English Majors English majors may take up to 2 creative writing courses (in place of electives). A typical course of study for this option is: 1 Sophomore literature course (Applies only to Classes of 2010 - 2012.  See the New Core Curriculum for more details.) 1 Theory course 3 Pre-1800 courses 2 Creative Writing courses (At 3000 level or above) 3 Literature Electives (At 3000 level or above.  2 of these courses may be Cognate Courses. Students may take some cross-listed Communications writing courses to fulfill their Creative Writing options or requirements. Students interested in taking a Communications course as part of the English Major should see their Associate Chair for permission and a substitution form. Creative Writing Option The Creative Writing Option allows English majors to take 3 Creative Writing courses as part of their regular English major.  The total number of required courses is still 10 and all other course requirements must be met.  Students choosing this option will graduate with an "English Major with a Creative Writing Option" registered on their transcript.  A typical course of study for this option is: 1 Sophomore literature course (Applies only to Classes of 2010 - 2012.  See the New Core Curriculum for more details.) 1 Theory course 3 Pre-1800 courses 3 Creative Writing courses (At 3000 level or above) 2 Literature Electives (At 3000 level or above.  2 of these courses may be Cognate Courses. Process to Declare Creative Writing Option 1st Step Fill out the "Intention to Declare CW Option" form located here. 2nd and Final Step Indicate intention when first declaring English major or thereafter by seeing Associate Chair and completing an "Amended Declaration of Major" form.  Creative Writing Minor For English Majors The Creative Writing minor for English majors allows a student to take 4 creative writing classes.  This increases the total number of required courses for the English Major from 10 to 14. A typical course of study for this option is: 1 Sophomore literature course (Applies only to Classes of 2010 - 2012.  See the New Core Curriculum for more details.) 1 Theory course 3 Pre-1800 courses 4 Creative Writing courses (At 3000 level or above) 5 Literature Electives (At 3000 level or above.  2 of these courses may be Cognate Courses. For Non-English Majors The minor in Creative Writing, available to students in majors other than English, will consist of:   1.  Four (4) four-credit courses which must be drawn from 3000-level and above English Creative Writing courses.  Two of these courses may be Communication and Media Studies Writing courses cross-listed with English.  (Three cross-listed courses may be counted if two of them form a four credit sequence). Independent studies, approved by the Director of Creative Writing, are also accepted.   Please note:  Students minoring in Creative Writing may count no more than 2 courses [or 8 credits] applicable to the Creative Writing minor for their major.           2. Two (2) advanced courses (3000-level and above) in Literature offered through the English department. Cognate Courses (3000-level and above) and meeting literature requirements in the Classics department, the Literary Studies program or the Modern Languages department may be utilized to fulfill this requirement. Process to Declare Creative Writing Minor 1st Step Fill out the "Intention to Declare CW Minor" form located here. 2nd and Final Step Contact class dean (for example: the LC Associate Dean for seniors) for permission. Departmental Honors in Creative Writing The department offers an honors option in English for seniors who wish to do an ambitious piece of research and writing under the individual direction of faculty or in conjunction with a senior seminar. Faculty Advisors can be any full-time faculty member or Writer in Residence from this list. Eligibility English majors with a GPA of 3.6 or higher in English and who are minoring in Creative Writing or completing the Creative Writing Option.  Students must have completed at least 3 Creative Writing classes before applying for Honors.  (The Honors course, itself, does not count as one of these three classes) Process The thesis is to be written over the course of one semester, Beginning of Semester Student registers for 4000 level Independent Study Honors course with Associate Chair. Student determines Faculty Advisor.  Faculty Advisor and student, in consultation with the Director of Creative Writing, determine Second Reader. Early in semester, student meets with Faculty Advisor and Second Reader to go over parameters of the thesis. Mid-Semester Deadline for the first completed draft of the thesis is mid-semester. End of Semester Deadline for completed thesis is three weeks before the end of classes. Completed thesis will include cover sheet, which advisor and second reader must sign and indicate if further revision is required (each must check off either "OK as is" or "OK with revisions"; any necessary changes will be discussed at length).  Cover sheets are located here. If additional revision is required, the final deadline for the completed thesis is the last day of classes for that semester. Faculty Advisor and Second Reader determine whether the thesis qualifies the student for departmental honors. Events All creative writing classes attend three Fordham Creative Writing program events with their professors.

The Republic of Poetry is a state of mind.  It is a place where creativity meets community, where the imagination serves humanity.  The Republic of Poetry is a republic of justice, because the practice of justice is the highest form of human expression.  This goes beyond the tired idea of "poetic justice," because all justice is poetic....  I know you can build you can build your own Republic of Poetry, because I have seen it.  I saw it in Chile, where the citizens overcame seventeen years of military dictatorship to rebuild their democracy, ultimately electing a socialist woman president....  Chile is a nation of poets, and in Chile poetry is inseparable from the struggle for democracy. --Martin Espada