Renowned writers such as Jack Kerouac, Langston Hughes, and J.D. Salinger created indelible marks on the world of literature after having passed through the Columbia gates. Writers aspiring to join this elite crop now have another option than simply dropping out.
Students and faculty are currently adjusting to Columbia’s new undergraduate creative writing major, which came into effect this academic year.
“We wanted to offer the best creative writing courses we could for undergraduate students,” said professor Ben Marcus, the chair of the new program. He said wants students to have the opportunity to “examine the intricacies of the craft.”
Sarah Terry, CC ’11, who plans to major in creative writing, said, “I’m a freshman and have not been able to take any of the creative writing courses yet because of their prerequisites, but I’m very excited about the new creative writing major. It will be great to be able to take classes that focus specifically on crafting original works and improving writing ability, as well as studying literature from a writer’s perspective. This new major was one of the main reasons I decided to apply to Columbia.”
The undergraduate creative writing major concentrates on fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. New courses were created, including many workshops and seminars. Columbia does not offer a concentration in creative writing.
“I’m pretty excited that they’ve created a major, but I’ve found it’s left a lot of people wanting a concentration,” Ashraya Gupta, CC ’09 and a creative writing student, said.
“What was nice about the former writing program was that it allowed you a lot of freedom in terms of other subjects you might like to pursue. It was refreshing to have that ability.”
Many undergraduate students who have shown interest in creative writing had majors in other subjects, usually English. Yet while the creative writing program concentrates on analyzing how a piece is written, English courses tend to focus on the content.
Sam Lipsyte, associate director of undergraduate creative writing, said, “We really focus on the craft and the technique that was used to create the novel, the poem, the essay. These classes are designed by professors to examine those issues, to really look at something put together, how it works, what effects it creates.”
Some students have said they enjoy taking specific courses focused on sharpening their writing craft, since many colleges lack a major in creative writing.
“At a lot of schools, you can’t study creative writing without being involved in the English department, either as a major or a minor. I think the new program ought to still stay mindful of the value of an eclectic education—and they are trying. We’re supposed to take three ‘related courses’ from other disciplines,” Gupta said.
Columbia’s faculty designed new courses to benefit students who are serious about creative writing. The courses are open to all undergraduates at the University.
Creative writing student Linden Park said: “I think the new rigorous approach will improve the creative writing major here, as the majors now have to be selected in the application process, and the seminars are now more intensive to the various aspects of the craft of writing. As the program hires more faculty, I can only see the program improve.”
Kibkabé Araya can be reached at news@columbiaspectator.com.