creative writing minor belmont

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*Students pursuing the English Major, Literature Emphasis may combine this with the Writing Minor but not with the Literature Minor.

**Students pursuing the English Major, Writing Emphasis may combine this with the Literature Minor but not with the Writing Minor.

***Students who are also pursuing a minor or major in Education must take an additional 3 hours from the courses listed above; any course listed above taken as part of another major/minor program cannot also be counted as filling requirements in this minor. In connection with this minor students must also meet the following requirements: 1) Complete 6 hours of the study of a second language at the 2000 level or higher; 2) Complete two (2) experiential learning opportunities in connection with the courses listed above; 3) Complete a study abroad experience.

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Students with a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Language and Composition exam or on the Literature and Composition exam receive credit for ENG 1010; to complete their General Education composition requirement these students must still complete ENG 3010. Students who have taken both AP English tests and scored at least 4 on both tests receive a credit for ENG 1010 for one test and 3 additional hours of general elective credit. No CLEP credit will be awarded for ENG 1010.

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Creative Writing Currently: The Birth of Belmont University's MFA Program

Madeleine fossler & gary mcdowell | april 2023.

Belmont University is thrilled to announce the launch of its Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing . Designed by Dr. Gary McDowell to prepare students for the life of a writer, this program is led by graduate faculty committed to fostering the skills of creative writing and increasing student expertise in genres ranging from fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.

Dr. McDowell, what prompted your department/school to create an MFA program?

We’ve noticed a trend over the past decade or more of roughly 50 percent of our MA students choosing to do a creative thesis when they are presented with the option; we’ve also recognized the need and want of more creative writing course offerings. Being that Belmont is located in the heart of Music City, a town of many creatives, writers, musicians, and artists, it made sense to create an MFA that could cater both to our hometown and to the surrounding areas. Nashville is a vibrant, artistic city in need of more creative writing opportunities, hence the Belmont University MFA.

How did you decide what the best cohort size would be?

Our creative writing faculty spoke at length about our individual experiences during our own MFAs and quickly came to the agreement that having a relatively small cohort coupled with small class sizes greatly affected both our progress as readers/writers and as potential educators. The one-on-one attention an MFA student can receive in a smaller cohort is crucial to that student’s development. Being that our program is multi-genre—students will take Craft courses and Workshops across all three main genres of Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction—we also want to limit the amount of students in any one of those classes so that students can get the attention they need to excel even in genres that aren’t the one in which they’ll be writing their thesis.

Tell us about your pedagogical approach to teaching creative writing.

While my colleagues will surely agree with portions of this, I want to be clear that this is my personal philosophy for the teaching of creative writing, though it is by no means the only way to approach it. That said, I believe in combining methods of critical pedagogy and community building in my classes to emphasize my belief that the students’ everyday existence should not be separate from their education. I stress writing as a means to make connections between what we know and what we hope to learn and to enable further intellectual and creative growth.

Operating under the assumption that creative writing is cultural and societal commentary, I emphasize interdisciplinary learning as a means to encourage students to contribute impetus to their education. In addition, I create a “learner-centered” environment, a community of working writers, in my classroom, and it is my hope, because of the relaxed, workman-like structure, that the learning happens on a pyramid scale wherein the students accumulate knowledge and experience simultaneously. I rather like Ken Bain’s idea of building “scaffolds of knowledge.” The students build their skills as writers one toe-hold at a time. In order to achieve this, I structure assignments that revolve around discovery so as to build intrinsic group and individual motivation. Learning to write is, in some ways, learning, as Samuel Beckett said, “to fail better.” Every student has a story, and it is my goal to weave them into the fabric of the course because I’m not teaching students how to write; rather, I’m teaching them how to be writers, folks “upon whom nothing is lost.”

What makes your program unique?

Our uniqueness stems directly from our university’s mission. Our students will ideally reflect the diversity of our faculty, staff, and leadership and will read, study, and write work that will transform the world via compassion, intelligence, and faith. MFA students will study poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction while developing a breadth of knowledge regarding the theory and craft across those genres. They will join a community of working writers, guided by faculty members who are accomplished writers themselves and who will guide the students toward being writers who engage with their core beliefs–intellectually, spiritually, and personally–in order to serve, “to engage and transform the world” (Belmont University’s mission), with humility, as a reflection both of who they are and the stories they must learn to tell.

We would love for you to join our community of working writers, guided by faculty members who are accomplished writers themselves and who will guide you toward being writers who engage with their core beliefs- intellectually, spiritually, and personally- in order to serve, "to engage and transform the world," with humility, as a reflection both of who they are and the stories they must learn to tell. To learn more, visit https://www.belmont.edu/liberal-arts/grad/mfa-creative-writing/index.html .

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• Creative Writing, MFA

Why Study Creative Writing? 

In Belmont's MFA in Creative Writing at Belmont, you will take courses designed to build on strengths and knowledge from your undergraduate experiences, broaden your awareness of literature and writing and prepare you for the life of a writer.

The graduate faculty is committed to fostering the skills of critical reading as well as creative writing and increasing student expertise in their chosen genre of study: fiction, poetry or creative nonfiction.

The pursuit of an MFA in Creative Writing may begin as a place to hone your craft as a writer, and many successful career novelists and freelance writers graduate from MFA programs. The intensive writing experience of an MFA will train you for a variety of careers in journalism, marketing, public relations, arts administration, publishing, library science, content creation and education.

We welcome you to explore what the MFA in Creative Writing at Belmont University can provide. We would love for you to join our community of working writers, guided by faculty members who are accomplished writers themselves and who will guide you toward being writers who engage with their core beliefs–intellectually, spiritually, and personally– to serve with humility, as a reflection both of who you are and the stories you must learn to tell.

Goals of Belmont’s Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing:

• Promote effective, creative and reflective reading, writing and imaginative thinking
• Present literature and the craft of writing within historical and cultural contexts
• Introduce students to diverse strategies for interpreting literature of others and of their own
• Explore the structures, complexities and development of creative writing genres
• Integrate local and global learning experiences into the curriculum taught by working writers;
• Develop skills necessary to be a working writer by employing current professional standards and emerging technologies–and to think critically about these resources and tools;
• Engages students in independent research and long-term writing projects, such as a thesis

Career Possibilities

• Public Relations
• Arts Administration
• Library Science
• Content Creation

Program Details

Courses you'll take add.

See All Program Requirements

Courses You'll Take

This course undertakes a multi-lensed look at the study of English at the graduate level via a comparative study of writing pedagogies and of theoretical approaches to the study of literature. Required for M.F.A. in Creative Writing students.

This course studies the craft of fiction through close-reading of contemporary fiction and intense practice of related craft techniques.

An intensive workshop-style course devoted to reading, writing, analyzing, and critiquing contemporary fiction and student work. Recommend pre-requisite Craft of Fiction.

This course is devoted to studying the craft of poetry through close-reading and intense practice of craft techniques.

An intensive workshop-style course devoted to reading, writing, discussing, and critiquing contemporary poetry and student work. Recommend pre-requisite Craft of Poetry.

This course studies the craft of creative nonfiction through close-reading of creative nonfiction and intense practice of related craft techniques.

An intensive workshop-style course devoted to reading, writing, discussing, and critiquing contemporary creative nonfiction and student work

Serves as the culminating experience of the MFA in Creative Writing. Across the two semesters of enrollment in this course, each student will produce a book-length manuscript of literary merit and publishable quality in the genre of their choice. To assist them with this task, each student will select a Thesis Director and supporting committee to provide guidance and advice. ENG 6900 is a Pass/Fail course with specific benchmarks to be achieved during each semester of enrollment.

Presents important works of literature of the world from beginnings to Enlightenment. This course establishes a historical perspective while seeking to encourage both comparative perspective and common ground among works from European tradition and several non-Western cultures.

Readings emphasizing the historical development of British literature from a broad spectrum of representative works from Old English up to the Elizabethan period.

Readings emphasizing the historical development of British literature from a broad spectrum of representative works from the Elizabethan period through the eighteenth century.

Readings emphasizing the historical development of American literature from a broad spectrum of representative works, from beginnings through the Civil War.

Presents important works of literature of the world from the Enlightenment to the present. This course establishes a historical perspective while seeking to encourage both comparative perspective and common ground among works from European tradition and several non-Western cultures.

Readings emphasizing the historical development of British Literature from a broad spectrum of representative works from the Romantic period through the present.

Readings emphasizing the historical development of American Literature from a broad spectrum of representative works from the Civil War to the present.

Each offering of this course will be devoted to the in-depth study of one, or at most two, author(s). These authors range from Chaucer and/or Shakespeare to Jane Austen, E.M. Forster, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Adrienne Rich, Joan Didion, as examples, etc. Deep knowledge of an author’s (or two author’s) oeuvre, not historical coverage, is the chief goal of the course. May be repeated once for up to six hours.

Each offering of this course will provide a critical introduction to a single genre of writing. Seminar topics may include everything from the novel, short story, poetry, and drama, to nature or travel writing, the graphic novel, ethnography, and memoir, etc. Deep knowledge of the genre, not historical coverage, is the seminar’s chief goal. May be repeated once for up to six credits.

Under the supervision of faculty who are teaching an undergraduate course, students will assist and participate in all phases of the teaching process: preparation, classroom instruction, evaluation, etc. The supervising faculty member and student should develop a contract about work to be completed by the student and the study / reading component to be undertaken together, taking into account the number of credit hours; students taking 3 credit hours in the Practicum, making it the equivalent of a full course, should also write a substantial essay about teaching, their own teaching experiences and learning processes, etc. Course is repeatable two times total, but maximum credit earned in ENG 5720 is 3 credit hours.

This course introduces students to pedagogies used in teaching literature, language and / or writing. In addition to reading and discussing the various pedagogical approaches, students will apply them by assisting a professor in teaching, tutoring, and / or conferencing with students on their papers. Other related assignments will include writing learning goals, designing assignments, developing rubrics and other assessments tools, etc.

The origins and development of the English Language are studied in the context of linguistics and socio-political influences. Attention is also paid to the on-going processes affecting modern English.

The course provides a basic overview of composition theories: audience analysis, writing process theory, writing to learn theory, discourse theory, invention in the rhetorical tradition. Other topics include evaluation, electronic discourse, and grammar.

Various study-abroad opportunities are available through Belmont.

Each offering of this course will address a different topic or theme from disciplines of writing, rhetoric, and / or composition. Topics may include Writing about Place, Writing and Social Issues, Writing and Identity, and others. May be repeated twice for credit up to six hours

An exploration of theories of gender; examines constructions and manipulations of gender in a variety of literary texts.

Each course offering will address a different topic, issue, or theme from the disciplines of literature and/or critical theory. Deep knowledge of a topic, issue, or theme is the chief goal of the seminar. May be repeated twice for credit up to six hours.

This course, which will vary in focus with individual offerings, builds on basic understanding of English grammar from History of the English Language by focusing on special topics in Advanced English Grammar and Linguistics. Course is repeatable once with different topics.

Admissions Information add

Application deadline.

Fall: August 1

Admissions Requirements

• Application Form: Apply Online using the BU4U application portal.
• Application Fee: Submit a $50 non-refundable application fee.
• Official Transcripts: Applicants must have an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.0. Official transcripts showing all collegiate work should be sent to: Belmont University Office of Admissions, 1900 Belmont Blvd, Nashville TN 37212-3757. Official electronic transcripts can be accepted, and must be sent through a secure third party (i.e. Student Clearinghouse, or Parchment). Request them be sent to: [email protected].
• Recommendations: Two academic and/or professional recommendations are required. These are only received through the online application portal. Neither recommendations may be from a relative and at least one must be from a professor.
• Statement of Purpose: Submitted as part of the application, the statement of purpose is an essay of less than 500 words from one of the following topics: 1) Your goals for an M.F.A. in Creative Writing 2) Your reasons for pursuing an M.F.A. in Creative Writing 3) Your genre interest (Fiction, Poetry or Creative Nonfiction) 4) If your background is not in English or Creative Writing, your strengths in preparation for this program.
• Writing Sample: The writing sample should be a creative writing sample in your preferred genre of study (poetry, short story or novel excerpt, or creative nonfiction). Please contact the director of the program if you have questions.
• Interview: Applicants may be invited to interview with us as part of the application process. This informal interview will give us a chance to answer any questions, and will help us learn a little more about you and your interests in creative writing.

Application Status: Applicants are accepted on a rolling admissions pattern; thus, you will be notified of the admissions committee's decision shortly after the admissions portfolio is completed. To check on the status of your application, check your BU4U portal .

Tuition & Aid add

Financial Aid

There are several types of federal financial aid available to graduate students. Please visit our Graduate Admissions & Aid website to learn more.

Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships are available through the Office of Student Organization and Activities each year. Applications are due in early Spring.

Internships, Fellowships and Employment

Internships, fellowships, and part-time employment help fund the cost of graduate school while giving valuable career enrichment experience.

Opportunities include tutoring positions and summer teaching associateships at Belmont's Writing Center, employment at the library and internships at local independent schools. Application deadlines vary, but most applications are due in early Spring. Please contact the Director of Graduate Studies for more information.

Scholarships

We offer partial scholarships to full-time students on a competitive basis. In addition, we also offer partial reimbursement for research and conference travel.

There are also several sources of external scholarships available, such as these scholarships offered by West End United Methodist Church for those who are in or pursuing careers in teaching. 

Employee Tuition Reimbursement

Many companies offer tuition reimbursement for graduate school, including Vanderbilt University, Comcast, AT&T, Procter & Gamble, UPS, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Best Buy. Check with your employer to see if they offer reimbursement.

Military Benefits

Military members qualify for financial assistance, and Belmont University is a Yellow Ribbon University. For more on military benefits, click here .

Tuition and Fees

Click here to determine your total estimated costs per semester for courses in the Graduate English program.

Alumni Testimonial

"When I started grad school, I didn’t have much direction. I knew I loved reading and writing, but I wasn’t sure where that could take me. During my time in the English graduate program at Belmont University, I discovered that I wanted to be an author, and I wrote the story that eventually became my first novel. I will forever be grateful for my time in the program because it taught me to never give up on my dreams, and showed me that I am capable of more than I ever imagined."

Dr. Kai Harris, Class of 2015

Award-winning author of What the Fireflies Knew

Faculty Testimonial

"Writers have long searched for mentorship, instruction and community in their educational journeys toward mastery, mastery both of craft and, through modeling, of pedagogical strategies appropriate to creative writing instruction. Additionally, reading and writing are acts of love and survival pursued for the intense pleasures of creativity and imagination, and for the human need to communicate. The Belmont University MFA in Creative Writing will blend mentorship, instruction, and community-formation that will allow our students to achieve mastery under the tutelage of working writers/professors."

Dr. Gary McDowell

Director of MFA in Creative Writing & Professor

Request Information

Ready to apply.

Start Your Application

College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

Danielle Walden Admissions Coordinator (615) 460.8340

Email Danielle

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• Songwriting, BA/BS

Why Major in Songwriting? 

As a Songwriting (SNG) major, you’ll study with faculty who have won every major industry award from Grammys to CMAs, ACMs, Dove Awards, Emmys and more.

Belmont's Songwriting Department is housed on Music Row at 34 Music Square East, the historic home of the Quonset Hut and Columbia Studio A Recording studios where iconic artists such as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Patsy Cline, Leonard Cohen and Simon and Garfunkel have recorded.

What You'll Learn 

• Collaborating to co-write songs and discover how that generates different and exciting outcomes.
• Improve your skills of recording your own songs.
• Interactions with music business professionals is continuous throughout our program. Discover which sectors your music fits into, and collaborate with instead of being intimidated by the industry.
• Our curriculum encourages performance. There are a multitude of opportunities to perform original songs on small and large stages.

Belmont Tracks: Arden Snead

Arden Snead is a songwriting major who was glued to music even as a baby. She learned to play guitar at a young age, and songwriting soon followed after. Arden takes most of her inspiration from her family and the stories of others— she believes that the most truth is found in the things that take time. Her primary genres are country and singer-songwriter, and she has been known to pick the banjo on occasion.

Program Details

Courses you'll take add, course requirements.

The songwriting major leads to either a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science. It requires 128 hours of coursework.

• BELL Core requirements: 53 hours
• Major requirements: 43 hours
• Minor requirements: 18 hours
• General Electives: 14 hours

See All Program Requirements

Courses you'll take:

• SNG 2100. Seminars, Workshops, Showcases:  Program-specific sessions intended to demonstrate practical application or explore philosophical and current issues related to the music and entertainment industries.
• SNG 2110. Commercial Songwriting I:  This is the practical application and technique of the working songwriter. Students will study fundamentals of melody, lyrics, “hooks,” points of view and song logic. Students will also cover solo writing as well as the concept of collaboration.
• SNG 2120. Commercial Songwriting II:  This course is an advanced study of songwriting on demand, cataloging creative works and developing professional habits as related to the business of songwriting.
• SNG 3110. Songwriting Practicum:  The development of an individual’s unique songwriting “voice” is encouraged while demo production occurs and the study of the songwriting business continues. Groups will be genre specific - pop, country, show tunes, hip-hop, Christian, jazz, etc. Internships at song-publishing companies on Music Row are encouraged.
• SNG 3120. Lyric Writing:  A study of lyric writing. Historical masters of composition and lyric writing will be analyzed. Students will learn title/concept development and write lyrics based on selected readings.
• SNG 4015. Songwriting Senior Capstone:  This course is a culminating experience in the major, which also addresses the goals for the Senior Capstone as defined in the course description for BEL 4015 . These goals include reflection on the students’ whole educational experiences and on their transition from the university setting to post-graduation.

Student Opportunities add

Our location in the heart of Music City provides unmatched opportunities for industry engagement. Students in upper-level classes have written songs for Sony Records Nashville, Universal Music Publishing, Big Machine Records, Warner Chappell Music, TV shows like “Nashville,” Curb Publishing, Warner Brothers Records Los Angeles and other companies.

Studying songwriting at Belmont’s Curb College offers an incredible collaboration between Songwriting, Audio Engineering and Motion Pictures majors for the production of music videos.

Your studies are enhanced by classes in commercial songwriting, audio engineering, music business and the choice of dozens of minors.

Study Abroad opportunities are plentiful with songwriting courses taught in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Germany.

Admissions & Portfolio Submission add

Songwriting portfolio.

All applicants must submit a short video portfolio explaining why they would like to be a part of the Belmont Songwriting community and displaying two original songs. Video should be no longer than seven (7) minutes.

Acceptable talking points include:

• Why you chose Belmont University and how you will benefit if accepted
• Your personal goals and how Belmont Songwriting can help you accomplish them
• Your musical influences and how long you have been writing songs
• Why you are a strong candidate
• Your long–term career goal(s) in the music industry

Submission Instructions:

Once you've created your Video Portfolio, upload it to YouTube and submit the link to our steering committee via our online submission form. Lyrics to each song must be pasted in the description box of your YouTube video for consideration. If you only wish to have Belmont University view your video, mark it as "Unlisted" when uploading to YouTube. Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.

DO NOT mark it "Private" as this will prevent the selection committee from seeing it and you will forfeit participation in the submission round .

Submission Requirements: 

Complete the online submission page in its entirety. Capture a video of yourself singing two of your original compositions. If someone else is accompanying you, you must make an on-camera introduction of each song and its instrumentalists and/or performers. All songs must be written solely by you. Valid submissions must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. (CST) on the due date to be considered in that round.

Portfolio Due Dates:

• September 15 (Decisions by October 15)
• November 1 (Decisions by December 1)
• January 15 (Decisions by February 15)
• March 1 (Decisions by April 1)
• July 1 – transfers only (Decisions by August 1)

Where to submit your portfolio: 

If you are an incoming student, please submit your portfolio through your BU4U account.

If you are a current student , please use the link below to submit your portfolio.

Current Student Portfolio Submission

Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions!

Career Possibilities

The following is mere snapshot of some of the jobs student pursue upon graduation.

• Staff Songwriter:  A contract position with a music publishing company, typically a one year, exclusive contract with a series of 1 – 3 year options. Staff songwriters are hired to write songs that will be promoted to recording artists, used in film or television and other commercial uses. Belmont Songwriting graduates have signed publishing contacts with Sony/ATV Music Publishing, This Music/Warner Chappell Music, Sea Gayle Music and others.
• Creative Director:  Within a music publishing company, the creative director works directly with the staff songwriters on direction in song creation. The creative director also meets with record producers and industry executives to pitch songs for recording and other commercial applications.
• Touring Musician:  Perform live on tour with recording artists on U.S. and International tours.
• Studio Musician:  Perform on recording sessions in studios in Nashville, Los Angeles, Miami or New York.
• Entertainment Industry Entrepreneurs:  Belmont Songwriting major graduates have built many successful companies, including MadeIn Network (Kevin Grosh/Keith Johnson) and Evamore (Channing Moreland).

Alumni Testimonials

“[I] have every person on staff in the Songwriting program...to thank for even having a degree....They were just all so supportive and encouraging of everything that I was doing outside of the classroom and the actual music industry, and if it weren't for them lifting me up in that area the whole way through, I wouldn't be the writer that I am.”

Emily Weisband, Class of 2015 Sony Songwriter, Warner Brothers Artist, Grammy Award winner

“Studying songwriting at Belmont was awesome because it just gave me the opportunity to connect with a lot of different people and people on Music Row, and that was thanks to my professors....”

Anna Vaus, Class of 2018 Big Machine Songwriter, Independent Artist

“For my career, it's changed my whole life. It put me in front of the publishing company I’m with now and everything has changed because of this program.”

Jake Wesley Rogers, Class of 2018 Sony Songwriter, Warner Brothers Artist

Request Information

Ready to apply.

Start Your Application

Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business

Natalie Peterson Admissions Coordinator 615.460.6453 Email Natalie

College Links

The Creative Writing Minor in the English Department is designed for students who have an interest in developing their skills as writers and readers of creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry but need to fulfill the requirements of other majors.  Students will take a series of six creative writing classes in order to learn to think as writers do, to understand the aesthetic and moral choices writers confront as they write, and become familiar with contemporary writing practices.  Through a mix of workshop, imitation classes and a topics course, students will have ample opportunity for frequent and extensive writing and rewriting under the guidance of the distinguished faculty of the nationally ranked MFA in Creative Writing.

Minor Requirements

The Creative Writing minor requires 18 credit hours of coursework (generally, six courses) distributed in the manner below.

3 credit hours must be from one of the following 100-level courses:

• ENG 105 - Introduction to Creative Writing
• ENG 121 - Introduction to Shakespeare
• ENG 122 - Introduction to the Novel
• ENG 151 - Interpretation of Poetry
• ENG 155 - Interpretation of Nonfiction
• ENG 174 - World Literature, Beginnings to 1000
• ENG 175 - World Literature, 1000 to Present

3 credit hours must be from one of the following introductory workshops:

• ENG 215 - Introductory Poetry Workshop
• ENG 216 - Introductory Literary Nonfiction Workshop
• ENG 217 - Introductory Fiction Workshop

Twelve credits (four courses) must be in courses numbered 300 or above (upper division).

3 credits must be from a “Reading and Writing” course:

• ENG 301 - Practicum in Reading and Writing Prose
• ENG 303 - Practicum in Reading and Writing Fiction
• ENG 304 - Practicum in Reading and Writing Poetry

All minors are required to take the following 3 credit course:

Selected Topics: Creative Writing: ENG 300

Students must take two advanced workshops for a total of six credits.  Each workshop must be in a different genre and have a different numerical designation: ENG 401 Poetry/ 402 Nonfiction/ 403 Fiction.  Prerequisite: Introductory Workshop ENG 215 Poetry/ 216 Nonfiction/ 217 Fiction.

Note: WRT 422 may be substituted for ENG 402.

Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate credits do NOT count toward the lower division credit requirements Creative Writing minor. In addition, students must attain a grade of C- or better in order to count a course toward their minor credits.

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This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2024–Spring 2025 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information .

Minor in English Creative Writing Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS) Department: English   Academic Plan Code(s): ENGCMINOR

Program Requirements

Students wishing to major in English and minor in Creative Writing will have to earn a minimum of 126 credits to complete both the major and the minor.

At least three (3) semester hours of the requirements for a minor must be successfully completed while enrolled in the University of Louisville.

The University of Louisville is committed to and will provide equality of educational and employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, sex, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, pregnancy or veteran status.

Every effort has been made to make the catalog accurate as of the date of publication. However, the University of Louisville reserves the right to change programs of study, academic policies, academic requirements, fees, course information, procedures for the confirmation of degrees, or the announced academic calendar and related deadlines without prior notice. Copyright © 2024-2025, University of Louisville. All rights reserved.

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Belmont Abbey College

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Home > About Us > Abbey News > Writing Major

Writing Major

Author:  The Crusader Staff Writer Hannah Schudlik

Belmont Abbey provides its students with several academic opportunities with around thirty majors and forty-eight minors. Declaring a minor at Belmont Abbey College allows students to study things that interest them on a personal level. So, whether or not a minor correlates to your future career, it may pique your interest and enhance your qualifications in a vast number of professions. Amongst the lengthy list of minor programs, the Abbey offers a minor in Writing.

The Writing minor is versatile for anyone who wishes to declare it. Students must complete fifteen credits in various English classes to earn the minor. Some of these courses include Creative Writing, Social Media Writing, Editing and Writing for Publication, History of the English Language, Newspaper Production, etc. Although the classes are subject to change and may vary per semester, students can see that a minor in writing entails loads of creativity.

As a writing minor myself, I can speak on the benefits of taking English courses. Classes like Professional and Technical Writing and Editing and Writing for Publication, have strengthened my communication skills and taught me how to write in a professional setting. Upon completing these courses, I have been able to improve and add to my resume. Newspaper Production and Writing for Social Media allowed me to implement creativity into my writing and understand how to write for different areas. The environment in these types of classes is professional and activity-based. After a period of lecturing, students often complete in-class assignments and peer-edit their classmates’ work – fostering their ability to edit papers and communicate with others.

Dr. Erin Jensen is the faculty advisor of the college newspaper and coordinates the Writing minor program. Recently, the college has opened a Writing Center to assist students in becoming better writers. Students that are pursuing English majors or Writing minors typically work as tutors in the Center, where they edit papers and help fellow students succeed.

If you’re interested in improving your communication skills, developing your ability to effectively make an argument, and gaining qualifications for future employment, consider minoring in Writing!

This article was originally posted in the Spring 2023, Issue 3 of  The Crusader Newspaper .  Download the full issue here.

More articles

Belmont abbey college awarded gaston business association’s spirit of the economy award, june 1, 2024, belmont abbey college partners with the veterum sapientia institute to elevate graduate offering, may 30, 2024, alumnus named ambassador of colombia to the united states, may 28, 2024, teacher appreciation week: alumna angela bagatta, may 16, 2024, belmont abbey college celebrates 146th commencement ceremony, may 11, 2024, get updates on schola 2023, sign up below and we’ll email you when updates are available.

Contact Dr. Joseph Wysocki directly if you have any questions!

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Mailing Address: English Department University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1102 Moscow, Idaho 83844-1102

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Certificates and Minors

Certificate, technical writing certificate.

The technical writing certificate is suitable for students and for those already employed who want to add to their existing skills. Classes focus on writing and visual and verbal communication in professional environments, with an emphasis on translating discipline-specific discourses for a range of audiences. Students will complete a professional portfolio to use on the job market. The certificate is available either fully online or in-person in Moscow.

View certificate requirements >>

The English department offers four different minors.

Creative Writing Minor

The Creative Writing Minor allows students to work deeply in one genre (fiction, nonfiction or poetry) while also gaining familiarity and practice with the other two genres.

View minor requirements >>

English Literature Minor

The English Literature Minor is designed for students in other disciplines who enjoy literature and want to gain an understanding of literary history as well as practice in analytical thinking and writing.

Professional Writing Minor

The Professional Writing Minor introduces students to writing for a broad range of audiences and purposes. Students will work in many different genres, from traditional written genres like memos and usability reports to multimodal genres like podcasts and video editorials.

Teaching English as a Second Language

The Teaching English as a Second Language minor will give students an introduction to and overview of the skills and methods necessary to teach English to native speakers of other languages. It’s useful both for students who would like to teach overseas, as well as teachers who may work with domestic students whose native language is not English.

Course Requirements

• ENW 2510 The Art of the Essay 3 Hours
• ENW 2430 Intermediate Creative Writing: Multi-Genre 3 Hours
• ENW 3020 Theories of Writing 3 Hours
• ENW 3570 Professional Writing 3 Hours
• Four English Elective courses numbered 3000 or above (may include one ENL prefix course) **

Total: 18 Hours

** Note: One elective may be replaced by:

• MDS 1130 Media Writing I 3 Hours
• ENW 2100 Digital Literacies: Composing for On-line Environments 3 Hours
• TDR 2400 Scriptwriting I 3 Hours

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Wen Eckelberg selected as scholar for China’s Yenching Academy

Wen Eckelberg, who majors in American Ethnic Studies and English Creative Writing with honors distinctions in both disciplines, and is earning a minor in Diversity, will join current UW Yenching Scholars in the fully-funded interdisciplinary master's program. Wen will be a part of the 2024 cohort, joining 107 scholars hailing from 38 countries.

Eckelberg is looking forward to her time at Yenching to further explore literature as a lens to view history, culture and philosophy, while also improving her Chinese language literacy. She plans to examine literature written by both the Chinese in America and those still in China to paint a more complete picture of the Chinese American experience.

“I’m excited about my time at The Yenching Academy and the program’s commitment to understanding China’s multifaceted global role,” Eckelberg said.

Read the full article on UW's Undergraduate Academic Affairs .

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2024-2025 Catalog

Creative writing minor.

Courses to total 18 credits for this minor

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