FAQ for Undergraduate Students
Which courses are available to undergraduate students?
The Creative Writing Program offers a range of writing workshops and intensives in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Our introductory workshop, CRWRI-UA 815 Creative Writing: Intro to Fiction & Poetry, is the pre-requisite for all higher level courses offered during the academic year (intermediate workshops, advanced workshops, and master classes). A summer intensive course (Writers in New York, Writers in Paris, or Writers in Florence) in fiction or poetry may serve as a pre-requisite for advanced workshops in the same genre and for intermediate workshops in alternative genres. There are no pre-requisites for our summer writing intensives (Writers in New York, Writers in Paris, or Writers in Florence), though an application and/or permission to register is required.
Do you offer courses in dramatic writing?
No. Our workshops are in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Students interested in studying dramatic writing should consult Tisch's Department of Dramatic Writing.
Who can take creative writing courses?
The undergraduate Creative Writing Program is a part of NYU's College of Arts & Science (CAS), but our courses are open to undergraduates in all of NYU's schools. Students wishing to take higher-level workshops must first complete the introductory pre-requisite, CRWRI-UA 815 Creative Writing: Intro to Fiction & Poetry (or equivalent). Visiting students participating in NYU's Fall in New York, Spring in New York, Precollege, Summer in NYC, and Summer Study Abroad programs are also eligible to enroll in certain workshops and/or apply for our summer intensives.
Which academic year courses require an application?
Students must apply to the Creative Writing Program's Master Classes in Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Nonfiction. Applications are not required for the Creative Writing Program's advanced-level workshops, nor are they required for any other academic year courses.
Who teaches undergraduate creative writing workshops?
The introductory workshops (CRWRI-UA 815 Creative Writing: Intro to Fiction & Poetry) are taught by graduate students in NYU’s distinguished Creative Writing Program. All higher-level workshops are taught by accomplished writers who are also dedicated teachers of writing. A list of this year's faculty can be found on our faculty page.
How large are your workshops?
Workshops are capped at 15 students, and most master classes are capped at 12 students.
Can I Major/Minor in Creative Writing at NYU?
We do not offer a Major in Creative Writing, though we do offer a popular Minor.
How many courses/points are required to complete the Minor?
The Minor is a 16-point credit load comprised of three to four creative writing courses. CRWRI-UA 815 Creative Writing: Introduction to Fiction & Poetry (or equivalent) is generally the foundational course, to be followed by a total of three additional intermediate, advanced, master class and/or study abroad (CRWRI-UA 9815) workshops, or one such workshop combined with one of our 8-point summer intensives (Writers in Florence, Writers in New York, or Writers in Paris). Creative Writing Minors are not required to specialize in a genre, nor are they required to take any special combination of creative writing courses. Minors simply must ensure that their total coursework in Creative Writing amounts to 16 points of credit.
Can a creative writing course I've taken at another school count towards the Minor?
Students may petition to apply a maximum of one outside course towards the Minor. An outside course is any creative writing course offered outside of the CAS Creative Writing Program. Only outside courses that NYU has approved for credit are eligible for consideration. For course substitution guidelines, please consult our Creative Writing Minor page.
Does the Creative Writing Program produce an undergraduate literary journal?
Yes. West 10th is our student-edited literary journal for NYU undergraduates. West 10th is an annual publication that comes out in April and is widely distributed across campus. A call for submissions is sent out in the fall and students may apply for editorial positions in the spring for the following year. For more information, please visit the West 10th page.
How can I receive undergraduate news and announcements from the Creative Writing Program?
Current undergradautes may join our listserv. If you enroll in a creative writing course, you'll be added automatically. Otherwise, please email send an email to creative.writing@nyu.edu with your first and last name, as well as your NYU school. Please use the subject line "Join UG Listserv."
