Academic Certificate in Creative Writing

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Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

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Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CRW150 Introduction to Creative Writing Critical course Gateway course ENG210 maybe substituted for CRW150 with permission of Program Director 3
RE Restricted Electives 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Series I Series 1 Select in consultation with the program director. 3
Series I Series 1 Select in consultation with the program director. 3
CRW200 Readings for Writers 1

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Series II Series 2 Select in consultation with the program director. 3
CRW200 Readings for Writers 1
Series II Series 2 Select in consultation with the program director. 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CRW201 Portfolio 1
Series II Series 2 Select in consultation with the program director. 3

Series 1

Students must complete six (6) credits from Series I and nine (9) credits from Series II in consultation with a Program Director. 

Series I: Credits: 6 
Students must complete two (2) of the following courses for a total of six (6) credits. 
CRW120 Introduction to Writing Children`s Literature 3 
CRW160 Introduction to Writing Poetry 3 
CRW170 Introduction to Writing Fiction 3 
CRW172 Introduction to Comic Book Writing 3 
CRW180 Introduction to Writing Nonfiction 3 
CRW190 Introduction to Screenwriting 3 
THE118 Playwriting 3 

Series II

Series II: Credits: 9 
Students must complete three (3) of the following courses for a total of nine (9) credits. 
+ CRW202 The Writer as Witness 3 
+ CRW203 Dialogue 3 
+ CRW204 Journaling 3 
+ CRW220 Intermediate Writing Children`s Literature 3 
CRW251 Topics in Creative Writing 3 
+ CRW260 Intermediate Poetry Writing 3 
+ CRW261 Topics in Writing: Poetry 3 
+ CRW270 Intermediate Fiction Writing 3 
+ CRW271 Topics in Writing: Fiction 3 
+ CRW272 Planning and Structuring the Novel 3 
+ CRW273 Writing the Novel 3 
+ CRW274 Revising the Novel 3 
+ CRW281 Topics in Writing: Non-Fiction 3 
+ CRW290 Intermediate Screenwriting 3 
+ CRW291 Topics in Writing: Plays 3

Restricted Electives

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CRW+++ Any Creative Writing Course not listed in Required Courses area 1–3
ENG235 Magazine Article Writing 3
ENH+++ Any English Humanities Course 3
THF210 or
HUM210		 Contemporary Cinema or Contemporary Cinema HU or HU 3
THE260 Film Analysis 3

Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design