Courses That Satisfy the Creative Writing Requirements
Five approved upper-division courses are required, consisting of three courses in creative writing and two courses in literature. These courses may be taken in any of the departments that offer them. See Requirements.
Courses in both creative writing and literature are sometimes listed in the Berkeley Academic Guide under very general headings (“Topics in ________” or “Special Topics”). Students may be allowed to include courses that are not on the following list with approval of the Creative Writing Minor Faculty Adviser. It is the responsibility of the student to provide the Faculty Adviser with documentary evidence to support the claim of course eligibility. Contact the Creative Writing Minor Student Academic Advisor at demir@berkeley.edu for more information.
To determine if a course from the list below is being offered during a specific semester, visit the Schedule of Classes or relevant term page (Spring, Summer or Fall) on the minor website.
NOTE: Three courses are required from this list. All of these courses must be taken for a letter grade. See COVID-19 P grade policies on requirements page.
African American Studies
- 156AC. Poetry for the People: Introduction to the Art of Poetry
- 158A. Poetry for the People: The Writing and Teaching of Poetry
- 158B. Poetry for the People Practicum
- 164. Spoken Word: Oral Tradition & Transformation from Poetry to Hip Hop, Standup & Beyond
Art Practice
- 182: Creative Writing for Artists
Asian American Studies
- 173. Creative Writing
College Writing Programs
- 130. Introduction to the Craft of Creative Writing
- 131. Introduction to the Craft of Creative Nonfiction
- 132. Introduction to the Craft of Short Fiction
- 133. Introduction to the Craft of Dramatic Writing
- 140B. Seminar-Workshop in Creative Writing
- 141. Seminar-Workshop on Creative Writing: The Novel
- 175. Players, Spectators & Fanatics: Writing on the Cultures of Sports
Creative Writing
- 120. Reading and Writing Poetry
- 130. Creative Prose
East Asian Languages & Cultures
- 115. Knowing Others, and Being Known: The Art of Writing People
- 125: The Art of Writing: Writing the Limits of Empathy
English
- 141. Modes of Writing (Exposition, Fiction, Verse, Etc.)
- 143A. Short Fiction
- 143B. Verse
- 143C. Long Narrative
- 143E. Playwriting
- 143N. Prose Nonfiction
- 143T. Poetry Translation Workshop
Environmental Design
- 101A. Writing about Environmental Design: Short Compositions (3 or 4 units only)
- 101B. Writing about Environmental Design: Longer Compositions (3 or 4 units only)
Film and Media Studies
- 180. Introduction to Screenwriting
- 181. Screenwriting
- 182. TV Writing
French
- 139. Creative Writing in French
Native American Studies
- 150. Native American Narratives
Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies
- 139A. Fundamentals of Playwriting
- 139B. Playwriting