The Creative Writing degree at the University of California, Irvine is one of the most popular elective degrees. It’s a great choice if you want to pursue a career in fiction or non-fiction writing, or just want to learn how to write better stories. There are many different classes that you can take to complete your degree. Here, we’re going to run down the most common ones and what you can expect from them.
English 101
The very first class that you’ll take at UCI is English 101. This isn’t exactly a creative writing class, but it does provide you with the basic knowledge that you need to write the stories that you want to write. Most likely, you’ll be taking this class alongside another elective, such as Comparative Literature or American Studies. This is also the class that you’ll need to pass in order to progress to the next level of study. The information that you learn in English 101 will be invaluable when it comes time to write your own fiction or non-fiction. It will help you craft stories that are both original and well-written.
Writing Seminar
One of the required classes for any literary arts major at the university is the writing seminar. In a writing seminar, you’ll be taught how to analyze a literary work and determine its significance. You’ll also learn how to write a business plan, develop characters, and build tension. All of these things are essential in order to become a good writer. You won’t get very far in the creative writing degree if you don’t know how to write a good story, you won’t get very far in the business writing degree if you don’t know how to write a good business plan, and you won’t get very far in the creative fiction degree if you don’t know how to develop characters and build tension.
Literature
Literature is one of the core courses in a creative writing degree. In order to complete your studies in literature, you’ll need to take a range of classes, from English to French or German. You’ll have to decide which one of those you want to focus on during your studies. The most important thing about this requirement is that it gives you the opportunity to learn more about the art of writing. You’ll take a class in literature, and during that class, you’ll learn about different authors and their works. You’ll also learn about various writing styles and how to identify themes and motifs in classical literature. When you apply for a job, you’ll be able to list among your skills the ability to read and analyze literature. This will make you stand out from the crowd.
History Of Art
A lot of people don’t know that the history of art is one of the requirements for the creative writing degree at the university. Art history is essential in order to put into context the stories that you’re reading in your creative writing classes. This isn’t just about looking at the paintings and drawings from the Renaissance and other historical periods; it’s also about knowing how those works relate to one another and understanding how art and writers have been influenced by each other throughout history. This class won’t just help you become a better writer; it will also help you become a more cultured human being.
Psychology Of Writing
A whole section of your writing degree will be dedicated to the psychology of writing. The class is called Creative Writing Psychology, and it will consist of a combination of lectures and workshops. The goal of this class is to help you figure out the process of writing, whether you’re a professional or an amative writer. During the workshops, you’ll write short stories or novellas in class, and the professor will help you identify the underlying forces that drive your work. For example, are you writing from a place of joy or from a place of suffering? Why? What would your work be like if you were writing from a place of joy? The answers to these questions will help you figure out how to change your approach to writing and will make you a better story-teller. This requirement might seem very theoretical, but throughout your entire writing career, you will need to know how to answer these questions. The professor of this class is Geoffrey Scott, and if you’re not sure what he looks like, here’s a photo of him from the UCI website:
