Jiménez-Porter Writers' House Student Handbook

• Obtain a grade of B or better in all classes (12 credits total)
• Public display of your culminating chapbook at LitFest during your second year
• Student group involvement during one semester, 1st or 2nd year
• Attend LitFest and JPWH Retreat each year
• Attend the Writers Here and Now Event Series
  • All Writers’ House courses require your attendance to the Writers Here and Now Series. These take place Wednesday evenings, two times per semester.

2-5 credits depending on whether you already have a relevant supporting 3-credit course on your transcript

FALL

Take both of the following 1-credit courses:

ARHU300 – Writers' House Colloquium: Welcome to Writers' House; Writing Your Manifesto

ARHU309 – Writers' House Colloquium: Creative Writing in Community

For ARHU309, take any of the following sections:

• ARHU309-0101 – Prose
• ARHU309-0201 – Poetry
• ARHU309-0301 – Fantasy/Sci-fi

Take one supporting 3-credit course. The 3-credit course can be taken during the Fall or Spring semester during your first year of residency, or the Fall or Spring semester before your first year in JPWH.

SPRING

Take one of the following 1-credit courses:

ARHU318: Writers’ House Workshop (1 credit)

For ARHU318, take any of the following sections:

• ARHU318A – Prose
• ARHU318B – Spoken Word Poetry (TOTUS)
• ARHU318W – Script/Screenwriting

6 credits as described below.

FALL

Take one of the following 3-credit courses:

ARHU319: Writers' House Second Year Colloquium: Form and Theory of Creative Writing

For ARHU319, take any of the following sections:

• ARHU319A – Prose
• ARHU319B – Poetry
• ARHU375 – The TV Writers’ Room (Pre-Req: 275 or 318W)

Or substitute ARHU319 for the following classes with Director permission:

• ARHU275 – Writing to be Seen (Script/Screen)
• ENGL398R – Writing Non-Fictional Narratives (fulfills Prof. Writing Req.)
• ENGL 352, 353, 498, 499 (Pre-Req: 200-level CRWR with a grade of “A”)

SPRING

Take one of the following 3-credit courses:

ARHU320 – Writing for Publication (Usually offered on Fridays)

ENGL477 – BookLab may be substituted for ARHU320, when offered, on the condition that students bring the book they create in the course to LitFest for public display.

Three-Credit Supporting Course Options (necessary for First Year only):

Students are required to take one outside three-credit course in creative writing during or before the first year of residency.

Additions and exceptions to the list are often made if the requested course falls within programmatic parameters. All exceptions must be approved by the Program Director. 

This list is not exhaustive, as the university schedule of courses is continually expanding.

APPROVED COURSES

• AASP298L – Special Topics in Afro-American Studies: African-American Literature and Culture
• ARAB401 – Readings in Arabic Literature
• ARHU350 – Chilean Literature, Democracy, and Social Change (Winter Education Abroad)
• ARHU269I or 351 – James Joyce’s Dublin (Summer Education Abroad program)
• ARHU269A or ENGL 269M – Morocco: In the Footsteps of the Beat Generation
• CMLT235 – Black Diaspora Literature and Culture
• CMLT242 – Diversify and Multiply: Jewish Culture and the Production of Identity
• CMLT270 – Global Literature and Social Change
• ENGL234 – African-American Literature and Culture
• ENGL235 – U.S. Latina/o Literature and Culture
• ENGL250 – Reading Women Writing
• ENGL265 – LGBTQ+ Literatures and Media
• ENGL271 – Writing Poems and Stories: An Introductory Workshop
• ENGL272 – Writing Fiction: An Introductory Workshop
• ENGL273 – Writing Poetry: An Introductory Workshop
• ENGL 275 – Writing for the Stage and Screen
• ENGL348 – Literary Works by Women (multiple section offerings)
• ENGL352 – Intermediate Fiction Workshop
• ENGL353 – Intermediate Poetry Workshop
• ENGL354 – Intermediate Scriptwriting for Theatre, Film, and Television
• ENGL358 – Special Topics in U.S. Latina/o Literature (multiple section offerings)
• ENGL362 – Caribbean Literature in English
• ENGL379 – Special Topics in Literature (multiple section offerings)
• ENGL388D – Writing Internship; Dickinson Electronic Archives
• ENGL398R –Topics in Professional Writing; Writing Non-Fictional Narratives
• ENGL439D – Spotlight on Major Writers (multiple section offerings)
• ENGL433 – American Literature: 1914 to the Present, the Modern Period
• ENGL471 – African-American Literature: 1910-1945
• ENGL472 – African-American Literature: 1945 to Present
• ENGL479 – Selected Topics in English and American Literature after 1800 (multiple section offerings)
• ENGL498 – Advanced Fiction Workshop
• ENGL499 – Advanced Poetry Workshop
• JOUR 456 – Literature in Journalism
• LGBT265 – LGBTQ+ Literatures and Media

Other courses in the following departments, with a focus on writing, are also possible for acceptance pending Director evaluation:

• Arabic
• Asian American Studies
• Chinese
• Cinema and Media Studies
• East Asian Studies
• French
• German Studies
• Hebrew
• Italian
• Japanese
• Jewish Studies
• Korean
• Latin American and Caribbean Studies
• Latina/o Studies
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Studies
• Persian Studies
• Portuguese
• Romance Languages
• Russian
• Spanish (including 206, 207, 301, 302, 306, 316, 317, 318, 356, 357, 401, 402)
• Theatre
• Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

HOW DO THESE COURSES GET COUNTED TOWARD MY DEGREE?

Some courses part of the Writers' House notation curriculum can be applied to English major or Creative Writing minor coursework. Please speak to your program advisor for up-to-date information on how Writers' House coursework can fulfill requirements towards your degree.

I HAVE ALREADY TAKEN CREATIVE WRITING CLASSES AT UMD UPON ENTERING WRITERS’ HOUSE, CAN I USE THOSE?

Yes, you can use one of those as your supporting 3-credit course.

WHAT ARE THE CULMINATING PROJECTS FOR THIS COURSE OF STUDY?

ARHU320 culminates in a chapbook and publication project (end of 2nd year). ARHU320 must be taken in order for students to receive the Writers’ House notation on their transcripts.