Creative writing isn’t the most popular major, but those who pursue it are uniquely passionate. In a world where the written word seems to be declining in importance, the decision to commit four years to studying a craft that some feel to be an artifact takes commitment, drive, and a sense of purpose that is rare anywhere, let alone among teenagers.
In this post, we are going to dive into what it means to study creative writing in college and what you should consider before pursuing it. We also share some of the best creative writing programs that offer a major in Creative Writing. Why this is an important distinction will become apparent in the following paragraphs.
Before you decide if a creative writing program is right for you, it’s essential to confirm that you know what a creative writing program encompasses — and what it doesn’t. Creative writing programs are not the same as journalism programs. In fact, creative writing programs do not teach any journalism. There may be courses in magazine writing, such as at Emerson, but that is taught through creative nonfiction, not a journalistic, lens. If you are interested in pursuing journalism as an undergraduate, check out our list of the best undergraduate journalism programs. Do not go to a journalism program expecting creative writing or vice versa, as they are not interchangeable.
There are also many exceptional colleges that are well-respected for their MFA degrees in creative writing, but who do not offer a full undergraduate equivalent. The University of Iowa is a great example of this. They have one of the best MFA programs for writing in the world, but while they do have an undergraduate creative writing program, it is not a dedicated major. Instead, they have a combined English and Creative Writing Major, which is an excellent program but is not creative writing specific.
The most common option colleges offer for those looking to pursue creative writing is a concentration within the English program. Like the Iowa program, these can be very impressive options for students. The University of Pennsylvania, for example, offers this type of concentration. However, in this post, we are focusing on schools with dedicated majors.
Something else that you won’t see us including here are lists of names of fancy and successful writers who studied at X school or in Y program. One of the ways that creative writing programs sell themselves to applicants is by touting their graduates. While knowing that J.D. Salinger studied writing at Columbia is a good trivia fact, it isn’t exactly reflective of what the program is today, nor does it illuminate what the program can offer you as a writer with your own vision, voice, and stories to tell.
Every program is different, but creative programs tend to have a few things in common across the board.
They are small
They are focused
The faculty shape them to an extent that is not seen in other departments
This is exacerbated (albeit in a good way) by the fact that the creative writing faculty tend to be adjunct or assistant professors — i.e., they are not tenured, so they aren’t sticking around forever. Creative writing instructors tend not to identify first and foremost as teachers. They identify as writers who happen to teach, often to support their writing because, as you will continuously hear if you choose to become a writer, it is not a vocation that pays well for the vast majority of people who pursue it. (Which is to say: do not become a writer if you have any intention of getting rich or even being able to pay off loans with your writing income.) Since creative writing instructors are working writers, who is teaching is frequently shifting based on their professional lives outside of their teaching gigs.
While you shouldn’t put too much weight on graduates as a signal of the value of a program, you do need to look closely at what types of writing a school allows students to pursue. For example, you should not go to a school that only has a fiction program if you would like to study nonfiction. Most schools with creative writing programs offer concentrations in fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction, but only a handful venture into screenwriting or playwriting.
If you find a program you love and get into the school that offers it, your journey towards studying creative writing isn’t over. Creative writing programs are small due to the constraints of the workshop structure (typically <10 students per class) and a limited number of instructors. Unlike other majors where you can declare as early as your second semester, you can rarely simply declare your major in creative writing. Going to a school with a creative writing major or program doesn’t guarantee you will get to take part in it. Most programs require students to take a series of introductory courses to show their commitment to the program, which is followed by an application. Some schools, such as Columbia, continue to require students to apply to high-level workshops individually even after they have been accepted into the major. Going to a school with a creative writing major or program doesn’t guarantee you will get to take part in it.
As we said, many schools offer creative writing as part of their English program, but very few schools offer a dedicated creative writing major. Below are a few of the most respected for their faculty, diversity of course options, and outcomes for their students. They are not listed in any particular order.
Carnegie Mellon
The Carnegie Mellon creative writing program is based on the conservatory model. If you don’t show commitment, you’re out. They go so far as to say this on their website, emphasizing that students who are not sufficiently driven, even if they are completing the work, will be encouraged not to continue the major. The program approaches writing as a vocation, something to pursue mastery in to have a marketable skill that is also an artistic passion. Majors step up to the challenge. They frequently complete a thesis in the form of a book of poems or stories, a novel, or a screenplay before graduation.
Emory
Emory offers workshops in fiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, and creative nonfiction, making it one of the broader programs on this list. In addition to workshops, students are required to pursue a significant course of study in English, which focuses on prose, poetry, and pre-20th-century literature. Acceptance into the program requires a conversation with the Creative Writing faculty advisor.
Columbia
Columbia’s creative writing program is legendary for both its rigor and for being quite an old school. It is focused on ‘pure’ writing skills. No literature courses required. No grammar courses; just lots of writing and copious critiques. Students take part in a combination of workshops and seminars, and they must choose to specialize in poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. In order to pursue the major, students must take introductory courses before applying for the major. Even after being accepted, students are required to apply for all high-level workshops.
Emerson
The BFA in creative writing at Emerson offers focuses in the standard categories: nonfiction, fiction, or poetry. However, they offer courses in a wider breadth of specialties to prepare students for a changing media landscape. These include classes in magazine writing, a key area for creative nonfiction writers who would like to bridge their work into mass media.
Northwestern
Northwestern’s creative writing program is a bit of a hybrid. It is within the English department, but it is also an independent major. Students can pursue poetry, fiction, or nonfiction after acceptance into the program. Students can apply to the program during their second year at the school, or later.
USC
The USC creative writing major has a more modern name: the narrative studies major. The USC writing major is a very 21st-century option for those looking to pursue creative writing. It allows for the full diversity of the writing field and is open to the ways that writing can be applied throughout media, from fiction and nonfiction to film and theatre. Unlike programs that emphasize focus, the USC major requires diverse experience and expertise. Students are required to pursue courses in both literary and performance-based media, including classes on pop culture, ethnicity, historical perspective, drama, science fiction, and more.
Oberlin
Oberlin’s creative writing major includes a textual studies requirement that pairs the writing education with an education in close reading and literary analysis. Students who are admitted to the major can choose to focus on fiction, poetry, nonfiction, playwriting, and screenwriting. All students must complete a capstone project aimed towards preparing students to bring their writing skills into the creative marketplace.
Final Thoughts
If this sounds a little stressful, there’s some good news. You do not need to major in creative writing to become a published writer. While a major does allow you to concentrate a significant chunk of your time in college on your writing, it is possible to successfully pursue creative writing as a concentration, a minor, or through extracurricular involvement in campus literary journals and magazines. Creative writing major programs are perfect for people who are dead set on a life spent writing. Still, as they often require application even once admitted a student, you must pick the college that is right for you based on more than just whether creative writing is a major.
If you are interested in pursuing an uncommon major, send us a note. We help students with passion decide where they need to be — and then get in.