Creative Writing
Creative Writing Major (HBA)
Program Overview
Does your love of literature go beyond scholarship? Are you an aspiring author who wants to add a practical, hands-on component to your education? Then you’ve come to the right place: UTSC is the only U of T campus where you can earn a Major in Creative Writing. Our dedicated faculty take a workshop-based, experiential approach to the study and practice of the literary arts. They also emphasize diversity in both texts and methods. This means that while you learn how classic and contemporary authors pursue their craft, you also take the exciting first steps towards building your own writing practice.
Our Major program places a particular emphasis on professionalization and how to make your way as a writer in the real world. You will also benefit from working with a new Writer-in-Residence each year, and connecting with our close-knit and active creative writing alumni network.
Complementary Programs: You can combine the Major with a huge range of programs in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Sciences.
Check out future career opportunities and skills acquired from completing this program:
Competencies & Skills
- Produce your own original pieces with confidence
- Gain tools of critique and constructive feedback
- Adjust style
- syntax
- grammar and vocabulary to rhetorical context
- Identify
- examine
- and debate strategies and techniques of excellent writers
- Understand and experiment with genre
- form
- and hybrid modes
- Develop critical thinking
- Engage in creative problem solving
Careers for Graduates
- Author/Writer/Artist in Creative Industries
- Journalist/Editor/Drama Critic/Film Critic
- Account Manager in Advertising Companies
- Social Media Manager
- Foreign Service Officer in Government
- Public Relations Specialist
- Planner in Think-Tanks
- Technical Writer in Software Developers
- Communications Assistant in School Systems
Further Education
- Creative Writing and other Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Programs
- English
- Journalism
- Education
- Library and Information Science
- Publishing
- Law School
- Public Relations
- Marketing
Program Pathway
Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4
Year 1
Choose Your Courses Wisely
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
Apply Theory to Practice
Become an Engaged Citizen (Locally & Globally)
Plan for Your Future Career
Year 2
Choose Your Courses Wisely
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
Apply Theory to Practice
Become an Engaged Citizen (Locally & Globally)
Plan for Your Future Career
Year 3
Choose Your Courses Wisely
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
Apply Theory to Practice
Become an Engaged Citizen (Locally & Globally)
Plan for Your Future Career
Year 4
Choose Your Courses Wisely
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
Apply Theory to Practice
Become an Engaged Citizen (Locally & Globally)
Plan for Your Future Career
Choose Your Courses Wisely
- Take ENGA03H3.
- You may also be interested in ENGA01H3, ENGA10H3 and/or ENGA11H3 as an introduction to the study of English Literature.
- Explore different courses; this will help with fulfilling breadth requirements.
- Use Degree Explorer to plan your courses and program.
- Submit your portfolio at the end of your first year.
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
- Attend readings by the Writer-in-Residence and other departmental writing events.
- Schedule an appointment with your Program Librarian for in-depth research assistance with your assignments.
- Get writing support through the CTL Writing Centre.
Apply Theory to Practice
- Attend the UTSC Faculty Mix & Mingle Fair and SELF’s Mix & Mingle events to connect with professors and learn more about their specialties
- Start building your Co-Curricular Record (CCR) and search for Experiential Learning opportunities.
Become an Engaged Citizen (Locally & Globally)
- Attend the regular meetings of COW, our creative writing club.
- Join the Students of English Literature and Film (SELF).
- Explore other relevant student clubs and activities on campus.
- Volunteer in DSL’s Alternative Reading Week program to gain experience and knowledge about social change and community development.
Plan for Your Future Career
- Watch for the English Department’s Career Paths Panel, to hear from alumni and faculty about their experiences.
- Volunteer with organizations to expand your interests — you can check listings on CLNx (Jobs & Recruitment).
- Attend the UTSC Get Experience Fair in September and register with SCSU’s Volunteer Network Program to explore opportunities.
Year 2
Choose Your Courses Wisely
- Take ENGB60H3, ENGB61H3, and ENGB63H3.
- Use Degree Explorer to plan your courses and program.
- Meet with your Program Advisor or Supervisor to strategize for your degree.
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
- Participate in UTSC Reads and Bookchat.
- Further develop your general academic skills by attending workshops offered by the Academic Advising & Career Centre (AA&CC) and Centre for Teaching & Learning (CTL).
Apply Theory to Practice
- Participate in SELF by volunteering in their events or running for an executive position.
- Get involved in relevant opportunities on and/or off campus (e.g., apply to Work Study, or other part-time and summer jobs on CLNx [Jobs & Recruitment]).
Become an Engaged Citizen (Locally & Globally)
- Make sure you don’t miss out on the incredible creative writing community and events hosted outside of class!
- Check CLNx (Jobs & Recruitment) to search for Work Study or volunteer positions on campus to gain experience and to get involved.
Plan for Your Future Career
- Gain experience by applying for a summer, part-time or Work Study position via CLNx (Jobs & Recruitment).
- Considering grad school? Speak to professors and advisors early so you are on track.
- Explore careers through the AA&CC’s Job Shadowing and In The Field programs.
Year 3
Choose Your Courses Wisely
- Take ENGC86H3 or ENGC87H3 or ENGC88H3.
- Work on your further 2.0 credits from: ENGB63H3, ENGC04H3, ENGC05H3, ENGC06H3, ENGC24H3, ENGC08H3, ENGC89H3, ENGD22H3, ENGD26Y3, ENGD27Y3, ENGD28Y3.
- Remember your 4.5 credits from anywhere in English.
- Use Degree Explorer to ensure you are on track with your degree.
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
- Consider submitting your writing to our department’s Annual English Undergraduate Conference, which showcases creative and critical work.
Apply Theory to Practice
- Meet one-on-one with the Writer-in-Residence to workshop your writing.
- Check the English department website for writing, publishing, and awards opportunities.
- Build on your skills and knowledge through relevant events offered through our department, student groups, the DSL, and the AA&CC.
Become an Engaged Citizen (Locally & Globally)
- Join the Annual English Undergraduate Conference by submitting a paper on this year’s decided theme.
- Look into volunteering or working overseas to expand your network through International Student Centre’s (ISC) Global Learning programs.
Plan for Your Future Career
- Plan a career path with a staff member at the AA&CC.
- Check CLNx (Jobs & Recruitment) for networking events and employer information sessions to attend.
- Attend the Graduate & Professional School Fair in September.
Year 4
Choose Your Courses Wisely
- Take ENGD95H3.
- Ensure you have fulfilled your breadth requirements.
- Use Degree Explorer to ensure you are on track to graduate.
- Register your “Intent to Graduate” on ACORN by the deadline.
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
- Consider submitting your work to the Sigma Tau Delta International English Conference.
- Apply for an Academic Travel Fund through DSL to research, present at a conference, or engage with the international academic community.
Apply Theory to Practice
- Attend the Summer & Full-Time Job Fair in January to meet with potential employers looking to hire students for relevant summer and full-time positions.
Become an Engaged Citizen (Locally & Globally)
- Participate in the AA&CC’s Partners in Leadership program to learn and network with an alumni mentor about transitioning to work or further education.
Plan for Your Future Career
- Connect with the Writer-in-Residence and your professors about a career as a writer.
- Attend the AA&CC’s Get Hired job search conference in April/May.
- Attend a Jobs for Grads orientation for a job search “crash course” and for access to full-time job listings.
Glossary
- AACC - Academic Advising and Career Centre (www.utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc)
- CCR - Co-Curricular Record (https://clnx.utoronto.ca/ccr/overview.htm)
- CLNx - Career Co-Curricular Learning Network (https://clnx.utoronto.ca/home.htm)
- COW - Creative Organization of Writers
- CTL - Centre for Teaching and Learning (https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/ctl)
- DSL - Department of Student Life (https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/studentlife)
- ISC - International Student Centre (https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/utscinternational)
- SCSU - Scarborough Campus Students Union (https://www.scsu.ca)
- SELF - Students of English Literature and Film (https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/engdept/self-students-english-literature-and-film)
Contacts
- Undergraduate Program Coordinatorenglish-uc@utsc.utoronto.caHW 332A647-601-4557https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/engdept/
- Creative Writing LibrarianChad Crichtonchad.crichton@utoronto.caARC main floor416-287-7492https://utsc.library.utoronto.ca/librarians
- Academic Advising & Career CentreAC213416-287-7561https://utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc/
- Department of Student LifeSL157416-208-4760https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/studentlife/
- Students of English Literature and Filmhttps://www.facebook.com/UTSCSELF
Did You Know?
The events calendar for the Creative Writing program is one of the most robust and exciting on campus.