English (Creative Writing)
Why Major in English (Creative Writing)?
The Department offers a Creative Writing option within the English Major as well as through the Honours Programme. The requirements for Majors Programme are that a student complete the normal English Major requirements in terms of both historical coverage and course restrictions as explained under the Major Programme with courses from relevant creative writing areas, as indicated below.
Mandatory:
- ENGL 2195 Introduction to Creative Writing: Poetry and Drama
- ENGL 2196 Introduction to Creative Writing: Fiction and Screenwriting
Plus at least two of the following courses:
- ENGL 3123 Creative Writing: Poetry
- ENGL 3143 Creative Writing: Fiction
- ENGL 3163 Creative Writing: Drama
- ENGL 3183 Creative Writing: Screenwriting and Writing for the New Media
Any student who is interested in this program should consult the Director of Creative Writing. For more information on the MA in Creative Writing, please visit the Creative Writing homepage.
What Can You Be With a Major in English?
A major does not dictate your career; it provides you with invaluable skills and knowledge that you can apply to many areas of life and work. Here are some the careers you may want to consider pursuing with your major:
- Novelist
- Playwright
- Screenwriter
- Editor/Writer (magazine/news/newspaper/publications/copy/film/video)
- Public relations/Information Specialist
- Radio/Television Researcher
- Information Abstractor/Indexer
- Search for Careers for more career possibilities.
With additional education/training…
- Teacher
- Linguist
- Professor
- Librarian
- Publicist
Where Can You Work?
English BA students can work anywhere in the private sector, especially in communications.
- Schools
- Colleges and Universities
- Advertising/Marketing Agencies
- Publishing Companies
- Museums
- Theatres
- Government Agencies
What Skills Can You Develop?
An Arts degree helps you develop transferable, functional skills such as writing, critical thinking and communication skills that employers and most work situations require. Concentrating your studies in a major allows you to gain specific transferable skills, such as those below, which are attractive to particular employers and industries.
- Writing for different audiences
- Organizing written work
- Arguing logically
- Reading analytically
- Thinking creatively
- Summarizing ideas
- Interpreting data
- Proficiency in grammar and vocabulary
- Editing skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Research skills
- Oral presentation skills
- Rhetorical skills
- Organizational skills
Professional Associations
Professional associations can be a great way to meet, learn from and network with professionals in your field of interest. Some associations offer student memberships, often at a reduced rate. Below is a sample of professional associations you can explore.
- Writers' Federation of New Brunswick
- Professional Writers Association of Canada, PWAC National Office
Contact the Department
UNB Department of English
Carleton Hall, Room 247
19 Macaulay Lane
University of New Brunswick
P.O. Box 4400
Fredericton NB E3B 5A3
