The Writing Major Program
 

About the Writing Major

After WRIT 100 in first year, core Writing Department courses follow the workshop method. These workshops are limited in size to 15 students or fewer, and serve as a critical forum wherein student writing is subjected to editorial and intellectual review.

Workshops are complemented by certain lectures and seminars which introduce students to professional literary models in poetry, short and long narrative fiction, drama for stage and film, and creative nonfiction.

While the Writing Program strives to develop a balance between writing skills and a sense of literary history, students who are interested in a stronger literary background are advised to consider a double-major program. Information on Inter-Faculty Double Majors can be found in the UVic Calendar.

Writing/Theatre Focus

Students wishing to pursue a double major in Writing and Theatre must be accepted into both departments. Students must apply to Theatre by February 28 and Writing by March 31 for a September start. Please visit each department's website to determine what is required for admission. Students should contact Fine Arts Advising to obtain assistance with planning their program.

Writing Courses

A Writing Major has 15.0 units of Writing courses at the 300 and 400 levels but, as there are prerequisites to all senior Writing courses, most students will have to take at least 9 units of first and second-year Writing. Exceptions to this would be for those who enter the Program with advanced standing.

Students in the Writing Major program are required to take:

  • WRIT 100
  • FA 101
  • 6 units of 200-level Writing
  • 15 units of 300/400-level Writing, including 4.5 units of workshops in a single genre. Only 1.5 units of 320 or 325 can be used towards the workshop requirement.

WRIT 215 may not be counted as part of a Writing Major.

WRIT 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 314, 315, 316, 320, 321, 322, 329, 330, 335, 336, 340, 410, 412, 416, 417, 420 and 440 may count toward either a Major in Writing or a Professional Writing Minor in Journalism and Publishing, but not both.

Students are advised to work toward a Double Major, since enrolment in workshops is limited, and spaces are not guaranteed. Without a concentration of courses in a separate discipline, students may find themselves delayed in graduating.

If at least 9 units of electives are chosen from courses offered by other departments within the Faculty of Fine Arts, the degree awarded may be either the BFA or the BA of the Faculty of Fine Arts. If fewer than 9 units of electives from the Faculty of Fine Arts are chosen, the degree awarded will be the BA of the Faculty of Fine Arts.

Click on the links below for full details on each Major program:

Fiction

Level

Courses

Units

1st Year

WRIT 100 - Introduction to Writing

3.0

 

FA 101 - Creative Being

1.5

 

1st Year Total:   

4.5

 

 

 

2nd Year

WRIT 202 - Fiction Workshop

3.0

 

any other 200-level WRIT workshop
(excluding 215, 216, 217)

3.0

 

2nd Year Total:   

6.0

 

 

  

3rd/4th Year

WRIT 304 - Fiction Workshop [x2]

3.0

 

WRIT 402 - Advanced Fiction Workshop

1.5
 

300/400-level WRIT electives
(excluding 306, 315, 404)

10.5

 

3rd/4th Year Total:   

15.0

 

 

  

 

Fiction Major Total:   

25.5

 

 

  

Note: No student will be permitted to take more than 1.5 units of workshops in a single genre per four-month term, or more than 3.0 units of workshops in any given four-month term.

For more information on our program requirements, please refer to the UVic Calendar.

 

Poetry

Level

Courses

Units

1st Year

WRIT 100 - Introduction to Writing

3.0

1st Year

FA 101 - Creative Being

1.5

 

1st Year Total:   

4.5

 

 

 

2nd Year

WRIT 201 - Poetry Workshop

3.0

 

any other 200-level WRIT workshop
(excluding 215, 216, 217)

3.0

 

2nd Year Total:   

6.0

 

 

  

3rd/4th Year

WRIT 303 - Poetry Workshop [x2]

3.0

 

WRIT 401 - Advanced Poetry Workshop

1.5
 

300/400-level WRIT electives
(excluding 306, 315, 404)

10.5

 

3rd/4th Year Total:   

15.0

 

 

  

 

Poetry Major Total:   

25.5

 

 

  

Note: No student will be permitted to take more than 1.5 units of workshops in a single genre per four-month term, or more than 3.0 units of workshops in any given four-month term.

For more information on our program requirements, please refer to the UVic Calendar.

 

Playwriting

Level

Courses

Units

1st Year

WRIT 100 - Introduction to Writing

3.0

1st Year

FA 101 - Creative Being

1.5

 

1st Year Total:   

4.5

 

 

 

2nd Year

WRIT 203 - Playwriting Workshop

3.0

 

any other 200-level WRIT workshop
(excluding 215, 216, 217)

3.0

 

2nd Year Total:   

6.0

 

 

  

3rd/4th Year

WRIT 305 - Playwriting Workshop [x2]
(1.5 units of WRIT 325 can be used towards the workshop requirement)

3.0

 

WRIT 403 - Advanced Playwriting Workshop

1.5
 

300/400-level WRIT electives
(excluding 306, 315, 404)

10.5

 

3rd/4th Year Total:   

15.0

 

 

  

 

Drama Major Total:   

25.5

 

 

  

Note: No student will be permitted to take more than 1.5 units of workshops in a single genre per four-month term, or more than 3.0 units of workshops in any given four-month term.

For more information on our program requirements, please refer to the UVic Calendar.

 

Screenwriting

Level

Courses

Units

1st Year

WRIT 100 - Introduction to Writing

3.0

1st Year

FA 101 - Creative Being

1.5

 

1st Year Total:   

4.5

 

 

 

2nd Year

WRIT 218 - Screenwriting Workshop

3.0

 

any other 200-level WRIT workshop
(excluding 215, 216, 217)

3.0

 

2nd Year Total:   

6.0

 

 

  

3rd/4th Year

WRIT 318 - Screenwriting Workshop [x2]
(1.5 units of WRIT 320 can be used towards the workshop requirement)

3.0

 

WRIT 418 - Advanced Screenwriting Workshop

1.5
 

300/400-level WRIT electives
(excluding 306, 315, 404)

10.5

 

3rd/4th Year Total:   

15.0

 

 

  

 

Drama Major Total:   

25.5

 

 

  

Note: No student will be permitted to take more than 1.5 units of workshops in a single genre per four-month term, or more than 3.0 units of workshops in any given four-month term.

For more information on our program requirements, please refer to the UVic Calendar.

 

Creative Nonfiction

Level

Courses

Units

1st Year

WRIT 100 - Introduction to Writing

3.0

1st Year

FA 101 - Creative Being

1.5

 

1st Year Total:   

4.5

 

 

 

2nd Year

WRIT 204 - Creative Nonfiction Workshop

3.0

 

any other 200-level WRIT workshop
(excluding 215, 216, 217)

3.0

 

2nd Year Total:   

6.0

 

 

  

3rd/4th Year

WRIT 316 - Creative Nonfiction Workshop [x2]

3.0

 

WRIT 416 - AdvancedCreative Nonfiction Workshop

1.5
 

300/400-level WRIT electives
(excluding 306, 315, 404)

10.5

 

3rd/4th Year Total:   

15.0

 

 

  

 

Creative Nonfiction Major Total:   

25.5

 

 

  

Note: No student will be permitted to take more than 1.5 units of workshops in a single genre per four-month term, or more than 3.0 units of workshops in any given four-month term.

For more information on our program requirements, please refer to the UVic Calendar.