work in class following exercises that will be provided.
Participants will obtain a way of looking at fiction that will make their own practice of art and writing agile and sharp.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: WRIT 1102 or WRIT 2040 or permission of the instructor.

Class Number

1297

Credits

3

Department

Writing

Location

Lakeview - 808

Description

This is a three week class designed to take the writer from a play's beginning to its completion. We will make something brand new, but also look at your one act plays that you have begun but not completed.
We will write in each session and read from the published work of significant playwrights, including Suzanne Lori-Parks, Caryl Churchill, Jenny Magnus and Edward Albee. The class will conclude with a stage reading of your work. This course is particularly recommended for poets, film makers, performance artists, playwrights and artists looking for a new direction.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: WRIT 1102 or WRIT 2040 or permission of the instructor.

Class Number

1298

Credits

3

Department

Writing

Location

Lakeview - 808

Take the Next Step

Visit the undergraduate admissions website or contact the undergraduate admissions office at 800.232.7242 or ugadmiss@saic.edu.