Much of the writing you will do at the University of Toronto has been carefully integrated into courses that focus on disciplinary knowledge rather than on the process of writing. But the University of Toronto also provides a wide range of writing courses, both credit and non-credit, designed specifically to help you develop your writing skills.
Undergraduate Credit Courses
Undergraduate students interested in developing their writing skills may choose from a variety of course options. Many (but not all) of these courses are offered as part of college programs:
- The English department on the St. George campus offers courses on both essay writing and creative writing in addition to courses on literature. For more information, see the Arts and Science calendar entry under English.
- Innis College’s minor in Writing and Rhetoric focuses on a range of genres, including academic, creative, and professional writing. A minor in Writing and Rhetoric is intended to complement any major or specialist in the arts and sciences. Innis College’s Innis One program, aimed at first year students, includes courses on creative non-fiction and literary journalism.
- Victoria College’s minor in Creativity and Society has two components: (1) workshop-style courses allowing students to develop skills in creative expression and communication, and (2) courses encouraging students to analyze the relationship between creative arts and society.
- The University of Toronto at Scarborough (UTSC) offers a minor program in Creative Writing. Its faculty consists of award-winning writers who take a workshop-based, experiential approach to the study and practice of the literary arts.
- U of T at Mississauga offers a minor and major program in Professional Writing and Communication. The program aims to cultivate flexible, reflective writers/editors in small, interactive classes. It encourages students to develop writing portfolios and to publish work they produce in their courses.
Undergraduate Non-Credit Courses
The Victoria College Writing Centre offers Research and Writing Seminars in collaboration with the E.J. Pratt Library, covering core academic skills including citation practices, annotated bibliographies, and literature reviews. Take any 3 of the 4 seminars to earn credit on your Co-Curricular Record.
Engineering Courses
Communication is integrated into the engineering curriculum through first-year courses that establish foundations in design and communication and through upper-year courses in each department that develop the specific communication demands of those fields. Those interested in specific course offerings can refer to the academic calendar for departmental course offerings or to the Engineering Communication Program homepage.
School of Graduate Studies Non-Credit Courses
The Graduate Centre for Academic Communication (GCAC) has set up a wide range of free non-credit courses for graduate students. They offer practice and instruction in the types of oral and written communication done as part of graduate programs. Some courses are intended specifically for non-native speakers of English. Look at the course descriptions for the full range of courses that are offered. Check to see what is currently being offered, or look at the course schedule for the entire academic year. Choose the course that best suits your needs, and sign up fast — spaces are limited! Or attend a GCAC Writing Intensive, which will provide you with a dedicated time and space for intensive writing.
Faculty of Arts & Science Graduate Non-Credit Writing Support
The Faculty of Arts & Science offers a wide range of free non-credit modules, workshops, writing groups and other forms of writing support for graduate students. Visit Quercus to learn more and receive notifications about upcoming events. Annual offerings include dissertation working groups, a biweekly virtual writing camp, workshops on scholarly writing, and several modules on research proposals for funding applications. Individual academic units in the Faculty of Arts and Science can also request customized in-house workshops for graduate students.
Graduate Work in Creative Writing
The Department of English offers an MA program in English in the Field of Creative Writing. The program draws both on the expertise of faculty at U of T and on Toronto’s writing community.
Credit Courses in English Language
U of T at Scarborough’s Center for Teaching and Learning offers credit courses that are specially designed for university students whose first language is not English. All courses require the permission of the instructor.
Non-Credit Courses in English Language
The English Language Learning Program (ELL) offers a series of free, non-credit mini courses focused on scholarly reading, academic writing, and oral presentation. These courses are open to multilingual and English-only undergraduate students in the Faculty of Arts and Science. For more information visit the ELL website.
The Graduate Centre for Academic Communication (GCAC) offers non-credit courses aimed specifically at graduate and undergraduates students in their respective faculties.
Certificate Courses
The School of Continuing Studies offers a wide array of certificate courses both to U of T students and to the wider public on business communication, creative writing, and English as a second language. Discounts on part-time English Language Program courses apply to U of T students and postdoctoral fellows.