what are the requirements for creative writing

Major: Creative Writing

Which colleges offer a major in creative writing.

Creative Writing majors weave a rich tapestry of storytelling, exploring forms such as poetry, personal essays, memoirs, short stories, scriptwriting, novels, literary journalism, and even video games. It could be a favorite line in a movie, play, or book that lures an audience in and changes their world. 

Telling a story can shed light on societal issues that would otherwise receive little or no attention. By evoking emotion, the story and its characters captivate the reader. People become invested in the story, the impact of the problem on the characters’ lives, and the outcome. Creative writing humanizes experiences in a way that may foster compassion for others. A compelling creative writer draws readers in so that they become engaged in the story.

Your imagination, mindset, and self-expression will be challenged and sharpened as a creative writing major. You’ll explore multiple creative writing forms. Creative writing challenges you to dig deep and learn about yourself and others. 

What does a student majoring in Creative Writing study? 

To develop their skills, creative writing majors will take courses in historical and contemporary literature and participate in writing workshops. Such courses or workshops include, among others: 

• American Literature
• Introduction to Creative Writing
• Reading and Writing Poetry
• Playwriting
• Screenwriting

What can I do with a Creative Writing degree?

You’ll develop a greater appreciation and understanding of various creative writing genres. Your research, writing, and creative thinking skills are desirable in  jobs such as the following:

• Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
• Advertising and Promotions Managers
• Art Directors
• Fundraisers
• Producers and Directors

Specializations for a Creative Writing major are:

• Film and Television Writing
• Photojournalism
• Creative Nonfiction

What are the requirements for a Creative Writing degree? 

The degree requirements at your college or university will consist of specific credits needed for major and elective courses in creative writing. You’ll participate in many writing workshops and apply the critiques of your work from peers and faculty to hone your creative writing skills.   

Explore Creative Writing Careers

Arts and humanities majors and degrees, related ap courses, find colleges with a creative writing major.

Creative Writing

Stanford’s Creative Writing Program--one of the best-known in the country--cultivates the power of individual expression within a vibrant community of writers. Many of our English majors pursue a concentration in creative writing, and the minor in Creative Writing is among the most popular minors on campus. These majors and minors participate in workshop-based courses or independent tutorials with Stegner Fellows, Stanford’s distinguished writers-in-residence.

English Major with a Creative Writing Emphasis

The English major with a Creative Writing emphasis is a fourteen-course major. These fourteen courses comprise eight English courses and six Creative Writing courses.

English majors with a Creative Writing emphasis should note the following:

All courses must be taken for a letter grade.

Courses taken abroad or at other institutions may not be counted towards the workshop requirements.

Any 190 series course (190F, 190G, etc.), 191 series course (191T, etc.), or 192 series course (192V, etc.) counts toward the 190, 191, or 192 requirement.

PWR 1 is a prerequisite for all creative writing courses.

Minor in Creative Writing

The Minor in Creative Writing offers a structured environment in which students interested in writing fiction or poetry develop their skills while receiving an introduction to literary forms. Students may choose a concentration in fiction, poetry.

In order to graduate with a minor in Creative Writing, students must complete the following three courses plus three courses in either the prose or poetry tracks. Courses counted towards the requirements for the minor may not be applied to student's major requirements. 30 units are required. All courses must be taken for a letter grade.

Prose Track

Suggested order of requirements:

English 90. Fiction Writing or English 91. Creative Nonfiction

English 146S Secret Lives of the Short Story

One 5-unit English literature elective course

English 190. Intermediate Fiction Writing or English 191. Intermediate Creative Nonfiction Writing

English 92. Reading and Writing Poetry

Another English 190, 191, 290. Advanced Fiction, 291. Advanced Nonfiction, or 198L. Levinthal Tutorial

Poetry Track

English 92.Reading and Writing Poetry

English 160. Poetry and Poetics

English 192. Intermediate Poetry Writing

Another English 192, or 292.Advanced Poetry or 198L.Levinthal Tutorial

Creative Writing minors should note the following:

To declare a Creative Writing minor, visit the Student page in Axess. To expedite your declaration, make sure to list all 6 courses you have taken or plan to take for your minor.

Any 190 series course (190F, 190G, etc.), 191series course (191T, etc.), or 192 series course (192V, etc.) counts toward the 190, 191, or 192 requirement.

For more information, visit the Stanford Creative Writing Program.

Creative Writing and Literature Degree Requirements

The Master of Liberal Arts, Creative Writing and Literature degree field is offered online with one 3-week course required on campus at Harvard University.

Getting Started

Explore Degree Requirements

• Review the course curriculum .
• Learn about the on-campus experience .
• Determine your initial admissions eligibility .
• Learn about the 2 degree courses required for admission .

Upcoming Term: Summer 2024

Course registration is open March 4 – June 20. Learn how to register →

Fall 2024 courses and registration details will be live in June.

Required Course Curriculum

Online core and elective courses

On-campus summer writers’ residency

Capstone or thesis

12 Graduate Courses (48 credits)

The program is designed for creative writers interested in fiction, nonfiction, and dramatic writing.

The degree is highly customizable. As part of the program curriculum, you choose either a capstone or thesis track as well as the creative writing and literature courses that meet your learning goals.

The synchronous online format and small class size ensure you’ll receive personal feedback on your writing and experience full engagement with instructors and peers.

Required Core & Elective Courses View More

• HUMA 101 Proseminar: Elements of the Writer’s Craft
• 1 advanced fiction writing course
• 3 creative writing courses
• 1 creative writing and literature elective or creative writing independent study
• EXPO 42a Writing in the Humanities is a literature option
• On-campus summer writers’ residency

Browse Courses →

Thesis Track View More

The thesis is a 9-month independent research project where you work one-on-one in a tutorial setting with a thesis director.

The track includes:

• Thesis proposal tutorial course
• Master’s Thesis (8 credits)

Capstone Track View More

The capstone track includes the following additional courses:

• 1 literature course
• Precapstone: Building the World of the Book (fiction and nonfiction options)
• Capstone: Developing a Manuscript (fiction and nonfiction options)

In the precapstone , with support from your instructor and peers, you’ll engage in a series of structured writing exercises that make it possible to delve deeply into your characters—what they look like, what they want and need, and how they interact with the world in which they live—as you structure the world of your fiction or nonfiction.

In the capstone , with ongoing community support, you continue your work of in the precapstone and write two additional chapters or stories, or approximately 30 pages of new work. The capstone project in total should be about 50-60 pages — the equivalent of a thesis.

You enroll in the precapstone and capstone courses in back-to-back semesters (fall/spring) and in your final academic year. The capstone must be taken alone as your sole remaining degree requirement.

On-Campus Experience: One-Week Writers’ Residency

Participate in an weeklong writers’ workshop on campus.

Learn and network in person with your classmates, agents, and editors.

Nearly all courses can be taken online, but the degree requires an in-person experience at Harvard University where you enroll in a summer residency.

After completing 7 or more courses, you come to Harvard Summer School for a weeklong master class taught by a notable instructor. An agents-and-editors weekend follows. HSS offers, for an additional fee, housing, meal plans, and a prolonged on-campus experience here at Harvard University.

Choose between two on-campus experience options:

• One-week Writers’ Residency with extended online sessions: During the two weeks that follow the intensive week of on-campus instruction, you attend additional writing classes online and submit a final piece of writing.
• One-week Writers’ Residency with extended on-campus sessions: During the two weeks that follow the intensive week of on-campus instruction, you attend additional writing classes on campus and submit a final piece of writing. Three-week housing is available for this extended on-campus option. Learn more about campus life at Harvard .

International Students Who Need a Visa View More

To meet the on-campus requirement, you choose the One-Week Writers’ Residency with extended on-campus sessions and study with us in the summer. You can easily request an I-20 for the F-1 student visa through Harvard Summer School. For more details, see International Student Study Options for important visa information.

In-Person Co-Curricular Events View More

Come to Cambridge for Convocation (fall) to celebrate your hard-earned admission, Harvard career fairs offered throughout the year, HES alumni networking events (here at Harvard and around the world), and, of course, Harvard University Commencement (May).

Confirm your initial eligibility with a 4-year bachelor’s degree or its foreign equivalent.

Take two courses in our unique “earn your way in” admissions process that count toward your degree.

In the semester of your second course, submit the official application for admission to the program.

Below are our initial eligibility requirements and an overview of our unique admissions process to help get you started. Be sure to visit Degree Program Admissions for full details.

Initial Eligibility View More

• Prior to enrolling in any degree-applicable courses, you must possess a 4-year regionally accredited US bachelor’s degree or its foreign equivalent. Foreign bachelor’s degrees must be evaluated for equivalency.
• You cannot already have or be in the process of earning a master’s degree in creative writing or a related field. Check your eligibility .
• If English is your second language, you’ll need to prove English proficiency before registering for a course. We have multiple proficiency options .

Earn Your Way In — Courses Required for Admission View More

To begin the admission process, you simply register — no application required — for the following two, four-credit, graduate-level degree courses (available online).

These prerequisite courses count toward your degree once you’re admitted ; they are not additional courses. They are investments in your studies and help ensure success in the program.

• Before registering, you’ll need to pass our online test of critical reading and writing skills or earn a B or higher in EXPO 42a Writing in the Humanities.
• You have two attempts to earn the minimum grade of B in the proseminar (a withdrawal grade counts as an attempt). The proseminar cannot be more than two years old at the time of application.
• Advanced Fiction Writing

While the two courses don’t need to be taken in a particular order or in the same semester, we recommend that you start with the proseminar. The 2 courses must be completed with a grade of B or higher, without letting your overall Harvard cumulative GPA dip below 3.0.

Applying to the Degree Program View More

During the semester of your second degree course, submit the official application to the program.

Don’t delay! You must prioritize the two degree courses for admission and apply before completing subsequent courses. By doing so, you’ll:

• Avoid the loss of credit due to expired course work or changes to admission and degree requirements.
• Ensure your enrollment in critical and timely degree-candidate-only courses.
• Avoid the delayed application fee.
• Gain access to exclusive benefits.

Eligible students who submit a complete and timely application will have 10 more courses after admission to earn the degree. Applicants can register for courses in the upcoming semester before they receive their grades and while they await their admission decision.

The Office of Predegree Advising & Admissions makes all final determinations about program eligibility.

Search and Register for Courses

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) offers degree courses all year round to accelerate degree completion.

• You can study in fall, January, and spring terms through Harvard Extension School (HES) and during the summer through Harvard Summer School (HSS).
• You can enroll full or part time. After qualifying for admission, many of our degree candidates study part time, taking 2 courses per semester (fall/spring) and 1 in the January and summer sessions.
• Most fall and spring courses meet once a week for two hours, while January and summer courses meet more frequently in a condensed format.

To Complete Your Degree

Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Complete your courses in five years.

Earn your Harvard degree and enjoy Harvard Alumni Association benefits upon graduation.

Required GPA, Withdrawal Grades, and Repeat Courses View More

GPA. You need to earn a B or higher in each of the two degree courses required for admission and a B– or higher in each of the subsequent courses. In addition, your cumulative GPA cannot dip below 3.0.

Withdrawal Grades. You are allowed to receive 2 withdrawal (WD) grades without them affecting your GPA. Any additional WD grades count as zero in your cumulative GPA. Please note that a WD grade from a two-credit course will count as 1 of your 2 allowed WD grades. See Academic Standing .

Repeat Courses. We advise you to review the ALM program’s strict policies about repeating courses . Generally speaking, you may not repeat a course to improve your GPA or to fulfill a degree requirement (if the minimum grade was not initially achieved). Nor can you repeat a course for graduate credit that you’ve previously completed at Harvard Extension School or Harvard Summer School at the undergraduate level.

Courses Expire: Finish Your Coursework in Under Five Years View More

Courses over five years old at the point of admission will not count toward the degree. As stated above, the proseminar cannot be more than two years old at the time of application.

Further, you have five years to complete your degree requirements. The five-year timeline begins at the end of the term in which you complete any two degree-applicable courses, regardless of whether or not you have been admitted to a degree program.

Potential degree candidates must plan accordingly and submit their applications to comply with the five-year course expiration policy or they risk losing degree credit for completed course work. Additionally, admission eligibility will be jeopardized if, at the point of application to the program, the five-year degree completion policy cannot be satisfied (i.e., too many courses to complete in the time remaining).

Graduate with Your Harvard Degree View More

When you have fulfilled all degree requirements, you will earn your Harvard University degree: Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies, Field: Creative Writing and Literature. Degrees are awarded in November, March, and May, with the annual Harvard Commencement ceremony in May.

Degree Candidate Exclusive Benefits View More

When you become an officially admitted degree candidate, you have access to a rich variety of exclusive benefits to support your academic journey. To learn more, visit degree candidate academic opportunities and privileges .

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

What to Know About Creative Writing Degrees

Many creative writing degree recipients pursue careers as authors while others work as copywriters or ghostwriters.

Tips on Creative Writing Degrees

Getty Images

Prospective writing students should think about their goals and figure out if a creative writing degree will help them achieve those goals.

Many people see something magical in a beautiful work of art, and artists of all kinds often take pride in their craftsmanship. Creative writers say they find fulfillment in the writing process.

"I believe that making art is a human need, and so to get to do that is amazing," says Andrea Lawlor, an author who this year received a Whiting Award – a national $50,000 prize that recognizes 10 excellent emerging authors each year – and who is also the Clara Willis Phillips Assistant Professor of English at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts.

"We all are seeing more and more of the way that writing can help us understand perspectives we don't share," says Lawlor, whose recent novel "Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl" addresses the issue of gender identity.

"Writing can help us cope with hard situations," Lawlor says. "We can find people who we have something in common with even if there's nobody around us who shares our experience through writing. It's a really powerful tool for connection and social change and understanding."

Creative writing faculty, many of whom are acclaimed published authors, say that people are well-suited toward degrees in creative writing if they are highly verbal and enjoy expressing themselves.

"Creative imaginative types who have stories burning inside them and who gravitate toward stories and language might want to pursue a degree in creative writing," Jessica Bane Robert, who teaches Introduction to Creative Writing at Clark University in Massachusetts, wrote in an email. "Through formal study you will hone your voice, gain confidence, find a support system for what can otherwise be a lonely endeavor."

Read the guide below to gain more insight into what it means to pursue a creative writing education, how writing impacts society and whether it is prudent to invest in a creative writing degree. Learn about the difference between degree-based and non-degree creative writing programs, how to craft a solid application to a top-notch creative writing program and how to figure out which program is the best fit.

Why Creative Writing Matters and Reasons to Study It

Creative writers say a common misconception about their job is that their work is frivolous and impractical, but they emphasize that creative writing is an extremely effective way to convey messages that are hard to share in any other way.

Kelly Caldwell, dean of faculty at Gotham Writers Workshop in New York City, says prospective writing students are often discouraged from taking writing courses because of concerns about whether a writing life is somehow unattainable or "unrealistic."

Although creative writers are sometimes unable to financially support themselves entirely on the basis of their creative projects, Caldwell says, they often juggle that work with other types of jobs and lead successful careers.

She says that many students in her introductory creative writing class were previously forbidden by parents to study creative writing. "You have to give yourself permission for the simple reason that you want to do it," she suggests.

Creative writing faculty acknowledge that a formal academic credential in creative writing is not needed in order to get writing published. However, they suggest, creative writing programs help aspiring authors develop their writing skills and allow space and time to complete long-term writing projects.

Working writers often juggle multiple projects at once and sometimes have more than one gig, which can make it difficult to finish an especially ambitious undertaking such as a novel, a play for the screen or stage, or a well-assembled collection of poems, short stories or essays. Grants and fellowships for authors are often designed to ensure that those authors can afford to concentrate on their writing.

Samuel Ace, a published poet and a visiting lecturer in poetry at Mount Holyoke, says his goal is to show students how to write in an authentic way that conveys real feeling. "It helps students to become more direct, not to bury their thoughts under a cascade of academic language, to be more forthright," he says.

Tips on Choosing Between a Non-Degree or Degree-Based Creative Writing Program

Experts note that someone needs to be ready to get immersed in the writing process and devote significant time to writing projects before pursuing a creative writing degree. Prospective writing students should not sign up for a degree program until they have reached that sense of preparedness, warns Kim Todd, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts and director of its creative writing program.

She says prospective writing students need to think about their personal goals and figure out if a creative writing degree will help them achieve those goals.

Aspiring writers who are not ready to invest in a creative writing degree program may want to sign up for a one-off writing class or begin participating in an informal writing workshop so they can test their level of interest in the field, Todd suggests.

How to Choose and Apply to a Creative Writing Program

In many cases, the most important component of an application to a writing program is the writing portfolio, writing program experts say. Prospective writing students need to think about which pieces of writing they include in their portfolio and need to be especially mindful about which item they put at the beginning of their portfolio. They should have a trusted mentor critique the portfolio before they submit it, experts suggest.

Because creative writing often involves self-expression, it is important for aspiring writing students to find a program where they feel comfortable expressing their true identity.

This is particularly pertinent to aspiring authors who are members of minority groups, including people of color or LGBTQ individuals, says Lawlor, who identifies as queer, transgender and nonbinary.

How to Use a Creative Writing Degree

Creative writing program professors and alumni say creative writing programs cultivate a variety of in-demand skills, including the ability to communicate effectively.

"While yes, many creative writers are idealists and dreamers, these are also typically highly flexible and competent people with a range of personal strengths. And a good creative writing program helps them understand their particular strengths and marketability and translate these for potential employers, alongside the more traditional craft development work," Melissa Ridley Elmes, an assistant professor of English at Lindenwood University in Missouri, wrote in an email.

Elmes – an author who writes poetry, fiction and nonfiction – says creative writing programs force students to develop personal discipline because they have to consistently produce a significant amount of writing. In addition, participating in writing workshops requires writing students "to give and receive constructive feedback," Elmes says.

Cindy Childress, who has a Ph.D. in English from the University of Louisiana—Lafayatte and did a creative writing dissertation where she submitted poetry, says creative writing grads are well-equipped for good-paying positions as advertising and marketing copywriters, speechwriters, grant writers and ghostwriters.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual compensation for writers and authors was $63,200 as of May 2019.

"I think the Internet, and writing communities online and in social media, have been very helpful for debunking the idea that if you publish a New York Times Bestseller you will have 'made it' and can quit your day job and write full time," Elmes explains. "Unless you are independently wealthy, the odds are very much against you in this regard."

Childress emphasizes that creative writing degree recipients have "skills that are absolutely transferable to the real world." For example, the same storytelling techniques that copywriters use to shape public perceptions about a commercial brand are often taught in introductory creative writing courses, she says. The ability to tell a good story does not necessarily come easily to people who haven't been trained on how to do it, she explains.

Childress says she was able to translate her creative writing education into a lucrative career and start her own ghostwriting and book editing company, where she earns a six-figure salary. She says her background in poetry taught her how to be pithy.

"Anything that we want to write nowadays, particularly for social media, is going to have to be immediately understood, so there is a sense of immediacy," she says."The language has to be crisp and direct and exact, and really those are exactly the same kind of ways you would describe a successful poem."

Searching for a grad school? Access our complete rankings of Best Graduate Schools.

10 Ways to Discover College Essay Ideas

Tags: education , graduate schools , colleges , students

You May Also Like

Law schools with the highest lsats.

Ilana Kowarski and Cole Claybourn April 11, 2024

MBA Programs That Lead to Good Jobs

Ilana Kowarski and Cole Claybourn April 10, 2024

B-Schools With Racial Diversity

Sarah Wood April 10, 2024

Law Schools That Are Hardest to Get Into

Sarah Wood April 9, 2024

Ask Law School Admissions Officers This

Gabriel Kuris April 9, 2024

Grad School Housing Options

Anayat Durrani April 9, 2024

U.S. News Ranks Best Graduate Schools

MBA Scholarships

Sammy Allen April 4, 2024

Special Master's Programs and Med School

Renee Marinelli, M.D. April 2, 2024

15 Famous Fulbright Scholars

Cole Claybourn April 1, 2024

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

• Undergraduate
• Creative Writing

Requirements for Applying to the Creative Writing Major

The application for the creative writing major is open the application is available here ..

Admission to the creative writing major can be competitive. Students must fulfill the following prerequisites before applying:

• You must be a sophomore, junior, or senior to apply . Freshmen are not eligible to apply. Seniors may apply, provided they plan to continue taking classes the following academic year.
• Take at least one 200-level genre-based creative writing course and either have taken or be enrolled in another 200-level genre-based creative writing course. 
• Prepare a writing sample. You will need to submit a sample of your writing in your chosen genre with your creative writing application. Students often submit work from their 200-level creative writing classes, and are in fact encouraged to do so. This sample should be 7-15 pages for fiction or creative nonfiction, 4-5 poems for poetry.
• Fill out and submit your application here. Applications close on April 29th, 2024 at 11:59pm. See application site for specific instructions. Students applying in multiple genres must submit an application in each genre in which they're applying.

Requirements for Completing the Creative Writing Major

15 courses, as follows:, three introductory courses.

Although only one genre-based introductory course (and enrollment in a second) is required to apply, all three are required to complete the major.

• ENG 206 - Reading & Writing Poetry
• ENG 207 - Reading & Writing Fiction
• ENG 208 - Reading & Writing Creative Nonfiction

Year-long Writing Sequence

One of the following three-course sequences:

• ENG 393-1, 2, 3 - Theory & Practice of Poetry 
• ENG 394-1, 2, 3 - Theory & Practice of Fiction 
• ENG 395-1, 2, 3 - Theory & Practice of Creative Nonfiction

The application is available here . Applications close on April 29th, 2024 at 11:59pm.

ENG 392 - The Situation of Writing

“The Situation of Writing,” which is typically offered once per year, investigates the writer’s relation to the culture, both currently and historically. The course addresses such questions as the relation of criticism to imaginative literature, the rise and fall of specific literary genres, the effect of the university on the production and consumption of literary works, the state of the publishing industry, and international literary contexts.

Six 300-level Literature Classes

• Two on material written prior to 1830 
• Two on material written after 1830
• Two from either period

Note: Students who have completed two parts of either British Literary Traditions (210-1 and 210-2) or American Literary Traditions (270-1 and 270-2) can use these two courses to count as ONE of these six literature courses.

Note : Creative Writing students are encouraged to enroll in ENG 300 as one of these six courses, ideally earlier rather than later in their undergraduate career.

Two Non-Literature Related Courses

These courses, in areas such as history, art, classics, and gender studies, broaden the student’s background for the study of literature. These must be approved by a creative writing advisor. Students with a second major or a minor will be considered to have completed this requirement.

[1] The School of Professional Studies also offers courses under the listings ENG 206, 207, and 208. These courses do not count toward the Weinberg Creative Writing Major.

[2] First-year students may not apply to the creative writing sequence, even if they complete both pre-requisite classes in the first year.

• Learning Goals
• Creative Writing Opportunities
• Student Achievement
• Advanced Degree Partnership in Writing Studies
• Sigma Tau Delta
• Jobs for Grads
• Art and Art History
• Museum Studies
• Performing and Visual Arts Design and Technology
• Theater and Dance
• Anthropology and Sociology
• Business Economics
• Educational Studies
• Environment and Sustainability
• Health and Society
• Management Studies
• Media and Communication Studies
• Politics and International Relations
• Pre-Engineering
• Pre-Health Professions
• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Biostatistics
• Health Sciences
• Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics
• Neuroscience
• Physics and Astronomy
• Scientific Computing
• Parlee Center for Science and the Common Good
• Melrose Center for Global Civic Engagement
• U-Imagine Center for Integrative and Entrepreneurial Studies
• American Studies
• Art History
• Creative Writing
• East Asian Studies
• German Studies
• Modern Languages
• Philosophy and Religion
• African American and Africana Studies
• Animal Behavior
• Applied Ethics
• Applied Sustainability
• Biodiversity & Wildlife Conservation
• Climate Change
• Comparative and Global Literatures
• Data Analytics
• Earth & Environmental Science
• Entrepreneurial Studies
• Environmental Justice
• Film Studies
• Food Studies
• Digital Studies
• Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies
• Latin American Studies
• Legal Studies
• Marine Science
• Science and the Common Good

English and Creative Writing Requirements

Students choose to major in English and Creative Writing because they love to read and write and want to explore the processes by which language constructs the world in which they live. These programs build on these passions by developing the skills of attentive reading, thoughtful analysis, graceful writing, and original creative productions.

The analytical tools developed in the English major illuminate both literary texts and the societies in which they are produced. Our majors study the American, British, and Anglophone traditions, just as they learn to interpret women’s writing, the poetics of the blues, and literary technologies from Gutenberg to digital.

The creative writing major offers students the option to focus on their own creative process and development towards life-long artistic involvement while sharpening their overall writing skills for all walks of life.

By encouraging students to apply their interpretive and writing skills in multiple contexts, both the English and Creative Writing majors prepare students to enter a wide variety of careers, to succeed in graduate or professional study, and to become engaged global citizens.

Requirements for a Major in English

Students majoring in English must complete forty credits, comprising seven required ENGL courses, plus three elective courses.

Required English courses:

• One ENGL course numbered between 220 and 260;
• ENGL-290W and 301W;
• at least three 300-level colloquia, including one focusing on literature before 1800 and one focusing on literature after 1800 (ENGL-301 may count as a colloquium);
• ENGL-440W or 492W.
• Elective courses may include any of the following: all ENGL or ENCW courses; EAS-224; FS-101, 250, 251, 252, 253, 305; IDS-290; LAS-215; MCS-207, 208; THEA-300W, 301W.

One DN or GN course offered in ENGL/ENCW is required in addition to the college’s DN/GN core requirement. Majors are encouraged to fulfill both requirements within the major.

English majors can fulfill both the capstone requirement and the requirement for an oral presentation in the major by taking ENGL-440W or 492W.

Requirements for Minor in English

A minor concentration in English consists of ENGL-290W and at least four additional courses in English. ENGL-301W is strongly recommended. One ENCW course may be counted toward the minor.

Requirements for a Major in Creative Writing

Students majoring in Creative Writing must complete forty-two credits, comprising six required courses, plus four elective courses.

Required courses:

• Five other ENCW courses. Students must select courses from at least two genres, at least two of which must be at the 300-level or above. Two courses from MCS-206, 207 or 208 or THEA- 210 may substitute for one of these courses;
• at least three ENGL courses numbered 220 or above, including one focusing on literature before 1800 and one focusing on literature after 1800;
• ENCW 420W Senior Portfolio or ENCW 492W;
• At least two credits in MCS-009 (Grizzly) or ENCW-016 (Lantern) or ENCW-201

One non-ENGL elective from the following list may replace one ENGL course: EAS-224; FS-101, 250, 251, 252, 253, 305; IDS-290; LAS-215; THEA-300W, 301W.

One DN or GN course offered in ENGL/ENCW is required in addition to the college’s DN/GN core requirement.

ENCW majors can fulfill both the capstone requirement and the requirement for an oral presentation in the major by taking ENCW-420W or 492W.

For students completing a major in one field and a minor in the other, three courses may count toward both the major field and the minor field.

Requirements for Minor in Creative Writing

A minor concentration in Creative Writing consists of at least twenty-two credits.

ENCW-290W is required. ENCW-420 is strongly recommended. Participation in Ursinus’s writing community by serving as a staff member on either the Grizzly or the Lantern is also required, demonstrated by either ENCW-201 or by two credits in ENCW-016 or MCS-009–016.

Other courses for the minor may include any ENCW or ENGL courses; MCS-207, 208; THEA-210; or IDS-290. Fourteen credits toward the minor must be in ENCW.

Teacher Certification

Students seeking teaching certification in English for grades 7-12 must fulfill all departmental requirements for an English major. Their courses should include literary genres, themes, and histories. In addition, students working toward certification must take the following courses: ENGL-214; and either MCS-205, or any FS course. Students are strongly recommended to take either ENGL-220 or a 300-level colloquium on Shakespeare and ENGL-301. It is also strongly recommended that the candidate participate in student journalism or theater activities. Students and their advisers should consult the Ursinus College Education Department.

Degree Requirements – Creative Writing

Foundations.

• 1st Year English or equivalent
• Math: PHIL 110, LING 123, MATH 107, 109C, 112, or higher
• 4th semester second language proficiency

General Education

• 6 units Tier 1 Individuals & Societies
• 6 units Tier 1 Traditions & Cultures
• 6 units Tier 1 Natural Sciences
• 3 units Tier 2 Individuals & Societies
• 3 units Tier 2 Natural Sciences
• 3 units Tier 2 Arts
• 3 units Diversity

Required, minimum of 18 units (or double-major)

Required Coursework

• Complete the following coursework (3 units)
• 120 total units to complete degree
• 36 units in the major
• 42 of upper-division courses
• Minor (or dual-major) required

Printable Checklist

Contact an Advisor

Introductory Workshops

• Complete two of the following courses (6 units)

Literature Courses

• Must complete 280, 373a OR 373b, 380 (9 units)

Intermediate & Advanced Workshops

Complete one 300-level creative writing workshop (3 units)

ENGL 301, 304, 309

And complete one 400-level creative writing workshop (3 units)

ENGL 401, 404, 409

• Workshops may be in the same or different genres

Upper Division English Electives

• Complete 4 courses (12 units)

Elective courses can be taken if needed to reach 120 total units or 42 upper-division units

Emory College of Arts and Sciences Creative Writing Program

Home » The Creative Writing Program » Major in English and Creative Writing

Major in English and Creative Writing

Creative writing workshops.

Creative Writing majors must complete five writing workshops (15-20 credits). Either Honors or one Independent Study can count as one workshop. At least two workshops must be taken in the same genre (poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, dramatic writing); students are encouraged to continue study in the same genre as the Intro but this is not a requirement.

NOTE: All majors must take one 200-level introductory workshop in poetry (ENGCW 271W) or fiction (ENGCW 272W). Students at Oxford College may also take ENGCW_OX 270W, the two-genre workshop, or ENGCW_OX 271W or ENGCW_OX 272W. Only one 200-level Creative Writing workshop (270W, 271W, 272W) will be counted towards the major. The other four workshops must be 300-level or above. Majors are welcome to take a second 200-level introductory workshop in another genre, but it is not required and it will not count towards the major.

Literature Requirement (ENG 300-level or above)

Six 300-level English courses (18-24 credits); all six courses must be focused on literary studies :

• At least two courses concentrating mainly on poetry.
• At least two courses concentrating mainly on prose.
• At least two courses in writing of the 19th century or earlier.

Some English literature classes may fulfill a dual requirement (for instance, a class might fulfill both poetry and 19th century or earlier requirements) but even if you complete the prose/poetry/19th century or earlier requirements in four or five classes, you still must take six English literature classes minimum.

Drama that is written in the form of poetry can count toward the poetry requirement. Drama that is written in the form of prose can count for the prose requirement.

Each major's advisor will exercise discretion in allowing credit for these categories since many courses mix poetry, prose, and drama. Students may also substitute one 200-level English course for one 300-level course.

List of previous English courses that meet these requirements can be found HERE .  The Spring 2024 list is  HERE . Subject to change.

  The English Department is still compiling the Fall 2024 list. It will be posted here as soon as it's available.

Additional Information:

Online Declaration of Major

All classes for the Creative Writing major must be taken for a letter grade -- S/U is not allowed for classes taken in fulfillment of the major. The grade of C is the minimum required for a class to count towards the major. Classes with a grade below C will not appear in Degree Tracker towards fulfilling the major.

Two workshops in the same semester:

Majors are typically not allowed to take more than one workshop per semester; non-majors may take only one. Exceptions will be made for Oxford students who plan to study abroad for a semester. Majors who wish to take a second workshop must obtain permission from the Program by emailing  [email protected] . Explain in your email why you need to take two workshops, list the two workshops you intend to take, and include a list of workshops already taken (for each, include the semester, instructor name, and the grade you received).

ENGRD (Writing Program) courses:

ENGRD (Writing Program) courses do NOT count as English literature classes towards the major, with one exception: Professor Daniel Bosch's ENGRD 380 Topics class, Literary Editing and Publishing, offered in Spring 2021. This class counts towards both the prose and poetry requirements for the English literature component of the Creative Writing major.

Post-Freshman Writing Requirement:

Most Creative Writing classes (except freshman seminars) will fulfill the post-freshman writing requirement. If the course number includes the letter "W," then it will fulfill the writing requirement.

Oxford Students:

ENGCW_OX 270W Introduction to Creative Writing or ENGCW_OX 271W Introduction to Poetry Writing or ENGCW_OX 272W Introduction to Fiction Writing taken at Oxford will count towards the Creative Writing major. You may take both but only one will count towards the major. You will still need to take four 300-level Creative Writing workshops at Emory and should plan ahead to take one workshop each semester. The FILM 378 Screenwriting course offered at Oxford does NOT count towards the Creative Writing major. Oxford students should participate in Emory pre-registration and the Creative Writing Program's application process the Spring before they arrive at Emory in order to assure a place in a Fall class. Email [email protected]  BEFORE SPRING BREAK to obtain an application and schedule of Fall classes.

Quick Links

• Students Accepted For Classes
• Information for Freshmen
• Creative Writing Majors Handbook
• Creative Writing Majors FAQ
• Assessment Plan/Goals of the Program

About the Program

While pursuing a BA in Creative Writing, students study literary texts and then produce their own poetry or fiction. The creative writing student is an artist. This major is perfect for those who love to write poems or stories, and who plan to do so no matter what. In addition to the required five courses in poetry or fiction writing, students must take five courses in English Literature or English Language. While some creative writing students attend graduate school to hone their skills and develop their art, others practice their craft in commercial industries like marketing or publishing. Ultimately, creative writers learn many skills that employers find desirable.

Sycamore Review , a nonprofit journal for the arts, was founded in 1988 and is published twice annually by Purdue University’s Department of English.

Books and Coffee talks (hosted by the Department of English) are held several times throughout the school year. Coffee and tea are available, followed by a half-hour talk about a selected work. The series is popular with faculty, staff, and students.

Please visit Creative Writing for more information.

Degree Requirements

120 credits required, liberal arts curriculum.

Each liberal arts major is designed as a four-year plan of study and includes three types of courses: Major, Core, and Elective. Most students take five courses per semester, with some of each type.

Professional academic advisors meet individually with each of our students on a regular basis to help with course selection, academic planning, and career development, as well as to help students find additional resources on campus.

Departmental/Program Major Course Requirements (30 credits)

Required course (3 credits).

A grade of “B-” or better is required before attempting courses in Area A.

• ENGL 20500 - Introduction To Creative Writing ♦

A. Creative Writing Courses - Choose Four (12 credits)

All Creative Writing courses except 20500, 31600, and 31700 may be repeated once by Creative Writing majors for credit. (The 40000 and 50000 level courses should be taken in order in any given genre; exceptions are granted by the permission of instructor.)

• ENGL 31600 - Craft Of Fiction From A Writer’s Perspective
• ENGL 31700 - Craft Of Poetry From a Writer’s Perspective
• ENGL 40700 - Intermediate Poetry Writing
• ENGL 40800 - Creative Writing Capstone
• ENGL 40900 - Intermediate Fiction Writing
• ENGL 50700 - Advanced Poetry Writing
• ENGL 50900 - Advanced Fiction Writing

B. Engaging English (3 credits)

May be taken concurrently with ENGL 20500.

• ENGL 20200 - Engaging English ♦

C. Literature/Linguistics/English Education (12 credits)

• Any ENGL course not taken above; at least 9 credit hours must be at the 30000 level or above.

Other Departmental (31-55 credits)

The College of Liberal Arts Other Departmental area is designed to be experiential, informative, and relevant to life in a rapidly changing universe. It combines courses that fulfill University Core foundational outcomes, discipline diversity, social diversity, and other languages to produce a well-rounded background for students. Coursework is integrative and collaborative and fosters insight, understanding, independence, initiative, and the desire to reach across divides and redefine our relationship to the peoples and the worlds that surround us.

Core I: Disciplinary Diversity (6-18 credits)

Choose 1 course in 6 different disciplines within the College of Liberal Arts.

Note: Disciplines are differentiated by course prefix. Undistributed credit does not count to satisfy this requirement.

Core II: Social Diversity (1-3 credits)

Culture, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity all play a role in how others perceive us and how we experience the world, and as such, are meaningful categories for analyzing social change and social problems past and present. The purpose of this category is to acquaint students with the pluralistic nature of the world and foster an appreciation and awareness of the diverse range of lived human experience. Courses in this list will expose students to important aspects of human diversity and foster understanding about different world views.

Choose one course from this list: CLA Core II - Social Diversity Selective List   .

Core III: Linguistic Diversity (3-4 credits)

Proficiency through Level IV in one world language. Courses may be required to reach Level IV proficiency; these courses will be counted toward electives.

Foundational Requirements (21-30 credits)

Students must complete approved coursework that meet the following foundational outcomes. Many of these can also be used to fulfill Core I, Core II, or Core III.

• Humanities - all approved courses accepted.
• Behavioral/Social Science - all approved courses accepted.
• Information Literacy - all approved courses accepted.
• Science #1 - all approved courses accepted.
• Science #2 - all approved courses accepted.
• Science, Technology, and Society - all approved courses accepted.
• Written Communication - all approved courses accepted.
• Oral Communication - all approved courses accepted.
• Quantitative Reasoning - all approved courses accepted.
• Double counting of courses is allowed across the various categories.
• All accredited programs whose accreditation is threatened by CLA Core requirement, both professional BAs and BFAs, are exempt from Liberal Arts Core I & II in order to meet accreditation standards and requirements. Liberal Arts Core III: Linguistic Diversity is still required for such programs.
• “Degree +” students (students with a second major outside of Liberal Arts) are exempt from the CLA Core.

Electives (35-59 credits)

Grade requirements.

• A grade of “B-” or better in ENGL 20500 is required before attempting courses in Area A.

Course Requirements and Notes

• All Creative Writing courses (Area A) except 20500, 31600, and 31700 may be repeated once by Creative Writing majors for credit. (The 40000 and 50000 level courses should be taken in order in any given genre; exceptions are granted by the permission of instructor.)

College of Liberal Arts Pass/No Pass Option Policy

• P/NP cannot be used to satisfy Liberal Arts Core, Liberal Arts major, minor, or certificate requirements.

University Requirements

University core requirements, for a complete listing of university core course selectives, visit the provost’s website ..

• Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (BSS)
• Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)
• Information Literacy (IL)
• Oral Communication (OC)
• Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
• Science #1 (SCI)
• Science #2 (SCI)
• Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
• Written Communication (WC) 

Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement

The civics literacy proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of purdue students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry. for more information visit the civics literacy proficiency  website..

Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:

• Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
• Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
• Earning a passing grade for one of  these approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course).

Upper Level Requirement

• Resident study at Purdue University for at least two semesters and the enrollment in and completion of at least 32 semester hours of coursework required and approved for the completion of the degree. These courses are expected to be at least junior-level (30000+) courses.
• Students should be able to fulfill most , if not all , of these credits within their major requirements; there should be a clear pathway for students to complete any credits not completed within their major.

Additional Information

• Liberal Arts offers a streamlined plan of study for students pursuing a second degree outside CLA. Contact the CLA Advising Office for more information.

Sample 4-Year Plan

Fall 1st year.

• Written Communication - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00
• World Language Level I  - Credit Hours: 3.00
• Quantitative Reasoning - Credit Hours: 3.00
• Behavioral/Social Sciences (CLA Core I: 1 of 6) - Credit Hours: 3.00

15-16 Credits

Spring 1st year.

• Oral Communication - Credit Hours: 3.00
• World Language Level II - Credit Hours: 3.00
• Humanities (CLA Core I: 2 of 6) - Credit Hours 3.00
• Science - Credit Hours: 3.00

Fall 2nd Year

• Area A Creative Writing Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
• Area C Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
• World Language Level III - Credit Hours: 3.00
• CLA Core I: 3 of 6 - Credit Hours: 3.00

Spring 2nd Year

• Area C Selective - Credit Hours: 3.0
• World Language Level IV (CLA Core III) - Credit Hours: 3.00
• Science, Technology, and Society - Credit Hours: 3.00
• CLA Core I: 4 of 6 - Credit Hours: 3.00

Fall 3rd Year

• CLA Core I: 5 of 6 - Credit Hours: 3.00
• CLA Core II: Diversity Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
• Elective - Credit Hours 3.00

Spring 3rd Year

• Area A Creative Writing Selective - Credit Hours 3.00
• CLA Core I: 6 of 6 - Credit Hours: 3.00
• Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

Fall 4th Year

• Area C Selective - Credit Hours 3.00
• Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

Spring 4th Year

Prerequisite information.

For current pre-requisites for courses, click  here .

World Language Courses

World Language proficiency requirements vary by program. The following list is inclusive of all world languages PWL offers for credit; for acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor. (ASL-American Sign Language; ARAB-Arabic; CHNS-Chinese; FR-French; GER-German; GREK-Greek(Ancient); HEBR-Hebrew(Biblical); HEBR-Hebrew(Modern); ITAL-Italian; JPNS-Japenese; KOR-Korean; LATN-Latin; PTGS=Portuguese; RUSS-Russian; SPAN-Spanish)

Critical Course

The ♦ course is considered critical. In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.  Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful.  These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program”. 

The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student. The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.

35 Best Colleges for Creative Writing – 2024

April 12, 2024

Bookworms and aspiring writers can pursue an undergraduate degree in creative writing where they will tackle coursework covering the reading and writing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry as well as the theory and history of the craft. While becoming the next J.K Rowling, Stephen King, or Margaret Atwood may be the goal, holders of creative writing degrees end up on a variety of career paths. This can include: publishing, editing, journalism, web content management, advertising, or for those who “make it” as writers—the next generation of literary superstars. Our list of Best Colleges for Creative Writing goes beyond the most famous writer factories like the University of Iowa and Columbia University, providing you with 35 institutions known for their stellar programs in this field.

Finally, note that although some of the colleges featured below do not offer a formal major in creative writing, their undergraduate offerings in this subject area are so strong that they warrant inclusion on our list.

Methodology 

Click here to read our methodology for the Best Colleges for creative writing.

Best Creative Writing Colleges

Here’s a quick preview of the first ten creative writing institutions that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.

1) Columbia University

2) Brown University

3) Johns Hopkins University

4) University of Chicago

5) Washington University in St Louis

6) Emory University

7) Stanford University

8) Northwestern University

9) Duke University

10) Yale University

All of the schools profiled below have stellar reputations in the field of creative writing and commit substantial resources to undergraduate education. For each of the best colleges for creative writing, College Transitions will provide you with—when available—each school’s:

• Cost of Attendance
• Acceptance Rate
• Median  SAT
• Median  ACT
• Retention Rate
• Graduation Rate

We will also include a longer write-up of each college’s:

• Academic Highlights – Includes facts like student-to-faculty ratio, average class size, number of majors offered, and most popular majors.
• Professional Outcomes – Includes info on the rate of positive outcomes, companies employing alumni, and graduate school acceptances.

Columbia University

• New York, NY

Academic Highlights: Columbia offers 100+ unique areas of undergraduate study as well as a number of pre-professional and accelerated graduate programs.  Class sizes at Columbia are reasonably small and the student-to-faculty ratio is favorable; however, in 2022, it was revealed that the university had been submitting faulty data in this area. It is presently believed that 58% of undergraduate courses enroll 19 or fewer students. The greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (22%), computer science (15%), engineering (14%), and biology (7%).

Professional Outcomes: Examining the most recent graduates from Columbia College and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Science, 73% had found employment within six months, and 20% had entered graduate school. The median starting salary for graduates of Columbia College/Columbia Engineering is above $80,000. Many graduates get hired by the likes of Amazon, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Google, Citi, McKinsey, and Microsoft.

• Enrollment: 8,832
• Cost of Attendance: $89,587
• Median SAT: 1540
• Median ACT: 35
• Acceptance Rate: 4%
• Retention Rate: 98%
• Graduation Rate: 95%

Brown University

• Providence, RI

Academic Highlights: Students must choose one of 80+ “concentration programs,” but there are no required courses. Class sizes tend to be small—68% have fewer than twenty students—and 35% are comprised of nine or fewer students. Biology, economics, computer science, mathematics, and engineering are among the most popular areas of concentration at Brown; however, it is hard to distinguish any one program, because Brown possesses outstanding offerings across so many disciplines.

Professional Outcomes: Soon after receiving their Brown diplomas, 69% of graduates enter the world of employment. Companies employing the greatest number of Brown alums include Google, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Morgan Stanley, Apple, McKinsey & Company, and Bain & Company. The Class of 2022 saw 27% of graduates go directly into graduate/professional school. Right out of undergrad, Brown students boasted an exceptional 81% admission rate to med school and an 81% admission rate to law school.

• Enrollment: 7,639
• Cost of Attendance: $84,828
• Median SAT: 1530
• Acceptance Rate: 5%
• Retention Rate: 99%
• Graduation Rate: 96%

Johns Hopkins University

• Baltimore, MD

Academic Highlights: With 53 majors as well as 51 minors, JHU excels in everything from its bread-and-butter medical-related majors to international relations and dance. Boasting an enviable 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and with 78% of course sections possessing an enrollment under 20, face time with professors is a reality. Many departments carry a high level of clout, including biomedical engineering, chemistry, English, and international studies. Biology, neuroscience, and computer science, which happen to be the three most popular majors, can also be found at the top of the national rankings.

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2022 saw 94% of graduates successfully land at their next destination within six months of exiting the university; 66% of graduates entered the world of employment and a robust 19% went directly to graduate/professional school. The median starting salary across all majors was $80,000 for the Class of 2022. JHU itself is the most popular choice for graduate school. The next most frequently attended institutions included Columbia, Harvard, Yale, and MIT.

• Enrollment: 6,044
• Cost of Attendance: $86,065
• Acceptance Rate: 7%
• Retention Rate: 97%

University of Chicago

• Chicago, IL

Academic Highlights: There are 53 majors at UChicago, but close to half of all degrees conferred are in four majors: economics, biology, mathematics, and political science, all of which have particularly sterling reputations. Economics alone is the selection of roughly one-fifth of the undergraduate population. Over 75% of undergrad sections have an enrollment of nineteen or fewer students, and undergraduate research opportunities are ubiquitous as 80% of students end up working in a research capacity alongside a faculty member.

Professional Outcomes: On commencement day, 99% of the Class of 2023 were employed or continuing their education. Business and financial services (30%) and STEM (12%) were the two sectors that scooped up the most graduates, but public policy and consulting were also well-represented. The most popular employers of recent grads include Google, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Company, Bank of America, Citi, and Accenture. For those heading to grad school, the top seven destinations are Yale, Columbia, Penn, MIT, Stanford, UCLA, and Johns Hopkins.

• Enrollment: 7,653 (undergraduate); 10,870 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $89,040

Washington University in St. Louis

• St. Louis, MO

Academic Highlights : WashU admits students into five schools, many of which offer nationally recognized programs: Arts & Sciences, the Olin School of Business, the School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, and the Art of Architecture programs housed within the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. The most commonly conferred degrees are in engineering (13%), social sciences (13%), business (13%), biology (11%), and psychology (10%). 66% of classes have fewer than 20 students, and over one-quarter have single-digit enrollments. 65% double major or pursue a minor.

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2022 sent 52% of grads into the workforce and 28% into graduate and professional schools. Companies employing the highest number of WashU grads feature sought-after employers such as Amazon, Bain, Boeing, Deloitte, Google, IBM, Goldman Sachs, and Microsoft. Of the employed members of the Class of 2022 who reported their starting salaries, 79% made more than $60k. The universities welcoming the largest number of Bears included the prestigious institutions of Caltech, Columbia, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Stanford.

• Enrollment: 8,132 (undergraduate); 8,880 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $83,760
• Median ACT: 34
• Acceptance Rate: 11%
• Retention Rate: 96%
• Graduation Rate: 93%

Emory University

• Atlanta, GA

Academic Highlights: This midsize university offers a diverse array of majors (80+) and minors (60+), and 30% of Emory students pursue more than one area of study. Over half of Emory’s student body works directly with a faculty member on academic research and 58% of courses have class sizes of under twenty students. Ultimately, the greatest number of students go on to earn degrees in the social sciences (15%), biology (14%), business (14%), health professions (12%), and mathematics (9%).

Professional Outcomes: Shortly after graduation, 66% of 2022 grads were already employed, and 96% had arrived at their next destination. The top employers of recent Emory grads include Deloitte, Epic, ScribeAmerica, Meta, Morgan Stanley, and Cloudmed. Graduates of the Goizueta Business School found strong starting salaries with an average of $81k.  In the last few years, multiple Emory grads/alums received acceptance letters from the following top law schools like Columbia, Berkeley, and Georgetown. Med school acceptances included Duke, Johns Hopkins, and Vanderbilt.

• Enrollment: 7,101
• Cost of Attendance: $83,702
• Median SAT: 1500
• Median ACT: 33
• Retention Rate: 95%
• Graduation Rate: 90%

Stanford University

• Palo Alto, CA

Academic Highlights: Stanford has three undergraduate schools: the School of Humanities & Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the School of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences. 69% of classes have fewer than twenty students, and 34% have a single-digit enrollment. Programs in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, international relations, and economics are arguably the best anywhere. In terms of sheer volume, the greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (17%), computer science (16%), engineering (15%), and interdisciplinary studies (13%).

Professional Outcomes: Stanford grads entering the working world flock to three major industries in equal distribution: business/finance/consulting/retail (19%); computer, IT (19%); and public policy and service, international affairs (19%). Among the companies employing the largest number of recent grads are Accenture, Apple, Bain, Cisco, Meta, Goldman Sachs, Google, McKinsey, Microsoft, and SpaceX. Other companies that employ hundreds of Cardinal alums include LinkedIn, Salesforce, and Airbnb. Starting salaries for Stanford grads are among the highest in the country.

• Enrollment: 8,049 (undergraduate); 10,236 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $87,833

Northwestern University

• Evanston, IL

Academic Highlights : Northwestern is home to six undergraduate schools, including Medill, which is widely regarded as one of the country’s best journalism schools. The McCormick School of Engineering also achieves top rankings, along with programs in economics, social policy, and theatre. The social sciences account for the greatest number of degrees conferred (19%), followed by communications/journalism (13%), and engineering (11%). 45% of classes have nine or fewer students enrolled; 78% have fewer than twenty enrollees. 57% of recent grads had the chance to conduct undergraduate research.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 69% of the Class of 2022 had found employment and 27% were in graduate school. The four most popular professional fields were consulting (18%), engineering (18%), business/finance (16%), and communications/marketing/media (13%). Employers included the BBC, NBC News, The Washington Post , NPR, Boeing, Google, IBM, Deloitte, PepsiCo, Northrop Grumman, and Goldman Sachs. Across all majors, the average starting salary was $73k. Of those headed straight to graduate school, engineering, medicine, and business were the three most popular areas of concentration.

• Enrollment: 8,659 (undergraduate); 14,073 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $91,290
• Graduation Rate: 97%

Duke University

Academic Highlights: The academic offerings at Duke include 53 majors, 52 minors, and 23 interdisciplinary certificates. Class sizes are on the small side—71% are nineteen or fewer, and almost one-quarter are less than ten. A stellar 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio helps keep classes so reasonable even while catering to five figures worth of graduate students. Computer Science is the most popular area of concentration (11%), followed by economics (10%), public policy (9%), biology (8%), and computer engineering (7%).

Professional Outcomes: At graduation, approximately 70% of Duke diploma-earners enter the world of work, 20% continue into graduate schools, and 2% start their own businesses. The industries that attract the largest percentage of Blue Devils are tech (21%), finance (15%), business (15%), healthcare (9%), and science/research (6%). Of the 20% headed into graduate school, a hefty 22% are attending medical school, 18% are in PhD programs, and 12% are entering law school. The med school acceptance rate is 85%, more than twice the national average.

• Enrollment: 6,640
• Cost of Attendance: $85,238
• SAT Range: 1490-1570
• ACT Range: 34-35
• Acceptance Rate: 6%

Yale University

• New Haven, CT

Academic Highlights: Yale offers 80 majors, most of which require a one- to two-semester senior capstone experience. Undergraduate research is a staple, and over 70% of classes—of which there are over 2,000 to choose from—have an enrollment of fewer than 20 students, making Yale a perfect environment for teaching and learning. Among the top departments are biology, economics, global affairs, engineering, history, and computer science. The social sciences (26%), biology (11%), mathematics (8%), and computer science (8%) are the most popular areas of concentration.

Professional Outcomes: Shortly after graduating, 73% of the Yale Class of 2022 had entered the world of employment and 18% matriculated into graduate programs. Hundreds of Yale alums can be found at each of the world’s top companies including Google, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Company, Morgan Stanley, and Microsoft. The most common industries entered by the newly hired were finance (20%), research/education (16%), technology (14%), and consulting (12%). The mean starting salary for last year’s grads was $81,769 ($120k for CS majors). Nearly one-fifth of students immediately pursue graduate school.

• Enrollment: 6,590 (undergraduate); 5,344 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $87,705
• Graduation Rate: 98%

Hamilton College

• Clinton, NY

Academic Highlights: The student-to-faculty ratio is 9:1, and without any pesky graduate students to get in the way, face time with professors is a regular occurrence. In fact, 28% of all classes have nine or fewer students; 72% have nineteen or fewer. Economics, government, and biology are among the strongest and most popular majors; other standout programs include public policy, mathematics, and environmental studies. Thirty percent of students earn social science degrees, with biology (13%), visual and performing arts (9%), physical science (7%), and foreign languages (7%) next in line.

Professional Outcomes: Examining the 491 graduates in Hamilton’s Class of 2022, an enviable 97% wasted no time landing jobs, graduate school acceptances, or fellowships. The most commonly entered industries were finance (17%), education (13%), business (12%), and science/tech (11%). Only 17% of 2022 graduates went directly into an advanced degree program. In one recent year, 33% of Hamilton grads were studying a STEM field, 22% were in the social sciences, 17% pursued a health care degree, and 5% went to law school.

• Enrollment: 2,075
• Cost of Attendance: $82,430
• Median SAT: 1490
• Acceptance Rate: 12%
• Graduation Rate: 92%

Princeton University

• Princeton, NJ

Academic Highlights: 39 majors are available at Princeton. Just under three-quarters of class sections have an enrollment of 19 or fewer students, and 31% have fewer than ten students. Princeton is known for its commitment to undergraduate teaching, and students consistently rate professors as accessible and helpful. The Engineering Department is widely recognized as one of the country’s best, as is the School of Public and International Affairs.

Professional Highlights: Over 95% of a typical Tiger class finds their next destination within six months of graduating. Large numbers of recent grads flock to the fields of business and engineering, health/science, & tech. Companies presently employing hundreds of Tiger alumni include Google, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, Morgan Stanley, IBM, and Meta. The average salary ranges from $40k (education, health care, or social services) to $100k (computer/mathematical positions). Between 15-20% of graduating Tigers head directly to graduate/professional school.

• Enrollment: 5,604 (undergraduate); 3,238 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $86,700

Carnegie Mellon University

• Pittsburgh, PA

Academic Highlights: There are a combined 80+ undergraduate majors and 90 minors available across the six schools. Impressively, particularly for a school with more graduate students than undergrads, CMU boasts a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes, with 36% containing single digits. In a given school year, 800+ undergraduates conduct research through the University Research Office. The most commonly conferred degrees are in engineering (21%), computer science (16%), mathematics (12%), business (10%), and visual and performing arts (9%).

Professional Outcomes: By the end of the calendar year in which they received their diplomas, 66% of 2022 grads were employed, and 28% were continuing to graduate school. The companies that have routinely scooped up CMU grads include Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Accenture, McKinsey, and Deloitte. With an average starting salary of $105,194, CMU grads outpace the average starting salary for a college grad nationally. Of those pursuing graduate education, around 20% typically enroll immediately in PhD programs.

• Enrollment: 7,509
• Cost of Attendance: $84,412

University of Iowa

• Iowa City, IA

Academic Highlights: 200+ undergraduate majors, minors, and certificate programs are available across eight colleges, including the Tippie College of Business, which has a very strong reputation. The most commonly conferred degree is business (24%), with parks and recreation (10%), social sciences (8%), health professions (8%), engineering (7%), and communication & journalism (5%) next in popularity. Over half of its undergraduate sections enroll 19 or fewer students, and 30% of undergrads conduct or assist research.

Professional Outcomes: 96% of Class of 2022 grads found their first job or advanced degree program within six months of receiving their diploma. The most commonly entered industries were healthcare (23%), entertainment/the arts (14%), finance and insurance (11%), and marketing/PR (10%). Companies that employ hundreds of alumni include Wells Fargo, Collins Aerospace, Principal Financial Group, Amazon, Accenture, and Microsoft. The median salary for 2022 grads was $50,000. 28% of recent graduates went directly into graduate school; 76% remained at the University of Iowa.

• Enrollment: 22,130 (undergraduate); 7,912 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $28,846-$32,259 (in-state); $50,809-$54,822 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1240
• Median ACT: 25
• Acceptance Rate: 85%
• Retention Rate: 89%
• Graduation Rate: 73%

Emerson College

Academic Highlights: All 26 majors offered by the school have some element of performance or artistry and include highly unique academic concentrations such as comedic arts, sports communication, and musical theater. Emerson has a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 69% of courses seat fewer than 20 students. The Journalism and Communications Studies programs rank among the top in the country. By sheer popularity, the top majors are film/video production, journalism, marketing, theater arts, and creative writing.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of leaving Emerson, 61% of recent grads were employed, 4% were enrolled in graduate school, and 35% were still seeking their next landing spot. Top employers include the Walt Disney Company, Warner Media, Sinclair Broadcast Group, and CNN. The average full-time salary for employed grads is $40,255. Of those entering a master’s program, the bulk stay put, pursuing a master’s at Emerson in an area like writing for film and television, creative writing, or journalism.

• Enrollment: 4,149
• Cost of Attendance: $73,000
• Median SAT: 1360
• Median ACT: 31
• Acceptance Rate: 43%
• Retention Rate: 86%
• Graduation Rate: 77%

University of Southern California

• Los Angeles, CA

Academic Highlights : There are 140 undergraduate majors and minors within the Dornsife College of Arts & Sciences alone, the university’s oldest and largest school. The Marshall School of Business, Viterbi School of Engineering, and programs in communication, the cinematic arts, and the performing arts are highly acclaimed. Popular areas of study are business (22%), social sciences (11%), visual and performing arts (11%), communications/journalism (9%), and engineering (8%). Most courses enroll 10-19 students, and USC does an excellent job facilitating undergraduate research opportunities.

Professional Outcomes: 96% of undergrads experience positive postgraduation outcomes within six months of earning their degree. The top five industries entered were finance, consulting, advertising, software development, and engineering; the median salary across all majors is an astounding $79k. Presently, between 300 and 1,500 alumni are employed at each of Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, KPMG, Goldman Sachs, and Meta. Graduate/professional schools enrolling the greatest number of 2022 USC grads include NYU, Georgetown, Harvard, Stanford, Pepperdine, and UCLA.

• Enrollment: 20,699 (undergraduate); 28,246 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $90,921
• Median SAT: 1510

Cornell University

Academic Highlights: A diverse array of academic programs includes 80 majors and 120 minors spread across the university’s seven schools/colleges. Classes are a bit larger at Cornell than at many other elite institutions. Still, 55% of sections have fewer than 20 students. Most degrees conferred in 2022 were in computer science (17%), engineering (13%), business (13%), and biology (13%). The SC Johnson College of Business houses two undergraduate schools, both of which have phenomenal reputations.

Professional Outcomes: Breaking down the graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences, the largest school at Cornell, 68% entered the workforce, 28% entered graduate school, 1% pursued other endeavors such as travel or volunteer work, and the remaining 3% were still seeking employment six months after receiving their diplomas. The top sectors attracting campus-wide graduateswere financial services (18%), technology (17%), consulting (15%), and education (10%). Of the students from A&S going on to graduate school, 15% were pursuing JDs, 5% MDs, and 22% PhDs.

• Enrollment: 15,735
• Cost of Attendance: $88,150
• Median SAT: 1520

Oberlin College

• Oberlin, OH

Academic Highlights: Over 40 majors are available at Oberlin, which is an extremely strong provider of a liberal arts education. 79% of classes had 19 or fewer students enrolled. The greatest number of degrees conferred are typically in music, political science, biology, psychology, and history. The Conservatory of Music has a worldwide reputation, and programs in the natural sciences are similarly strong, leading to remarkable medical school acceptance rates and a high number of future PhD scientists and researchers.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months, 74% of recent grads found employment, 17% enrolled in graduate school, and just 5% were still seeking employment. Multiple recent grads were hired by Google, Netflix, and Sony Pictures. Over the last few years, multiple students have gone on to pursue advanced degrees at Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Brown, Columbia, Princeton, and the University of Michigan. Oberlin also has a reputation for churning out future PhDs and, is among the top 20 schools (per capita) across all disciplines in producing graduates who go on to earn their doctoral degrees.

• Enrollment: 2,986
• Cost of Attendance: $85,496
• Median SAT: 1400-1540
• Median ACT: 32-34
• Acceptance Rate: 33%
• Retention Rate: 87%
• Graduation Rate: 83%

University of Pittsburgh

Academic Highlights: Pitt admits freshmen to the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the Swanson School of Engineering, and the School of Nursing. Pitt’s engineering and business schools are top-rated and among the most commonly chosen fields of study. Premed offerings are also top-notch, with majors in the health professions (12%), biology (11%), psychology (9%), and computer science (9%) rounding out the list of most popular majors. Pitt has a strong 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio; 42% of sections have an enrollment of under twenty students.

Professional Outcomes: Within a few months of graduating, 94% of 2022 grads entered full-time employment or full-time graduate or professional school. Engineering, nursing, business, and information sciences majors had 73-86% employment rates while other majors tended to flock to graduate school in large numbers. Employers scooping up the highest number of grads in one recent year included the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (170), PNC (57), BNY Mellon (36), and Deloitte (19). Median starting salaries fluctuated between $37k-65k depending on major.

• Enrollment: 20,220 (undergraduate); 9,268 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $38,034-$43,254 (in-state); $56,400-$66,840 (out-of-state)
• Acceptance Rate: 50%
• Retention Rate: 92%
• Graduation Rate: 84%

Swarthmore College

• Swarthmore, PA

Academic Highlights: Swarthmore offers forty undergraduate programs and runs 600+ courses each academic year. Small, seminar-style courses are the norm—an outstanding 33% of sections enroll fewer than ten students, and 70% contain a maximum of nineteen students. Social science degrees are the most commonly conferred, accounting for 24% of all 2022 graduates. Future businessmen/women, engineers, and techies are also well-positioned, given Swat’s incredibly strong offerings in economics, engineering, and computer science.

Professional Outcomes: 68% of Class of 2022 grads entered the workforce shortly after graduation. Popular industries included education (17%), consulting (16%), and financial services (13%); the median starting salary was $60,000. Google is a leading employer of Swarthmore grads followed by Amazon, Goldman Sachs, IBM, and a number of the top universities.  18% of 2022 grads pursued advanced degrees, with 35% pursuing a PhD, 35% entering master’s programs, 10% heading to law school, and 7% matriculating into medical school.

• Enrollment: 1,625
• Cost of Attendance: $81,376
• Graduation Rate: 94%

Bryn Mawr College

• Bryn Mawr, PA

Academic Highlights: On the home campus, undergraduates can choose from 35 majors and 50 minors. Roughly 35% of the student body earns degrees in the natural sciences or mathematics, a figure four times the national average for women. By volume, the most popular majors are mathematics, psychology, biology, English, and computer science. An 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio leads to small class sizes with 74% of sections having fewer than twenty students, and 24% of sections enrolling nine students or fewer.

Professional Outcomes: One year after receiving their diplomas, 57% of Bryn Mawr graduates had found employment and a robust 28% had already entered graduate school. Most of the organizations employing the greatest number of alumni are universities and hospital systems, although Google, Accenture, JPMorgan Chase, and Vanguard do employ a fair number of Bryn Mawr graduates. Among recent grads pursuing further education, 63% were in master’s programs, 13% were already working on their PhD, and 10% were in medical school.

• Enrollment: 1,409
• Cost of Attendance: $79,880
• Median SAT: 1400
• Acceptance Rate: 31%
• Retention Rate: 90%

Wellesley College

• Wellesley, MA

Academic Highlights: There are 50+ departmental and interdisciplinary majors. Thirty-six percent of course sections have single-digit enrollments while 77% have 19 or fewer students. In addition, opportunities for participation in research with faculty members abound. Most programs possess sterling reputations, including chemistry, computer science, neuroscience, and political science, but the Department of Economics shines most brightly, leading many into PhD programs and high-profile careers. Economics, biology, and computer science are the most frequently conferred degrees.

Professional Outcomes : Six months after graduating, 97% of the Class of 2022 had achieved positive outcomes. Of the 76% of grads who were employed, 24% were working in the finance/consulting/business fields, 17% in education, 17% in internet and technology & engineering, and 15% in healthcare/life sciences. Top employers included JPMorgan Chase, Google, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Goldman Sachs. The average starting salary for one recent cohort was a solid $63k. Of the 20% of 2022 grads who directly entered an advanced degree program, common schools attended included Harvard, Columbia, Brown, Stanford, MIT, and Emory.

• Enrollment: 2,447
• Cost of Attendance: $84,240
• Acceptance Rate: 14%

Colby College

• Waterville, ME

Academic Highlights: Offering 56 majors and 35 minors, Colby provides a classic liberal arts education with a high degree of flexibility and room for independent intellectual pursuits. A 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio is put to good instructional use as roughly two-thirds of courses have fewer than 19 students. Being a true liberal arts school, Colby has strengths across many disciplines, but biology, economics, and global studies draw especially high praise. These programs along with government and environmental science attract the highest number of students.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 93% of the Class of 2022 had either obtained jobs or were enrolled full-time in a graduate program. Eighteen percent of graduates enter the financial industry and large numbers also start careers in education, with government/nonprofit, STEM, and healthcare next in popularity. The Medical school acceptance rate over the past five years is 68%, nearly double the national average.

• Enrollment: 2,299
• Cost of Attendance: $86,720
• Average SAT: 1485
• Average ACT: 33
• Acceptance Rate: 8%
• Retention Rate: 93%
• Graduation Rate: 87%

University of Michigan

• Ann Arbor, MI

Academic Highlights: There are 280+ undergraduate degree programs across fourteen schools and colleges, and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) enrolls the majority of students. The Ross School of Business offers highly rated programs in entrepreneurship, management, accounting, and finance. The College of Engineering is also one of the best in the country. By degrees conferred, engineering (15%), computer science (14%), and the social sciences (11%) are most popular. A solid 56% of classes have fewer than 20 students.

Professional Outcomes: Within three months of graduating, 89% of LSA grads are employed full-time or in graduate school, with healthcare, education, law, banking, research, nonprofit work, and consulting being the most popular sectors. Within three months, 99% of Ross grads are employed with a median salary of $90k. Top employers include Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, EY, Morgan Stanley, PwC, Deloitte, and Amazon.  Within six months, 96% of engineering grads are employed (average salary of $84k) or in grad school. General Motors, Ford, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta employ the greatest number of alumni.

• Enrollment: 32,695 (undergraduate); 18,530 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $35,450 (in-state); $76,294 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1470
• Acceptance Rate: 18%

Bucknell University

• Lewisburg, PA

Academic Highlights: Over 60 majors and 70 minors are on tap across three undergraduate schools: the College of Arts & Sciences, Freeman College of Management, and the College of Engineering. Getting well-acquainted with your professors is easy with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio, and class sizes are reasonably small. The greatest number of degrees are conferred in the areas of the social sciences (26%), engineering (14%), business (14%), biology (11%), and psychology (9%).

Professional Outcomes: Nine months after graduation, 94% of the Class of 2022 had launched their careers or entered graduate school. Financial services is the most common sector for Bucknell grads to enter, attracting 24% of alumni. Across all disciplines, the average salary for a Class of 2022 grad was $69,540. Bucknell saw 18% of 2022 grads go directly into an advanced degree program. Bison alumni heading to graduate school predominantly pursue degrees in the medical field, social sciences, business, or engineering.

• Enrollment: 3,747
• Cost of Attendance: $80,890
• Median SAT: 1380
• Median ACT: 32
• Retention Rate: 91%

Haverford College

• Haverford, PA

Academic Highlights: Haverford offers 31 majors, 32 minors, 12 concentrations, and eleven consortium programs—areas of study that can be pursued at partner campuses. The school’s 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and exclusive emphasis on undergraduate education lead to exceptionally intimate classes, 33% of which have fewer than 10 students, and 72% have fewer than 20. The most popular areas of study at Haverford include the social sciences (24%), biology (14%), psychology (11%), physical sciences (10%), computer science (9%), and mathematics (7%).

Professional Outcomes: Six months after leaving Haverford, 63% of the Class of 2022 had found employment, 19% had enrolled in graduate school, and 9% were still job hunting. Employers hiring multiple recent Haverford grads include Epic, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Boston Consulting Group, Goldman Sachs, the National Institutes of Health, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Of the 19% of 2022 grads who elected to continue their education, the most commonly entered fields of study were STEM (51%) and medicine/health (15%).

• Enrollment: 1,421
• Cost of Attendance: $87,180
• Graduation Rate: 91%

Colorado College

• Colorado Springs, CO

Academic Highlights: Rather than the typical semester schedule, Colorado College operates on the “block plan,” a series of eight three-and-half-week periods during which students take only one course. You won’t find a more intimate liberal arts college than CC. Classes have a cap of 25 students, and no more than a handful of courses exceed that figure. The average class consists of 16 students. In terms of sheer volume, most degrees are conferred in the social sciences (28%), biology (17%), natural resources and conservation (8%), and physical science (6%).

Professional Outcomes: Among the Class of 2022, an impressive 99% arrived successfully at their next destination within six months of earning their diploma. The largest number of graduates who pursue employment end up in the fields of education, technology, health care, the arts, and government.  The bachelor’s degree earned at Colorado College is unlikely to be the last degree a graduate will earn. Five years after graduation, the typical cohort sees 70-90% of its members having either completed or finishing an advanced degree.

• Enrollment: 2,180
• Cost of Attendance: $87,128
• Acceptance Rate: 16%
• Graduation Rate: 86%

Brandeis University

• Waltham, MA

Academic Highlights: Brandeis offers 43 majors, the most popular of which are in the social sciences (18%), biology (17%), business (10%), psychology (8%), public administration (8%), and computer science (7%). The student-faculty ratio is 11:1, and 60% of courses contain nineteen or fewer students. Departments with a particularly strong national reputation include economics, international studies, and sociology as well as all of the traditional premed pathways including biology, and chemistry.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 98% of the Class of 2022 had found their way to employment (59%), graduate school (35%), or another full-time activity like travel or volunteer work (4%). Members of the Class of 2022 were hired by Red Hat, Deloitte, Nasdaq, NPR, and McKinsey & Company. The average starting salary for recent grads is $61k. A large contingent of grads elects to continue at Brandeis for graduate school. Many others go to BU, Columbia, Duke, Harvard, and Yale.

• Enrollment: 3,687
• Cost of Attendance: $86,242
• Median SAT: 1440
• Acceptance Rate: 39%

Macalester College

• St. Paul, MN

Academic Highlights: Students can choose from roughly 40 majors and over 800 courses that are offered each academic year . Being an undergraduate-only institution, Macalester students enjoy the full benefits of the school’s 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The average class size is only 17 students, and 14% of class sections have single-digit enrollments. Macalester possesses strong offerings across many different disciplines. Programs in economics, international studies, and mathematics are among the best anywhere.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 95% of the Macalester Class of 2022 had found employment, graduate school, or a fellowship. Employers of recent grads include ABC News, Google, Goldman Sachs, Dow Chemical Company, McKinsey & Company, the ACLU, the National Cancer Institute, and National Geographic . Across all sectors, the average starting salary for recent grads was above $62k. Sixty percent of Mac grads pursue an advanced degree within six years of earning their bachelor’s.

• Enrollment: 2,175
• Cost of Attendance: $79,890
• Median SAT: 1430
• Acceptance Rate: 28%
• Retention Rate: 88%

Barnard College

Academic Highlights: Barnard has a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, and a sensational 71% of courses are capped at nineteen or fewer students; 18% have fewer than ten. Many get the chance to engage in research alongside a professor as 240+ undergraduates are granted such an opportunity through the Summer Research Institute each year. Barnard’s most popular majors, by number of degrees conferred, include economics, English, political science, history, psychology, neuroscience, computer science, and art history.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduation, 91% of 2022 Barnard grads had found employment or were enrolled in a graduate program. JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Blackrock, Citibank, and Morgan Stanley all appear on the list of the top fifteen employers of Barnard alumni. Within ten years of graduation, over 80% of Barnard alums eventually enroll in graduate school. Those entering graduate school flock in large numbers to Columbia, with 112 heading there over the last three years.

• Enrollment: 3,442
• Cost of Attendance: $90,928
• Acceptance Rate: 9%

Georgetown University

• Washington, D.C.

Academic Highlights: The student-faculty ratio is 11:1, and 60% of classes enroll fewer than 20 students. While some classes are a bit larger, only 7% cross the 50-student threshold. Those desiring to join the world of politics or diplomacy are in the right place. The Government and International Affairs programs are among the best in the country. The greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (38%) followed by business (20%), interdisciplinary studies (8%), and biology (7%).

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 75% of members of the Class of 2022 entered the workforce, 19% went directly into a graduate or professional program of study, and 3% were still seeking employment. The Class of 2022 sent massive numbers of graduates to a number of major corporations including JPMorgan Chase (22), Citi (21), BOA (18), Morgan Stanley (16), and EY (10). Those attending grad school stay at Georgetown or flock to other elite schools like Columbia and Harvard.

• Enrollment: 7,900
• Cost of Attendance: $85,000

Elon University

Academic Highlights: Students choose from 70 majors and can add a number of interesting minors like adventure-based learning, coaching, and multimedia authoring. Elon’s 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio leads to an average class size of 20 students; 51% of sections contain fewer than 20 students. The areas in which the greatest number of degrees are conferred are business (29%), journalism/communication (20%), social sciences (8%), the visual and performing arts (6%), and psychology (6%).

Professional Outcomes: Results of a survey administered nine months after graduation found that 96% of the Class of 2022 had found employment, a graduate school, or an internship. Top employers of recent Elon graduates include Bloomberg, Deloitte, EY, Google, Goldman Sachs, Red Ventures, and Wells Fargo. Recent business grads enjoyed a median salary of $61k while communications majors earned $47k. Just under one-quarter of recent grads gained acceptance into graduate/professional school and many remain at Elon.

• Enrollment: 6,337
• Cost of Attendance: $66,657
• Median SAT: 1260
• Median ACT: 28
• Acceptance Rate: 78%

DePauw University

• Greencastle, IN

Academic Highlights: No matter which of the 40+ majors you pursue at DePauw, you will enjoy the benefits of small class sizes and face time with faculty. A 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and the fact that only four class sections in the whole university enroll more than 29 students assures that. The greatest number of DePauw undergrads earn degrees in the social sciences (17%), biology (10%), the visual/performing arts (9%), communication/journalism (8%), and computer science (6%).

Professional Outcomes: The university’s “Gold Commitment” guarantees that all grads will land at their next destination within six months, or they will be provided with an entry-level professional opportunity or an additional tuition-free semester. Top employers of DePauw grads include Eli Lilly and Company, IBM, Northern Trust Corporation, AT&T, and Procter & Gamble. Tigers applying to graduate and professional schools experience high levels of success. Of medical school applicants who earned a 3.6 GPA and scored in the 80th percentile on the MCAT, 90% are accepted to at least one institution.

• Enrollment: 1,752
• Cost of Attendance: $74,400
• Acceptance Rate: 66%
• Graduation Rate: 79%

University of Washington – Seattle

• Seattle, WA

Academic Highlights: 180+ undergraduate majors are offered across thirteen colleges/schools. Personal connections with professors abound as 55% of grads complete a faculty-mentored research project. The College of Engineering, which includes the College of Computer Science & Engineering, is one of the best in the nation; UW also boasts strong programs in everything from business to social work to environmental science. The most popular degrees are the social sciences (13%), biology (12%), computer science (11%), and business (8%).

Professional Outcomes: Within months of graduation, 73% of Class of 2022 grads were employed and 17% were continuing their education. The most popular employers of the Class of 2022 included Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, and KPMG. Across all living alumni, 6,000+ work for Microsoft, and 4000+ work for each of Boeing and Amazon. Of those headed to graduate/professional school, just over half remain in state, mostly at UW itself. Large numbers of 2022 grads also headed to Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and USC.

• Enrollment: 36,872 (undergraduate); 16,211 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $34,554 (in-state); $63,906 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1420
• Acceptance Rate: 48%
• Retention Rate: 94%

We hope you have found our list of the Best Colleges for Creative Writing to be useful and informative as you continue your college search process. We also invite you to check out some of our other resources and tools including:

• AP Score Calculators 
• SAT Score Calculator 
• ACT Score Calculator
• Best Summer Programs 
• College List Building Tool
• Best Colleges by Major

Andrew Belasco

A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.

• 2-Year Colleges
• Application Strategies
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Essay
• College Search/Knowledge
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• Graduate School Admissions
• High School Success
• High Schools
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Private High School Spotlight
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

“Innovative and invaluable…use this book as your college lifeline.”

— Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Nationally Recognized College Expert

College Planning in Your Inbox

Join our information-packed monthly newsletter.

I am a... Student Student Parent Counselor Educator Other First Name Last Name Email Address Zip Code Area of Interest Business Computer Science Engineering Fine/Performing Arts Humanities Mathematics STEM Pre-Med Psychology Social Studies/Sciences Submit

Creative Writing Concentration Requirements

The creative writing concentration at MSU offers students a program that blends foundational work in literary studies, exploration of creative writing in multiple genres, and a focused capstone experience.  Students graduate with a B.A. in English, but their diplomas note their dedicated commitment to creative writing.  Beginning with the same foundation as other English majors, students also work at the introductory and advanced level in at least two different genres of creative writing.  Many then choose to write a senior thesis in a single genre, creating in the last year of study a collection of poems or stories, a novel, or a finished screenplay; students might also pursue internships in writing and editing.  Our program provides many co-curricular events and opportunities, including a reading series, writing workshops, brown bag lunch conversations with faculty and visiting writers.  The Michigan State University English Department is also home to Red Cedar Review, one of the oldest student-managed literary journals in the United States.

Students who matriculated prior to Fall 2022 will find their degree requirements here.

English Requirements for Concentration in Creative Writing (34-40 credits):

• AL 250: Career Exploration Strategies for Arts and Letters Students (1 credit)
• AL 460: Advanced Career Strategies (1 credit)
• Experiential learning course, for students to attend literary events on campus and as outreach within the local community. 
• Writing-intensive course in close reading, with substantial attention to poetry, drama, and narrative prose, drawing broadly on texts taken from more than one century and more than one national literature.
• Literary and critical theory. How literature is constituted and how representation works. Assumptions behind and limits of a range of theoretical approaches. Application of theory to literary texts.
• Reflection on the theories and practices of literary history, as seen through the specific lens of creative writing.
• ENG 223: Introduction to Creative Non-Fiction Writing (3 credits each)
• ENG 226: Introduction to Creative Writing (3 credits)
• ENG 228: Introduction to Fiction Writing (3 credits)
• ENG 229: Introduction to Poetry Writing (3 credits)
• FLM 334: Introduction to Screenwriting (3 credits)
• ENG 360 Studies in Postcolonial and Diaspora Literature (W) (3 credits)
• ENG 362 Studies in Modern/Contemporary Literature (W) (3 credits)
• ENG 364 Studies in 18th-/19th-Century Literature (W) (3 credits)
• ENG 368 Studies in Medieval/Early Modern Literature (W) (3 credits)
• ENG 413 Critical Questions in Language and Composition (W) (3 credits)
• ENG 499 Senior Thesis Research (W) (3 credits)
• ENG 350: Readings in African, African American, or African Diaspora Literature (3 credits)
• ENG 351: Readings in Chicano and Latino Literatures (3 credits)
• ENG 352: Readings in Asian or Asian American Literature (3 credits)
• ENG 353: Readings in Women Writers (3 credits)
• ENG 354: Readings in Native American Literature (3 credits)
• ENG 355: Readings in Sexuality and Literature (3 credits)
• ENG 356: Readings in Jewish Literature (3 credits)
• ENG 360: Studies in Postcolonial and Diaspora Literature (W) (3 credits)
• ENG 448: Seminar in Gender and Literature (3 credits)
• ENG 449: Seminar in Race, Ethnicity, Literature (3 credits)
• ENG 450 Seminar in African American Literature (3 credits)
• ENG 460: Seminar in Global and Postcolonial Literature (3 credits)
• ENG 466: Seminar in Literatures of the Pacific Rim (3 credits)
• ENG 482: Seminar in Feminist Literary and Cultural Theory (3 credits)
• FLM 450: Studies in Ethnic Film (3 credits)
• FLM 451: Studies in Postcolonial Cinema (3 credits)
• FLM 452: Studies in Film, Gender, and Sexuality (3 credits) *If ENG 360, 450, or 460 is used to fulfill this requirement it may not be used to fulfill the Tier II Writing requirement.
• ENG 318: Readings in Shakespeare (3 credits)
• ENG 324: Readings in Epic (3 credits)
• ENG 368: Studies in Medieval/Early Modern Literature (W) (3 credits)
• ENG 441: Seminar in Early American Literature (3 credits)
• ENG 454: Seminar in Medieval Literature and Culture (3 credits)
• ENG 455: Seminar in Early Modern Literature (3 credits)
• ENG 457: Seminar in 18th Century British Literature (3 credits) *If ENG 368 is used to fulfill this requirement it may not be used to fulfill the Tier II Writing requirement.
• ENG 423: Advanced Creative Non-Fiction Writing (3 credits)
• ENG 428: Advanced Fiction Writing (3 credits)
• ENG 429: Advanced Poetry Writing (3 credits)
• FLM 434: Advanced Screenwriting (W) (3 credits)
• ENG 227: Introduction to Playwriting (3 credits)
• ENG 323 Readings in Nonfiction (3 credits)
• ENG 325 Readings in Graphic Narrative (3 credits)
• ENG 326 Readings in Drama and Performance Studies (3 credits)
• ENG 328 Readings in Novel and Narrative (3 credits)
• ENG 329 Readings in Poetry and Poetics (3 credits)
• ENG 342 Readings in Popular Literary Genres (3 credits)
• ENG 392 Special Topics in English: Creative Writing (3 credits)
• ENG 475 History of the Book: From Manuscripts to Comics (3 credits)
• FLM 337 Topics in Film Form (3 credits)
• FLM 355 Studies in Film Genres (3 credits)
• TE 458 Reading, Writing, and Teaching Poetry (3 credits)
• WRA 320 Technical Communication (W) (3 credits)
• WRA 355 Writing for Publication Workshop (3 credits)
• WRA 370 Introduction to Grammar and Editing (W) (3 credits)
• WRA 453 Grant and Proposal Writing (3 credits)
• WRA 471 Rhetoric of Grammar (3 credits)
• WRA 480 Publication Management II (3 credits) *Alternatively, an elective can be drawn from either the diversity in literature or literature before 1800 lists.
• ENG 483 Seminar in Literary Editing and Publishing (3 credits)
• ENG 484E Creative Writing Capstone (3 credits)
• ENG 489H Senior Honors Independent Project (4 credits)
• ENG 493 English Internship (4 credits)

See the “ Undergraduate Courses ” page for more information and examples of specific English courses. Alongside the requirements for the major, students must complete requirements for the University and for the College of Arts & Letters:

• Mathematics (1-2 courses, credits vary, see math website for more details)
• 1 course IAH 201-210 (4 credits)
• 1 course IAH 211 or higher (4 credits)
• 1 course ISS 200-level (4 credits)
• 1 course ISS 300-level (4 credits)
• ISB 200-level (3 credits)
• ISP 200-level (3 credits)
• ISB or ISP lab (2 credits)

*At least one IAH/ISS course must have an international focus (I), and one must have a national focus (D) as marked on the schedule of courses.

• Must demonstrate Second-Year Competency through “202” level
• Certain AP credit, tested proficiency, transfer credit at the appropriate level, or MSU coursework can fulfill this requirement
• Some languages have online placements tests
• See your advisor for more information
• An additional major, minor, 2nd degree, or thematically linked courses as approved by an advisor
• Minimum 15 credits, with 3 credits at 3xx/4xx level
• Internship, study abroad/away, research, service-learning
• View the Excel Network for additional information

Most students are left with room for general electives, and 120 total credits minimum are needed to graduate.

For more information about the program and/or your progress, speak with an advisor , visit Academic Programs , and review your information on student information systems .

• Bachelor of Arts in English
• Requirements
• Honors Information
• Selected Theses and Essays
• Learning Goals
• Alumni Profiles
• Undergraduate Departmental Representatives
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Career Resources
• Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing
• Creative Writing Honors Information
• Internships
• Beyond the Classroom
• Connected PhD
• Selected Dissertation Defenses
• Abstracts By Alumni
• Recent Course Listings
• Graduate Student Directory
• Graduate Student Conferences
• Faculty List
• Faculty by Interest
• OpenBook: An English Dept. Podcast
• Faculty Projects
• Brandeis Novel Symposium
• Events Fall '23 - Spring '24
• Past Events - Spring 2023
• Past Events - Fall 2022
• Challenging Anti-Blackness in Literary Studies
• Challenging Racial Knowledge in the University
• Degree Programs
• Majors and Minors
• Graduate Programs
• The Brandeis Core
• School of Arts and Sciences
• Brandeis Online
• Brandeis International Business School
• Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
• Heller School for Social Policy and Management
• Rabb School of Continuing Studies
• Precollege Programs
• Faculty and Researcher Directory
• Brandeis Library
• Academic Calendar
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Summer School
• Financial Aid
• Research that Matters
• Resources for Researchers
• Brandeis Researchers in the News
• Provost Research Grants
• Recent Awards
• Faculty Research
• Student Research
• Centers and Institutes
• Office of the Vice Provost for Research
• Office of the Provost
• Housing/Community Living
• Campus Calendar
• Student Engagement
• Clubs and Organizations
• Community Service
• Dean of Students Office
• Orientation
• Hiatt Career Center
• Spiritual Life
• Graduate Student Affairs
• Directory of Campus Contacts
• Division of Creative Arts
• Brandeis Arts Engagement
• Rose Art Museum
• Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts
• Theater Arts Productions
• Brandeis Concert Series
• Public Sculpture at Brandeis
• Women's Studies Research Center
• Creative Arts Award
• Our Jewish Roots
• The Framework for the Future
• Mission and Diversity Statements
• Distinguished Faculty
• Nobel Prize 2017
• Notable Alumni
• Administration
• Working at Brandeis
• Commencement
• Offices Directory
• Faculty & Staff
• Alumni & Friends
• Parents & Families
• 75th Anniversary
• New Students
• Shuttle Schedules
• Support at Brandeis

Department of English

This major may be declared upon the completion of three creative writing workshops (English courses ending in 9) and a course focused on close reading.

Courses only fulfill the requirement under which they are listed. See the full course listing .  For other restrictions, please see the section "Special Notes Relating to Undergraduates" in the Bulletin .

Creative Writing Major

Close Reading Course: ENG 10b, ENG 11a, or ENG 11b

Four Creative Writing workshops

One Pre-1800 course

• One Multicultural/World Anglophone course

Two elective courses (at least one must be offered by English Department Faculty)

One course in a studio or performing art.  Please be in touch with your advisor and complete a substitution request to have the course approved.

• There is no double counting between course categories listed above (i.e., Chaucer's "Global and Refugee Canterbury Tales" cannot count for both the pre-1800 and World Anglophone requirements). Foundational Literacies can be double counted for course categories listed above.

As of Fall 2019

Beginning with the fall 2019 class,  Creative Writing and English majors will need to fulfill the following Foundational Literacies within the major through the requirements listed above.

• Writing Intensive
• Oral Communication
• Digital Literacy

Double Major Requirements

This major may be declared upon the completion of three creative writing workshops (English courses ending in 9) and a course focused on close reading. Fourteen semester courses are required; fifteen if pursuing honors in literature or the poetry or fiction thesis option.

Double Major

• Close Reading Course: ENG 10b, ENG 11a or ENG 11b
• Two courses Pre-1800
• Two courses Post-1800
• One course in Literary Theory
• One course in Media/Film
• One elective course
• One course in a studio or performing art
• There is no double counting between course categories listed above (i.e., The Novel in India cannot count for both the World Anglophone and post-1800 requirements). Foundational Literacies amd 100-level courses can be double counted for course categories listed above.
• At least two of the above courses must be 100-level courses (excluding courses ending in 9).
• Four Creative Writing workshops 

Taken from "Special Notes Relating to Undergraduates"

For the full list of other restrictions, please see the section "Special Notes Relating to Undergraduates" in the Bulletin .

• A  maximum  of three courses taken outside the department may be counted toward the majors. This restriction includes cross-listed courses taken at Brandeis and courses taken while on study abroad; it does not apply to transfer credits (see "Special Notes Realing to Undergraduates"). Cross-listed courses taught by English Department faculty are considered within the department and are not included in this restriction.
• COMP and UWS courses do not count toward the major or minor requirements in English and Creative Writing.

Minor Requirements

Creative writing minor.

Five semester courses are required for the Creative Writing minor, including the following:

• Three creative writing workshops (English courses ending in 9) which can focus on any genre. See course category breakdown for list of creative writing workshops. Such courses facilitate writing under direction in a creative and critical community and are offered exclusively on a credit/no credit basis.
• Two ENG electives.
• The approval of one cross-listed, study abroad, or transfer course towards the minor requirements is subject to the approval of the department's undergraduate advising head.
•  Advanced Placement credit does not count toward the minor.
• A student wishing to double-minor in English and Creative Writing may double-count two courses, leading to a total number of 8 courses required for the two minors combined.
• Undergraduate English Program
• Senior Honors Track

Undergraduate Advising Heads

Contact Professors  Stephen McCauley or Liz Bradfield to learn more about how the Creative Writing curriculum is structured and what you would need to do to major in this field. 

Contact Professors William Flesch , Stephen McCauley or Liz Bradfield to learn more about the double major .

Major/Minor Declaration Form

Ian Terpin | University Communications

Creative Writing Minor

Linda A. Cicero | Stanford News Service

The Creative Writing minor offers a structured environment to explore your writing interests, develop your skills, and receive an introduction to literary forms.

Requirements

• The Creative Writing minor is 6 courses (26-30 units total), compatible with most majors on campus

Fiction into Film

• All courses must be taken for letter grades only
• All courses must be taken as 5 units, with the exception of English 160: Poetry and Poetics, the Short Story Literature course, and the English Literature elective
• Must be a LEC or SEM course
• Must be taken as 3-5 units
• If the course is an English course that is LEC or SEM and is 3-5 units, then it will satisfy this requirement
• If the course is  not  an English course but it is LEC or SEM and is 3-5 units, then submit a Course Substitution for review
• Subject to approval, the English Literature elective course may be taken at another institution
• Workshop courses taken abroad or at other institutions may not count towards the minor

For a full breakdown of the minor's requirements, visit the Stanford Bulletin .

• Any ENGLISH 90 series course
• Any ENGLISH 91 series course
• List of approved courses
• Any ENGLISH 92 series course  (5 units)
• Any ENGLISH 190 series course
• Any ENGLISH 191 series course
• ENGLISH 290: Advanced Fiction Writing
• ENGLISH 291: Advanced Creative Nonfiction
• One elective course in English Literature (3-5 units)

Total Units: 26-30

• Any ENGLISH 92 series course (5 units)
• Any ENGLISH 90 series course
• ENGLISH 160: Poetry and Poetics (3-5 units)
• Any ENGLISH 192 series course
• ENGLISH 292: Advanced Poetry Writing
• ENGLISH 90: Fiction Writing  (5 units)
• ENGLISH 190F: Fiction into Film (5 units)
• ENGLISH 190SW: Screenwriting Intensive (5 units)

How to Declare

Declare the Creative Writing minor no later than the deadline for your application to graduate. To declare, visit the Student page in Axess .

Students may not double-count courses for their major and/or minor requirements.

If pursuing a minor, you must complete a  Major-Minor and Multiple Major Course Approval Form  through the eForms portal in Axess . On the form, indicate which courses you plan to apply toward each major and any minor(s). Our program and your major department will certify your plan of study meets all major and any minor(s) requirements.

Substitutions may be necessary to successfully meet the minor's requirements. To request a substitution for a Creative Writing course, fill out the Course Substitution Form below. The program will notify you once your request is reviewed.

For general information about undergraduate minors, visit the Registrar's website .

Course Substitution Form

Specialized Info

Utility Links

Creative Writing

Finding your own voice—that’s what the creative writing major at Earlham offers. You’ll do substantial work in the creative genre(s) of your choice, including a major guided portfolio project as a senior, and explore how your and others’ writing can make a positive difference in the world. 

Since good readers make good writers, you’ll also engage with a wide variety of literary texts from different periods and voices, together with a wide range of theoretical approaches on how and why literature matters. You’ll hone your craft as a writer, experiment with different writing techniques, and learn how to communicate with diverse audiences and engage the literary marketplace and publication process.

Start your adventure

Sign up for more information about Earlham College.

Earlham alums have earned MFAs at programs such as the University of California at Irvine, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Columbia University, and CUNY/ Queens College. Prize-winning alumni writers include Mat Johnson, Maurice Manning and Leah Naomi Green.

“Earlham’s creative writing workshops provided a safe and supportive space to explore not only genre, form, and method, but who I am as a writer. Sharing work and feedback with professors and peers helped me grow as a creator, a reader, and an editor.  I’ve now gone on to receive my MFA in Creative Writing so that I can continue this work that was the highlight of my college experience.”

Sunset Combs, ’19

“Poetry is more than just reciting words or understanding how to use literary devices. Poetry is life. I write about anything and everything that happens to me, both the good and the bad. Poetry is in me, and I’m thinking about it always.”

Charles Davis, ’18

“Earlham supported and valued my attentiveness to life with—and through—language. That support was integral to writing my first full-length book of poetry, The More Extravagant Feast , which won the Walt Whitman Award of the Academy of American Poets in 2019, and the Lucille Clifton Legacy Award, which followed.”

Leah Naomi Green, ’05

Walt Whitman Award winner

Writing in pursuit of truth

Creative writing allows us to pursue truth in a variety of forms. Through storytelling and the written word, writers are able to lay bare the truths we see in the world, bring forth new or underrepresented voices and create connection.

Opportunities

The Bain-Swigget Poetry Prize and the Gettman Prize award Earlhamites for their works of prose, fiction or poetry.

Earlham also offers its Creative Writing majors memberships to AWP (The Association of Writers and Writing Programs), which offers a host of online resources related to writing and publication, along with the chance to attend one national AWP conference during their undergraduate career.

Hands-on experience

The Crucible , established in 1956, is a student-run literary magazine that publishes works by Earlham students. As a student staff member, you will gain invaluable experience in editing and publishing.

Our faculty

Our faculty write and teach in a variety of genres, including poetry, fiction and playwriting and serve as advisers for the student literary magazine, The Crucible .

Frequently asked questions

As a student in the creative writing program, you’ll take 11 four-credit courses, culminating in a capstone course. In the capstone, you’ll be asked to write a manifesto about why and how you write, as well as a creative piece that exemplifies this.

What types of jobs do creative writing graduates pursue?

The creative writing program prepares you for a number of careers in writing and communications—fields that are only growing as companies and individuals rely more and more on digital media.

As a graduate, you may pursue careers in editing, publishing, copywriting, technical writing, UX writing, journalism, marketing and communications, and a variety of other fields.

What kinds of off-campus study programs and internships are available?

In addition to off-campus study programs and research experiences with faculty in places like London and Tibet, students have also participated in a variety of internships. Recently, students have interned at the Indiana Review as a submissions intern, at GenNow as a media and writing intern, and at Writers House as an editorial intern.

Visit the Earlham Center for Global and Career Education to learn more about available off-campus study programs, research experiences and internships.

How do I know if this program is right for me?

The creative writing program is for students who have a passion for writing and want to hone their craft. If you love communicating ideas to others in effective and compelling ways, this is the major for you.

Happening on campus

Brown bag recital, esg general meeting, eid al fitr, fun home musical performance, sounds of the caribbean soccer game, bsu and sab block party, college meeting for worship, gospel revs concert, debunking african myths, ihsa team informational meeting, resurrecting church with activist and author shane claiborne, building a world beyond violence with shane claiborne, epic expo welcome and kick-off, epic expo poster session, epic expo snack session.

• Find your program
• Request info
• Plan your campus visit
• Fill out an application

Creative Writing Core Requirements (12 Hours)

Poetry (12 hours).

• ENGL 3150A - Introduction to Creative Writing - Poetry 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3150C - Introduction to Creative Writing: Poetry, Fiction, & Creative Nonfiction 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3170 - Poetic Techniques 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3180A - Contemporary Poetry 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 4310A - Senior Seminar: Workshop in Poetry-CTW 3 Credit Hours

Fiction (12 Hours)

• ENGL 3150B - Introduction to Creative Writing - Fiction 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3160 - Narrative Techniques 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3180B - Contemporary Fiction Craft 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 4310B - Senior Seminar: Workshop in Fiction-CTW 3 Credit Hours

Methods: Select one course from Literature Studies Area 1 (3 Hours)

• ENGL 3040 - Introduction to Literary Studies 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3105 - Practical Grammar 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3210 - Advanced Grammar 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3220 - History of the English Language 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3225 - The History and Future of the Book 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3230 - History of Literary and Cultural Theory 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3250 - Topics in Contemporary Theory 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3260 - Theories of Popular Culture 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3995 - Feminist Literary Criticism 3 Credit Hours
• FOLK 3100 - Folklore and Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 4204 - Special Topics: Literature, Criticism, and Theory 3 Credit Hours

Literature before 1800: Select one class from Literature Studies Area 2 (3 Hours)

• ENGL 3280 - English Drama before 1800 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3290 - English Fiction before 1800 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3300 - Medieval English Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3310 - Old English 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3350 - Literature and War 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3400 - Courtiers, Clergy, and Poets 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3410 - Seduction, Revolution, and the Rise of Science 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3420 - Mythology 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3500 - Restoration and Earlier Eighteenth-Century English Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3510 - Later Eighteenth-Century English Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3520 - Life Writing 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3550 - Early Indigenous Literatures 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3800 - Early American Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3915 - Literature of the Early South 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3980 - Women’s Literature before 1800 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 4110 - Chaucer 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 4130 - Shakespeare, Earlier Works 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 4140 - Shakespeare, Later Works 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 4150 - Milton 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 4100 - Study of a Single Author before 1800 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 4201 - Special Topics before 1800 3 Credit Hours

Literature after 1800: Select one course from Literature Studies Area 3 (3 Hours)

• ENGL 3605 - Late Romanticism 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3610 - Love and Death in Victorian Poetry 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3620 - Victorian Novels 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3630 - Haunted Texts 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3695 - LGBTQ Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3700 - Early Twentieth-Century British Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3710 - Late Twentieth-Century British Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3720 - Twentieth-Century English Poetry 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3810 - American Romantics 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3820 - Realism and Naturalism 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3830 - American Modernisms 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3840 - Postmodern American Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3850 - American Poetry 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3860 - American Drama 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3865 - The Short Story 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3875 - Science Fiction 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3885 - Contemporary Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3895 - Comics and the Graphic Novel 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3900 - Irish Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3905 - Jewish Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3910 - The Tradition of Children’s and Young Adults’ Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3920 - Southern Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3930 - Modern Drama 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3940 - Postcolonial Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3945 - Literature and Global Conflict 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3950 - African-American Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3960 - African-American Literature by Women 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3965 - African Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3970 - Caribbean Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3975 - Later Indigenous Literatures 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 3990 - Women’s Literature after 1800 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 4010 - Topics in African American Culture 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 4020 - Advanced Study in Indigenous Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 4030 - Literature and the City 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 4040 - Religion and Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 4050 - Transnational Literature 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 4101 - Study of a Single Author after 1800 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 4202 - Special Topics after 1800 3 Credit Hours

4000-level Literature Elective: Select one 4000-level course from Literature Studies Area 2 or Area 3 (3 Hours)

Creative writing, literature, rhetoric and composition, folklore, pre-education in english electives (6 hours).

Select two 3000-level or 4000-level English or Folklore courses.

When choosing classes from this section, consider how you can use this coursework to increase your professional and/or personal post-graduate options. If your primary interest is writing poetry or fiction, take an additional Creative Writing class or classes (fiction if your sub-concentration is poetry, poetry if your sub-concentration is fiction; ENGL 3205     Special Topics in Creative Writing; ENGL 3190A     Introduction to Podcasting; etc.). If you would like the option of entering the workforce directly after graduation, use these elective hours to prepare for a career as a technical or professional writer by enrolling in ENGL 3110    Technical Writing or ENGL 4510    Grant and Proposal Writing. If you’re considering graduate school in Literature, Creative Writing, or a research-and-writing-focused field (Law, Education, etc.), choose an additional Literature or Folklore class. Editing classes, including ENGL 3140    Editing for Publication and ENGL 3200 Introduction to Literary Editing and Publishing, can be useful if you’re interested in launching your own magazine or small press or in entering the workforce as an editor. ENGL 4500    Internship offers a variety of experiences useful for both professional and personal growth.

• Requirements

Explore other majors & minors

• Experiences & Opportunities
• Career Outcomes
• 50th Anniversary
• English Department Website

Cyn Kitchen

Chair & Associate Professor of English

2 East South Street

Galesburg, IL 61401

309-341-7269

ckitchen@​knox.edu

Requirements for the Creative Writing major 12 credits as follows

• Two 200-level courses must be in at least two genres; with advisor approval one course in journalism may be counted as one genre course
• Three courses must be at the 300-level
• at least two courses must be at the 300 level
• one course must be focused before 1900
• one course must be in an underrepresented literature or in literature written in a language other than English, to be taken either in the original language or in translation (See list of approved courses below)*
• One studio/allied art course, with an emphasis on the creative process, as offered by the programs in Art, Dance, Music, or Theatre
• Senior portfolio for writing majors: ENG 399

Requirements for the Literature major 12 credits as follows:

• Reading Theories: ENG 200
• One course in creative writing or journalism: ENG 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, or 270
• One survey course in American literature: ENG 231, 232, or 233
• One survey course in English literature: ENG 251, 252, or 253
• One additional survey course in American or English literature
• One period course: ENG 335, 336, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, or 347
• One single author course: ENG 330, 331, 332, 380, or 395 (when appropriate). Period and single author courses in other departments may be substituted with advisor approval
• Four elective courses in literature, film, or theory, at least two of which must be at the 300-level and at least one of which must be focused before 1900. One elective may be taken in another department, with advisor approval.
• ENG 300L, taken concurrently with a 300-level course
• Senior seminar for literature majors: ENG 398

No individual course may satisfy more than one major requirement.

Students may combine a major in English Literature with a minor in Creative Writing, a major in Creative Writing with a minor in Literature, or a double major in English Literature and Creative Writing as long as no more than two courses are used to satisfy requirements in each.

Students intending to pursue graduate work in English should consult with their advisor regarding suggested courses for graduate school preparation.

Requirements for the Creative Writing minor 6 credits as follows:

• Introduction to Literature: ENG 120
• Three Creative Writing courses (at least two at the 300-level)
• One course in modern and/or contemporary literature
• One course in an underrepresented literature or in literature written in a language other than English, to be taken either in the original language or in translation (this course may be taken in another department)*

Requirements for the English Literature minor 6 credits as follows:

• One survey course in English Literature: ENG 251, ENG 252, or ENG 253
• One survey course in American Literature: ENG 231, ENG 232, or ENG 233
• Two courses at the 300 level in literature

*Courses currently approved in the category of underrepresented or non-English literature: AFST: 206, 220, 227, 233, 234, 235, 240, 335, 383; AMST: 227, 325; ASIA: 220, 221, 225, 263, 273, 321, 363, 373; CHIN: 220, 221, 225,321; CLAS: 203, 273; ENG: 205, 242, 245 (and cross-listed offerings in other departments) FILM: 225, 227, 261, 309, 337 FREN: 214, 215, 220, 304, 305, 309, 313, 316, 330; GERM: 235, 302, 317, 326, 328, 331, 332, 334, 337; GRK: 212,213,215-218, 270, 311-318; GWST: 206, 221, 222, 235, 238, 261, 322, 325, 332, 383; JAPN: 263, 273, 363, 373; LAST 235, 238, 240, 305, 306, 309, 335, 377; LAT 212,213,215-218, 270, 311-318, 370; SPAN: 235, 302, 305-309, 322, 330, 335, 337, 377; THTR: 351, 352, 353, 383

Students can petition the Chair of the English Department for possible substitutions when special, one-time offerings that focus on non-English Literature or Under-represented Literature are available. Inquiries should be made before the course begins.

https://www.knox.edu/academics/majors-and-minors/creative-writing/requirements

Printed on Friday, April 12, 2024

Chat with us

Admissions & Aid

• Scholarships
• Financial Aid
• Undergraduates
• Transfer Students
• Graduate Students
• For Parents
• High School Students
• Tuition/Fees
• Virtual Tour
• Office of the Registrar

• Programs of Study
• Colleges & Departments
• University Catalog
• Academic Calendar
• Graduate Studies
• Online Learning
• Related Programs
• Schedule of Classes

Campus Life

• Student Affairs
• Campus Services
• Health Center

• Sport Calendar
• Parking Info
• Gameday Experience App
• Upcoming Promotions
• Photo Gallery

• Safe Campus
• Admin Offices
• Administration
• Accreditation
• General Info
• Student Achievement
• Jobs at Southeastern
• President's Office
• Technology and Security

• Southeastern Magazine
• Southeastern News
• Southeastern Channel
• Undergraduate Degrees
• Graduate Degrees
• Student Success
• Admission Requirements
• Degree and Course Information
• Assistantships and Fellowships
• Graduate Faculty
• General Regulations
• Current Course Offerings
• Course Descriptions and Offerings
• Concentrations
• Thesis Information

Concentration in Creative Writing

As part of the master of arts in english at southeastern, creative writing program mission.

 The Creative Writing concentration at Southeastern is dedicated to supporting the intensely personal act of creating literature. Incoming students encounter an open, respectful community of writers/faculty and a curriculum that embraces the full range of writing experiences through intensive workshops, independent studies, and literature classes; internship experiences; and close contact with Southeastern's visiting Writers-in-Residence. The Creative Writing program at Southeastern simultaneously challenges students to extend the possibilities of their craft and offers them a safe place to take risks as they develop a body of finished work.

CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Students who plan to concentrate in Creative Writing will need to meet with, and gain the permission of, the Coordinator of Creative Writing. Students must complete the following coursework:

Students must also complete at least 15 hours of coursework in English at the 600 level. With the approval of the Advisory Committee, students may take a maximum of six graduate hours in a related field.

FACULTY 

David Armand

Assistant Professor, Fiction, Poetry, Creative Nonfiction

M.F.A., University of Arkansas, Monticello, AR

M.A., Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA 

B.A., Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA

Notable Achievements: In 2010, David Armand won the George Garrett Fiction prize for his first novel,  The Pugilist's Wife , which was published by Texas Review Press. He has since published three more novels, two collections of poetry, and a memoir. His latest book,  Mirrors , is forthcoming from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press, and a full-length poetry collection, The Evangelist , is forthcoming from Mercer University Press.

Dr. Jack B. Bedell, Poetry

Professor, Concentration Coordinator, and Editor of Louisiana Literature

Ph.D., University of Louisiana at Lafayette

M.F.A., University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

M.A., Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA

B.A., Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA

Areas of Expertise: Modern and Contemporary Literature and Creative Writing.

Notable Achievements: Dr. Bedell has published poems in the Connecticut Review and The Hudson Review. His books include Sleeping with the Net-Maker, At the Bonehouse, What Passes for Love , and Greatest Hits .

Affiliations: Dr. Bedell is a member of the Gulf Coast Association of Creative Writing Teachers.

Other Information: Books which Dr. Bedell highly recommends for everyone are James Dickey's Poems 1957-1967 and J. D. Salinger's Nine Stories. His favorite quotation is, "Pain come from the darkness and we call it knowledge. It is Pain."--Randall Jarrell.

Dr. Reine Bouton, Creative Non-Fiction

Assistant Professor

Education: 

Ph.D., University of Southern Mississippi

M.A., University of New Orleans

B.A., University of New Orleans

Areas of Expertise: Modern American and British Literature, Travel Writing, Southern Literature, Composition and Rhetoric, Eudora Welty.

Notable Achievements: Dr. Bouton's recent journal publications have appeared in Arkansas Review, The Teaching Professor, Literature in Wissenschaft und Unterricht, and Teaching in the Two-Year College.

Affiliations: MLA, The Eudora Welty Society, The Two-Year College Association, National Association for Developmental Education.

Dr. Tim Gautreaux, Fiction

Professor Emeritus. Southeastern's first Writer-in-Residence

Ph.D., University of South Carolina

B.A., Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA

Areas of Expertise: Dr. Gautreaux has published two novels, The Next Step in the Dance and The Clearing, and two collections of short stories--Same Place, Same Things and Welding with Children. His fiction has appeared regularly in Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, GQ and other places. He was once awarded the National Book of the Year prize.

Dr. Richard Louth, Creative Non-Fiction and Fiction

Ph.D., University of Virginia

M.A., University of Virginia

B.A., Brown University

Areas of Expertise:  Louisiana Literature, Living Writers, Modern American Literature, Southern Literature, Composition and Rhetoric, William Faulkner, Technical Writing.

Notable Achievements: Dr. Louth is the founder of the New Orleans Writing Marathon, has led over 100 Writing Marathons across the country, and recently led a Virtual Writing Marathon for the National Writing Project’s “WriteAcrossAmerica” program. His most recent publications have appeared in Louisiana Literature, Assay , and Country Roads .

Affiliations: National Writing Project and National Council of Teachers of English.

Alison Pelegrin

Distinguished Writer-in-Residence

M.F.A., University of Arkansas

M.A., Southeastern Louisiana University

B.A., Southeastern Louisiana University

Areas of Expertise: Creative Writing, Poetry, Hybrid Forms in Poetry and Prose, Creative Non-Fiction, Publishing Studies, Creative Writing Pedagogy, Generative Writing.

Notable Achievements: Alison Pelegrin's publications have appeared in journals such as  Poetry, Ploughshares, The Southern Review, Crazyhorse, The Gettysburg Review,  and dozens of others. Her books include  Waterlines, Hurricane Party, Big Muddy River of Stars,  and  The Zydeco Tablets.  She has also published four chapbooks and won multiple awards for her poetry.

Affiliations : National Poetry Society, Poets and Writers, Associated Writing Programs.

Contact Southeastern

University Policies

Accessibility

• Cost, Aid and Scholarships
• Exam Schedule
• Request Public Records
• Title IX/Power Based Violence

QUICK LINKS

• Campus Crime Stats
• Economic Impact
• University Disclosures
• Emergency Alert Sign Up
• Southeastern Identity
• Student Handbook

Member of the University of Louisiana System  |  Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) © 2024 Southeastern Louisiana University  |  All Rights Reserved

• Campus Email
• Self Service
• Course Catalog
• All Offices & Departments
• Contact Wittenberg
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• News & Events
• New Student Headquarters
• Creative Writing

Creative Writing Courses & Requirements

Degrees offered:.

• Minor : Creative Writing

Course Listings

• Click here to read complete descriptions of the Creative Writing courses offered at Wittenberg.

Degree Requirements:

Minor in creative writing (21 credits).

Required Courses

• ENGL 240: Beginning Creative Writing
• ENGL 406: Capstone in Creative Writing (1 credit)

Sixteen (16) credits from the following:

• ENGL 340: Topics in Advanced Fiction
• ENGL 341: Topics in Advanced Poetry
• ENGL 342: Topics in Advanced Creative Non-Fiction
• ENGL 343: Topics in Advanced Screenwriting
• ENGL 344: Summer Screenwriting Institute
• THDN 240: Playwriting

All of the above sixteen credits cannot be in the same genre of creative writing; students must take four credits each in at least two different genres.

NOTE:   The creative writing minor can be taken in combination with an English major with two courses overlapping.

Creative Writing Program Learning Outcomes:

Students completing the Creative Writing minor will be able to:

• display knowledge of the main creative genres and major practitioners;
• demonstrate appropriate knowledge of technique in several genres;
• make meaningful choices regarding elements such as language, point of view, plot, prosody, organization, etc.
• hear and weigh constructive criticism honestly;
• give constructive criticism truthfully and tactfully;
• present themselves and their work professionally.
• Academic Catalog
• Connections Curriculum
• Cultures & Language Across the Curriculum
• Open Course Listings
• D'Arcy Fallon, M.F.A.
• Andrew Graff, M.F.A.
• Patrick Reynolds, Ph.D.
• Marlo Starr, Ph.D.
• Honors Program
• Cooperative Programs
• Pre-Professional Programs
• Study Abroad
• Witt in Washington
• COMPASS: Student Success
• Thomas Library
• Oral Communication Center
• Math Workshop
• Language Learning Center
• Hagen Center
• Global Connections Collaborative
• Career Services
• Ermarth Institute For Public Humanities