creative writing minor wlu

Creative Writing Minor

2024 - 2025 catalog, creative writing minor.

A minor in creative writing requires six three- or four-credit courses. In meeting the requirements of this minor, a student may not use more than nine credits that are also used to meet the requirements of any other major or minor. The courses must include:

• Creative writing workshops: three courses chosen from ENGL 201, 202, 203, 204, 206, 207, 210, 214 (ENVI 214), 215, 304, 306, 307, 308, 309, and 391, with at least one at the 300-level.
• Literature: two literature courses in English, including one chosen from courses numbered between 222 and 296 and one chosen from ENGL 299 or English courses numbered between 312 and 386.
• One additional course chosen from the above or from ENGL 403, 453. Students majoring in a discipline without an emphasis in literature are strongly encouraged to choose an elective course from the Literature category (number 2 above). English majors wishing to complete a Creative Writing minor should elect a fourth workshop, a 403 in creative writing, or a creative honors thesis in English.
• Participation in a capstone public reading in winter or spring of the senior year.

​One course may, with English Department approval in advance, come from a department or program other than English. It may substitute for a requirement in any category above, as long as reading and writing requirements are commensurate with English Department standards for a course of that type.

• Creative writing workshops:

three courses chosen from:

A course in the practice of creative writing, with attention to two or more genres. Pairings vary by instructor but examples might include narrative fiction and nonfiction; poetry and the lyric essay; and flash and hybrid forms. This course involves workshops, literary study, and critical writing.

A course in the practice of writing plays, involving workshops, literary study, critical writing, and performance.

A course in the practice of writing short fiction, involving workshops, literary study, and critical writing.

A course in the practice of writing poetry, involving workshops, literary study, and critical writing.

A course in the practice of writing nonfiction, involving workshops, literary study, and critical writing.

An expeditionary, multi-genre course (fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry) in environmental creative writing. Readings focus on contemporary "EcoWriters." We take weekly expeditions, including creative writing hikes, a creative writing visit to a Thai Forest Buddhist monastery, and a creative writing visit to the workshops of a landscape painter and bloomsmith. The course involves moderate to challenging hiking. We research the science and social science of the ecosystems explored, as well as the language of those ecosystems. The course has two primary aspects: (1) reading and literary analysis of multi-genre eco-literature and (2) developing skill and craft in creating EcoWriting through the act of writing in these genres and through participation in "writing workshop."

A course in the practice of creative writing, involving workshops, literary study, and critical writing.

A single-genre poetry course in the practice of writing environmental poetry, involving poetry workshops, the literary study of environmental poetry (historical and contemporary), and critical writing.

Same as ARTS 215. A course which is both a creative-writing and a studio-art course. Students study graphic narratives as an art form that combines image-making and storytelling, producing their own multi-page narratives through the writing of images. The course includes a theoretical overview of the comics form, using a range of works as practical models.

This course is an introduction to the publishing industry, its culture and commerce. We examine the history of the industry and how it operates today, with an emphasis on active learning and practice. This class consists, in part, of active discussions with industry professionals, studying the life of a single book: its author, its agent, its editor, its book designer, its publisher. It gives you an overview of how the publishing industry works through the eyes of the people who work in it. It also gives you a chance to put what you learn into practice. Using a book you're working on (or a theoretical book you may someday write), you compose a query letter, design a book jacket, and create marketing material in support of your project. The term culminates with a book auction where students form publishing teams and bid on the books they would most like to publish.

A workshop in writing poems, requiring regular writing and outside reading.

A workshop in writing fiction, requiring regular writing and outside reading.

Flannery O'Connor once said that any writer who could survive childhood had enough material to write about for a lifetime. Memoir is a mosaic form, utilizing bits and pieces from autobiography, fiction, essay and poetry in ways that allow the author to muse (speculate, imagine, remember, and question) on their own life experiences. Modern literary memoir requires tremendous work from the author, as she moves both backward and forward in time, re-creates believable dialogue, switches back and forth between scene and summary, and controls the pace and tension of the story with lyricism or brute imagery. In short, the memoirist keeps her reader engaged by being an adept and agile storyteller. This is not straight autobiography. Memoir is more about what can be gleaned from a section of one's life than about chronicling an entire life. Like a mosaic, memoir is about the individual pieces as much as the eventual whole. Work focuses on reading established memoirists, free writing, and workshopping in and out of class.

An advanced workshop in creative writing. Genres and topics will vary, but all versions involve intensive reading and writing.

• Two literature courses in English, including one chosen from courses numbered between 222 and 296 and one chosen from ENGL 299 or English courses numbered between 312 and 386.
• One additional course chosen from the above or from

Students majoring in a discipline without an emphasis in literature are strongly encouraged to choose an elective course from the Literature category (number 2 above). English majors wishing to complete a Creative Writing minor should elect a fourth workshop, a 403 in creative writing, or a creative honors thesis in English.

Directed study individually arranged and supervised. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.

An apprenticeship in editing with the editor of Shenandoah, Washington and Lee's literary magazine. Students are instructed in and assist in these facets of the editor's work: evaluation of manuscripts of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, comics, and translations; substantive editing of manuscripts, copyediting; communicating with writers; social media; website maintenance; the design of promotional material.

Students receive an introduction to Shakespeare's verse in performance; read and analyze scripts from some of the plays to be observed during spring term; and engage in a team-building workshop and the creation of walking tours of modern London, each built around a particular cultural theme. The course consists of six two-hour meetings.

Undergraduate Academic Calendar 2020/2021

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Creative writing minor.

A minor represents an optional, secondary field of study (to a maximum of 2 minors/options) for an honours degree-seeking student. Minors require a minimum of 3.0 credits, while Options – typically interdisciplinary – require a minimum of 4.0 credits. No student may declare a major and a minor/option in the same discipline (refer to Concentration).

The minor appears on the official transcript.

The academic year in the undergraduate system, consists of three terms (totalling a twelve-month duration), typically from September to August. The academic year in the undergraduate system, consists of: Year 1 (0.5 to 4.0 credits), Year 2 (4.25 to 9.0 credits), Year 3 (9.25 to 14.0 credits), Year 4 (honours students only with a minimum of 14.25 credits, Year 5 (double degree students with 20.25+ credits) and are used to indicate the level at which a student is studying. Faculty of Education students are exempt from this standard.

• Refer to  Regulations Governing all Minors/Options.

A concentration (or specialization), is a structured plan of study (to a maximum of 2*) within an honours major requiring a minimum of 1.5 credits (typically included within the credits for the major).

*Only one concentration is allowed for students in the Bachelor of Business Administration program.

The specialization appears on the official transcript.

• EN369 , EN370 , and EN371 may not be double counted for both this minor and a minor in Writing for Career and Community.

Academic & Related Dates 2020/2021

Other calendars.

• Undergraduate Academic Calendar (2024/2025)
• Undergraduate Academic Calendar (2023/2024)
• Undergraduate Academic Calendar (2022/2023)
• Undergraduate Academic Calendar (2021/2022)

English Department

Creative Writing Minor

Creative writing (25 credits), introduction/what is the study of creative writing.

The Creative Writing minor focuses on writing courses: creative writing in fiction, drama, poetry, or nonfiction prose.

Why Consider a Creative Writing Minor?

Creative writing minors develop skills in creative thought and expression through study and practice of the craft of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and/or drama. Students participate in both the critical analysis and creative practice of writing, gaining widely-applicable experience in self-expression, artistic technique, and modes of communication.

Sample Careers

Freelance writer | Web content writer | Editor/Publisher | Writing Teacher | Video game writer/designer | Ghostwriter

Requirements

• ENG 351 Introduction to Fiction Writing (5) ( prereq : ENG 101)
• ENG 451 Creative Writing Seminar: Fiction (5) ( prereq : ENG 351)
• ENG 456 Special Topics in Fiction Writing (5) ( prereq : ENG 351)
• ENG 354 Introduction to Nonfiction Writing (5) ( prereq : ENG 101)
• ENG 454 CW Seminar: Creative Nonfiction (5) ( prereq : ENG 354)
• ENG 458 Special Topics in Creative Nonfiction Writing (5) ( prereq : ENG 354)
• ENG 353 Introduction to Poetry Writing (5) ( prereq : ENG 101)
• ENG 453 Creative Writing Seminar: Poetry (5) ( prereq : ENG 353)
• ENG 457 Special Topics in Poetry Writing (5) ( prereq : ENG 353)
• ENG 466 Screenwriting (5) ( prereq : 1 from ENG 364, 350, 351, 353, or 354).
• ENG 455 Living Writers (5) ( prereq : ENG 351, 353, or 354)
• ENG 460 Multigenre (5) ( prereq : ENG 351, 353, or 354)
• ENG 459 Editing and Publishing (5) ( prereq : ENG 351, 353, or 354

Interested in declaring an English major or minor?

Please see the Remote Advising section's page for more information.

Declaring this minor will not give you access to major-restricted classes. Major restrictions are usually lifted on the 6th day of registration each quarter. Courses taken for credit in minor programs may not be counted toward English majors.

Distribution Courses in Literature or Creative Writing FDR HL or HA

Most courses numbered above 201 in English fulfill either FDR HA or HL. You can find courses to fulfill both HA and HL in other departments, as well.

Once you have fulfilled FDR FW with WRIT 100 or an appropriate score, you may move on to HL and HA courses. The 200-level is the introductory level in English for both creative writing and literature. These courses typically do not require instructor consent, but they are popular and fill up rapidly. The English department normally offers both creative writing and literature courses at the 200-level in fall, Winter and Spring Terms. If you are having a hard time getting into a 200-level English course and you plan on either a Creative Writing minor or an English major, please contact the chair of English for assistance.

In HA creative writing courses, students

• acquire historical knowledge about literary traditions;
• study works representative of both historical and contemporary traditions;
• receive training to develop their own abilities in the literary arts;
• acquire skills to analyze past and contemporary literature; and
• learn ways to express personal creativity and employ their imaginations.

In HL literature courses, students

• acquire knowledge about the cultural and historical context of literature;
• learn to analyze various literary forms and complex and difficult language;
• learn to read with imagination; and
• respond critically to literature orally and in writing.

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Academic Programs

Browse more than 100 Laurier degree programs, along with dozens of options and minors you can add to your program to enhance your degree. Our programs are offered through our campuses and locations in Waterloo, Brantford, Milton, Kitchener and online.

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Accounting (Graduate Diploma)

GRADUATE DIPLOMA

Ancient Studies (BA)

Ancient studies.

BACHELOR OF ARTS (BA)

Anthropology (BA in Combination)

Anthropology, applied computing (mac), applied computing.

MASTER OF APPLIED COMPUTING (MAC)

Applied Health Sciences (BASc)

Applied health sciences.

BACHELOR OF ARTS AND SCIENCE (BASc)

Applied Mathematics (Option)

Applied mathematics, applied politics (map), applied politics.

MASTER OF APPLIED POLITICS (MAP)

Applied Social Research (Option)

Applied social research, arabic (minor), archaeology and heritage studies (ba), archaeology and heritage studies, arts degree (ba) + business administration (mba) with co-op, arts degree + business administration with co-op.

BACHELOR OF ARTS (BA) / MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA)

Arts Degree (BA) + Master’s Degree (MA or MAP)

Arts degree + master’s degree.

BACHELOR OF ARTS (BA) / MASTER OF ARTS (MA) / MASTER OF APPLIED POLITICS (MAP)

Biochemistry and Biotechnology (BSc)

Biochemistry and biotechnology.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BSc)

Biological and Chemical Sciences (PhD)

Biological and chemical sciences.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD)

Biology (BA)

Biology (bsc), business administration (bba), business administration.

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (BBA)

Business Administration (BBA) + Computer Science (BCS), University of Waterloo

Business administration + computer science, university of waterloo.

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (BBA) / BACHELOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE (BCS)

Business Administration (BBA) + Computer Science (BSc)

Business administration + computer science.

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (BBA) / BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BSc)

Business Administration (BBA) + Financial Mathematics (BA)

Business administration + financial mathematics.

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (BBA) / BACHELOR OF ARTS (BA)

Business Administration (BBA) + Mathematics (BMath), University of Waterloo

Business administration + mathematics, university of waterloo.

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (BBA) / BACHELOR OF MATH (BMath)

Business Administration (Diploma)

Business administration (mba).

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA)

Business Economics (MABE)

Business economics.

MASTER OF ARTS (MA)

Business Technology Management (BTM)

Business technology management.

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT (BBTM)

Chamber Music (Diploma)

Chamber music, chemistry (bsc), chemistry (msc).

MASTER OF SCIENCE (MSc)

Chemistry and Physics (BSc)

Chemistry and physics, christianity, interfaith dialogue, and community engagement (ba), christianity, interfaith dialogue, and community engagement, communication studies (ba), communication studies, communication studies (ma), community engagement (option), community engagement, community music (bmus), community music.

BACHELOR OF MUSIC (BMus)

Community Music (MA)

Computer science (ba in combination), milton, computer science, computer science (ba), waterloo or brantford, computer science (bsc), milton, computer science (bsc), waterloo, computer science (certificate).

CERTIFICATE

Computer Science and Physics (BSc)

Computer science and physics, creative writing (minor), creative writing, criminology (ba), criminology, criminology (ma), criminology and policing (ba), criminology and policing, cultural analysis and social theory (ma), cultural analysis and social theory, cultural studies (ba in combination), cultural studies, data science (bsc), data science, digital humanities (minor), digital humanities, digital humanities (option), economics (ba), economics and accounting (ba), economics and accounting, economics and data analytics (ba), economics and data analytics, economics and financial management (ba), economics and financial management, education (bed).

BACHELOR OF EDUCATION (BEd)

Education (MEd)

MASTER OF EDUCATION (MEd)

Education (Minor)

English (ba), brantford, english (ba), waterloo, english and film studies (ma), english and film studies, english and film studies (phd), entrepreneurship core (option), entrepreneurship core, environmental science (bsc), environmental science, environmental studies (ba), environmental studies, film production (option), film production, film studies (ba), film studies, finance (mfin).

MASTER OF FINANCE (MFin)

Finance (MFin) and Management Analytics (MSc) Double Degree

Finance and management analytics.

MASTER OF FINANCE (MFin) / MASTER OF SCIENCE (MSc)

Financial Mathematics (BA)

Financial mathematics, financial mathematics (bsc), french (ba), game design and development (ba), game design and development, geography (ba), geography (bsc), geography (ma), geography (mes).

MASTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (MES)

Geography (MSc)

Geography (phd), geomatics (option), german (minor), global crime and justice (certificate), global crime and justice, global governance (phd), global governance, global studies (ba), global studies, global studies / human rights (ba) + international development (ma), university of sussex, global studies / human rights + international development, university of sussex.

BACHELOR OF ARTS (BA) / MASTER OF ARTS (MA)

Health Management (BA)

Health management, health sciences (bsc), health sciences, health sciences (msc), health studies (ba), health studies, health studies (ba) + public health / global health (msc), brighton and sussex medical school, health studies + public health / global health, brighton and sussex medical school.

BACHELOR OF ARTS (BA) / MASTER OF SCIENCE (MSc)

History (BA), Brantford

History (ba), waterloo, history (ma), history (phd), history and philosophy of science (minor), history and philosophy of science, honours science (bsc), honours science, human relationships (phd), human relationships, human rights (ba), human rights, indigenous studies (ba in combination), indigenous studies, integrative biology (msc), integrative biology, intercultural understanding (option), intercultural understanding, international development (option), international development, international education studies (ba), international education studies, international policy (option), international policy, international public policy (mipp), international public policy.

MASTER OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC POLICY (MIPP)

Issue Advocacy (Option)

Issue advocacy, italian (minor), kinesiology (bkin), kinesiology.

BACHELOR OF KINESIOLOGY (BKin)

Kinesiology (MSc)

Kinesiology (phd), languages (ba), law (llb), university of sussex + arts degree (ba), law, university of sussex + arts degree.

BACHELOR OF ARTS (BA) / BACHELOR OF LAWS (LLB)

Law (LLB), University of Sussex + Science Degree (BSc)

Law, university of sussex + science degree.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BSc) / BACHELOR OF LAWS (LLB)

Law (Option)

Law and society (ba), law and society, leadership (option and minor).

MINOR / OPTION

Legal Studies (Option)

Legal studies, management (msc), management (option), management (phd), management analytics (msc), management analytics, master of divinity (mdiv), master of divinity.

MASTER OF DIVINITY (MDiv)

Mathematical and Statistical Modelling (PhD)

Mathematical and statistical modelling, mathematics (ba), mathematics, mathematics (bsc), mathematics (msc), media studies (option), media studies, medieval and medievalism studies (ba in combination), medieval and medievalism studies, music (bmus), music (phd), music therapy (bmt), music therapy.

BACHELOR OF MUSIC THERAPY (BMT)

Music Therapy (MMT)

MASTER OF MUSIC THERAPY (MMT)

Music: Collaboration, Curation, and Creative Performance (MMus)

Music: collaboration, curation, and creative performance.

MASTER OF MUSIC (MMus)

Muslim Studies (Option)

Muslim studies, navigating the music industry ecosystem (certificate), navigating the music industry ecosystem, north american studies (ba in combination), north american studies, opera (diploma), philosophy (ba), policing (ba in combination), policing (ba), political science (ba), political science, practical ethics and society (option), practical ethics and society, professional writing (minor), professional writing, psychology (ba), brantford, psychology (ba), milton, psychology (ba), waterloo, psychology (bsc), brantford, psychology (bsc), waterloo, psychology (ma), psychology (msc), psychology (phd), psychology and neuroscience (bsc), psychology and neuroscience, public history (minor), public history, public policy (minor), public policy, public safety (ba), public safety, public safety (graduate diploma), public safety (mps).

MASTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY (MPS)

Religion and Culture (BA)

Religion and culture, religion, culture and global justice (ma), religion, culture and global justice, religious studies (phd), religious studies, social entrepreneurship (option), social entrepreneurship, social innovation (minor), social innovation, social justice and community engagement (ma), social justice and community engagement, social work (bsw), social work.

BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK (BSW)

Social Work (MSW)

MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK (MSW)

Social Work (PhD)

Sociology (ba), spanish (ba in combination), spiritual care and psychotherapy (graduate diploma), spiritual care and psychotherapy, spiritual care and psychotherapy (ma), spirituality and global music (minor), spirituality and global music, statistics (minor), sustainability (option), sustainability, teaching (option), theology and divinity: spiritual care and psychotherapy, theology and divinity.

MASTER OF ARTS (MA) / MASTER OF DIVINITY (MDiv)

User Experience Design (BDes)

User experience design.

BACHELOR OF DESIGN (BDes)

User Experience Design (MSc)

Women and gender studies (ba in combination), women and gender studies, writing for career and community (minor), writing for career and community, youth and children: texts and contexts (minor), youth and children: texts and contexts, youth and children’s studies (ba), youth and children’s studies, no results found.

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Undergraduate options, minors and courses.

• Options and Minors

Enhance or Diversify Your Degree

Many programs have a number of elective credits that you can use to fulfil the requirements of a minor or an option . 

You can also consider enrolling in an interdisciplinary course to expand your knowledge beyond your own area of study and connect with students outside of your program.

Confirm Your Requirements

As you're exploring options, minors and interdisciplinary courses, make sure you also confirm your requirements and seek academic advice.

A minor is a secondary area of concentration requiring at least 3.0 credits or equivalent in a subject different from your honours program(s). Many programs can be taken as minors, and we also offer a wide range of interdisciplinary minors. It's up to you to ensure that you meet all the requirements of the minor.

Note: Some minors are only available at our Brantford campus and some are only available at our Waterloo campus. Not all minors can be added to every program.

• Ancient Studies
• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Canadian Studies
• Communication Studies
• Creative Writing
• Cultural Studies
• Digital Humanities
• Environmental Studies
• Film Studies
• Global Studies
• History and Philosophy of Science
• Medieval Studies
• North American Studies
• Political Science
• Public Policy
• Religion and Culture
• Women and Gender Studies

Human and Social Sciences

• Criminology
• Game Design

Interdisciplinary

• Writing for Career and Community
• Youth and Children: Culture and Texts

Lazaridis School

Liberal arts.

• Indigenous Studies
• User Experience Design
• Computer Science
• Financial Mathematics
• Mathematics

Martin Luther University College

• Christian Studies and Global Citizenship
• Human Relationships
• Spirituality and Global Music
• Health Studies
• Physical Forensics
• Professional Writing
• French (Faculty of Arts)
• Geography (Faculty of Arts)
• Human Rights
• Law and Society
• Philosophy (Faculty of Arts)
• Public History
• Religion and Culture (Faculty of Arts)
• Social and Environmental Justice
• Social Innovation
• Youth and Children's Studies

An option is an enhanced minor that you can incorporate into your degree program. Options range from six to 10 courses and can be added to many of our programs.

Note: Some options are only available at our Brantford campus and some are only available at our Waterloo campus. Not all options can be added to every program.

• Applied Mathematics
• Applied Social Research
• Community Engagement
• Environmental Science
• Film Production
• Finance and Accounting (available only to Honours BA Mathematics students)
• Intercultural Understanding
• International Policy
• Legal Studies
• Muslim Studies
• Practical Ethics and Society
• Professional Experience Program (available only to Computer Science and Computing and Computer Electronics students)
• Research Specialization (check to see if your program offers this option)
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Sustainability
• Business Technology Management
• International Development
• Issue Advocacy
• Media Studies

Interdisciplinary Courses

Interdisciplinary courses engage with issues, problems or knowledge that can't be addressed within a single disciplinary context. These courses consider how different disciplinary backgrounds approach issues and looks to engage in developing solutions that respond holistically.

By enrolling in an interdisciplinary course, you can expand your knowledge beyond your own area of study to address issues that you are interested in. The interdisciplinary environment allows you to connect with students outside of your program, and develop deeper skills around team work, critical thinking and problem solving.

Faculty of Arts

Af101: first-year seminar.

First-year seminars provide an intensive and collaborative, small-group learning experience in which students develop core academic skills in research, critical thinking, writing and communication. Topics or themes vary among seminars and instructors, but all seminars promote the acquisition of skills necessary for academic work in the humanities and social sciences. Available only to first-year students in the Faculty of Arts.

Prerequisite:  Registration status year one.

AF105-S: Skills for University Success

This course aims to support incoming first-year Arts students in establishing the necessary skills and strategies to navigate the transition from the high-school learning environment. Given the differences in things like workload, level of independence, and skills required for success, the move from high school to university is always a challenge. For some, this challenge may be even greater due to the amount of remote learning done during the pandemic. Increased awareness of the differences between the two learning environments, greater clarity about university expectations, as well as a preliminary effort to build the necessary skills, will lay important groundwork for student success in first year, as well as build a foundation for success in future years.

Prerequisite: Registration status year one and above registered in a Faculty of Arts program.

AF105-W: Writing for University

This course is designed to help students develop foundational descriptive and evaluative writing skills including summarizing, paraphrasing, and developing arguments. Students will develop a knowledge of different strategies for writing clearly, concisely and with correct grammar.

AF224: Advanced Foundations of Learning

This course is designed on the idea that one of the most important skills for you to master as a university student is reading. Reading takes on a central role in your approach to learning, and requires an active level of engagement with texts, which will ensure comprehension, and guide your approach to reading. By the end of this course, you will have an increased ability to critically engage with any text and relate information that you read to other readings, ideas, and themes presented in your other courses. This will also ensure that you will become a more critical thinker who engages with course content and subsequently becomes a better writer, since reading is the foundation for both skills. AF224, therefore, has reading, critical thinking and writing as its core subjects – but we will also engage in refreshing other skills to help you to become a competent and confident university student.

Prerequisite: Reserved for students in the Strategies for Academic Success (SAS) program.

AF288: Arts Study Abroad

A Laurier faculty-led international travel course. Classes are small (about 20 students). Course locations and descriptions, along with learning objectives and outcomes, will be announced in the fall term.

Typically offered spring term.

AF399-C: Professional Skills for Students in the Faculty of Arts

This course is designed to increase awareness of the professional decision-making process, explore career choices, and expand understanding of the relationship between arts education and the world of work. Emphasis will be placed on engaging in self-assessment related to career and professional development and providing tools to help students become fully prepared for the school-to-work transition. Students will be encouraged to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence to conduct a job search in the short term and create a longer-term career development plan. Together, students will identify their distinctive values, skills, strengths, and goals, recognize the value of an arts degree, and discover many of the opportunities available in their career options.

Prerequisite: Registration status year three or four and above registered in a Faculty of Arts program.

AF399-W: FOA Teaching Practicum Seminar

This course will train senior students in essential skills related to the teaching of writing. The instructor will teach students how to teach writing to their peers. Students will develop skills relating to writing knowledge, teaching writing, teaching and facilitation skills, and lesson planning for tutorials. Following this course, students will have the opportunity to apply for a paid IA position utilizing their newly established skills.

Faculty of Education

Uu201: computational thinking across disciplines.

Computational Thinking Across Disciplines is an introduction to computational thinking as a way of thinking across a variety of disciplines. The course is designed to develop and enhance problem-solving skills and computer coding abilities at a variety of levels, while addressing issues that are directly of interest to the learner and individual areas of study. The course is a combination of online learning modules and face to face lab experiences.

Prerequisites:  At least 5.0 credits at the 100 level.

UU299: Laurier Experiential Learning I: Methods of Reflection and Analysis

This course explores how reflective learning methods can drive meaningful learning from experience. Students will learn tools to critically reflect on their co-curricular leadership, service, volunteer, and/or work experiences and achievements through the lens of the Laurier competency framework. Through application of these tools, students will become more self-aware and begin to articulate future-ready competencies and skills, which lay a solid foundation for successful transition into the workplace. Course delivery is a combination of online modules and in-class experiences.

Faculty of Human and Social Sciences Courses

Ishs200: gladue principles.

The Canadian Criminal Code requires additional factors to be considered when sentencing Indigenous offenders. This online course takes a comprehensive look at Gladue Principles of justice from a historical, contemporary, practical and critical lens. Examples of how the Canadian Criminal Code Gladue Section 718.2(e) has opened up space for engagement with and integration of Indigenous legal orders and modes of achieving justice will be included, as well as exploration of arguments in support of broad structural change.

The credit course is designed as a comprehensive as well as a critical look at Gladue for students whose anticipated career paths may bring them into contact with a Gladue court or the need for information or context pertaining to an Indigenous person’s background and life circumstances. Initial exploration of this topic was based on feedback received from attorneys, court workers and a judge who encouraged the development of new educational supports designed to increase development of knowledge and understanding in a complex and often-misunderstood area of the criminal code.

This is a 1.0 credit course (comparable to six-credit-weighting at some institutions) offered over one term.

If you are unclear on this course-weight or how it will fit with your schedule, consult with Academic Advising for advice. 

Laurier students may register for this course through LORIS . Non-Laurier students may register for this course using a Letter of Permission .

Students who complete the credit course with a 70% or higher are granted the Gladue Principles Certificate (non-credit) from the Centre for Public Safety and Well-Being in addition to receiving the credit on their transcript. Eligible students will receive their certificate by email after the completion of the course.

UNDC: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Courses

The following six-week (0.25 credit) courses are developed jointly between Laurier and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), designed to introduce key global challenges to lawfulness as designated by the UNODC.

• UNDC100: Introduction to the UNODC
• UNDC101: Integrity and Ethics in Promoting Culture of the Rule of Law
• UNDC102: Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
• UNDC103: Trafficking in Persons/Smuggling of Migrants
• UNDC200: Anti-Corruption
• UNDC201: Transnational Organized Crime
• UNDC202: Illicit Misuse and Trafficking of Firearms
• UNDC203: Digital Technologies and Crime
• UNDC204: Wildlife, Forest and Fisheries Crime
• UNDC205: Counter-Terrorism

These courses can be applied to the Global Crime and Justice Certificate offered by the Centre for Public Safety and Well-Being.

University Interdisciplinary Courses

Ip300: integrative seminar in international policy.

A hands-on seminar that integrates across the different disciplines involved in international policy. Guest speakers and case simulations will bring real-world policy issues to the classroom. An active, collaborative and problem-based approach will prepare students for further study and employment in the field.

Co-requisites: Registration status: Year 3 or Year 4 and completion of EC120; EC140; GS101 or HR163; PO245 or HR223/DMJN223; and PO231 or PO232 or HR328, or permission of the School of International Policy and Governance.

UU101: Perspectives on Sustainability

The course provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the topic of sustainability and is designed to be accessible and career relevant for students from all faculties. The focus is on understanding the challenges of sustainability with respect to different spheres (e.g., ecological, economic, socio-cultural) and at different scales from personal to global. Guest lecturers will explore sustainability from a variety of perspectives and students will develop their own plans of action to address concrete sustainability issues.

UU150: Foundations for Community Engagement and Service

Introduction to core concepts, theories and competencies that serve as underpinnings for effective community engagement and service. Topics include ethical conduct, academic integrity, community service learning, civic engagement, career skills and professionalism. This is a practical course that provides a foundation for undertaking further experiential education opportunities. (Online Learning only)

UU300: Special Topic

The Interdisciplinary Course Committee determines the theme of this course, consisting of lectures and seminars.

Prerequisites:  Year 3 or Year 4 student with a minimum GPA of 9.00. Submission of an application to the IC committee required.

UU399: Laurier Experiential Learning II: Engaging in Reflection and Analysis

This course invites students to engage in guided critical reflection of selected co-curricular experiences and achievements (e.g. leadership, service, volunteer, work experiences), or other experiential learning opportunities that take place outside of the university classroom. Students will identify personally relevant experiences, and using the lens of the Laurier competency framework, will articulate the competencies and transferrable skills derived from critical reflection on learning experiences. Course delivery is a combination of online learning modules and in-class learning experiences.

Prerequisites:  UU299

UU401: Germany Today and the Legacy of Nazism: An Interdisciplinary Approach

This course consists of two intensive, weekend seminars, combined with individual (or group) projects supervised by a member of the UU400 committee. The course is open to students in most disciplines, for example sociology, anthropology, languages and literatures, history. Submission of an application to the committee required.

Prerequisites:  Year 4 student with a minimum GPA of 9.00.

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Creative Writing

Minor contact.

• Brian Ballentine

Minor Code - U005

WVU Morgantown

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Creative Writing, Minor (348)

Jessica L. Folk, [email protected] , (270) 745-5787

Program Requirements (21 hours)

(In consultation with the advisor, creative writing students should consider taking at least one of the electives in contemporary literature.) No more than six hours in a major may apply toward the creative writing minor for a total of at least 54 unduplicated hours between the major and minor.

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A minor in creative writing requires six three- or four-credit courses. In meeting the requirements of this minor, a student may not use more than nine credits that are also used to meet the requirements of any other major or minor. The courses must include:

• Creative writing workshops: three courses chosen from ENGL 201, 202 or THTR 220, 203, 204, 206, 207, 214 (ENVI 214), 215, 304, 306, 307, 308, 309, and 391, with at least one at the 300-level.
• Literature: two literature courses in English, including one chosen from courses numbered between 222 and 296 and one chosen from ENGL 299 or English courses numbers between 312 and 386.
• One additional course chosen from the above or from ENGL 403, 453 or MRST 286. Students majoring in a discipline without an emphasis in literature are strongly encouraged to choose an elective course from the Literature category (number 2 above). English majors wishing to complete a Creative Writing minor should elect a fourth workshop, a 403 in creative writing, or a creative honors thesis in English.
• Participation in a capstone public reading in winter or spring of the senior year.

1. Creative writing workshops:

three courses chosen from:

• ENGL 201 - Introduction to Creative Writing
• ENGL 202 - Topics in Creative Writing: Playwriting
• THTR 220 - Playwriting
• ENGL 203 - Topics in Creative Writing: Fiction
• ENGL 204 - Topics in Creative Writing: Poetry
• ENGL 206 - Topics in Creative Writing: Nonfiction
• ENGL 207 - Eco-Writing
• ENGL 214 - Eco-Poetry
• ENGL 215 - Creating Comics
• ENGL 304 - Literary Book Publishing
• ENGL 306 - Advanced Creative Writing: Poetry
• ENGL 307 - Fresh/Local/Wild: The Poetics of Food
• ENGL 308 - Advanced Creative Writing: Fiction
• ENGL 309 - Advanced Creative Writing: Memoir
• ENGL 391 - Topics in Creative Writing

with at least one at the 300-level

2. Literature:

two literature courses in English, including one chosen from:

• ENGL 222 - Introductory Topics in British Literature
• ENGL 223 - Introductory Topics in American Literature
• ENGL 224 - Introductory Topics in World Literature
• ENGL 230 - Poetry and Music
• ENGL 231 - Drama
• ENGL 232 - The Novel
• ENGL 233 - Introduction to Film
• ENGL 234 - Children’s Literature
• ENGL 236 - The Bible as English Literature
• ENGL 240 - Arthurian Legend
• ENGL 250 - Medieval and Early Modern British Literature
• ENGL 252 - Shakespeare
• ENGL 253 - Literature of the American South
• ENGL 254 - I Heart Jane: Austen’s Fan Cultures and Afterlives
• ENGL 260 - Literary Approaches to Poverty
• ENGL 261 - Reading Gender
• ENGL 262 - Literature, Race, and Ethnicity
• ENGL 291 - Seminar
• ENGL 292 - Topics in British Literature
• ENGL 293 - Topics in American Literature
• ENGL 294 - Topics in World Literature in English
• ENGL 295 - Spring-Term Seminar in Literary Studies
• ENGL 296 - Topics in Law and Literature (LJS 296)

And one chosen from

• ENGL 299 - Seminar for Prospective Majors
• ENGL 312 - Gender, Love, and Marriage in the Middle Ages
• ENGL 313 - Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales
• ENGL 319 - Shakespeare and Company
• ENGL 320 - Shakespearean Genres
• ENGL 326 - 17th-Century Poetry
• ENGL 330 - Milton
• ENGL 335 - 18th-Century Novels
• ENGL 345 - Studies in the 19th-Century British Novel
• ENGL 353 - 20th-Century British and Irish Poetry
• ENGL 354 - Contemporary British and American Drama
• ENGL 359 - Literature by Women of Color
• ENGL 361 - Native American Literatures
• ENGL 363 - American Poetry from 1900 to 1945
• ENGL 364 - American Poetry at Mid-Century
• ENGL 366 - African-American Literature
• ENGL 367 - 19th-Century American Novel
• ENGL 369 - Late 20th-Century North American Fiction
• ENGL 375 - Literary Theory
• ENGL 386 - Supervised Study in Great Britain

3. One additional course chosen from the above or from

Students majoring in a discipline without an emphasis in literature are strongly encouraged to choose an elective course from the Literature category (number 2 above). English majors wishing to complete a Creative Writing minor should elect a fourth workshop, a 403 in creative writing, or a creative honors thesis in English.

• ENGL 403 - Directed Individual Study
• ENGL 453 - Internship in Literary Editing with Shenandoah
• MRST 286 - Preparation for Shakespeare in Performance

4. Participation in a capstone public reading in winter or spring of the senior year.