The Nature Writing Emphasis allows students to complete the B.A. in Environment and Sustainability (ENVS) and the MFA in Creative Writing at Western in five years.  To remain qualified for the 3+2, upon earning 60 credits each student must: 

At this point, if any aspect of a student’s performance is found to be insufficient, the MFA Nature Writing Concentration Director will recommend denial of acceptance to the Graduate Studies Dean and the GPCW Director, in which case the student will need to find a new emphasis or minor in order to complete the undergraduate degree. Upon meeting the requirements above, and after Junior Year (reaching 91 credits in this plan—see “MAJOR MAP”) holding to the same GPA and general performance standards outlined above, the School of Graduate Studies will designate the student as a “Creative Writing MFA candidate with provisional acceptance.”  Upon completion of Year Four of this plan, the student will receive the BA and the School of Graduate Studies may designate the student as a “MFA Creative Writing degree seeking student.”  After Year Four, students who have completed all other requirements of the 3+2 program and all Western undergraduate requirements (120 total credits, 40 upper-division credits, general education requirements, the ENVS undergraduate courses listed under the Nature Writing emphasis, and the ENVS Nature Writing emphasis courses that come from the MFA in Year 4), yet choose to leave the Creative Writing program before Year 5, will still have completed the undergraduate ENVS  Nature Writing emphasis and have earned the 120 credits necessary for a Western undergraduate degree.