Certificate in Creative Writing

We write because we need to write. The Creative Writing Certificate is designed for those who are ready to get serious about their writing. You will emerge from the program a better writer with a substantial portion of a polished manuscript.

A university-level English language facility in both written and spoken English is expected. By that, we mean there should be fluency in spoken English, confidence in the use of grammar, a relatively rich vocabulary, and experience in developing text beyond 1,500 to 2,000 words. Instructors will assess student work in Creative Writing: Introduction and may require that students take The Writer’s Handbook. In that case, The Writer’s Handbook would count as the student’s elective.Certificate Prerequisites

Certificate Requirements

The certificate requires 120 hours of class time (usually six 20-hour courses), plus the submission of a final project to the Creative Writing Certification Panel.

Students have five years from the start date of their first course to complete the certificate. This includes the completion of their Final Project Tutorial (see below).

Please note:

• After registering in their first course, students must inform us in writing of their intent to pursue the certificate: scs.writing@utoronto.ca
• Certificate students must inform each of their instructors that they require a grade.
• We cannot guarantee the availability of particular courses. Course offerings may change from year to year. Courses taken in past years at the School will not be evaluated retroactively.
• Ungraded courses taken in past years at the School will not be evaluated retroactively.
• A Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) may be granted for one course.

Required Courses

SCS 1664 Creative Writing: Introduction
SCS 1695 Creative Writing through Reading (or Writer’s Talk SCS 2213)
SCS 1681 Final Project Tutorial – taken after all coursework and the 1st draft of a manuscript are complete.
One introductory-level course in the genre of the candidate’s specialty (20 hours)
SCS 1691 Creative Non-Fiction: Introduction
SCS 2366 Dramatic Writing: From Page to Stage (formerly SCS 1696 Dramatic Writing: Introduction)
SCS 1687 Poetry: Introduction
SCS 1680 Writing Short Fiction: Introduction
SCS 1679 Writing the Novel: Introduction
SCS 1709 Screenwriting: Introduction
SCS 1717 Writing for Children: Introduction

One other creative writing course in the candidate’s area of specialty (20 hours)

One creative writing course not in the candidate’s area of specialty (20 hours)

Any other creative writing course (20 hours)

Final Project

Within five years of taking their first course, candidates must complete the Final Project Tutorial. To enroll in the Final Project Tutorial, candidates must submit to their supervisor (an instructor from the program who agrees to work with them) a complete draft of one of the following projects:

• A collection of short fiction—20,000-25,000 words
• A novella or excerpt from a larger novel—20,000-25,000 words
• A work (or collection) of non-fiction—20,000-25,000 words
• A script, screenplay or theatrical work—70 to 90 pages in length
• A collection of poems—40 pages in length
• A children’s picture book—40 pages in length

The supervisor will give detailed feedback on two drafts of the final project. This is normally carried out online by e-mail, with the opportunity to meet in person at least twice. When revisions are completed–a process that can take up to five months, the Final Project will be evaluated by the Creative Writing Certification Panel, which will include the supervisor and a prominent figure in the literary community.