Jiménez-Porter Writers' House Student Handbook
The student handbook contains everything you need to know about getting an official transcript notation, as well as how our curriculum fits in with your degree studies.
JIMÉNEZ-PORTER WRITERS’ HOUSE NOTATION TRACK CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS
Requirements to Get A Writers' House Notation on My Transcript
- Obtain a grade of B or better in all of the classes (11 credits total)
- Public display of your culminating chapbook at LitFest your second year
- Committee involvement during one semester, 1st or 2nd year
- Attend LitFest and JPWH Retreat each year
- Attend WHN events
- HOLD WEDNESDAY EVENINGS! All Writers’ House courses require your attendance to the Writers Here and Now Series. These take place Wednesday evenings, 2-3 times per semester
First Year
2-5 credits depending on whether you already have a relevant supporting 3-credit course on your transcript
FALL
Take one of the following 1-credit courses:
Writers' House Colloquium: Creative Writing in Community
Any of the following sections plus a supporting 3-credit course that you can take during the Fall or Spring semester during or before your first year at JPWH
ARHU309- 0101 – Prose
ARHU309-0201 -- Poetry
ARHU309-0301 – Fantasy/Sci-fi
SPRING
Take one of the following 1-credit courses:
ARHU318: Writers’ House Workshop (1 credit)
ARHU318A - Prose
ARHU318B - Spoken Word Poetry (TOTUS)
ARHU318W – Script/Screenwriting
Second Year
6 credits as described below.
FALL
Take one of the following 3-credit courses
ARHU319A -Prose
ARHU319B -Poetry
ARHU375 The TV Writers’ Room (Pre-Req: 275 or 318W)
Or substitute out 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
ARHU320 – Writing for Publication (3-credits) Usually offered on Fridays.
(ENGL479P – 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. At this time ENGL479P is offered in the Fall.)
Required Supporting Three-Credit Course
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.
This list is not exhaustive, as the university schedule of courses is continually expanding.
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.
Students pursuing the notation must complete the three-credit courses during or before their first year of residence.
APPROVED COURSES
-AAST398J- Selected Topics in Asian American Studies; New World Arrivals: Literature of Asian American Migration and Diaspora
-AASP274- Creative Writing through the Eyes of African Americans: A Beginning Workshop
-AASP298L- Special Topics in Afro-American Studies: African-American Literature and Culture
-ARAB401- Readings in Arabic Literature
-ARHU 350- 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- Introduction to Jewish Literature
-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- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Literatures
-ENGL271- Writing Poems and Stories: An Introductory Workshop
-ENGL272- Writing Fiction: A Beginning Workshop
-ENGL273- Writing Poetry: A Beginning Workshop
-ENGL274- Creative Writing through the Eyes of African Americans: A Beginning Workshop
-ENGL 275- Writing to be seen: Scriptwriting for Theatre, Film, and Television
-ENGL348B- Literary Works by Women; Haunted Histories: Contemporary African American Gothic
-ENGL349J- Asian American Literatures; New World Arrivals: Literature of Asian American Migration and Diaspora
-ENGL352- Intermediate Fiction Workshop
-ENGL353- Intermediate Poetry Workshop
-ENGL358E- Special Topics in U.S. Latina/o Literature; Transgression and Experimentation in Latinx Literature
-ENGL359C- Special Topics in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Literatures; Queer Comedy
-ENGL362- Caribbean Literature in English
-ENGL379K- Special Topics in Literature; From Hiroshima to Hollywood: America through the Lens of Cold War Literature and Film
-ENGL379Q- Special Topics in Literature; the American Dream in Ethnic American Literature
-ENGL388D- Writing Internship; Dickinson Electronic Archives
-ENGL398R-Topics in Professional Writing; Writing Non-Fictional Narratives (also counts as ARHU319)
-ENGL439D-Major American Writers after 1865: Erotics, Dickinson, and American Women Poets
-ENGL433- American Literature: 1914 to the Present, the Modern Period
-ENGL439C- Major American Writers after 1865; Hemingway and his Competitors
-ENGL441-The Novel in America Since 1914
-ENGL471- African-American Literature: 1910-1945
-ENGL472-African-American Literature: 1945 to Present
-ENGL479M- Selected Topics in English and American Literature after 1800; Roots, Music and Film
-ENGL479O- Selected Topics in English and American Literature after 1800; Postcolonialism
-ENGL479Z- Selected Topics in English and American Literature after 1800; South Asian Literature on the Move
-ENGL498- Advanced Fiction Workshop
-ENGL499- Advanced Poetry Workshop
-FREN 241: Imaginary and Memory in the Reality of “Francophone” African Film from 1960-present
-JAPN 316- Women and Japanese Literature
-JOUR 487- Literary Journalism
-LGBT265- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Literatures
-LGBT 327- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies in Film and Video
-PERS 283- Iranian Cinema
-PERS498G- Special Topics in Persian Studies; Masterpieces of Persian Literature
-PERS498J- Special Topics in Persian Studies; Masterpieces of Persian Literature 2
-PERS498O- Special Topics in Persian Studies; Persian Literature in Modern Iran
-SPAN206, 207, 301,302,306,316,317,318,356,357,401,402 (these courses require writing in Spanish)
-THET341- Screenwriting 1
-THET499- Independent Study: Advanced Playwriting
Frequently Asked Questions
HOW DO THESE COURSES GET COUNTED TOWARD MY DEGREE?
The 3-credit courses: ARHU 275, 319, and 320 can be counted towards your English major or Creative Writing Minor; speak to your advisor. All three are also Gen Ed: Scholarship in Practice Classes.
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.