Undergraduate Course Offerings
The NYU Creative Writing Program offers introductory courses in poetry and fiction, as well as upper-level courses that focus on specific elements of formal and experimental poetry, short stories, novels, and creative nonfiction. All creative writing courses may be applied toward completion of the Minor in Creative Writing. Courses and intensives are also offered during the Winter and Summer Sessions. Enrollment in fall and spring Master Classes requires permission of the instructor and is based on submission of writing samples prior to registration (application deadlines are posted online and announced via the Creative Writing Program Undergraduate Listserv).
Students who take a summer intensive are not required to take the introductory workshop; following completion of the summer intensive, they may take advanced coursework in the same genre as their summer intensive and/or move directly into an intermediate workshop in the alternative genre. The introductory workshop (CRWRI-UA 815, CRWRI-UA 9815, or equivalent) and summer intensives (CRWRI-UA 818, CRWRI-UA 819, CRWRI-UA 9818, CRWRI-UA 9819, CRWRI-UA 9828, and CRWRI-UA 9829) may only be taken once for credit. For CAS students, all other workshops may be taken up to three times for credit. If you are not a CAS student, please check with your advisor about your home school’s policy on course repeatability.
Creative Writing: Introduction to Fiction and PoetryCRWRI-UA 815. Identical to CRWRI-UA 9815. 4 points.
This popular introductory workshop offers an exciting introduction to the basic elements of poetry and fiction, with in-class writing, take-home reading and writing assignments, and substantive discussions of craft. The course is structured as a workshop, which means that students receive feedback from their instructor and their fellow writers in a roundtable setting, and they should be prepared to offer their classmates responses to their work.
Intermediate Workshops in Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Nonfiction
CRWRI-UA 816 (fiction), CRWRI-UA 817 (poetry), CRWRI-UA 825 (creative nonfiction). Prerequisite for fiction: CRWRI-UA 815, OR CRWRI-UA 9815, OR CRWRI-UA.816, OR CRWRI-UA 818/819, OR CRWRI-UA 9818/9819, OR CRWRI-UA 9828/9829, OR CRWRI-UA 860, OR COSEM-UA 118 or equivalent. Prerequisite for poetry: CRWRI-UA 815, OR CRWRI-UA 9815, OR CRWRI-UA.817, OR CRWRI-UA 818/819, OR CRWRI-UA 9818/9819, OR CRWRI-UA 9828/9829, OR CRWRI-UA.870, OR FRSEM-UA 388 or equivalent. Prerequisite for creative nonfiction: CRWRI-UA 815, OR CRWRI-UA 9815, OR CRWRI-UA 818/819, OR CRWRI-UA 9818/9819, OR CRWRI-UA 9828/9829, OR CRWRI-UA 825, OR CRWRI-UA.880 or equivalent. 4 points.
The intermediate workshops offer budding fiction writers and poets an opportunity to continue their pursuit of writing through workshops that focus on a specific genre. The workshops also integrate in-depth craft discussions and extensive outside reading to deepen students’ understanding of the genre and broaden their knowledge of the evolution of literary forms and techniques.
Advanced Workshops in Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Nonfiction
CRWRI-UA 820 (fiction), CRWRI-UA 830 (poetry), CRWRI-UA 850 (creative nonfiction). Prerequisite for fiction: CRWRI-UA 816, OR CRWRI-UA 818, OR CRWRI-UA 9818, OR CRWRI-UA 9828, OR CRWRI-UA 820, OR CRWRI-UA 860 or equivalent. Prerequisite for poetry: CRWRI-UA 817, OR CRWRI-UA 819, OR CRWRI-UA 9819, OR CRWRI-UA 9829, OR CRWRI-UA 830, OR CRWRI-UA 870 or equivalent. Prerequisite for creative nonfiction: CRWRI-UA 825, OR CRWRI-UA 850, OR CRWRI-UA 880 or equivalent. 4 points.
Advanced workshops provide emerging writers with the opportunity to hone their individual voice and experiment with different aesthetic strategies in a genre-specific workshop taught by an eminent writer in the field. The workshops focus on innovative revision techniques, the development of a sustainable writing process, and the broadening of students’ literary knowledge of classical and contemporary masters. Each advanced workshop has a distinct emphasis and area of exploration—students are advised to pay close attention to the course descriptions, which are available online prior to registration.
Master Classes in Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Nonfiction
CRWRI-UA 860 (fiction), CRWRI-UA 870 (poetry), CRWRI-UA 880 (creative nonfiction). Prerequisite for fiction: CRWRI-UA 815, OR CRWRI-UA 9815, OR CRWRI-UA 816, OR CRWRI-UA 818/819, OR CRWRI-UA 9818/9819, OR CRWRI-UA 9828/9829, OR CRWRI-UA 820, OR CRWRI-UA 860 or equivalent. Prerequisite for poetry: CRWRI-UA 815, OR CRWRI-UA 9815, OR CRWRI-UA 817, OR CRWRI-UA 818/819, OR CRWRI-UA 9818/9819, OR CRWRI-UA 9828/9829, OR CRWRI-UA 830, OR CRWRI-UA 870, OR FRSEM-388, or equivalent. Prerequisite for creative nonfiction: CRWRI-UA 815, OR CRWRI-UA 9815, OR CRWRI-UA 818/819, OR CRWRI-UA 9818/9819, OR CRWRI-UA 9828/9829, OR CRWRI-UA 825, OR CRWRI-UA 850, OR CRWRI-UA 880 or equivalent. Recommended prerequisite: CRWRI-UA 820 (for fiction), CRWRI-UA 830 (for poetry), or CRWRI-UA 850 (for creative nonfiction). Application required. 4 points.
These master classes—taught by acclaimed poets and prose writers—are open to select NYU undergraduates. Manuscript submission is required for admission. Master classes are generally limited to 12 students and provide intensive mentoring and guidance for serious and talented undergraduate writers. Each master class has a distinct emphasis and area of exploration—students are advised to pay close attention to the course descriptions, which are available online prior to registration.
Writers in New York: Fiction or Poetry
CRWRI-UA 818 (fiction), CRWRI-UA 819 (poetry). Application required. Offered in the summer. 8 points.
Offers poets and fiction writers an opportunity to develop their craft while living the writer’s life in Greenwich Village. Students participate in daily workshops and craft classes, are mentored by accomplished professional writers, and attend readings, lectures, panel discussions, and seminars led by New York-based writers and editors. Assignments encourage immersion in the city. Students work intensively to generate new writing and also attend a lively series of readings, lectures, literary walking tours, and special events.
Writers in Paris: Fiction or Poetry
CRWRI-UA 9818 (fiction), CRWRI-UA 9819 (poetry). Application required. Offered in the summer. 8 points.
Offers poets and fiction writers an opportunity to experience the writer’s life in Paris. Students participate in daily workshops and craft classes, are mentored by accomplished professional writers, and attend readings and special seminars led by Paris-based writers and editors. Assignments encourage immersion in the city. Students work intensively to generate new writing and also attend a lively series of readings, lectures, literary walking tours, and special events.
Writers in Florence: Fiction or Poetry
CRWRI-UA 9828 (fiction), CRWRI-UA 9829 (poetry). Application required. Offered in the summer. 8 points.
A literary retreat in Florence for poets and fiction writers. Students participate in daily workshops and craft classes, are mentored by acclaimed writers, and attend readings and special seminars on all aspects of the writer's life. Assignments are designed to encourage serious literary study as well as immersion in the local landscape, and students work intensively to generate new writing.
Creative Writing Internship
CRWRI-UA 980. Prerequisites: a declared minor in creative writing, two CRWRI-UA courses or the equivalent, and approval of the Program in Creative Writing. An internship may not be used to fulfill the minimum requirements of the minor. For full policies, registration procedures, and the application form, please visit the program’s Web site. 2 or 4 points.
Requires a commitment of 8 to 12 hours of work per week in a position to be approved by the Program in Creative Writing. The internship must be with an external (non-NYU) organization related to the field of creative writing (such as a literary agency, a literary magazine or book publisher, a literary outreach program, or a nonprofit arts organization). The intern’s duties should involve some substantive aspect of writerly work. A five- to seven-page report is due at the end of the semester, and an evaluation is solicited from the intern’s supervisor. Grading is pass/fail. Students are responsible for finding the internship and for receiving approval from the program before the end of the Albert add/drop period.
