Writing and Literature

Writing and Literature (W&L) is a unique, interdisciplinary undergraduate major that gives students the opportunity to study writing and literature through the integration of three forms of academic expertise: Writing Studies, Literary Studies, and Creative Writing.

By integrating these three areas of exploration, students will receive a well-rounded education in writing. Work in Creative Writing will help students develop their voice and gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in today’s publishing environment. The close reading and criticism performed through Literary Study will help students better understand and analyze literature. Experience in Writing Studies invites students to consider the composition, circulation, and purpose of writing in professional, academic, and civic contexts. This interdisciplinary approach to writing will prepare students for a fulfilling writing life as well as a variety of careers, including professional writing, publishing, marketing, or graduate-level study.

W&L is the primary home of Creative Writing on campus, and also recognizes the symbiotic relationship between creative and intellectual work. Students in W&L will have the opportunity to work closely with College of Creative Studies faculty to develop their voice and practice the craft of creative writing. Students will also develop advanced work in the broader fields of Writing and Literature and Writing Studies by working with current UCSB faculty in departments across campus including but not limited to English, Writing Studies, Comparative Writing and Literature, the Languages, Translation Studies, and Ethnic Studies.

Students in W&L will receive fundamental grounding in the three major areas of writing and literary studies that will prepare them for more advanced and independent work in the University. Freshman and Sophomore colloquia in Literary Studies, Writing Studies, and Creative Writing will provide exposure to the forms of inquiry within these related fields and to the cutting edge research of UCSB faculty in these disciplines.

During their first two years, students will prepare for a Mid-Residency Review. There they will present a proposal of their plan for an independent project in research and/or creative writing to be submitted at the end of their fourth year as a Senior Portfolio. For this review, students will have identified a faculty advisor from CCS or the College of Letters & Science to guide their individual work. Students in the Writing & Literature major will also be encouraged to seek out opportunities for publication and undergraduate research. Senior Portfolios will give students the opportunity to showcase such accomplishments as well as the work undertaken with their faculty advisor. 

The purpose of the Writing & Writing and Literature curriculum is to provide students with the grounding and guidance that will allow them to successfully pursue their independent scholarly and creative endeavors. As such, the following courses will be required of all W&L majors:

• W&L 1: Colloquium
• W&L 2: Freshman Seminar
• W&L 3: Sophomore Seminar
• W&L 10: Creative Writing
• W&L 20: Writing Studies
• W&L 30: Literary Studies
• W&L 190: Junior Tutorial
• W&L 197: Senior Portfolio

In addition, students are required to take three upper division courses in each of the areas of Creative Writing, Writing Studies, and Literary Studies. Students will work one-on-one with their faculty advisor to select appropriate classes from the offerings in the College of Creative Studies and the College of Letters and Science.

Requirements

• Completion of Secondary Attestat with a minimum average of at least 4
• Completion of at least 5 General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE, GCSE, O-Levels) and at least 3 General Certificate of Education (GCE, A-Levels) with a minimum average of B and with no grade below C
• Completion of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma with minimum average of 5.0 with no individual grade below 4.0 and a minimum of five IB exams, with at least two taken at the higher level. Exams must be taken in academic subjects comparable to the ‘a-g’ course pattern required for freshman eligibility. UCSB uses grades leading up to the final year to determine if a student will be eligible for admission along with predicted grades for year 12. 
• All applicants must submit scores from the ACT Assessment plus Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test.
• Proficiency in English may be demonstrated by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum accepted score for admission consideration for the TOEFL is 80 or better on the Internet-based test and 550 or better on the paper-based test. 
• Proficiency may also be demonstrated with the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. The minimum accepted score for the IELTS is 6.5 or better band score (academic modules).

Scholarships

• Regents Scholarship