Transfer Degree

Creative Writing Emphasis, Associate in Arts Direct Transfer Agreement (AA-DTA)

Program
Area of Study
Arts and Communication

Overview 

Complete your Associate in Arts Degree, Direct Transfer Agreement (AA-DTA) while exploring your love of creative writing.

Sample Career Options

  • Creative Writer
  • Editor
  • Grant Writer
  • K-12 Teacher or College Professor
  • Technical Writer 

Transfer and Degree Requirements  

Students working toward their transfer degree typically take a variety of courses designed to fulfill the general requirements of most four-year colleges and universities. Students intending to transfer to a four-year college for further study are encouraged to work closely with their advisor and transfer institution to explore the requirements of the college they wish to attend after Peninsula. Most institutions have separate admission criteria, which may be based on grades, prerequisite coursework, test scores, and other considerations. Our Sample Schedule is designed to provide you with faculty recommended courses to complete your Associate in Arts Direct Transfer Agreement (AA-DTA) degree with an emphasis in creative writing, but is not a major ready pathway.  

Transfer Institution Information 

Students must select credits from three distribution lists: Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities. A specific course may be credited toward no more than one distribution requirement. A minimum of fifteen credits in two separate subject areas must be selected from each list. For Natural Sciences, at least five credits must be a lab. For Humanities, no more than five credits can be a Humanities-Performance course and no more than five credits may be applied in world languages at the 100 level.

Sample Schedule  

This Sample Schedule is provided as a guide for a full-time student starting in fall quarter whose goal is to earn the Associate in Arts Direct Transfer Agreement (AA-DTA). The courses are designed with the appropriate number of credits to meet degree requirements and are organized in a recommended sequence. Please consult an advisor to schedule courses and develop a personalized educational plan.  

      Your personal Educational Plan will vary based on many factors including:  

  • The quarter you begin
  • How many classes/credits you plan to take in each quarter
  • Your Math and English placement
  • If you have credits you have already taken and plan to transfer them
  • The college you are interested in transferring to
  • If you start in our Transitional Studies program  

First Quarter

Meet with your advisor to talk about your long-term schedule, taking into account your transfer plans.

Catalog #
Title
Credits
5

This course provides support, develops positive connections, and opens learning opportunities to help students identify and pursue their academic and career goals. Through a process of self-discovery, students cultivate a deeper understanding of themselves that highlights their unique strengths and identifies areas for growth. Students will also learn how to navigate college systems and understand its specialized vocabulary and procedures. Throughout, this course reassures students of all backgrounds and abilities that they belong. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Elective)

Credits: 5

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5

Active reading, effective writing, and critical thinking, using subjective and objective approaches. Introduction to research techniques. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Communication Skills)

Credits: 5

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ENGL& 111 or IS 101  +
5
Sub-Total Credits
15

Second Quarter

It's not too soon to explore transfer options. Make a transfer appointment.

Catalog #
Title
Credits
5

Reading and writing using analytical and critical approaches. One or more research papers. Builds on concepts introduced in ENGL& 101. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Communication Skills)

Credits: 5

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5

Beginning writing in fiction and poetry, other modes by request. Workshop approach, with discussion of work by class members and instructor. Reading of contemporary fiction, poetry, and theory. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Humanities, Elective)

Credits: 5

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5

A study of a variety of mathematical topics for non-science majors. The topics covered may differ between sections, but may include problem solving strategies, logic, set theory, number theory, mathematics of finance, probability and statistics, or geometry. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Quantitative Skills, Natural Sciences, Elective)

Credits: 5

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Sub-Total Credits
15

MATH& 107 and ENGL& 102 learning community courses are recommended.

Third Quarter

Check your educational plan to make sure you're on track to graduate.

Catalog #
Title
Credits
ENGL& 112 or FILM 120  +
5
Natural Sciences  +
5
Social Sciences  +
5
Sub-Total Credits
15

Natural Sciences + Take Introduction to Botany (BOT 101), Marine Biology (BIOL 150) or Introduction to Physical Geology (GEOL& 101). 
Social Sciences + Choose General Psychology (PSYC& 100), Understanding Diversity (SOC 115), or a History course (HIST&). 

Fourth Quarter

Meet with your educational and career planner to explore universities.

Catalog #
Title
Credits
ENGL& 111 or IS 101  +
5
Natural Sciences  +
5
Sub-Total Credits
15

Natural Sciences + Consider Survey of Biology (BIOL& 100) or Survey of Environmental Science (ENVS& 100). 

Fifth Quarter

Apply to graduate. You're just two quarters away...keep it up!

Catalog #
Title
Credits
Creative Writing Elective  +
5
Natural Sciences  +
5
Social Sciences  +
5
Sub-Total Credits
15

Natural Sciences + Consider Survey of Biology (BIOL& 100) or Survey of Environmental Science (ENVS& 100).
Social Sciences + Choose General Psychology (PSYC& 100), Understanding Diversity (SOC 115), or a History course (HIST&).    

Sixth Quarter

You're almost done! Good luck on your final quarter!

Catalog #
Title
Credits
Creative Writing Elective  +
5
ENGL& 112 or FILM 120  +
5
Social Sciences  +
5
Sub-Total Credits
15

Communication Competencies

  • Demonstrate an ability to analyze how multicultural audiences shape written, visual, oral, aural, and performative communication and its meaning.
  • Generate effective written and oral communication for a variety of purposes and diverse audiences.
  • Generate effective visual or performative communication.

Quantitative Reasoning

  • Apply basic computational skills to practical applications.
  • Apply systematic approaches and logic to solving quantitative problems.

Information Competencies

  • Identify research goals and retrieve information.
  • Synthesize, apply, and properly cite information to meet an identified purpose.
  • Evaluate the credibility of information and information sources, and distinguish between fact and opinion.

Critical Thinking

  • Interpret and analyze meaning from written, visual, oral, aural, and performative works.
  • Analyze and understand diverse individual and community perspectives and values.
  • Understand and analyze social justice issues and movements.
  • Generate creative works that demonstrate a process of critical reflection, analysis, experimentation, and original thought.

Personal and Interpersonal Competencies

  • Consider ideas that conflict with individual value systems.
  • Function under conditions of ambiguity and uncertainty.
  • Work cooperatively and collaboratively with others.
Total Credits
90