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• MA in Creative Writing

The Open University’s two-year MA in Creative Writing has been designed by a team of practising writers

The MA is taught online, meaning that wherever you are you will have access to teaching materials, workshops and forums.

One of the most exciting aspects of the MA is its flexibility, offering four distinct strands – fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction and scriptwriting. 

The structure of the course places an emphasis on the cross-fertilisation of genres, enabling students to work intensively within their chosen medium while experimenting in one other.  The MA is therefore perfect not only for writers who already know what genre they want to pursue and develop, but also for those looking to discover their true specialism.

Students will be placed in supportive tutor-groups of fellow writers, and surrounded with the framework and expertise needed to develop their writing in ambitious and rewarding ways. This will involve extensive peer review discussion of fellow students’ work.

Our MA in Creative Writing is the ideal next step for writers with experience of Creative Writing at undergraduate level, or for those with a first degree in a relevant subject and appropriate prior writing experience.

See our prospectus for more information on the MA programme . This includes full details about MA Creative Writing part 1 (A802) and MA Creative Writing part 2 (A803) .

Sample writing exercises

To give you some idea of the level at which you will be working for this MA, we produce four examples of writing exercises taken from each of the four genres covered: fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and script. You can download these exercises in PDF.

You might like to try some of these activities now. All are taken from the opening chapters of each genre, and are designed to introduce some of the definitive elements in each case. Note that you will sometimes, though not always, be asked to share this work with other students, and to give and receive feedback on written work with your peers.

The online work will be moderated by an Associate Lecturer who will also give some group feedback from time to time, but will not comment on every piece of work. There will be detailed and specific comments from tutors on all your assessed work, the TMAs and final EMA (End-of-module assessment).

Remember that you won’t be working in all genres. Initially you will choose your primary genre, and in Block 2 of the first part of the MA (A802) you will choose a secondary genre. There are no constraints within this – you can choose any two genres during A802.

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Online Courses

Online courses: creative writing.

Stanford Continuing Studies' online creative writing courses make it easy to take courses taught by instructors from Stanford’s writing community. Thanks to the flexibility of the online format, these courses can be taken anywhere, anytime—a plus for students who lead busy lives or for whom regular travel to the Stanford campus is not possible. These courses are open to all adults, and we encourage all levels of writers to enroll.

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Creative Writing - Open Foundation

Study a creative writing foundation course with oca.

Have you always wanted to develop the skills needed to write a novel or become a poet? Perhaps you dream of being the next self-publishing star, like Erin Morgenstern or Becky Chambers? If so, this course is perfect for you. The Open Foundation Creative Writing course is designed to inspire and encourage you to write regularly and with confidence.

Creative Writing Theory & Practice – What is the structure of fiction?

Our Creative Writing foundation will help you understand how to observe and write about the world around you. By keeping a writer’s notebook, you’ll engage with genre and form in creative explorations to find your writer’s voice. You will start writing immediately, drawing from personal experience. Together with feedback from your tutor, you can expect to make rapid progress.

Over five assignments, you will move from building confidence via unedited, unfinished freewriting, through generating and researching your own ideas, and finally developing your self-reflection, to understand and improve your own work.

The creative writing foundation degree course will largely focus on writing fiction, but also covers poetry (such as Ted Hughes and Seamus Heaney), and short story writing. You will also learn the basic skills of research, to help you add detail and colour to your writing. Research can make the difference between amateur and professional level prose, so this will be a key element of study.

Is OCA’s Creative Writing Foundation Degree right for you?

Whether you’ve not studied for a while, are ready to engage in degree level study, or wish to study to develop your skills and understanding, this course could be for you. You don’t need any prior qualifications, this course is open to everyone, whatever level you are at.

Short writing courses are a great steppingstone onto a bachelor’s level degree. On completion of the five parts of the course you can go with confidence to further study with the Open College of the Arts or elsewhere and decide on the nature and direction of your future studies or writing practice.

So start your journey today, pick up your pen and notebook, and enrol with OCA.

Course Aims

The course aims to:

• Inspire and encourage new students.
• Support early efforts in creative writing.
• Gain skills in how to draw from personal experience.
• Develop strategies that support further learning.

Course Outcomes

On completion of this course, you should be able to demonstrate competence in the following strategies and techniques:

• Freewriting.
• Analytical reading.
• Notebooking.
• Writing from personal experience.
• Researching and saving material for further use.

You will have an understanding of the writing process, what is meant by ‘genre’ and ‘form’ and you will practise using your creative imagination.

You will have produced a short story and some poetry.

Nina Milton

Unit leader for foundations in creative writing.

“As a tutor with the Open College of the Arts, I believe that writing should be a joy in itself, as well as a means of wide communication.

I encourage students to experiment with a personal voice that will make their writing unique to them, while offering strong technical advice that will support their development.

I have been writing fiction since my reception teacher, Mrs Marsden, put paper and pencil in front of me. Suddenly I grasped that real live people were responsible for all those lovely books.

I am most well known for my crime fiction, the Shaman Mysteries Series (Midnight Ink Books, Llewellyn Worldwide).”

Foundations

Stage 1 (he4).

For the stage

Stage 2 (HE5)

Stage 3 (he6), breakdown of costs....

Fees, Funding, and other costs

Foundation courses are ineligible for Student Finance funding, but we have deposit and instalment options available to help spread the costs.

There are also bursaries available for students on low incomes. See our fees and funding page for more info.

Other costs you may find on your degree include purchasing books/texts/videos to assist in your research. These can be around £150 for a foundation course.

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BA Creative Writing

Ready for degree-level study explore our ba creative writing qualification., ba creative arts, if you’re interested in a broader range of artistic disciplines, take a look at our ba creative arts degree..

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

List of All U.S. Colleges with a Creative Writing Major

Writing has been my passion practically since I learned to read in kindergarten. I would write stories about princesses and my family dog, Gansett. When it came time to look at colleges, I was set on attending one with a strong creative writing program. Ultimately, I graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in Writing Seminars.

Today, colleges across the country offer creative writing as a major. Because writing skills are essential for a wide range of careers, and because most curricula emphasize broad liberal arts competencies, a degree in creative writing can set you up for success in numerous fields, whether you want to be an editor or a lawyer.

Interested in majoring in creative writing? Learn which schools offer the major and what to look for in a program.

Overview of the Creative Writing Major

Creative writing is about more than spinning tales. For your major, you’ll generally need to pursue a curriculum grounded in literature, history, foreign language, and other humanities courses, along with distribution courses, if the college requires them.

Most creative writing majors must participate in workshops, in which students present their work and listen to peer critiques, usually with a certain number of advanced courses in the mix. In some cases, colleges will ask you to specialize in a particular genre, such as fiction, poetry, or playwriting. 

To succeed in creative writing, you’ll need to have a tough spine, in order to open yourself up to feedback from your classmates and instructors. You may need to give readings in public — if not as an undergraduate, certainly during your career. Of course, a passion for creating is essential, too, as is a willingness to revise your work and learn from the greats and your peers.

A creative writing major opens up doors to many careers, including journalism, content marketing, copywriting, teaching, and others. Even careers that don’t center around writing often have a strong writing component: you’ll need to write reports, deliver presentations, and so on.

Some writers go on to earn an MFA, which will help you hone your craft. It’s also often a prerequisite for teaching creative writing at the college level.

What to Look for in a College as a Creative Writing Major

Published authors on faculty.

Many world-renowned authors have another claim to fame: professorships. Writers who have taught their craft include (among many others):

• Maya Angelou (Wake Forest University)
• Colson Whitehead (many colleges, including Vassar College and Columbia University)
• Stephen Dixon (Johns Hopkins University)
• Viet Thanh Nguyen (University of Southern California)
• Eula Biss (Northwestern University)
• Toni Morrison (Princeton University)

Be aware that as an undergraduate, you may not be able to learn from the greats. That’s why it’s important to look into which courses these faculty teach before you have dreams of being mentored by Salman Rushdie — who is a Distinguished Writer in Residence at NYU.

Genres Offered

While many schools that have creative writing majors offer fiction and poetry courses and tracks, there are some niche genres that could be more difficult to find. If you’re interested in playwriting, for example, you won’t find that at every school. Before you decide on a program, be sure it includes the genres you’d like to explore further, whether that’s flash fiction, creative nonfiction, or something else.

Workshopping Opportunities

The core of most quality creative writing curriculum is workshopping. This means sharing your work in your classes and listening to your peers discuss and critique it. While this may sound intimidating, it can do a lot to help you hone your work and become a better writer. Look for colleges that make this the bedrock of their curriculum.

Showcasing Opportunities

Are there opportunities to present your work, such as college-sponsored readings where undergraduates can participate? Or, perhaps the school has a great literary journal. At my school, students could submit their plays and have them performed by fellow students. 

List of All U.S. Colleges With a Creative Writing Major

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

No matter what major you’re considering, the first step is ensuring you’re academically comparable to students who were previously accepted to the college or university. Most selective schools use the Academic Index to filter out applicants who aren’t up to their standards.

You’ll also want to demonstrate your fit with the school and specific major with the qualitative components of your application, like your extracurriculars and essays. For a prospective creative writing major, the essay is particularly important because this is a way to demonstrate your writing prowess. Activities might include editing your school’s newspaper or literary journal, publishing your work, and participating in pre-college writing workshops.

Want to know your chances of being accepted to top creative writing schools? Try our Chancing Engine (it’s free). Unlike other calculators, it takes your individual profile into account, including academic stats and qualitative components like your activities. Give it a try and get a jumpstart on your journey as a creative writing major!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Earning A Master’s In Creative Writing: What To Know

Updated: Nov 1, 2023, 1:51pm

Do you want to create written work that ignites a reader’s imagination and even changes their worldview? With a master’s in creative writing, you can develop strong storytelling and character development skills, equipping you to achieve your writing goals.

If you’re ready to strengthen your writing chops and you enjoy writing original works to inspire others, tell interesting stories and share valuable information, earning a master’s in creative writing may be the next step on your career journey.

The skills learned in a creative writing master’s program qualify you to write your own literary works, teach others creative writing principles or pursue various other careers.

This article explores master’s degrees in creative writing, including common courses and concentrations, admission requirements and careers that use creative writing skills. Read on to learn more about earning a master’s degree in creative writing.

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What Is a Master’s in Creative Writing?

A master’s in creative writing is an advanced degree that helps you develop the skills to write your own novel, poetry, screenplay or nonfiction book. This degree can also prepare you for a career in business, publishing, education, marketing or communications.

In a creative writing master’s degree program, you can expect to analyze literature, explore historical contexts of literary works, master techniques for revising and editing, engage in class workshops and peer critiques, and write your own original work.

Creative writing master’s programs usually require a thesis project, which should be well-written, polished and ready to publish. Typical examples of thesis projects include poetry collections, memoirs, essay collections, short story collections and novels.

A master’s in creative writing typically requires about 36 credits and takes two years to complete. Credit requirements and timelines vary by program, so you may be able to finish your degree quicker.

Specializations for a Master’s in Creative Writing

Below are a few common concentrations for creative writing master’s programs. These vary by school, so your program’s offerings may look different.

This concentration helps you develop fiction writing skills, such as plot development, character creation and world-building. A fiction concentration is a good option if you plan to write short stories, novels or other types of fiction.

A nonfiction concentration focuses on the mechanics of writing nonfiction narratives. If you plan to write memoirs, travel pieces, magazine articles, technical documents or nonfiction books, this concentration may suit you.

Explore the imagery, tone, rhythm and structure of poetry with a poetry concentration. With this concentration, you can expect to develop your poetry writing skills and learn to curate poetry for journals and magazines.

Screenwriting

Screenwriting is an excellent concentration to explore if you enjoy creating characters and telling stories to make them come alive for television or film. This specialization covers how to write shorts, episodic serials, documentaries and feature-length film scripts.

Admission Requirements for a Master’s in Creative Writing

Below are some typical admission requirements for master’s in creative writing degree programs. These requirements vary, so check with your program to ensure you’ve met the appropriate requirements.

• Application for admission
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Transcripts from previous education
• Writing samples
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement or essay

Common Courses in a Master’s in Creative Writing

Story and concept.

This course focuses on conceptualizing, planning and developing stories on a structural level. Learners study how to generate ideas, develop interesting plots, create outlines, draft plot arcs, engage in world-building and create well-rounded characters who move their stories forward.

Graduate Studies in English Literature

Understanding literature is essential to building a career in creative writing. This course prepares you to teach, study literature or write professionally. Expect to discuss topics such as phonology, semantics, dialects, syntax and the history of the English language.

Workshop in Creative Nonfiction

You’ll study classic and contemporary creative nonfiction in this course. Workshops in creative nonfiction explore how different genres have emerged throughout history and how previous works influence new works. In some programs, this course focuses on a specific theme.

Foundations in Fiction

In this course, you’ll explore how the novel has developed throughout literary history and how the short story emerged as an art form. Coursework includes reading classic and contemporary works, writing response essays and crafting critical analyses.

MA in Creative Writing vs. MFA in Creative Writing: What’s the Difference?

While the degrees are similar, a master of arts in creative writing is different from a master of fine arts in creative writing. An MA in creative writing teaches creative writing competencies, building analytical skills through studying literature, literary theory and related topics. This lets you explore storytelling along with a more profound knowledge of literature and literary theory.

If you want your education to take a more academic perspective so you can build a career in one of many fields related to writing, an MA in creative writing may be right for you.

An MFA prepares you to work as a professional writer or novelist. MFA students graduate with a completed manuscript that is ready for publishing. Coursework highlights subjects related to the business of writing, such as digital publishing, the importance of building a platform on social media , marketing, freelancing and teaching. An MA in creative writing also takes less time and requires fewer credits than an MFA.

If you want to understand the business of writing and work as a professional author or novelist, earning an MFA in creative writing might be your best option.

What Can You Do With a Master’s in Creative Writing?

Below are several careers you can pursue with a master’s in creative writing. We sourced salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Postsecondary Creative Writing Teacher

Median Annual Salary: $74,280 Minimum Required Education: Ph.D. or another doctoral degree; master’s degree may be accepted at some schools and community colleges Job Overview: Postsecondary teachers, also known as professors or faculty, teach students at the college level. They plan lessons, advise students, serve on committees, conduct research, publish original research, supervise graduate teaching assistants, apply for grants for their research and teach subjects in their areas of expertise.

Median Annual Salary: $73,080 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in English or a related field Job Overview: Editors plan, revise and edit written materials for publication. They work for newspapers, magazines, book publishers, advertising agencies, media networks, and motion picture and video production companies. Editors work closely with writers to ensure their written work is accurate, grammatically correct and written in the appropriate style for the medium.

Median Annual Salary: $55,960 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related field Job Overview: Journalists research and write stories about local, regional, national and global current events and other newsworthy subjects. Journalists need strong interviewing, editing, analytical and writing skills. Some journalists specialize in a subject, such as sports or politics, and some are generalists. They work for news organizations, magazines and online publications, and some work as freelancers.

Writer or Author

Median Annual Salary: $73,150 Minimum Required Education: None; bachelor’s degree in creative writing or a related field sometimes preferred Job Overview: Writers and authors write fiction or nonfiction content for magazines, plays, blogs, books, television scripts and other forms of media. Novelists, biographers, copywriters, screenwriters and playwrights all fall into this job classification. Writers may work for advertising agencies, news platforms, book publishers and other organizations; some work as freelancers.

Technical Writer

Median Annual Salary: $79,960 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree Job Overview: Technical writers craft technical documents, such as training manuals and how-to guides. They are adept at simplifying technical information so lay people can easily understand it. Technical writers may work with technical staff, graphic designers, computer support specialists and software developers to create user-friendly finished pieces.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About a Master's in Creative Writing

Is a master’s in creative writing useful.

If your goal is to launch a career as a writer, then yes, a master’s in creative writing is useful. An MA in creative writing is a versatile degree that prepares you for various jobs requiring excellent writing skills.

Is an MFA better than an MA for creative writing?

One is not better than the other; you should choose the one that best equips you for the career you want. An MFA prepares you to build a career as a professional writer or novelist. An MA prepares you for various jobs demanding high-level writing skills.

What kind of jobs can you get with a creative writing degree?

A creative writing degree prepares you for many types of writing jobs. It helps you build your skills and gain expertise to work as an editor, writer, author, technical writer or journalist. This degree is also essential if you plan to teach writing classes at the college level.

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Sheryl Grey is a freelance writer who specializes in creating content related to education, aging and senior living, and real estate. She is also a copywriter who helps businesses grow through expert website copywriting, branding and content creation. Sheryl holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Indiana University South Bend, and she received her teacher certification training through Bethel University’s Transition to Teaching program.

Creative Writing Course (QQI Level 5)

€ 364.00 Original price was: €364.00. € 314.00 Current price is: €314.00. — or € 157.00 / month for 2 months

• Our newly updated QQI Level 5 Creative Writing course is designed to give students an opportunity to develop their creative voice through writing. It aims to give students an understanding of the process of writing, key aspects of writing fiction, as well as the possibility of getting work published.
• Award Achieved:  QQI Level 5 component Certificate in Creative Writing (5N4765).
• NFQ Credit Value: 15 Credits.
• Format: Distance Learning course supported with fully qualified tutors & accredited by QQI.
• Course Fee: Special Offer price: Only – €314 or
• Easy Payments:  Only  €157 per month  over 2 months with our unrivalled Easy Payment Plans. Enrol using your Debit / Credit Card or call us on (+353) 1 206 1828 to avail of this offer.
• The course fee  includes  all documentation, lecturing, assessments, learner registration and QQI certification fees. No other fees to pay!
• Students can complete this course within 8 weeks which is ample time and can start it at any time of the year that is convenient.

Choose your Payment Option:

• Pay in Full or
• € 157.00 / month for 2 months

Course Description

Course details, accreditation, delivery format.

This newly updated QQI Level 5 Creative Writing course is designed to give students an opportunity to develop their creative voice through writing. It aims to give students an understanding of the process of writing, key aspects of writing fiction, as well as the possibility of getting work published.

This QQI accredited, distance learning course means that students can study flexibly at home, or at work, while gaining a Nationally Accredited Qualification.

Topics covered include:

Unit 1: Writing Skills

Unit 2: Characterisation

Unit 3: Structure and Plot Development

Unit 4: Setting and Atmosphere

• Unit 5: Getting published.

Learners who successfully complete this module will:

• Develop their creative voice through writing
• Produce a range of confident writing, which will include the opening section of a novel or two complete short stories
• Have utilised key aspects of writing for a novel or short story
• Understand the process of publication in Ireland
• Be able to submit work for publication.

Specific Learning Outcomes :

Learners should be able to:

• Keep a track of ideas in a notebook
• Research their ideas using a variety of sources
• Produce a variety of written pieces of work, which range in content and length
• Use grammar to alter the narrative
• Understand the concept of showing not telling in writing
• Be constructively self-critical and provide critical analysis to others
• Revise and edit work.
• Produce different characters
• Make characters that are believable
• Show feelings and emotions through words and actions
• Understand the character’s Language and Idioms.
• Create dialogue that comes from the character
• Understand the purpose of a character
• Determine the history of a character
• Write in the first, second, third person
• Identify if the narrator is present or omnipresent.
• Understand different possibilities for plotting a story
• Understand timelines in relation to the narrative
• Understand Point of View
• Show different ways of telling the same story
• Flash forward and flash back
• Create intrigue for the reader.
• Create a strong sense of place through language
• Use real locations as the source for fiction
• Create clothes and costumes that are unique to the story
• Use language to set the tone of the narrative
• Decide on events which are determined by their environment
• Understand the limitations of the world they create
• Understand different genres.

  Unit 5: Getting Published

• Know the process of getting work Published in Ireland and abroad
• Source a variety Agents and Publishers in Ireland
• Present work for an agent or publisher which is correctly laid out according to industry practice
• Understand the role of an Agent.
• Understand the role of a Publisher
• Submit work for competition and/or publication
• Understand self-publishing.

Entry Requirements / Prerequisites :

Leaving certificate, Level 4 certificate or equivalent in a relevant subject area and/or relevant practical experience (3 years minimum) – Please ask about our requirements surrounding Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for entry.

Mature students (over 23 years) may be exempt from the above prerequisites.

English Language Requirement: Students entering programmes leading to awards at Level 5 are expected to be able to: be proficient at reading, drafting, preparing and understanding information across a broad range of topics, including quantitative information.

Learners undertaking this programme must have basic IT skills and access to the necessary equipment to enable them to undertake an online programme: computer, broadband, email, Microsoft, recording equipment necessary for some skills demonstration tasks, and where applicable any other specialised software/equipment. 

As this programme is delivered through distance learning or eLearning, students must be capable of studying on their own initiative.

For more details on participation suitability of this course click here».

Assessment:

This course is assessed through a combination of Assignments and Projects.

• Project 70%
• Assignment 30%

The internal assessor will devise a project brief that requires candidates to demonstrate

• Research and planning
• Their ability to write fiction, whether in the format of a novel or short story
• Their ability to structure and plot a story, develop believable characters through language and event, and create an interesting fictional environment.
• Their ability to present work in a logical manner as though they were presenting the work to an agent or publisher As part of the research and planning, candidates should produce examples of the following evidence of research from different sources: Title for work, One short synopsis of novel or short story (approx 100 words), Two examples of characterisations, One time line of events clearly set out, including time frame of story, One example setting and location sketched, One short piece of dialogue, An example of self-directed editing.

Candidates should produce the opening section of a novel of approximately 2000 words.

Candidates should produce one or two complete short stories of approximately 2000 words.

Assignment:

The internal assessor will devise a brief that requires the candidate to produce an assignment which shows the results of their research into publishing in Ireland. The candidate should show the process of getting written work published, from the completion of a story to its appearance on the shelf in a bookshop. It should include information on presentation and layout of manuscripts, and it should identify the role of an agent and publisher in relation to writing.

Grading Pass 50 – 64% Merit 65 – 79% Distinction 80 – 100%

• Following successful completion you will receive a QQI Level 5 component Certificate in Creative Writing (5N4765) .
• QQI (Quality & Qualifications Ireland) is the national awarding body for further education and training in Ireland. The Open College is registered with QQI to offer programmes leading to QQI awards in the National Framework of Qualifications in Ireland. Click here for details of the  National Framework of Qualifications .
• Click here for more detailed  Accreditation  information.
• All Registration & Certification Fees are included in the course price.

This  Creative Writing – QQI Level 5 course is completed through Distance Learning and there are no lectures to attend. Students can complete this course within 8 weeks which is ample time and can start it at any time of the year that is convenient.

If students need to extend this period for any reason during or near the end of the course they can request an extension through the college.

Related Courses

Print Journalism Course (QQI Level 5)

Writing Skills for Journalism Course (QQI Level 5)

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Creative writing

The Creative Writing discipline supports practice-based and critical research and PhD study focused on creative writing. This research activity is associated with the discipline's Contemporary Cultures of Writing Research Group. The core activity in this type of PhD study is the creation of a book-length work of literature (or script equivalent) and an accompanying critical reflective thesis, which elucidates the research and creative strategies involved in making the work. In this way the essence of the Creative Writing PhD is research through creative practice. The final creative work emerges from and embodies the research questions, and the decisions and discoveries made while producing the work. We welcome applications from candidates suitably qualified and with appropriate writing experience and ability.

We expect well-structured proposals which set out specific research questions and clearly outline creative and critical approaches. A substantial writing sample is also required.

Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) and a strong academic and creative record, usually evidenced by an MA in Creative Writing and relevant publications. If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English . 

Potential research projects

• Fiction – novel and short stories
• Creative Nonfiction – including life writing
• Script for stage, radio or screen

Current/recent research projects

• The Longest Fight: a novel and Getting into the Ring: an investigation of archetypes of the boxing hero, the creative influences of boxing reportage, and the role of personal memories in historical fiction.
• Freethinkers, a novel, and Inventing history: how do research, imagination and memory fuse creatively in the writing of an historical novel?
• Darkness Is Never Absolute: Ekphrasis of the Formless and Near-Black Paintings.
• The Other Mothers: Exploring adoption, surrogacy and egg donation through life writing.
• The Electric: A novel and critical commentary investigating narrative disruption in sign language, cinemagoing, and trauma.
• Longing to belong: an investigation into the potential for alternative storytelling techniques.
• A Sudden Light: a practice-led exploration of the significance and potential of the contemporary timeslip novel.

Potential supervisors

• Dr Emily Bullock
• Dr Siobhan Campbell
• Dr Donall Mac Cathmhaoill
• Dr Fiona Doloughan
• Dr Edward Hogan
• Dr Lania Knight
• Dr Derek Neale
• Dr Heather Richardson
• Dr Samuel Sargeant
• Dr Emma Sweeney
• Dr Jane Yeh

Some of our research students are funded via the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership ; others are self-funded.

For detailed information about fees and funding, visit  Fees and studentships .

To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see  Current studentships .

• Creative Writing at The Open University
• Recent and current creative writing PhD students
• The Contemporary Cultures of Writing Research Group

Get in touch

If you have an enquiry specific to this research topic, please contact:

Dr Molly Ziegler / Dr Ed Hogan Email: FASS-EnglishCreativeWriting-Enquiries Phone: +44 (0)1908 652092

If you’re interested in applying for this research topic, please take a look at the application process .

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Department of English

M.f.a. creative writing.

English Department

Physical Address: 200 Brink Hall

Mailing Address: English Department University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1102 Moscow, Idaho 83844-1102

Phone: 208-885-6156

Email: [email protected]

Web: English

Thank you for your interest in the Creative Writing MFA Program at University of Idaho: the premier fully funded, three-year MFA program in the Northwest. Situated in the panhandle of Northern Idaho in the foothills of Moscow Mountain, we offer the time and support to train in the traditions, techniques, and practice of nonfiction, poetry, and fiction. Each student graduates as the author of a manuscript of publishable quality after undertaking a rigorous process of thesis preparation and a public defense. Spring in Moscow has come to mean cherry blossoms, snowmelt in Paradise Creek, and the head-turning accomplishments of our thesis-year students. Ours is a faculty of active, working writers who relish teaching and mentorship. We invite you in the following pages to learn about us, our curriculum, our community, and the town of Moscow. If the prospect of giving yourself three years with us to develop as a writer, teacher, and editor is appealing, we look forward to reading your application.

Pure Poetry

A Decade Working in a Smelter Is Topic of Alumnus Zach Eddy’s Poems

Ancestral Recognition

The region surrounding the University of Idaho is the ancestral land of both the Coeur d’Alene and Nez Perce peoples, and its campus in Moscow sits on unceded lands guaranteed to the Nez Perce people in the 1855 Treaty with the Nez Perce. As a land grant university, the University of Idaho also benefits from endowment lands that are the ancestral homes to many of the West’s Native peoples. The Department of English and Creative Writing Program acknowledge this history and share in the communal effort to ensure that the complexities and atrocities of the past remain in our discourse and are never lost to time. We invite you to think of the traditional “land acknowledgment” statement through our MFA alum CMarie Fuhrman’s words .

Degree Requirements

Three years to write.

Regardless of where you are in your artistic career, there is nothing more precious than time. A three-year program gives you time to generate, refine, and edit a body of original work. Typically, students have a light third year, which allows for dedicated time to complete and revise the Creative Thesis. (48 manuscript pages for those working in poetry, 100 pages for those working in prose.)

Our degree requirements are designed to reflect the real-world interests of a writer. Students are encouraged to focus their studies in ways that best reflect their artistic obsessions as well as their lines of intellectual and critical inquiry. In effect, students may be as genre-focused or as multi-genre as they please. Students must remain in-residence during their degrees. Typically, one class earns you 3 credits. The MFA requires a total of 54 earned credits in the following categories.

12 Credits : Graduate-level Workshop courses in Fiction, Poetry, and/or Nonfiction. 9 Credits: Techniques and Traditions courses in Fiction, Poetry, and/or Nonfiction 3 Credits : Internships: Fugue, Confluence Lab, and/or Pedagogy 9 Credits: Literature courses 12 Credits: Elective courses 10 Credits: Thesis

Flexible Degree Path

Students are admitted to our program in one of three genres, Poetry, Fiction, or Nonfiction. By design, our degree path offers ample opportunity to take Workshop, Techniques, Traditions, and Literature courses in any genre. Our faculty work and publish in multiple genres and value the slipperiness of categorization. We encourage students to write in as broad or focused a manner as they see fit. We are not at all interested in making writers “stay in their lanes,” and we encourage students to shape their degree paths in accordance with their passions. 

What You Study

During your degree, you will take Workshop, Techniques, Traditions, and Literature courses.

Our workshop classes are small by design (typically twelve students or fewer) and taught by core and visiting MFA faculty. No two workshop experiences look alike, but what they share are faculty members committed to the artistic and intellectual passions of their workshop participants.

Techniques studios are developed and taught by core and visiting MFA faculty. These popular courses are dedicated to the granular aspects of writing, from deep study of the poetic image to the cultivation of independent inquiry in nonfiction to the raptures of research in fiction. Such courses are heavy on generative writing and experimentation, offering students a dedicated space to hone their craft in a way that is complementary to their primary work.

Traditions seminars are developed and taught by core and visiting MFA faculty. These generative writing courses bring student writing into conversation with a specific trajectory or “tradition” of literature, from life writing to outlaw literature to the history of the short story, from prosody to postwar surrealism to genre-fluidity and beyond. These seminars offer students a dynamic space to position their work within the vast and varied trajectories of literature.

Literature courses are taught by core Literature and MFA faculty. Our department boasts field-leading scholars, interdisciplinary writers and thinkers, and theory-driven practitioners who value the intersection of scholarly study, research, humanism, and creative writing.

Award-Winning Faculty

We teach our classes first and foremost as practitioners of the art. Full stop. Though our styles and interests lie at divergent points on the literary landscape, our common pursuit is to foster the artistic and intellectual growth of our students, regardless of how or why they write. We value individual talent and challenge all students to write deep into their unique passions, identities, histories, aesthetics, and intellects. We view writing not as a marketplace endeavor but as an act of human subjectivity. We’ve authored or edited several books across the genres.

Learn more about Our People .

Thesis Defense

The MFA experience culminates with each student writing and defending a creative thesis. For prose writers, theses are 100 pages of creative work; for poets, 48 pages. Though theses often take the form of an excerpt from a book-in-progress, students have flexibility when it comes to determining the shape, form, and content of their creative projects. In their final year, each student works on envisioning and revising their thesis with three committee members, a Major Professor (core MFA faculty) and two additional Readers (core UI faculty). All students offer a public thesis defense. These events are attended by MFA students, faculty, community members, and other invitees. During a thesis defense, a candidate reads from their work for thirty minutes, answers artistic and critical questions from their Major Professor and two Readers for forty-five minutes, and then answer audience questions for thirty minutes. Though formally structured and rigorous, the thesis defense is ultimately a celebration of each student’s individual talent.

The Symposium Reading Series is a longstanding student-run initiative that offers every second-year MFA candidate an opportunity to read their works-in-progress in front of peers, colleagues, and community members. This reading and Q & A event prepares students for the third-year public thesis defense. These off-campus events are fun and casual, exemplifying our community centered culture and what matters most: the work we’re all here to do.

Teaching Assistantships

All students admitted to the MFA program are fully funded through Teaching Assistantships. All Assistantships come with a full tuition waiver and a stipend, which for the current academic year is roughly $15,000. Over the course of three years, MFA students teach a mix of composition courses, sections of Introduction to Creative Writing (ENGL 290), and additional writing courses, as departmental needs arise. Students may also apply to work in the Writing Center as positions become available. When you join the MFA program at Idaho, you receive teacher training prior to the beginning of your first semester. We value the role MFA students serve within the department and consider each graduate student as a working artist and colleague. Current teaching loads for Teaching Assistants are two courses per semester. Some members of the Fugue editorial staff receive course reductions to offset the demands of editorial work. We also award a variety of competitive and need-based scholarships to help offset general living costs. In addition, we offer three outstanding graduate student fellowships: The Hemingway Fellowship, Centrum Fellowship, and Writing in the Wild Fellowship. Finally, our Graduate and Professional Student Association offers extra-departmental funding in the form of research and travel grants to qualifying students throughout the academic year.

Distinguished Visiting Writers Series

Each year, we bring a Distinguished Visiting Writer to campus. DVWs interface with our writing community through public readings, on-stage craft conversations hosted by core MFA faculty, and small seminars geared toward MFA candidates. Recent DVWs include Maggie Nelson, Roger Reeves, Luis Alberto Urrea, Brian Evenson, Kate Zambreno, Dorianne Laux, Teju Cole, Tyehimba Jess, Claire Vaye Watkins, Naomi Shihab Nye, David Shields, Rebecca Solnit, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Susan Orlean, Natasha Tretheway, Jo Ann Beard, William Logan, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, Gabino Iglesias, and Marcus Jackson, among several others.

Fugue Journal

Established in 1990 at the University of Idaho, Fugue publishes poetry, fiction, essays, hybrid work, and visual art from established and emerging writers and artists. Fugue is managed and edited entirely by University of Idaho graduate students, with help from graduate and undergraduate readers. We take pride in the work we print, the writers we publish, and the presentation of both print and digital content. We hold an annual contest in both prose and poetry, judged by two nationally recognized writers. Past judges include Pam Houston, Dorianne Laux, Rodney Jones, Mark Doty, Rick Moody, Ellen Bryant Voigt, Jo Ann Beard, Rebecca McClanahan, Patricia Hampl, Traci Brimhall, Edan Lepucki, Tony Hoagland, Chen Chen, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, sam sax, and Leni Zumas. The journal boasts a remarkable list of past contributors, including Steve Almond, Charles Baxter, Stephen Dobyns, Denise Duhamel, Stephen Dunn, B.H. Fairchild, Nick Flynn, Terrance Hayes, Campbell McGrath, W.S. Merwin, Sharon Olds, Jim Shepard, RT Smith, Virgil Suarez, Melanie Rae Thon, Natasha Trethewey, Philip Levine, Anthony Varallo, Robert Wrigley, and Dean Young, among many others.

Academy of American Poets University Prize

The Creative Writing Program is proud to partner with the Academy of American Poets to offer an annual Academy of American Poets University Prize to a student at the University of Idaho. The prize results in a small honorarium through the Academy as well as publication of the winning poem on the Academy website. The Prize was established in 2009 with a generous grant from Karen Trujillo and Don Burnett. Many of our nation’s most esteemed and celebrated poets won their first recognition through an Academy of American Poets Prize, including Diane Ackerman, Toi Derricotte, Mark Doty, Tess Gallagher, Louise Glück, Jorie Graham, Kimiko Hahn, Joy Harjo, Robert Hass, Li-Young Lee, Gregory Orr, Sylvia Plath, Mark Strand, and Charles Wright.

Fellowships

Centrum fellowships.

Those selected as Centrum Fellows attend the summer Port Townsend Writers’ Conference free of charge. Housed in Fort Worden (which is also home to Copper Canyon Press), Centrum is a nonprofit dedicated to fostering several artistic programs throughout the year. With a focus on rigorous attention to craft, the Writers’ Conference offers five full days of morning intensives, afternoon workshops, and craft lectures to eighty participants from across the nation. The cost of the conference, which includes tuition, lodging, and meals, is covered by the scholarship. These annual scholarship are open to all MFA candidates in all genres.

Hemingway Fellowships

This fellowship offers an MFA Fiction student full course releases in their final year. The selection of the Hemingway Fellow is based solely on the quality of an applicant’s writing. Each year, applicants have their work judged blind by a noted author who remains anonymous until the selection process has been completed. Through the process of blind selection, the Hemingway Fellowship Fund fulfills its mission of giving the Fellow the time they need to complete a substantial draft of a manuscript.

Writing in the Wild

This annual fellowship gives two MFA students the opportunity to work in Idaho’s iconic wilderness areas. The fellowship fully supports one week at either the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS), which borders Payette Lake and Ponderosa State Park, or the Taylor Wilderness Research Station, which lies in the heart of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area. Both campuses offer year-round housing. These writing retreats allow students to concentrate solely on their writing. Because both locations often house researchers, writers will also have the opportunity to interface with foresters, geologists, biologists, and interdisciplinary scholars.

Program History

Idaho admitted its first class of seven MFA students in 1994 with a faculty of four: Mary Clearman Blew, Tina Foriyes, Ron McFarland (founder of Fugue), and Lance Olsen. From the beginning, the program was conceived as a three-year sequence of workshops and techniques classes. Along with offering concentrations in writing fiction and poetry, Idaho was one of the first in the nation to offer a full concentration in creative nonfiction. Also from its inception, Idaho not only allowed but encouraged its students to enroll in workshops outside their primary genres. Idaho has become one of the nation’s most respected three-year MFA programs, attracting both field-leading faculty and students. In addition to the founders of this program, notable distinguished faculty have included Kim Barnes, Robert Wrigley, Daniel Orozco, Joy Passanante, Tobias Wray, Brian Blanchfield, and Scott Slovic, whose collective vision, rigor, grit, and care have paved the way for future generations committed to the art of writing.

The Palouse

Situated in the foothills of Moscow Mountain amid the rolling terrain of the Palouse (the ancient silt beds unique to the region), our location in the vibrant community of Moscow, Idaho, boasts a lively and artistic local culture. Complete with independent bookstores, coffee shops, art galleries, restaurants and breweries, (not to mention a historic art house cinema, organic foods co-op, and renowned seasonal farmer’s market), Moscow is a friendly and affordable place to live. Outside of town, we’re lucky to have many opportunities for hiking, skiing, rafting, biking, camping, and general exploring—from nearby Idler’s Rest and Kamiak Butte to renowned destinations like Glacier National Park, the Snake River, the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area, and Nelson, BC. As for more urban getaways, Spokane, Washington, is only a ninety-minute drive, and our regional airline, Alaska, makes daily flights to and from Seattle that run just under an hour.

For upcoming events and program news, please visit our calendar .

For more information about the MFA program, please contact us at:  [email protected]

Department of English University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1102 Moscow, ID 83844-1102 208-885-6156

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English—Creative Writing Major B.A.

• Apprenticeship and internship opportunities
• Workshops with renowned authors
• Preparation for M.A. or M.F.A. programs in Creative Writing or Law School
• Preparation for careers in publishing, digital publishing, business, marketing, newspaper and magazines, government, and more
• Sphere , a literary journal run by and for undergraduates

Faculty contact: Dr. Paul Jones

Admission Information

Degree requirements.

Major code: BA5232

The Creative Writing program offers students a range of beginning, intermediate, and advanced workshops in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Undergraduate Creative Writing majors will take three writing workshops of their choice, in addition to a Form & Theory course. Creative Writing majors, working closely with a distinguished core faculty of professional writers, can enrich their background in literature provided by the English major curriculum with a rigorous apprenticeship to their craft.

In addition, the program regularly invites writers to campus for residency, workshops, and readings. Each year, five eminent authors are invited to participate in the three-day Spring Literary Festival. These visits provide a unique complement to the student's workshop experience.

Many undergraduates publish their writing in Sphere (the undergraduate literary magazine), while others gain valuable editing experience. Undergraduate writers regularly organize formal and informal readings of their own work.

Undergraduate Creative Writing students have gone on to further study in M.F.A. and/or Ph.D. programs in Creative Writing. Many have gone on to publish their work.

Program Overview

In the English – Creative Writing major, students engage with genres of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from the inside out, by generating and revising their own work as well as exploring closely how published work uses the techniques of craft.

All creative writing students participate in workshops led by nationally recognized writers which focus on understanding and constructing different literary forms; to achieve these goals, workshops emphasize the study of texts by established writers as well as students’ experimentation with their own creative process. The major is also flexible enough to match your own interests and goals: students can fulfill up to 12 of the required hours in the major with courses focusing on literature, rhetoric, or literary theory, or by combining these with apprenticeship or internship experiences.

To ensure a solid foundation in the skills and knowledge that employers and graduate schools expect from any English graduate, the English – Creative Writing major includes the English Core in analysis, research, and literary history. 

Careers and Graduate School

After a curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking and analytical reading as well as multiple genres of writing, English – Creative Writing students enjoy the same wide variety of opportunity upon graduation that other English majors have.

Many of our graduates go on to graduate programs, not only M.A. or M.F.A. programs in Creative Writing but also programs in information science, education or law. Others work in publishing, web content development, grant-writing and community organizing, advertising, or other creative industries. Having invested in developing their own creativity as well as in the well-rounded education that this degree requires, English – Creative Writing students can face the unexpected challenges of the 21 st -century job market with confidence.

Potential employers for those who hold a degree in Creative Writing include, but are certainly not limited to, newspaper and magazine organizations, the entertainment industry, government agencies, institutions of higher education, public and private K-12 schools, publishing companies, marketing agencies, non-profit organizations, businesses, etc.

Browse through dozens of internship opportunities and full-time job postings for Ohio University students and alumni on Handshake , OHIO's key resource for researching jobs, employers, workshops, and professional development events.

Freshman/First-Year Admission: Enrollment in an English major entails no requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Change of Program Policy: For students currently enrolled at Ohio University, transferring into an English major requires a 2.0 GPA. Students choosing to transfer into the English – Creative Writing major should contact the director of undergraduate studies in the English department for assistance. Students who wish to add an English major in addition to another major program should seek assistance from the director of undergraduate studies; students with a second major outside the College of Arts and Sciences will be responsible for meeting the degree requirements of both the English – Creative Writing major and the College of Arts and Sciences.

External Transfer Admission: For students currently enrolled at institutions other than Ohio University, transferring into an English major entails no requirements beyond University admission requirements. Students should contact the director of undergraduate studies in the English Department for assistance.

• Major code BA5232

University-wide Graduation Requirements

To complete this program, students must meet all University-wide graduation requirements.

Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirement

View the College-Level Requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences.

English Hours Requirement

For a B.A. degree with a major in English - Creative Writing , a student must complete a total of 42 semester credit hours in ENG coursework.

Intercultural Foundations

Complete the following course:

• ENG 1100 - Crossing Cultures with Text Credit Hours: 3

Literary Reading

Complete one of the following courses:

• ENG 2010 - Introduction to Prose Fiction and Nonfiction Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 2020 - Introduction to Poetry and Drama Credit Hours: 3

British or American Literature I

• ENG 2510 - British Literature I Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 2530 - American Literature I Credit Hours: 3

British or American Literature II

• ENG 2520 - British Literature II Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 2540 - American Literature II Credit Hours: 3

Intercultural Breadth

Complete one course from the following:

• ENG 3240 - Jewish American Literature Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3250 - Women’s Literature Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3260 - Queer Literature Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3270 - Queer Rhetorics and Writing Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3370 - Black Literature to 1930 Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3380 - Ethnic American Literature Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3390 - Black Literature from 1930 to the Present Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3450 - Intercultural Adaptations Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3550 - Global Literature Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3850 - Writing About Culture and Society Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4660 - International Authors Credit Hours: 3

Writing and Research

• ENG 3070J - Writing and Research in English Studies Credit Hours: 3

Senior Seminar

• ENG 4600 - Topics in English Studies Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4640 - British Authors Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4650 - American Authors Credit Hours: 3

Creative Writing Workshops

Complete three of the following workshops with at least one intermediate or advanced workshop:

• ENG 3610 - Creative Writing: Fiction Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3620 - Creative Writing: Poetry Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3630 - Creative Writing: Nonfiction Credit Hours: 3

Intermediate:

• ENG 3950 - Creative Writing Workshop: Nonfiction Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3960 - Creative Writing Workshop: Short Story Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 3970 - Intermediate Creative Writing Workshop: Poetry Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4860 - Advanced Workshop in Fiction Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4870 - Advanced Workshop in Poetry Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4880 - Advanced Workshop in Nonfiction Credit Hours: 3

Creative Writing Form and Theory

• ENG 4810 - Form and Theory of Literary Genres: Fiction Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4820 - Form and Theory of Literary Genres: Poetry Credit Hours: 3
• ENG 4830 - Form and Theory of Literary Genres: Nonfiction Credit Hours: 3

Major Electives

Complete three additional ENG courses for at least nine hours excluding ENG 2800, ENG 3***J, ENG 4510, ENG 4520, ENG 4911, and ENG 4912. Six hours may be at the 2000-level or higher; three hours must be at the 3000-level or higher.

Welcome Weekend is August 23-25. Register today.

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• Creative Writing Minor

Study Creative Writing Minor at Azusa Pacific University

Gain valuable skills for your writing career with a minor that develops your work for publication in multiple genres.

Program at a Glance

Upcoming events.

APU One Day

• March 8, 2024

Program Information

• Program Units: 18
• Azusa (Main Campus)

Yellow Ribbon and Military Friendly School

Gain Hands-on Experience

• Develop your writing in multiple genres, from poetry to creative non-fiction.
• Prepare to write for publication.
• Gain writing skills such as appropriate and effective voice.

By the Numbers

Program details.

The creative writing minor is a stand-alone program that allows students to develop their writing for publication in multiple genres.

Browse the tabs below—if you have questions, visit the  Student Services Center  page, and we’ll make sure you get the info you need.

Programs Requirements

Azusa Pacific University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

Career Outlooks and Outcomes

Dynamic Conference for Christianity and Literature Draws Scholars from Across U.S

APU recently hosted the Conference for Christianity and Literature, bringing more than 120 students representing 36 universities across 10 states to campus to learn from renowned speakers under the theme, “Literature as Vocation.”

Related Programs

English major.

Available Concentrations:

English Education

Screenwriting Major

Digital marketing and design major, explore apu.

APU’s life-changing education develops you into a disciple and scholar, equipping you to succeed in your field and make a difference in the world.

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My OpenLearn Profile

Personalise your OpenLearn profile, save your favourite content and get recognition for your learning

About this free course

Become an ou student, download this course, share this free course.

Start this free course now. Just create an account and sign in. Enrol and complete the course for a free statement of participation or digital badge if available.

Start writing fiction

Introduction.

This free course, Start writing fiction , looks at how characters might be drawn and how setting is established. It explores the different levels of characterisation, from flat to round, and how character and place interact. It also works on the effect of genre and how genre can be used.

The main teaching material in this course is taken from an existing publication, The Fiction Writer's Workshop by Josip Novakovich (1995).

Novakovich is an award-winning writer (of short stories mainly), who teaches fiction writing at the University of Cincinnati. His chapters on ‘Character’ and ‘Setting’ are included within this course. I’ll indicate when you should read these extracts and I’ll also outline the listening and writing activities that accompany them.

This course is split into the following sections:

This OpenLearn course provides a sample of Level 1 study in Creative Writing [ Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. ( Hide tip ) ] .

You might be particularly interested in the following courses offered by The Open University:

• A215 Creative Writing
• A363 Advanced Creative Writing
• BA English Literature and Creative Writing
• MA Creative Writing Part 1
• MA Creative Writing Part 2

If you identify as being from a Black background, you could be eligible to study our MA in Creative Writing for free: Open Futures – Creative Writing Scholarship .

Tell us what you think! We’d love to hear from you to help us improve our free learning offering through OpenLearn by filling out this short survey .

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What can PennWest tell me about...

Creative Writing

If you believe in the power of the written word, take the next step in making your own writing more meaningful and memorable.

The Creative Writing certificate from PennWest is the perfect complement to any undergraduate degree. It provides you with practical knowledge in a wide range of genres, from fiction and nonfiction to poetry, screenwriting, and writing for digital media, as well as business and technical writing.

You’ll learn under the guidance of distinguished professors who continually produce new work of their own. Along the way, you’ll develop a practical understanding of contemporary writing and an appreciation of the wider literary tradition.

As you compile a portfolio of original writing, you will practice the techniques common to all good writing, apply a variety of styles and approaches unique to individual genres, position your creative texts in a larger literary tradition, and deepen your experience of writing as an artistic discipline.

You’ll graduate well-prepared for graduate study or for professional employment in the fields of writing, editing, or publishing.

This program is for you if...

• You want to enhancing your writing skills across multiple genres, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, and more. 
• You are interested in learning from distinguished faculty and practicing real-world writing applications. The program offers mentorship under professors who are not only experts in their field but also actively engaged in creating new work.
• You are seeking flexibility in your education. Whether you prefer in-person classes or online learning, this program accommodates your needs. It's ideal for balancing studies with personal and professional commitments, providing options to fit various schedules and learning preferences.
• You are preparing for a career in writing, editing, or publishing. Beyond just enhancing your personal writing skills, the program prepares you for professional employment in various writing-related fields. It's a stepping stone to graduate studies or immediate professional work, equipped with a portfolio that showcases your best writing across different genres

• Global Online

12 Credits for Certificate

What You'll Study

In the Creative Writing Certificate program at PennWest University, your studies will revolve around building a diverse and rich portfolio that reflects your understanding and mastery of various literary genres. You'll embark on a journey through introductory and advanced workshop courses, where the emphasis is on practicing techniques essential to all good writing and applying styles unique to specific genres. Your curriculum includes studying the fundamentals of creative writing, along with advanced studies in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, and other forms of narrative. A critical component of your education will involve engaging with "mentor" texts to enhance your creative writing techniques and developing a critical vocabulary to evaluate creative works effectively. This multifaceted approach is designed to deepen your appreciation of writing as an artistic discipline, situating your creative output within a broader literary and historical context. By the end of the program, you'll have compiled a revised portfolio of creative work, a testament to your readiness for either graduate study or professional opportunities in the fields of writing, editing, and publishing.

Meet Our Faculty

Our faculty are not just instructors; they are mentors, researchers, and industry professionals committed to providing an education grounded in real-world experiences and academic excellence. From engaging classroom discussions to hands-on experiential learning, our educators are here to support and inspire you every step of the way.

View faculty  

How You'll Learn

This program is offered both In-Person and Online. An in-person degree emphasizes traditional in-person courses at one or more of our locations. An online degree is offered 100% online.

What You'll Become

Upon completing the Creative Writing Certificate program at PennWest University, you'll emerge as a versatile writer equipped with a profound skill set applicable across a broad spectrum of industries. This program polishes your ability to craft compelling narratives, hone your unique voice, and articulate ideas creatively and succinctly. Whether you aim to pursue further academic endeavors or dive straight into the professional world, you'll be well-prepared to navigate the challenges and opportunities of a variety of writing-focused careers. Your developed understanding of form, style, and genre, alongside a portfolio showcasing your best work, positions you as a strong candidate for roles that value creativity, critical thinking, and effective communication.

Career Paths

• Creative Writer
• Technical Writer
• Content Writer/Strategist
• Screenwriter
• Publishing Assistant
• Communications Specialist

Brian Roberts '91

When English professor Dr. Brian Roberts ’91 decided to pay tribute to his heritage and how he became who he is, he did it in the way that he knows best – the written word.

How We'll Help You Succeed

At Pennsylvania Western University, we prioritize your success and well-being from the moment you join our community. Our comprehensive student support system is designed to meet you where you are, offering personalized guidance, academic assistance, and emotional support to ensure you can fully focus on your studies and personal growth. Whether you're a first-generation college student, returning for further education, or navigating career changes, our dedicated faculty and staff provide the encouragement and resources you need to overcome challenges and thrive. With a wide range of services from tutoring and career counseling to mental health resources, PennWest stands by your side, empowering you to achieve your academic goals and prepare for a successful future. Join us at PennWest, where you're not just a student; you're part of a supportive family committed to helping you find your place in the world.

Median annual wage for technical writers in 2022 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Affordable programs.

Discover quality education that fits your budget with our affordable programs at PennWest.

Success Coaching

Achieve your academic goals with personalized guidance from our dedicated student success coaches.

Post-Graduation Support

We're here for you even after graduation, providing support and resources to help you succeed in your career.

Better Together

Still not sure explore similar programs..

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Blugold combines love of English and math during her college studies

When Nora Schmidt came to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 3½ years ago as a freshman, choosing her minor was easy. After all, she’d already earned several mathematics credits thanks to the AP calculous courses she completed in high school.

Finding her major proved to be far more difficult, though in hindsight the answer was right in front of her all along, says Schmidt, who will graduate in December with a major in English-creative writing and a minor in math.

“My creative writing major was a hard sell,” says Schmidt, who grew up in Hudson. “I’ve loved writing my whole life, but never had the courage to pursue it as more than a hobby. Encouragement from my family and my professors helped me develop the confidence and skill to go for it.”

Once she made her decision, she never looked back.

The English department — her professors and fellow students — helped Schmidt find her place on campus and a future that excites her.

“In English, I love how close the professors are in the department and how welcoming they are to their students,” Schmidt says.

She says she’s been fortunate to have had some of the same professors teach her in more than one course, creating a sense of familiarity that “helps me feel really at home in the department.”

Building skills, confidence through research

While she found her home in the English department, her math studies also helped to shape her college experiences and how she sees her future.

During her freshman year, Schmidt was in two math classes taught by Dr. Chris Ahrendt, professor of mathematics. The second semester, he invited her to join his research team. So, she spent her sophomore year researching the behavior of solutions of the Riccati equation in the time-scale calculus, focusing on the ways in which we might translate methods and givens of continuous math to the realm of discrete math.

“The research with Dr. Ahrendt was really important for my college career, in terms of the experience but also the impact it had on my self-esteem and academic confidence,” Schmidt says. “It probably sounds silly, but I didn’t really know that I was particularly ‘smart’ until my freshman year, when various professors encouraged me to major in math, English and even chemistry. My high school teachers had been encouraging and supportive, but being selected to do research with professors as a freshman eliminated my doubts about my intelligence.”

Honors student

Schmidt enjoys the challenges and experiences she found through her major and minor, but she also appreciates that the University Honors Program offered her opportunities to take classes on topics that fall far outside of her typical areas of study.

“I could talk for days about the Honors Program,” Schmidt says. “I love it to bits, mostly because of the way it enabled me to take time for ‘fun’ elective learning. While I’ve always loved learning in general, I never took the time in high school to take the ‘fun’ classes. Instead, I piled on AP courses in preparation for college.

“After over 16 years of working hard to make the most of school, it was so fun to take classes like ‘Fermentation,’ ‘The Political Thought of Abraham Lincoln,’ ‘The Multicultural Art & Science of Forgiveness’ and ‘Botanical Beings (Ojibwe botanical teachings).’”

Students in the Honors Program come from all majors, which helps students connect with other high-achieving and curious Blugolds from many majors. The interdisciplinary focus of the program makes the Honors classes especially interesting, Schmidt says.

“Part of what makes an Honors course an Honors course is that it must be interdisciplinary, so each class I’ve taken in Honors has taught me at least a basic understanding and working definition of two-plus disciplines/perspectives,” Schmidt says. “I learned to cook sourdough scones, to dissect Lincoln’s speeches, to forgive the trespasses of myself and the people I love and to finally keep a plant alive, among many, many other things.”

A mentor and a leader

Through the University Honors Program, Schmidt also has served as a tutor, helping to provide academic support to other Blugolds who are part of the program. This semester she’s a tutor for the “The Political Thought of Abraham Lincoln” course.

This year, Dr. Heather Fielding, director of the Honors Program, encouraged Schmidt to be a peer mentor through a new program that supports freshmen who come to UW-Eau Claire without declaring a major.

“Nora has a classic 'Power of And' story, and this is why it was perfect for her to work with undecided students,” Fielding says. “She declared a major late because she was so full of interests and eventually figured out a way to pursue almost all of them here.”

The Level Up initiative is an enrollment management program that helps first-year students transition to college and make meaningful connections.

“It is a role that Nora was amazing at,” Billy Felz, interim vice chancellor for enrollment management, says of Schmidt’s work as a peer mentor. “She was approachable, insightful and engaging with our new students, and most importantly she was relatable.

“I was very impressed with her 'take charge' leadership, which was seen at the end of our first class, when she told our students she would escort them to the best place on campus to get coffee and then show them how to take the bus for free to upper campus. Those students were so lucky to have her as a resource in their first semester of freshman year.”

Schmidt says it was rewarding to work with the younger students, helping to guide and support them in the first weeks of their college career.

“Over the first seven weeks of the semester, I got to know seven incoming freshmen and help them ease into the UWEC experience,” Schmidt says. “I also had a couple of my friends come to talk to the class about student orgs and involvement on campus.

“Though it was a small group, I enjoyed working with the students in my Level Up section and helping them adjust to campus and college life. It made me really happy to share some of the knowledge I’ve accumulated throughout my 3½ years here and keep my students from making the same mistakes.”

A Blugold family

While Schmidt blazed her own trail as a Blugold, she had plenty of people to turn to if she needed advice about how to make the most of her time at UW-Eau Claire. After all, she’s been surrounded by Blugolds for years.

Both her siblings, Tom and Abby Schmidt, are UW-Eau Claire graduates. They loved their time at UW-Eau Claire, which helped inspire Schmidt to follow in their footsteps.

“Having visited both my siblings throughout high school, I didn’t even apply to any other schools — I knew UWEC was the right place for me,” Schmidt says of deciding to be a Blugold. “When I arrived here as a freshman, it already felt like a little family reunion.”

Several of her cousins currently are Blugolds and her uncle also graduated from UW-Eau Claire, Schmidt says, joking that “we still have a couple of cousins to wrangle in when they reach high school.”

“In the fall of 2019, there were six of us in my family attending UWEC, and most of us even lived on upper campus,” Schmidt says. “All of my maternal grandparents’ grandchildren attend(ed) UWEC. I’ve carpooled with each of my cousins to family events and trips home, and I scarcely had to eat alone for my first two years here — every day at Davies felt like a family gathering.”

Looking to the future

Schmidt is graduating in 3½ years, a semester earlier than expected. So, she is still thinking about her next steps after graduation. Whatever path she decides to follow, she knows UW-Eau Claire has prepared her well to be successful.

“My future plans are quite murky, but only because my liberal arts education and English degree are so broad in the paths that they open,” Schmidt says. “I’m planning to get my teaching degree at some point. About 50% of my family members are teachers and/or work in education, so it’s always been a goal of mine, even if it’s not until later in life. Right now, I’m focusing on internships and testing my hand at copy writing, graphic design, editing and nonfiction creative writing, while continuing my years-long development as a fiction writer and essayist.

“Between the wide variety of topics and emphases in the English department, and the diverse perspectives in Honors classes, I am quite ready to take on communication in its many forms.”

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105 Garfield Avenue  P.O. Box 4004  Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004 

715-836-4636