Creative Writing Minor

Courses in Creative Writing

Courses That Satisfy the Creative Writing Requirements

Five approved upper-division courses are required, consisting of three courses in creative writing and two courses in literature. These courses may be taken in any of the departments that offer them. See Requirements.

Courses in both creative writing and literature are sometimes listed in the Berkeley Academic Guide under very general headings (“Topics in ________” or “Special Topics”). Students may be allowed to include courses that are not on the following list with approval of the Creative Writing Minor Faculty Adviser. It is the responsibility of the student to provide the Faculty Adviser with documentary evidence to support the claim of course eligibility. Contact the Creative Writing Minor Student Academic Advisor at demir@berkeley.edu for more information.

To determine if a course from the list below is being offered during a specific semester, visit the Schedule of Classes or relevant term page (Spring, Summer or Fall) on the minor website.

NOTE: Three courses are required from this list. All of these courses must be taken for a letter grade. See COVID-19 P grade policies on requirements page.

African American Studies

  • 156AC. Poetry for the People: Introduction to the Art of Poetry
  • 158A. Poetry for the People: The Writing and Teaching of Poetry
  • 158B. Poetry for the People Practicum
  • 164. Spoken Word: Oral Tradition & Transformation from Poetry to Hip Hop, Standup & Beyond

Art Practice

  • 182: Creative Writing for Artists

Asian American Studies

  • 173. Creative Writing

College Writing Programs

  • 130. Introduction to the Craft of Creative Writing
  • 131. Introduction to the Craft of Creative Nonfiction
  • 132. Introduction to the Craft of Short Fiction
  • 133. Introduction to the Craft of Dramatic Writing
  • 140B. Seminar-Workshop in Creative Writing
  • 141. Seminar-Workshop on Creative Writing: The Novel
  • 175. Players, Spectators & Fanatics: Writing on the Cultures of Sports

Creative Writing

  • 120. Reading and Writing Poetry
  • 130. Creative Prose

East Asian Languages & Cultures

  • 115. Knowing Others, and Being Known: The Art of Writing People
  • 125: The Art of Writing: Writing the Limits of Empathy

English

  • 141. Modes of Writing (Exposition, Fiction, Verse, Etc.)
  • 143A. Short Fiction
  • 143B. Verse
  • 143C. Long Narrative
  • 143E. Playwriting
  • 143N. Prose Nonfiction
  • 143T. Poetry Translation Workshop

Environmental Design

  • 101A. Writing about Environmental Design: Short Compositions (3 or 4 units only)
  • 101B. Writing about Environmental Design: Longer Compositions (3 or 4 units only)

Film and Media Studies

  • 180. Introduction to Screenwriting
  • 181. Screenwriting
  • 182. TV Writing

French

  • 139. Creative Writing in French

Native American Studies

  • 150. Native American Narratives

Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies

  • 139A. Fundamentals of Playwriting
  • 139B. Playwriting
The Creative Writing Minor is offered by the Office of Undergraduate and Interdisciplinary Studies in the Undergraduate Division of the College of Letters and Science. The courses students take to satisfy the minor course requirements are offered by various departments around campus. If you have questions regarding the minor program and whether a course not on this list may be used for the minor, contact the Creative Writing Minor Student Academic Advisor at demir@berkeley.edu. If you have questions regarding an approved course on this list, contact the department and instructor offering the course. The departments and instructors determine when their courses will be offered and who is eligible to take their courses.