The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in Creative Writing and New Media that is offered by Navajo Technical University will provide the knowledge and skills needed to secure gainful employment in a digital environment, to publish and market creative works online, or simply to function as a full participant in this new digital age.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing and New Media develops skilled writers who are technologically savvy, in order to foster the continuance of the narrative legacy of the Navajo people and expand its reach into the digital realm, and to advance participation in the international digital revolution. The transition to digitization is everywhere affecting education, business, and the arts. The digitization of the publishing industry, in particular, and the ever-increasing scope and influence of New Media, is creating unprecedented opportunities for writers, artists, and entrepreneurs worldwide, including the Navajo Nation.
The unique hybrid nature of the program, which builds upon a core Creative Writing program with additional coursework in New Media studies, offers a unique opportunity for students to go beyond the scope of the traditional Creative Writing program— which typically culminate with the production of a hard-copy manuscript—and produce a visual or digital product. The Navajo Nation is producing more and more writers, filmmakers, web-based designers and new media artists, clearly demonstrating a growing interest in these fields.
- General Education Requirements – 31 Credits
- Department Requirements – 34 Credits
- Program Requirements – 56 Credits
- Track A (Moving Image) or Track B (Interactive Design), Students must take both Tracks.
Degree Checklist (PDF) Enrollment Data
Creative Writing and New Media Requirements (121 Credits)
| General Education Requirement | Credits | Prerequisites | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCIS 1115 | Introduction to Computers | 3 | |
| ENGL 1110 | Composition I | 3 | ENGL 098 |
| SOCI 1110 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | |
| MATH 1220 | College Algebra | 4 | MATH 1215 |
| SSC 100 | College Success Skills | 1 | |
| PHED 1620 PHED 1830 | Fitness OR Running | 1 | |
| Semester TWO | |||
| Diné Studies | NAVA 1110, NAVA 225 or HIST 2135 | 3 | |
| Physical Sciences: BIO-110, BIO-120, BIO-121, BIO-131, BIO-224, CHM-110, GEO-101, GEO-150 OR PHY-101 | 4 | ||
| Humanities / Soc Science: HUM 160, HUM 170, HUM 301, SOC 101, PSY 105 | 3 | ||
| PSYC 1110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | |
| ENGL 1120 Composition II OR ENGL 2210 Intermediate Composition | 3 | ENGL 1110 OR ENGL 1210 | |
| Semester THREE | |||
| COMM 1130 | Public Speaking | 3 | ENGL 1210 or ENGL 1110 |
| ENG 2310 | Introduction to Creative Writing | 3 | |
| ENGL 2560 | Introduction to Native American Literature | 3 | ENGL 1110 |
| ENGL 1410 | Introduction to Literature | 3 | ENGL 1110 |
| ENGL 1996 or 2296 | Topics in English | 3 | |
| Semester FOUR | |||
| ENGL 2567 | Contemporary Navajo Literature | 3 | ENGL 2560 OR ENGL 1410 |
| ENGL 2320 ENGL 2330 ENGL 203 | Introduction to Fiction Writing OR Introduction to Poetry Writing OR Beginning Writing for Stage and Screen |
3 | ENGL 2310 |
| ENGL 2340 | Introduction to Creative Nonfiction Writing | 3 | ENGL 2310 |
| HUMN 1180 | History of American Indians in Media | 3 | ENGL 1110 |
| IT 115 | Drawing/Visual Culture | 3 | |
| Semester FIVE | |||
| ENGL 301 ENGL 302 ENGL 303 | Intermediate Fiction Writing OR Intermediate Poetry Writing OR Intermediate Writing for Stage and Screen |
3 | ENGL 2320 ENGL 2330 ENGL 203 |
| HUM 305 | Film History | 3 | |
| ENGL 306 | Intermediate Creative Nonfiction Writing | 3 | ENGL 2340 |
| IT 125 | Introduction to Digital Video | 3 | |
| IT 142 | Web Design Concepts (B) | 3 | |
| Semester SIX | |||
| ENGL 401 ENGL 402 ENGL 403 | ADvanced Fiction Writing OR Advanced Poetry Writing OR Advance Writing for Stage and Screen |
3 | ENGL 301 ENGL 302 |
| IT 275 | Media Criticism | 3 | |
| ENGL 405 | Student Anthology | 3 | |
| ENGL 406 | Advanced Creative Writing Nonfiction Writing | 3 | ENGL 306 |
| IT 335 | Data Visualization | 3 | |
| Semester SEVEN | |||
| IT XXX | IT 112 Photography, IT 212 Documentary, or IT 312 Studio Recording | 3 | |
| IT 215 | Motion Graphics (A) | 3 | |
| IT 270 | Web Standards (B) | 3 | IT 142 |
| IT 200 | Sound Design (A) | 3 | |
| IT 490a | Senior Project (Capstone) (A/B) | 3 | |
| Semester EIGHT | |||
| IT 490B | Senior Project (Capstone) (A/B) | 3 | |
| ENGL 404 | Creative Writing Thesis* | 3 | *See Below |
| IT 415 | Audio Project | 3 | |
| IT 480 | Aural / Optical Perception (A/B) | 3 | |
| ITS 415 | Directing and Producing (A/B) | 3 | |
| TOTAL REQUIRED CREDIT HOURS | 121 | ||
| *ENGL 404 Prerequisite: Introduction, Intermediate, AND Advanced Poetry, Fiction, Creative, Non-Fiction and Writing for the Stage and Screen. | |||
Program Advisors
Anita Roastingear, Associate Professor of English
Email: aroastingear@navajotech.edu
Phone: 505.786.4131
M.F.A., Creative Writing - Nonfiction, The Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development
M.A., English Creative Writing, Northern Arizona State University
B.G.S., General Studies, Northern Arizona University
A.S., Science, Rogers State University
Chelsea Bunn, Associate Professor of Creative Writing
Email: cbunn@navajotech.edu@navajotech.edu
https://www.chelseabunn.com/
MFA, Creative Writing (Poetry), Hunter College
BA, English (Creative Writing), Hunter College
Dr. Jennifer Wheeler, Associate Professor of English/Creative Writing
Email: jwheeler@navajotech.edu
Phone: 928.882.3151
B.S., English Education, Northern Arizona University
M.S., English, Arizona State University
Ph.D., English, Arizona State University