Creative Writing
- AA - Transfer Program
- Department of English/Philosophy
Write your way to a great career
If writing is your passion, MCC's Creative Writing A.A. degree program offers an exciting opportunity to make writing part of your life. You might also be surprised at the variety of professional fields that involve creative writing, including:
- Advertising
- Blogging
- Creative Directing
- Editing
- Education
- Freelance Writing
- Game Design
- Ghostwriting
- Grant Writing
- Journalism
- Librarian
- Marketing
- Proofreading
- Public Relations
- Publishing
- Social Media Content Creating
- Television
- Web Content Writing
At MCC you'll learn from professors who are published writers themselves. You'll meet other aspiring student writers and share your work in a mutually supportive environment. Your MCC studies will culminate with learning about submitting your own work and publishing opportunities in Rochester and throughout the country.
Complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree in English or Creative Writing
Through classroom experiences, you'll sharpen your writing skills while exploring a variety of writing disciplines and career pathways. You'll also take foundation courses that lead to successful transfer to a bachelor's degree in English, Creative Writing, and more—at outstanding four-year colleges like these:
- SUNY
- Brockport
- Buffalo
- Geneseo
- Oswego
- Plattsburgh
- Potsdam
- Purchase
- Stony Brook
- Nazareth College
- RIT
- St. John Fisher College
- University of Rochester
To learn more about the opportunities you can create with an Associate's Degree in Creative Writing, visit the English & Philosophy webpage or email the English & Philosophy Department secretary Lyn MacGregor (lmacgregor@monroecc.edu). Lyn will then connect you with our Creative Writing Coordinator. General questions about admission can be directed to Admissions at (585) 292-2200.
Creative Writing
A.A. Degree - Transfer Program
Department:English/Philosophy
School(s): Arts & Humanities
MCC Program Code: CW01
Description
This program of study is designed for students who are interested in cultivating the strong writing skills that writing-intensive careers will require. The program includes courses conducive to transferring into four-year degree programs in English and/or Creative Writing, while keeping pathways open for four-year degrees that emphasize more professional writing as well. Accordingly, the program is structured so students can (1) deepen their skills through coursework and (2) broaden their experience with multiple genres and career pathways. The program culminates in a capstone course that familiarizes students with submission processes, transfer opportunities, and publishing/reading venues both in Rochester and around the country, preparing them for the next stage of their personal/professional lives as writers.
Program Learning Outcomes
1.Critically analyze and evaluate creative texts across multiple genres, identifying key literary elements and genre-specific conventions.
2.Revise and edit original creative texts across multiple genres, applying constructive feedback to enhance clarity, coherence, and artistic expression.
3.Produce original written creative works that meet professional standards in multiple genres, demonstrating technical skill, creativity, and adherence to genre conventions.
4.Successfully submit original written creative works to professional venues, demonstrating proficiency in market research, submission guidelines, and professional communication.
5.Draft, revise, and edit original written texts in non-creative academic and professional genres, ensuring clarity, organization, and adherence to genre-specific standards.
Employment Potential
For related jobs: Career Coach
Occupational Resource: https://www.onetonline.org
Requirements for Program Entrance
ENG 101 ready
|
Distribution Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| FIRST SEMESTER |  |
| ENG 101 College Composition (grade of C or higher required) OR OPEN ELECTIVE # | 3 |
| ENG 105 Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| ENG 113 Introduction to Creative Writing | 3 |
| MTH 150 Survey of Mathematics OR higher SUNY MATHEMATICS (SUNY-MATH) ELECTIVE OR PHL 102 Introduction to Logic ## | 3-4 |
| SUNY GENERAL EDUCATION U. S. HISTORY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT (SUNY-USCV) ELECTIVE | 3 |
First Semester Total: | 15-16 |
| SECOND SEMESTER | |
| ENG 200 Advanced Composition | 3 |
| ENG 213 Creative Writing (grade of C or higher required) | 3 |
| PHL 101 Introduction to Philosophy OR PHL 103 Introduction to Ethics OR PHL 105 Technology and Values | 3 |
| SUNY GENERAL EDUCATION SOCIAL SCIENCES (SUNY-SOCS) ELECTIVE | 3 |
| ENG 108 Literature of the Holocaust OR ENG 109 Crime Fiction OR ENG 118 Perpetrators, Victims, and Bystanders: Literature of Genocide OR ENG 201 Early British Literature OR ENG 202 Modern British Literature OR ENG 210 Literature of the Black Experience OR ENG 217 Women, Gender and Literature OR Other SUNY GENERAL EDUCATION DIVERSITY: EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE (SUNY-DVRS) ELECTIVE | 3 |
Second Semester Total: | 15 |
| THIRD SEMESTER | |
| ENG 233 Creative Writing Workshop-Poetry (grade of C or higher required) OR ENG 243 Creative Writing Workshop-Playwriting (grade of C or higher required) OR ENG 253 Creative Writing Workshop-Nonfiction (grade of C or higher required) OR ENG 263 Creative Writing Workshop-Short Fiction (grade of C or higher required) | 3 |
| ENG 250 Professional Communication OR ENG 251 Technical Communication OR COM 241 News Reporting | 3 |
| SUNY GENERAL EDUCATION - WORLD HISTORY AND GLOBAL AWARENESS (SUNY-WHGA) OR SUNY GENERAL EDUCATION WORLD LANGUAGES (SUNY-WLNG) ELECTIVE | 3-4 |
| PROGRAM ELECTIVE*** | 3 |
| OPEN ELECTIVE | 3 |
Third Semester Total: | 15-16 |
| FOURTH SEMESTER | |
| ENG 233 Creative Writing Workshop-Poetry OR ENG 243 Creative Writing Workshop-Playwriting OR ENG 253 Creative Writing Workshop-Non-Fiction OR ENG 263 Creative Writing Workshop-Short Fiction | 3 |
| ENG 233 Creative Writing Workshop-Poetry OR ENG 243 Creative Writing Workshop-Playwriting OR ENG 253 Creative Writing Workshop-Non-Fiction OR ENG 263 Creative Writing Workshop-Short Fiction | 3 |
| ENG 273 Creative Writing Capstone: Publishing in the Profession | 3 |
| SUNY- GENERAL EDUCATION - NATURAL SCIENCES AND SCIENTIFIC REASONING (SUNY-NSCI) ELECTIVE | 3-4 |
| HED 207 Emotional Wellness OR HED 209 Drugs and Behavior OR HED 212 Women's Health and Wellness OR Open Elective | 3 |
Fourth Semester Total: | 15-16 |
TOTAL CREDITS: | 60-63 |
##MTH 150 or any other SUNY-MATH course with a higher number. Students are strongly encouraged to check with the institution to which they intend to transfer to ensure selection of an appropriate Math course.
***Any 200-level ENG literature class. Meet with advisor regarding transfer requirements.
Revised: 5/14/2026