Creative Writing Minor (HBA)
Admissions Category: Social Sciences & Humanities
Program Overview
Are you looking to branch out from your chosen field and learn how to write creatively? Whether you love poetry, fiction, memoir, personal essays, literary journalism, screenplays, graphic novels, comics or some wild new combination of genres, our Creative Writing Minor emphasizes diversity of texts and methods and offers you the freedom to discover your unique literary voice. You will work closely with actively publishing and award-winning faculty, and participate in the strong student writing community here at UTSC English.
Beyond the classroom, you can attend regular reading events, work with our Writer-in-Residence, attend weekly meetings of our creative writing club, enter contests, and get published in the arts journal Scarborough Fair.
Complementary Programs:
You can combine our Minor 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 or SELF’s Fall Mix & Mingle 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 and/or ENGB61H3 and/or 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.
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 3.0 credits from: ENGC04H3, ENGC05H3, ENGC06H3, ENGC24H3, ENGC08H3, ENGC86H3, ENGC87H3, ENGC88H3, ENGC89H3, ENGD22H3, ENGD26Y3, ENGD27Y3, ENGD28Y3, ENGD95H3.
- Use Degree Explorer to ensure you are on track to graduate.
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
- Consider submitting your writing to our department’s Annual English Undergraduate Conference.
- Consider submitting your work to the Sigma Tau Delta International English Conference.
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
- Consider taking ENGD95H3 to focus on writing as a profession.
- 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
- Apply for an Academic Travel Fund through Department of Student Life (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 involving writing.
- 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)
Undergraduate Program Coordinator
Location: HW 332A
Phone: 647-601-4557
https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/engdept/
Creative Writing Librarian
Chad Crichton
E-mail: chad.crichton@utoronto.caLocation: ARC main floor
Phone: 416-287-7492
https://utsc.library.utoronto.ca/librarians
Academic Advising & Career Centre
Phone: 416-287-7561
https://utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc/
Department of Student Life
Phone: 416-208-4760
https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/studentlife/
Students of English Literature and Film
https://www.facebook.com/UTSCSELF
Did You Know?
Our teaching faculty in Creative Writing are all active and award winning writers themselves.