Faculty in Creative Writing
Creative Writing
Creative writing at Illinois State University offers both undergraduate and graduate courses. The Program has earned a reputation as a place for the study of alternative forms of writing. Graduate students are invited to envision limitless choices in an environment that respects innovation.
In undergraduate study, students may major in English with a creative writing emphasis. Courses may be repeated for credit if the topic or content differs. Students are able to explore creative writing pedagogy and theories of creative writing genesis in addition to the genres of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.
Both the Master's in English and the Ph.D. in English Studies at Illinois State University offer creative writing options. The Master's in English requires ten courses and a creative thesis; the Ph.D. in English Studies includes 14 courses that study the intersections of pedagogy, writing, literature, and language. The dissertation involves a critical introduction, the creative work itself, and a pedagogical analysis situated in creative writing.
The level of assistantship support in the English graduate program is quite high at both the master's and doctoral levels, funding up to 70 students a year in a program of approximately 160 graduate students. In addition, there are special assistantships—the Sutherland Assistantships—in editing and creative writing, and several editing/ desktop publishing internships in the Department's Publications Unit. The doctoral degree in English at ISU is not a studio degree. Instead, students combine Creative Writing with other areas of English Studies, such as Literary and Cultural Studies, Composition/Rhetoric, and Linguistics.
The Program also encourages participation on large joint projects and strongly supports three journals: Euphemism, our student creative writing journal; Mandorla: New Writing from the Americas/Nueva Escritura de las Américas; and the Spoon River Poetry Review.
Undergraduate
The undergraduate program in creative writing boasts a robust three-tier offering of courses for beginning, intermediate, and advanced writers. Students frequently take these courses as part of a creative writing emphasis in the writing minor. A student-edited literary journal, Euphemism, is also featured. Elizabeth Hatmaker, Instructional Assistant Professor, is the journal's faculty advisor.
Students have the opportunity to perform readings and to work closely with faculty in developing a portfolio or major project. Many students crossing the boundaries of academic disciplines or seeking to strengthen their study in English Education take an introductory creative writing course.
Three creative writing awards and a scholarship are open to undergraduate submissions: the Brome Creative Writing Award (outstanding senior), Tom Kuster Creative Writing Award (full-time junior, senior, or graduate student), and William Morgan Poetry Award (undergraduate English major). The application deadline for these awards is April 1.
Undergraduate Creative Writing Courses
- ENG 227: Introduction to Creative Writing
- ENG 247.01: Intermediate Creative Writing: Poetry
- ENG 247.02: Intermediate Creative Writing: Fiction
- ENG 247.03: Intermediate Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction
- ENG 347.01: Advanced Creative Writing: Poetry
- ENG 347.02: Advanced Creative Writing: Prose
- ENG 347.03: Advanced Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction
- ENG 348: Playwriting
- ENG 357: Theories of Creative Writing Genesis
- ENG 367: Creative Writing Pedagogy
- ENG 396: The Writing Seminar
To view course descriptions for any undergraduate Creative Writing course, please check the Undergraduate Catalog.
Graduate
The Master's in English allows students to concentrate in any one of a number of specialization areas, including Creative Writing.
The following Creative Writing courses are available on the graduate level:
- ENG 347.01: Advanced Creative Writing: Poetry
- ENG 347.02: Advanced Creative Writing: Prose
- ENG 347.03: Advanced Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction
- ENG 348: Playwriting
- ENG 357: Theories of Creative Writing Genesis
- ENG 367: Creative Writing Pedagogy
- ENG 396: The Writing Seminar
- ENG 447.01: Creative Writing Seminar: Poetry
- ENG 447.02: Creative Writing Seminar: Prose
To view course descriptions for any graduate Creative Writing course, please check the Graduate Catalog.
For more information about the Master's in Arts, emphasis in Creative Writing, see the Master's in English page.