Online and Remote Learning

Learn where and when you want.

SCS is committed to making learning as accessible as possible both locally and across the globe. We are continuously expanding our list of over 540 online learning opportunities. From languages to accounting, we offer flexible learning opportunities.

Our online courses are instructor-led and delivered through the University of Toronto’s Learning Management Engine – Quercus. Quercus uses weekly, real time modules and has tools for engagement and community building. Course preparation has built in flexibility so you can read, study, and complete assignments on your own time.

You will communicate with your instructors via discussion boards and/or email. Some online courses include live, interactive webinars. If you’re unable to attend the live webinar, you will be able to view a recording of the webinar on your own schedule.

You may also want to investigate funding opportunities available to you on our Financial Assistance page. Your path to lifelong learning is more attainable than you think!

1686 - Online Mentor

Course
Available for all genres, this e-mail based course will help writers who require feedback on artistic craftsmanship and who need guidance on shaping and polishing a manuscript-in-progress. Students may register at any time. Once assigned a mentor from the Creative Writing program, students have up to 12 weeks, including time for rewrites, to work on up to a maximum of 25,000 words of prose, 40 pages of poetry, or 90 pages of a drama or screenplay. To enroll in Online Mentor, you must submit a first draft of the manuscript you wish to workshop to scs.writing@utoronto.ca, along with the name of your mentor-of-choice from the list of Creative Writing program instructors. Mentorship from a prominent writer who knows your genre. Editorial feedback on up to 25,000 words of a manuscript, 40 pages of poetry, or 90 pages of a drama or screenplay. Emerge with a keener sense of where to go next.
Semesters:
  • Winter - 26
Delivery Methods:
  • DISTANCE

1687 - Poetry: Introduction

Course
If you want to earn a Certificate in Creative Writing through the poetry stream, this course is the first step. You'll examine poetic form, metre, imagery and language and the relationship between form and content. You'll emerge with a few completed and polished poems of your own. Write formal or free verse. Explore how to use language and metaphor for maximum aesthetic impact. Each session will include time for discussion of famous poems and of your own work. Understand the structure and content of formal and free verse. Grasp the dynamics and aesthetics of poetic composition. Discuss and critique celebrated poems. Workshop your poetry and build a portfolio of poems. Discover a community of writers working in your genre.
Semesters:
  • Fall - 26
  • Spring/Summer - 26
Delivery Methods:
  • IN-CLASS
  • ON-LINE
Locations:
  • St. George Campus

1688 - Poetry II

Course
This is the second step in the Certificate in Creative Writing poetry stream. Working in a friendly and supportive workshop setting, you'll gain a deeper understanding of modern poetic forms and emerge with a small portfolio of polished work. Develop your poetic voice and style. Express and demonstrate your artistic interests and abilities. Get constructive instructor and peer feedback on your work. Build your portfolio of poems.
Semesters:
  • Fall - 26
  • Spring/Summer - 26
Delivery Methods:
  • IN-CLASS
  • ON-LINE
Locations:
  • St. George Campus

1691 - Creative Non-Fiction: Introduction

Course
Creative non-fiction tells factual stories in a literary style. If this is the stream you're entering in pursuit of a Certificate in Creative Writing, this course is the first step. You'll cover the basics of literary technique and emerge with completed work samples. Explore what you want and need to say, and find an immediate, noteworthy, compelling and provocative way to express it. The course will also introduce you to a community of writers working in your genre. Understand the genre of creative or narrative non-fiction. Use storytelling techniques in your work.Produce short pieces of creative non-fiction.
Semesters:
  • Fall - 26
  • Spring/Summer - 26
Delivery Methods:
  • IN-CLASS
  • ON-LINE
Locations:
  • St. George Campus

1692 - Creative Non-Fiction II

Course
This intensive course gives you a deeper understanding of creative non-fiction so you can refine a work-in-progress and develop new material. Whether you're writing a memoir, personal essay, travel story or biography, you'll benefit from constructive criticism and evaluation. Revise your work with the help of the instructor and your peers. Advance your writing and revision techniques. Workshop your own work-in-progress. Critique your work and that of others. Incorporate constructive peer criticism into your work.
Semesters:
  • Fall - 26
  • Spring/Summer - 26
Delivery Methods:
  • IN-CLASS
  • ON-LINE
Locations:
  • St. George Campus

1695 - Creative Writing through Reading

Course
This is a required course for the Certificate in Creative Writing, because reading is key to your development as a writer. The course emphasizes the importance of this and teaches you to begin reading like a writer. You'll examine the techniques used in great works of literature and how you can incorporate them into your writing. You'll explore approaches to style through description, dialogue, character, transitions, image patterns, rhythm and sound. Understand stylistic techniques used by great authors.Apply them to your own writing.Appreciate the significance of description, dialogue, character, rhythm and sound.
Semesters:
  • Fall - 26
  • Spring/Summer - 26
Delivery Methods:
  • IN-CLASS
  • ON-LINE
Locations:
  • St. George Campus

1701 - Writing the Novel II

Course
If you're in the novel stream of the Certificate in Creative Writing, this workshop is the second step. You'll gain a deeper understanding of the novel form and have the beginning of your novel critiqued by your instructor and your peers. Each class will focus on excerpts from one or two works-in-progress. Each class will also discuss at least one significant aspect of the novel-writing process, such as beginnings, endings, language, setting and characters. Get constructive criticism that can help improve your work-in-progress. Understand the structure and method of novel writing. Revise and polish sections of your novel based on feedback.
Semesters:
  • Fall - 26
  • Spring/Summer - 26
Delivery Methods:
  • IN-CLASS
  • ON-LINE
Locations:
  • St. George Campus

1702 - Writing the Literary Novel: Master Class

Course
This 12-week course is for writers who are ready to produce a publishable novel. The final step in the novel-writing stream, this Master Class offers you the opportunity to work with a respected novelist and with a community immersed in the genre. Each class will focus on critical analysis of student material, usually two submissions per session. The objective is to help you get the first 20 pages of your novel ready for publication. Expect extensive rewriting. Understand what goes into editing and rewriting a novel. Get intensive instructor and peer analysis and commentary on your work. Learn to critique your own writing more effectively by critiquing others' work. Complete 20 pages of edited manuscript.
Semesters:
  • Fall - 26
Delivery Methods:
  • ON-LINE

1703 - A Literary Agent's Guide to Getting Published

Course
What do you need to know to succeed in today’s literary world? Learn it all from a successful agent. You’ll find out how to prepare, polish and submit a manuscript, and find and maintain good relationships with agents and publishers. Explore the pros and cons of self-publishing and how to handle criticism and reviews. Learn about contracts, royalties, copyright, libel issues, your rights as an author and, most importantly, how to maximize your odds of success. Understand the publishing process and how the modern book business works. Know what editors and agents look for in all genres. Find out how to market proposals and manuscripts. Explore the business side of writing, including how to find an agent. Know your rights as an author.
Semesters:
  • Winter - 26
Delivery Methods:
  • ON-LINE

1709 - Screenwriting: Introduction

Course
This course is the first step in the screenwriting stream of the Certificate in Creative Writing. Whether you've already started a screenplay or you're developing a story for film, you'll learn the key elements of screenwriting, including story, character, plot, scene, structure and dialogue. This engaging course also includes screenings and writing exercises. Understand the essential elements of screenwriting.Know how to analyze screenplay structure.Format a script for a short film.
Semesters:
  • Fall - 26
  • Spring/Summer - 26
Delivery Methods:
  • IN-CLASS
  • ON-LINE
Locations:
  • St. George Campus

Start your lifelong learning journey

Sign up with us to receive the latest news about our courses and programs, speaker series, course bundles and more.