Creative Writing

This award is not eligible for Financial Aid

The Academic Certificate (AC) in Creative Writing program is designed to provide students and professional writers with access to a community of writers and creative writing activities, instruction and guidance from established authors, and ongoing support in improving their writing skills and marketing their work. As students take courses in the program, they will build a portfolio of original work that may be submitted for publication. The program offers classes, workshops, and other activities such as readings and contests, which are accessible to writers of all levels regardless of academic or professional standing. The program aims to serve a diverse community who may be underrepresented in traditional creative writing programs. Completion of the certificate does not lead to a particular degree program, but may aid students in their pursuit of a career in the writing professions and in their continued enjoyment of writing for personal growth.

Details

Field of Interest
Culture and Society
Degree Type
Academic Certificate (AC)
Academic Plan
Creative Writing (CER)
Academic Plan Code
6224N
Total credits required
24
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Spring 2025
Admission criteria

Students who wish to enroll in the Creative Writing program must complete a formal application; contact Program Director.

Notes

This program is not eligible for Title IV Federal Financial Aid.
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

What You'll Learn
  • Analyze the aesthetic values and literary styles of diverse eras and cultures.
  • Evaluate the technical elements and theories of literature across multiple genres.
  • Interpret the effects of technical craft elements in published literary works.
  • Explore the dynamic relationships among people, culture, and the physical world.
  • Demonstrate social responsibility and ethical behavior toward the creation of original works in a culturally diverse world.
  • Engage the creative process through problem-solving, experimentation, and inspiration to produce original works across multiple genres.
  • Apply the peer review workshop process to explore, develop, and revise original writing.
  • Develop one-on-one relationships with creative writing mentors.
  • Create a portfolio of publication ready work.

Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this certificate. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Editors

$64,940

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

$66,630

Interpreters and Translators

$37,840

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

$53,620

Proofreaders and Copy Markers

$38,450

Writers and Authors

$53,620

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CRW150 Introduction to Creative Writing Critical course Gateway course ENG210 maybe substituted for CRW150 with permission of Program Director 3
RE Restricted Electives 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Series I Series 1 Select in consultation with the program director. 3
Series I Series 1 Select in consultation with the program director. 3
CRW200 Readings for Writers 1

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Series II Series 2 Select in consultation with the program director. 3
CRW200 Readings for Writers 1
Series II Series 2 Select in consultation with the program director. 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CRW201 Portfolio 1
Series II Series 2 Select in consultation with the program director. 3

Series 1

Students must complete six (6) credits from Series I and nine (9) credits from Series II in consultation with a Program Director. 

Series I: Credits: 6 
Students must complete two (2) of the following courses for a total of six (6) credits. 
CRW120 Introduction to Writing Children`s Literature 3 
CRW160 Introduction to Writing Poetry 3 
CRW170 Introduction to Writing Fiction 3 
CRW172 Introduction to Comic Book Writing 3 
CRW180 Introduction to Writing Nonfiction 3 
CRW190 Introduction to Screenwriting 3 
THE118 Playwriting 3 

Series II

Series II: Credits: 9 
Students must complete three (3) of the following courses for a total of nine (9) credits. 
+ CRW202 The Writer as Witness 3 
+ CRW203 Dialogue 3 
+ CRW204 Journaling 3 
+ CRW220 Intermediate Writing Children`s Literature 3 
CRW251 Topics in Creative Writing 3 
+ CRW260 Intermediate Poetry Writing 3 
+ CRW261 Topics in Writing: Poetry 3 
+ CRW270 Intermediate Fiction Writing 3 
+ CRW271 Topics in Writing: Fiction 3 
+ CRW272 Planning and Structuring the Novel 3 
+ CRW273 Writing the Novel 3 
+ CRW274 Revising the Novel 3 
+ CRW281 Topics in Writing: Non-Fiction 3 
+ CRW290 Intermediate Screenwriting 3 
+ CRW291 Topics in Writing: Plays 3

Restricted Electives

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CRW+++ Any Creative Writing Course not listed in Required Courses area 1–3
ENG235 Magazine Article Writing 3
ENH+++ Any English Humanities Course 3
THF210 or
HUM210		 Contemporary Cinema or Contemporary Cinema HU or HU 3
THE260 Film Analysis 3
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

This certificate is not eligible for Title IV Federal Financial Aid.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=172627).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Academic Certificate (AC) in Creative Writing