35 Best Bachelor’s in Writing

The writing major at the University of Iowa exists as a combined English and creative writing degree that is second to none. In this program, you’ll be able to explore the unique relationship that exists between creative writing, critical reading, and translation while also giving you the skills you need to be a liberal arts major. 

This degree is a wonderful option for aspiring writers when pursued on its own but is also an excellent pathway for students interested in pursuing MFA degrees. The nonfiction writing program at the University of Iowa offers one of the best MFA programs in creative nonfiction in the United States. 

In this degree, you’ll complete 120 credit hours of study by taking classes in the following five areas: American literature and culture, modern British literature and culture, medieval and early modern literature and culture, literary theory and interdisciplinary studies, and transnational literature and postcolonial studies. There is even an optional track you can pursue in literary publishing and a separate degree for education majors, if that’s something that piques your interest.

Of course, you’ll find plenty of ways to supplement your degree with extracurricular opportunities and student organizations on campus. The department is home to Sigma Tau Delta, the English honorary society, along with the English Society, a program that puts on year-round programming to build a sense of community around English majors.

Located in Ogden, UT, Weber State University is frequently recognized as having one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country. Here, you’ll have plenty to do outside of the classroom, with four seasons of recreation available in the surrounding rivers, trails, mountains, and reservoirs. Of course, this scenic view will also provide you with plenty of inspiration as an aspiring writer, too!

The Bachelor of Arts in English at Weber State University has an optional emphasis in creative writing, which consists of 120 total credit hours of study and will allow you to work closely with a faculty advisor to devise your own plan of study.In this program, you’ll take core classes such as Introduction to Writing Poetry, Fiction Writing, Creative Nonfiction, Novel Forms and Craft, Gaming, and Screenwriting. You’ll learn everything you need to know about pursuing a professional writing career while building community and rubbing shoulders with award-winning authors.

WSU CW faculty (14) have published over 25 books, held esteemed fellowships, won literary and teaching awards, and routinely perform their work on national stages. The WSU Visiting Writer series is one of the strongest in the West, featuring writers such as Kiki Petrosino, Lydia Millet, Donald Revell, Tyehimba Jess, Ada Limon, Joy Priest, Eduardo C. Corral, and Forrest Gander. At WSU, you’ll encounter ample opportunities to forge community and hone professional skills through our undergraduate literary journal Metaphor, Sigma Tau Delta, Roar Open Mics, creative writing internships, and the Literary Editing minor. And the journey does not end here: in the past two years, five recent graduates of our program have gone on to top-tier Master of Fine Arts programs.

To apply, you will need to submit an online application along with official high school transcripts. An affordable degree, this school offers in-state tuition and fees starting at just $6,032 per year with plenty of scholarships and financial aid available. Many students graduate with zero debt as the out-of-state-tuition is lower than in-state tuition in many other places!

The Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of Arkansas has a concentration in creative writing. This program is meant to be completed in eight semesters and includes 120 total credit hours of study. You’ll take core classes such as Transatlantic Literature from 1945 to Present, Introduction To Shakespeare, and Rethinking Literature. It’s a highly flexible program that allows plenty of room for free electives, too. 

One of the country’s oldest programs in creative writing, this degree is ranked among the “Top Five Most Innovative” by The Atlantic Monthly. There are additional tracks in literary translation, poetry, and fiction. Graduates of this program have gone on to win the Stegner Fellowship, the BBC International Short Story Award, the Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowship, and more. 

There are even study abroad options you can pursue! Popular options include the Theatre in London program and medieval and renaissance studies programs in England. 

To apply, you will need to submit high school transcripts and a formal online application. Letters of recommendation and a personal essay are also highly encouraged.

You might not think that a technical university could offer much in the way of a humanities-centric degree like writing, but that’s not the case. In fact, Arkansas Tech is one of just fourteen public institutions in the United States to offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing. This program, now in its fortieth year, offers a strong educational foundation in editing, writing, literary analysis, and advanced composition.

Class sizes are small, with workshops limited to just 16 students so that you can receive adequate attention when it comes to reviewing your work. You’ll be able to participate in senior-level workshops in all kinds of topics, from travel writing to screenwriting, historical fiction to humor writing. As a final capstone, you’ll be able to work one-on-one with a creative writing professor to complete a project of your own choosing. 

You’ll gain valuable hands-on experience as a student here, working with layout software and the modern publishing environment as you work to edit and staff the school’s nationally-distributed literary journal known as Nebo. 

By choosing from more than 30 credit hours of electives, you’ll be able to customize your degree to meet your needs. You might add a second major or a minor in a subject like TESOL, journalism, Spanish, Japanese, or German, for example. An affordable program, tuition starts at just $232 for in-state students. Plenty of financial aid opportunities are available as well.

Formerly known as Southeast Missouri State University, Missouri State University was first founded in 1905 as a normal school, opening its doors solely for the purpose of educating aspiring teachers. Today, the school offers more than 150 different undergraduate majors in multiple academic divisions.

The creative writing major at Missouri State University-Springfield is a four-year program that includes core classes that allow you to specialize in fields like playwriting, nonfiction, short stories, and poetry. A 36-credit hour degree, it is a preprofessional program that will prepare you for a career in professional writing, journalism, or even K-12 education. It is uniquely available as both a Bachelor of Arts as well as a Bachelor of Science.

You’ll gain extensive experience as you learn from expert faculty in close-knit, small-class environments. You can both participate in and attend readings and enjoy numerous publishing opportunities through the Moon City Press. The degree also serves as an excellent pathway for students interested in eventual graduate study. 

To apply to become a student in this major, you will first need to be admitted to Missouri State and complete 75 credit hours of undergraduate study.  In addition to an online application, you should also submit ACT/SAT test scores and official transcripts.

San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco. As part of the sprawling 23-campus California State University system, this school offers more than 200 different majors for students to choose from.

The creative writing major at San Francisco State University is a concentration within the Bachelor of Arts in English degree. Other options for specialization include English education, linguistics, literature, and professional writing and rhetoric. In this track, you’ll take a core course in a “craft” area like poetry, fiction, and playwriting, and then take 15 units of additional courses in creative process and workshop. 

Some required courses include the Business of Creative Writing, Contemporary World Poetry, Writers on Writing, and Writing and Performing Monologues. You will also be required to complete a capstone course in the final year of study which will allow you to compose an original work of your own. 

To apply, you will need to submit an online application and official transcripts. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for residents of California, while a GPA of at least 2.47 is necessary for graduates of high schools outside of California. You may also be asked to submit supplemental documents like a resume, letters of recommendation, and an essay.

A public university located in Bemidji, MN, Bemidji State University hosts multiple events each year that cater to the creative professional. One of these is the Northwoods Writers Conference, an event in which aspiring writers can hone and showcase their craft. 

It’s unsurprising that this event is hosted at Bemidji State, since this school offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative and professional writing that is one of just 15 BFAs in writing in the entire country. It won the MnSCU award for excellence in academic programming in 2006 and presents many opportunities for aspiring student writers to compose, share, and workshop their creations. 

In addition to core classes in creative writing, this program can also be paired with an emphasis in writing or electronic writing. There are also multiple minors available. As a student here, you’ll enjoy countless opportunities to get involved outside of the classroom. From internships to student organizations like the Medieval Club, the English department offers some of the best and most unique ways for students to spend their downtime. 

There are plenty of ways to fund this degree, too, which is known for its affordable tuition. In addition to a variety of student scholarships and undergraduate teaching assistantships, the school also operates VerbL, an email listserv for English majors, and hosts tutoring opportunities for students in the Writing Resource Center.

A public university located in Murray, KY, Murray State University has campuses in Hopkinsville, Henderson, Madisonville, and Paducah, KY as well. This school is recognized as a space grant institution and currently enrolls nearly 10,000 students at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

The creative writing program at Murray State University offers three degree options—a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Bachelor of Arts, and a Bachelor of Science. This is the broadest and largest selection of creative writing programs of any public university in the state. You’ll work closely with well-recognized faculty as you hone your craft in small workshops, where you’ll receive individualized attention from your instructors and peers.

In addition to learning from award-winning faculty, you’ll also be able to learn from other authors who regularly visit campus as part of the yearly Murray State Reading Serious. You can further hone your writing and editing skills by working on Notations, the student-run literary journal. 

Of course, much of your learning will take place within the classroom walls. You’ll take courses that cover all aspects and levels of fiction, from introductory to advanced, as well as classes in poetry, nonfiction, and specialty courses in topics like horror writing and nature poetry. You’ll be able to take up to 15 hours of elective credit to customize your degree to your liking.

First established as a normal school to fill the demand for qualified teachers in the then-rural region of western North Dakota, Dickinson State University only was granted full university status in 1987. Despite its young age, this school is rapidly rising to notoriety as it has begun to offer majors in other areas of interest.

If you’re interested in becoming a writer of any kind, you won’t find a better place to do it than at Dickinson State University. By earning either the Bachelor of Science or the Bachelor of Arts in writing, you’ll hone your basic skills in critical thinking and writing while also gaining advanced experience in English, journalism, and other electives required for professional writing. 

The degree has several concentration options, including those in basic writing, journalism, professional writing, and creative writing. Depending on which pathway you select, you may find yourself taking courses such as Studies in Fiction, Advanced Creative Writing, Editing and Managing Publications, Oral Interpretation, and Principles of Marketing. 

To apply, you will need to submit an online application and application fee of $35. Official high school transcripts are required, ideally evidencing a GPA of 2.0 or higher. You will also need to submit ACT or SAT test scores.

If you want to study creative writing and don’t want to step foot outside the state of Texas, Stephen F. Austin State University is the place to go. This school, located in scenic East Texas, offers the ideal environment for writers seeking a location that will encourage and inspire their creativity. Not only that, but this program is the only creative writing Bachelor of Fine Arts in the entire state. 

Also available as a minor, this program is one of only a handful of its kind in the entire country. It will provide you with the advanced and fundamental training in the technique and craft of writing in multiple genres, allowing you to pursue work in literary publishing, screenwriting, playwriting, and more.  Core courses include Elements of Craft, Advanced Fiction Workshop, and Topics in Creative Writing. 

In addition to the creative writing program, Stephen F. Austin State also offers programs in general English, secondary education, literature, and technical and professional writing. You’ll take an internship in literary publishing, too, where you’ll have the opportunity to practice your skills out in the real world with a real-life agency.

As a student of the English department at Marshall University, you will find several courses, pathways, and programs that will prepare you for a career in writing. When you are completing the Bachelor of Arts, you can choose from options like English education, professional writing, creative writing, literary studies, and generalist tracks. The department also offers an English minor for students of other majors. 

Regardless of the track you choose, you will find that the writing majors at Marshall University do an excellent job of preparing you for life as a professional writer. You can secure internships related to your field of study and submit your work for publication to the English department’s literary magazine, Et Cetera. You can learn more from published authors in the visiting writer’s series and get involved with other organizations like the Student Government Association and the National Society of Leadership and Success, too. 

This program culminates in a  final capstone project, which will allow you to create a project of your own choosing as you collaborate with your instructors. You may also choose to pursue the department’s optional film studies minor, which will allow you to gain an intricate understanding of how film-based texts are created and produced.

A public college located in Providence, RI, Rhode Island College was founded in 1854 and is the second oldest college in the state, second only to Brown University. First established as a normal school, the university now offers dozens of other majors for students who are interested in careers besides those as teachers. 

The Bachelor of Arts in English at Rhode Island College has multiple pathways for students to explore literature and creative writing. You’ll learn how to analyze and compose verbal and visual texts from a number of genres and historical periods as you pursue concentration such as creative or professional writing. 

You’ll complete a minimum of 44 credit hours of study for your writing concentration, with core classes covering topics such as Workplace Writing, Introduction to Theory and Criticism, Readings for Writers, and Children’s Literature: Interpretation and Evaluation. Of course, you’ll be able to support your learnings inside the classroom with the experiences you pursue outside of it, with internships offered all over the city with organizations like the United Way of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Monthly, and more. 

An affordable degree, the program has pathways for students who are interested in an honors track as well as for potential scholarships and awards. You can join the student honor society, Sigma Tau Delta, or apply for awards such as the English Faculty Writing Award.

The Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of Houston-Downtown includes 16 hours in creative writing as well as additional courses in “genre” (such as poetry, fiction, and dramatic literature), literature and theory, and publishing. You will also be required to complete a portfolio requirement and to choose elective courses that match with your individual career goals. 

For example, you might take courses such as Studies 18th Century British Literature and Culture, Desktop Publishing, Playwriting, or Advanced Creative Writing. You will graduate with a large portfolio of original writing that will serve you well as you set forth into the working world. Of course, you can always choose to customize your degree with an area of concentration, too, with options including literary studies, creative writing, film studies, and English education. 

You can even add a minor. Although you are free to choose from any minors offered by the university, some of the most common choices for English majors include history, social sciences, fine art, art history, and philosophy. No matter which options you choose, you’ll find that this program prepares you well for a career as a writer, journalist, educator, lawyer, or for a role in many other in-demand careers.

A 120-credit hour program, the Bachelor of Arts in English at Indiana University-East has a unique focus on creative writing. You’ll be able to explore courses in creative nonfiction, poetry, and fiction as you learn how to write noves, poetry, short stories, memories, documentaries, and more. You’ll have access to all kinds of creative opportunities to help expand your understanding of the discipline, with field trips, visiting writer seminars, internships, and even the option to write and edit for Tributaries, the school’s journal of creative arts.

You’ll take a variety of courses in several core groups while you are enrolled here. Groups include Backgrounds of British Literature, Backgrounds of American Literature, Modern Literature, Information Literacy, World Languages and Cultures, Literature in World and Cultural Context, Writing or Theory, Creative Writing, and Ethics. You will also complete a final directed writing course as a senior seminar. 

Applying to this program is simple and straightforward. The school is test-optional, instead requiring just an official high school transcript and an online application for admission. It’s as easy as that!

With more than 200 majors for undergraduate students to choose from at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, it might be hard to settle on just one. However, this school has one of the nation’s best degrees in professional writing, something to consider if you have your sights set on a career in composition of any kind. 

The Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing at Purdue University is offered by the College of Liberal Arts and makes it possible for students to complete their egress in just three years. This can be done without having to transfer in AP credit or take classes during the summer. It’s an affordable degree, too, with two major scholarships offered annually to undergraduates. 

A 120-credit hour program, this degree includes major, core, and elective courses such as Games, Narrative, Culture, Digital Design and Production, and Advanced Professional Writing. Each student will also complete an Internship in Professional Writing to gain more experience in a real-world environment. 
In addition to core classes, you will have plenty of opportunities to get involved outside of the classroom. You can work with journals and magazines published by the English department as well as with the Purdue Exponent, the student-run newspaper.

When most people think of the program offered at MIT, or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, very few would even stop to consider that writing might be a degree that is offered here. However, the program in writing at MIT is one of the best in the country. 

With this degree, you will be able to choose between advanced coursework in creative writing, science writing, and nonfiction writing. You’ll participate in workshops to hone your craft, including those in fiction, genre fiction, science fiction, poetry, and the interactive narrative. This degree can be completed on its own or as a joint degree with a field in science or engineering. It is also available as a minor. 

As a student in this program, you’ll benefit from faculty who offer a blend of intellectual and entrepreneurial talent. You will work closely with peers and award-winning instructors in research laboratories and workshops as you engage with media practices across technologies, historical periods, and cultural settings. You can choose to participate in internships, study abroad, and numerous extracurricular organizations to further enhance your experience as well. 

Johns Hopkins University, located in Baltimore, MD, was founded in 1876 and is known as one of the best universities in the entire country—especially in regards to research, teaching, and real-world learning. 

Offered by the Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the Bachelor of Arts in writing seminars at Johns Hopkins University includes multiple seminars in writing that are designed to improve your skills as a writer. You might take classes such as Introduction to Fiction and Poetry and Dante’s Journey Through the Afterlife. 

Not only that, but as a student in this program, you will be able to participate in professional internships that will allow you to explore potential career opportunities in publishing, journalism, the arts, and other writing-related fields. These generally require 120 work hours along with a short final paper. 

While completing your courses, you will work to compose a portfolio of original writing (including stories, essays, and poems) that can be used as a demonstration of your abilities to prospective employers. This portfolio also serves as an excellent resource when applying to MFA programs as well as to graduate degrees in teaching, law, or communications.

A public research university located in Seattle, WA, the University of Washington-Seattle is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast. It was founded just ten years after the city’s founding, making it a leader when it comes to providing quality academic programs to students living in Seattle and elsewhere. 

The undergraduate English major at the University of Washington has an emphasis in creative writing that combines a variety of workshops in topics like creative nonfiction, expository writing, the novel, and short story writing. You’ll be able to take classes that cover Anglophone literature as well as literature from around the world. You can pursue a variety of options to enhance your degree, including minors and honors programs. 

Enroll as a student here, and you’ll receive an endless outpouring of support when it comes time to apply for jobs. The English department has dedicated career services resources along with access to internships that can be completed for course credit. You can also engage in volunteer, service learning, and community leadership opportunities via the Carlson Leadership and Public Service Center. 

You will take core classes such as Cultures in Context, Theories and Methodologies of Language and Literature, The Craft of Prose, and The Craft of Verse. You can apply for this program at any time, with applications accepted throughout the year. You’ll need to submit a set of transcripts and a writing sample of three to five poems or five to ten pages of fiction.

Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university located in Pittsburgh, PA. Founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie himself, the university began as a technological institute but now offers degrees in hundreds of disciplines in more than a dozen locations on six different continents. 

The professional writing major at Carnegie Mellon University consists of 13 courses with a minimum of 111 units of study. This degree includes core classes such as Communicating in the Global Marketplace, Science Writing, Healthcare Communications, and Web Design. You can take up to 27 units of English electives, too, something that will help you customize your degree so you can find the career pathway that is right for you.

A flexible program, this degree culminates in a three-unit professional seminar course that will allow you to network with alumni and learn more about this exciting field. You can also apply for a graduate degree through the accelerated MA in professional writing (or the MAPW 4+1). You’ll be able to explore internship and research experiences as part of your degree as well. 

To apply, you will need to submit the Common Application along with a $75 application fee. Submit your high school transcripts and scores from the SAT or ACT. You will also need to provide a counselor evaluation, a teacher recommendation, a personal essay, and the Carnegie Mellon writing supplement.

Emory University was founded in 1836 as a private research university in Atlanta, GA. The second-oldest university in Georgia, this school is home to nine academic divisions, including the award-winning College of Arts and Sciences. This is where you will find one of the best creative writing programs in the country. 

As a creative writing major at Emory, you will be tasked with completing five separate writing workshops of 15-20 credit hours. Two of these must be taken in the same genre, like creative nonfiction, playwriting, poetry, screenwriting, or fiction, but you can experiment as much as you’d like to find the genre that is right for you. 

Available by itself or as a joint major with the playwriting degree, this program also has an optional creative writing minor. You’ll be able to engage in all kinds of hands-on experiences to broaden your horizons and to help you hone your craft. Many students choose to study abroad, with sessions offered all over the world, including in places like the United Kingdom. 

An affordable program, the creative writing major at Emory features plenty of ways to help students pay for their degrees. Multiple scholarships are available, including the Abernethy Scholarship and the Tom-Chris Allen Scholarship. There is also a Creative Writing Peer Mentorship Program, several creative writing contests, and an honors program you can participate in.

Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college located in Oberlin, OH that is perhaps best known for its conservatory of music. However, the school is also a haven for other creative professionals, including those interested in pursuing a degree in fields like creative writing.

The creative writing program at Oberlin offers the breadth of a strong liberal arts education with the hands-on studio training in workshops that you would expect to get at a more technically-oriented school. You’ll receive individual mentoring via small, juried workshops and be able to participate in independent projects that are directed by program faculty. 

Your courses will focus on five genres, including nonfiction, fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and playwriting, while also allowing you to engage in cross-disciplinary work with other departments. There are even five separate study away programs you can participate in for a fresh change of scenery. 
In addition to completing courses such as Introduction to Fiction Writing, Between Lyric and Narrative: Transitional Prose Forms, and Teaching Imaginative Writing, you will also be able to participate in student clubs and organizations like the Chess Club, the Oberlin Review publication, and the Student Senate. At Oberlin, you’ll have more than 175 clubs and student organizations to choose from!

Named after the first president himself and located in Washington D.C.’s historic Foggy Bottom neighborhood, The George Washington University is divided into 14 colleges and schools. Among these is the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, where you will find the exemplary Bachelor of Arts in English and creative writing.

This degree blends classic literature study and analysis with more contemporary writing exploration and techniques. You’ll challenge yourself to explore creative writing in all of its forms, from playwriting to poetry. You’ll be able to work closely with nationally and internationally recognized faculty and to engage in workshops on campus with famous poets, writers, editors, and memoirists who regularly visit campus to speak and teach. 

You’ll take 33 credits of program-specific coursework such as The English Renaissance, Topics in Global Postcolonial Literature and Film, Asian American Literature, Creative Writing Workshop, and Intermediate Dramatic Writing. 

You may choose to continue on to the combined master’s program in creative writing here at George Washington, too. This combined degree will allow you to complete both a bachelor’s and master’s with just five total years of study.

Home to more than 12,000 students, the University of Rochester in chilly Rochester, NY offers one of the nation’s best bachelor’s degrees in creative writing. The instructors here have won countless awards for their teaching and contributions to academia, including 13 Nobel Prizes and 13 Pulitzer Prizes. 

The creative writing degree comprises a total of 40 credit hours of upper-division courses. It exists as a track within the Bachelor of Arts in English and is perfect for students who wish to work independently on imaginative writing such as playwriting, fiction, and poetry as they also study literature. 

You’ll take four core creative writing courses of your choosing, with options including Advanced Creative Writing: Fiction; Playwriting; Speculative Fiction; and Introduction to Creative Writing. You will also be able to take two survey courses (like Classical and Scriptural Backgrounds) and four upper level courses in American or British literature. There is even an honors program you can apply to if you are feeling extra ambitious!

Bucknell University is a private university located in Lewisburg, PA. This school offers programs in education, management, engineering, the social sciences, and of course, the more creative disciplines such as music and creative writing.

The creative writing program at Bucknell University is offered by the Stadler Center for Poetry and Literary Arts. In this program, you’ll find a community of like-minded professionals ready to support you as you explore diverse voices in contemporary literature—including your own. You will take core classes such as Writing Fiction, Creative Nonfiction Workshop, Screenwriting Workshop, and Environmental Writing. 

As you complete your courses, you’ll have access to countless resources on campus. These include the Willard Smith Library in the Vaughan Literature Building, where you can explore an extensive book collection and collaborate with groups of your peers, and the Humanities Center in Hildreth-Mirza Hall, where you can access a digital editing studio, another library, and the offices of the Bucknell University Press. 

In addition to core courses, you’ll be able to participate in career-building opportunities such as a writers-in-residence program, a summer poetry seminar, a reading series, and plenty of internship opportunities. Your courses will prepare you nicely for a career in grant writing, publishing, financial analysis, journalism, and many other fields. It offers an excellent return on investment with affordable tuition and multiple merit scholarships available for talented students.

With a total enrollment of more than 44,000 students, the University of Cincinnati is the second-largest university in the state of Ohio. It has four major campuses, including a main campus and a medical campus, along with branch campuses in other neighborhoods and a thriving online community as well.

The top-ranked degree in creative writing at the University of Cincinnati connects aspiring undergraduate students with instructors who are award-winning (and often still working) artists themselves. Here, you will study in small classes where you can explore close reading and inventive writing. You’ll take classes in creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and hybrid forms so that you can gain a broad understanding of how to be an effective writer.

The curriculum will vary depending on your professional goals and personal aspirations. However, most students will take classes such as Literary Traditions, Writing Fiction with a Global Vision, Writing the Love Poem, an Introduction to Rhetoric and Professional Writing. 

A four-year degree, it is offered by the College of Arts and Sciences at the university. You’ll be able to use the skills you develop in this program to go on to a career in copywriting, advertising, arts administration, law, education, and more.

A private research university in University Park in Dallas County, TX, Southern Methodist University has satellite campuses all over the southwest, including those in Plano, TX as well as in Taos, NM. Though affiliated with the United Methodist Church, this school enrolls students of all beliefs and backgrounds.

The Bachelor of Arts in English with a creative writing specialization consists of 33 credit hours of upper-division courses. You’ll take classes in criticism and theory as well as those that train you specifically in reactive writing and in reading historically. Some classes you might take include Studies in Literary Theory and Criticism, Early Modern Literature, and Doing Things With Poems. 

The university has many other pathways for aspiring English majors, too, including those that will train you extensively in literary theory and history as well as those designed for aspiring teachers. You can pursue a minor in English, too, if you are interested in pursuing major studies in another discipline. 

To apply for admission to this program, you will need to submit an online application along with official transcripts and SAT or ACT test scores.

Enroll at The University of Arizona and you’ll become a “Wildcat,” joining a group of more than 45,000 other students as you take courses in one of 19 of the university’s separate colleges and schools. This large school is known for its excellence in athletics as well as its outstanding academic programs—among them is the bachelor’s in writing.

The Bachelor of Arts in creative writing is a degree that will allow you to develop your writing craft and to create fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and technical pieces while you work under the guidance of award-winning, published writers in small workshop settings. You will be taught by internationally-renowned faculty as they share real-world insights into the profession. 

Available by itself as well as with an optional professional and technical writing certificate, this degree will allow you to work with some of the world’s most influential writers. You will take core classes such as Introduction to the Writing of Creative Nonfiction, Literary Analysis, and Elements of Craft in Creative Writing. 

If you rank within the top 25% of your graduating class, you could be eligible for assured admission at the University of Arizona. Otherwise, you’ll just need to submit your application form and fee, and official high school transcripts. SAT/ACT scores are not required.

A public research university, Miami University is not located, as you might expect, in Miami, FL, but instead can be found in Oxford, OH. This school is known for its outstanding liberal arts education, ranked as one of the best universities in the country by the U.S. News & World Report. It is also considered a Public Ivy, a school that is considered to provide a quality of education comparable to what you might receive at an Ivy League institution. 

The creative writing major at Miami University-Oxford is taught by top-notch professors who are all published writers themselves, many of whom have strong connections in the literary field. You’ll learn in small classes and workshops, with many students publishing their own work prior to graduation. 

You’ll start by taking two introductory courses in creative writing and literary analysis. You will also benefit from a visiting writer series and numerous brown bag seminars to help you hone your craft. This degree will also enable you to develop your own plan of study as you concentrate on one type of writing or take a combination of courses in poetry, fiction, and essay writing. 
Each year, over a dozen well-regarded writers will also visit Miami University to provide students with opportunities for feedback on their work. You’ll even be able to contribute to campus literary publications such as Happy Captive Magazine and Inklings while you are a student here.

Just three miles from downtown Fort Worth, TX, Texas Christian University is a private Christian university that first opened its doors as the Add-Ran Male and Female College (named after its founders Addison and Randolph Clark). Today, the school has eight constituent colleges and schools yet maintains a classical liberal arts core curriculum at the heart of all of its courses.

The Bachelor of Arts in writing at Texas Christian University is a diverse program that will require you to complete 33 credit hours of courses. You’ll take three credit hours each of courses in subcategories such as creative writing, rhetoric and culture, and design and editing. An internship is also an integral component of this program. 

There are no special admissions requirements for this program—you just need to be admitted to Texas Christian University in order to be eligible. You’ll take sample courses such as Reading as a Writer, Travel Writing, and Digital Creative Writing as you acquire skills that will prepare you for the rewarding career of a lifetime.

A private research university located in Tulsa, OK, the University of Tulsa has a historic affiliation with the Presbyterian Church and is known for its excellence in teaching and research. It offers dozens of programs in the liberal arts and sciences and is ranked as a Best College as well as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report. 

The Bachelor of Arts with a major in creative writing at the University of Tulsa is a highly interdisciplinary degree that is delivered by the Department of English Language and Literature. You’ll complete 53 credit hours of coursework as you examine literary style, technique, genre, and form. 

You may also choose to tack on a minor—although all students are required to choose a minor, you’ll have flexibility in which one you select and how you choose to structure your degree. Regardless of your selections, some of the classes you can take include Aesthetic Inquiry and Creative Experience, Poetry Writing, Screenwriting, and Reading Major American Writers.

With a strong liberal arts focus and a geographically and economically diverse student body, Brandeis University in Waltham, MA is a smart school to choose if you are interested in a high-quality education in writing. The school has produced many nominees and winners of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, and countless other internationally-recognized awards.

The Bachelor of Arts in creative writing at Brandeis has been a fixture here since 1951. Unlike other creative writing programs, this one is taught exclusively by established writers. In addition to working writers who are dedicated teachers while also being widely published, this program will allow you to work with an impressive group of visiting writers, too, with past visitors including John Irving, Alice Walker, Saul Bellow, and others.

You’ll work with only a dozen or so other students in your writing workshops. These are capped at 14 students. Plus, you’ll be able to participate in honors programs and opportunities for interdisciplinary study (many students also take classes in related fields like African-American studies and comparative literature). 

In addition to internships and study abroad opportunities, you will also be able to contribute to numerous creative outlets on campus. Brandeis produces several publications, including The Hoot, The Justice, and Blacklist.

A public research university located in Houston, TX, the University of Houston is the third-largest school in the state of Texas. Here, you’ll find more than 282 degree programs to choose from spread out among 14 different academic colleges. Many of these are pre-professional in nature while others are perfect for aspiring creative professionals—including students who are interested in becoming writers.

The English department at the University of Houston offers three different concentrations within its Bachelor of Arts degree. You can pursue pathways in applied linguistics, literature, and of course, creative writing. You can even choose to focus your studies in English education by adding an English language arts composition certification track.
No matter which one you choose, you’ll benefit from a program that exposes you to a wide range of literary studies and enables you to participate in exciting student groups like the Shakespeare Club and Sigma Tau Delta, the English honors society. Of course, you may also choose to contribute to the university literary journal, Glass Mountain. A top-ranked national program, the creative writing major is taught by internationally known writers.

Located in St. Paul and in Minneapolis, MN, the University of St. Thomas is a private Catholic university that is the state’s largest private, not-for-profit university. It is home to more than 10,000 students and offers one of the best bachelor’s in writing to boot.

The Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of St. Thomas has a concentration in creative writing. This program will provide you with the tools you need to be successful in publishing, law, editing, journalism, and even medicine or engineering, if you choose to pursue those paths. You will begin by taking a gateway course that introduces you to English studies before you take literature classes and then more focused coursework geared toward your career of choice.

Curious about the classes you will be required to take? These will vary depending on what you ultimately want to do with your degree, but most students will take classes like Writing Fiction, Topics in Creative Writing, The Modern Tradition, and Theory and Practice of Writing.

Not to be confused with the University System of Ohio or, more commonly, with Ohio State University, Ohio University is a public research university located in Athens, OH. First founded in 1804, this school offers more than 250 majors for undergraduates to choose from. One of these is the superb bachelor’s in writing. 

The creative writing major at Ohio University is just one optional concentration within the English degree. It is incredibly flexible, allowing you to tailor your course schedule to meet your own goals and interests. You can take courses focused on literary theory, rhetoric, or literature, or you can fill up your schedule with internship and apprenticeship experiences. The choice is yours!

What all students have in common here, though, is that they will participate in workshops led by nationally recognized writers. These workshops will focus on constructing and understanding a variety of literary forms. 

Graduates of this program use their internship experiences and career networks—many of which are established by working with Handshake, the university’s key resource for finding jobs and professional development events—to go on to rewarding, lucrative careers. Many work in grant writing, web content development, and other creative industries while others go on to graduate study. 

A private Jesuit university, Creighton University was founded in 1878 and is located in the heart of Omaha, NE. This school is nationally ranked by organizations and publications like the U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, and Forbes, highly regarded for its quality of education and return on investment. 

The Bachelor of Arts in English at Creighton University will provide you with the solid foundation you need for a leadership role in fields like research, writing, law, public service, and more. Available as a major and as a minor, this degree is an excellent pathway for students who are interested in pursuing graduate-level study. You can even add on a film studies minor, if you choose!

This degree has numerous concentrations available, including those in American literature, creative writing, British literature, English education, and rhetoric and composition. As a student in this program, you’ll be able to participate in student organizations like Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honor Society, as well as countless internships and scholarship opportunities.