Creative Writing (BFA)

As a Creative Writing major, you’ll be prepared for a variety of professional writing careers. Within the major requirements, 45 of the 60 credits are dedicated exclusively to writing courses, including small, intensive workshops in poetry and fiction. You can also take “craft” seminars that are focused on specialized writing forms and genres, literature courses, a hands-on course in publishing, and a cross-disciplinary course requiring close collaboration with a student in another artistic field. You’ll graduate with a linked short story collection or book of poems that can be published or used as application materials for an MFA program or postgraduate fellowships.

Graduates of the Creative Writing program are expected to

• understand the elements of the poem and the short story and be able to use them, skillfully and deliberately, in their own work;
• be close and careful readers, able to analyze text with a writer’s eye;
• demonstrate knowledge of significant books, writers and trends in the contemporary landscape, as well as the context for the development of these models and traditions;
• write ably in a range of forms and genres;
• critique writing usefully and productively, delivering detailed, well-supported verbal and written peer feedback;
• find and articulate connections between their writing and other artistic disciplines;
• demonstrate practical knowledge of producing a literary magazine;
• hone public speaking skills by reading work aloud, introducing visiting writers and participating in public readings and other presentations;
• engage in thorough, substantial revision of written work;
• demonstrate a mature awareness of their own process of writing and revising, both in written self-assessments and exit interview;
• produce a final portfolio of professional-quality writing; and
• have something to say.
   

Sample Curriculum
Duration: Four years, full time
Credits: 120 credits

Major requirements: 63 credits
Discipline history: 9 credits
Critical Studies: 33 credits
Free electives: 15 credits
 

*Craft seminars offered at this level include courses like Poetic Translations & Adaptations, Travel Writing, Graphic Storytelling, Memoir / Flash Fiction and Creative Nonfiction.

**Literature courses at this level cover topics like African American Literature, Lyric Poetry, Women Writers, Myths and Murders: Ancient Greek Drama and Queer Literature.

Free elective credits can be used to

• take additional classes in your primary area of interest;
• pursue or explore other creative interests in the arts; or
• minor in one of the 23 programs that are open to all undergraduate students such as Art Therapy, Business, Figurative Illustration or Photography.

Critical Studies is where creative practice and critical reflection intersect. These courses provide common ground for all UArts students and offer unique forums for exchanging ideas through different critical perspectives and approaches. A broad range of interdisciplinary courses will develop and deepen your critical thinking skills, communication and research toolkits, and understanding of the history and criticism of creativity.

Learn more about Critical Studies.

Learn about transferring to UArts, including transferring credits from a program at another college.

Explore the full curriculum
 
Laptop Requirement
At UArts, all first-year and transfer students are required to have laptops. Students with qualifying laptops are given access to install university-licensed software for free.

Learn about the recommended laptop specs for Creative Writing students.
 
See the list of free university-licensed software.

As a student in a truly arts-centered university, you’ll have many opportunities to collaborate with students in other majors. You might work with Illustration and Graphic Design students on our popular undergraduate literary magazine, Underground Pool. A poet or fiction writer might team up with a music major to create a joint artistic work in our Writing and Collaboration course. Students in the Illustration program design author portraits and posters for the Visiting Writers Series each year, a tradition that started in 2014. Creative Writing majors can also take advantage of our affiliation with the nationally renowned American Poetry Review and their student internships, housed right here at UArts. 

Our faculty are award-winning writers active in their field outside the classroom. They use their industry expertise and love for education to provide mentorship, often continuing conversations about texts or career advice long after class ends. The relationships you’ll build with faculty will continue beyond graduation.

Career Development

Throughout your studies, you’ll take courses that prepare you to land your desired career. You’ll build a portfolio of work during Senior Seminar and learn about professional opportunities in the writing field during Careers & Community. You’ll have the opportunity to gain professional experience and a behind-the-scenes view of the writing industry during an internship. Though students are responsible for finding their own internships, faculty often use industry contacts to connect students with opportunities in the field. Throughout these experiences, you’ll develop the skills needed to succeed in the field, such as adaptability, creativity, critical thinking, persuasion and social perceptiveness.

Internships that have previously hosted UArts students include

• American Poetry Review
• CAPA Philly
• Cleaver Magazine
• Esquire Magazine
• Folk Arts Cultural Treasures Charter School
• Metro Philly
• Mighty Writers
• Neon Butterfly
• Out and About Magazine
• Philadelphia Magazine
• Philadelphia Style Magazine
• Study Breaks magazine
• Tail Fly Fishing Magazine
• University of Pennsylvania

Alumni

Graduates of Creative Writing are accomplished, award-winning writers who have had works published in magazines, journals and more. Alumni can be seen around Philadelphia practicing in a variety of fields, as Philadelphia’s regional arts and culture sector has a $4.1B effect on the area’s economy and creates the equivalent of 55,225 full-time jobs.* Nationwide, Creative Writing alumni make up part of the 131,200 jobs for writers and authors.**

*Agenda: Prosperity, a 2017 study by Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Writers and Authors 

Alumni Profiles

As the industry continues to grow, graduates find themselves in a variety of roles. Common careers for Creative Writing majors include

• Author
• Advertising copywriter
• Editor
• Ghostwriter
• Journalist
• Playwright
• Screenwriter
• Speechwriter

While in the BFA in Creative Writing program, you will have the opportunity to work on Underground Pool, our undergraduate-led literary journal. You’ll also gain editing, copy editing and publishing experience. Though internships and courses about careers in the industry, you’ll graduate with practical experiences to enter the writing world. Your undergraduate study will culminate in a finished collection of poems or a series of short stories.

Creative Writing Senior Theses

Read the senior theses.

Underground Pool

Read the 2020 issue.

Read the 2019 issue.

Read the 2017 issue.

Read the 2016 issue.

Read previous issues of Underground Pool.

Admissions Deadline: There is no set deadline. UArts operates on a rolling admissions basis, which means we will receive and process applications throughout the year as space remains available in each program. 

The following materials are required for your application. 

• A completed application for admission
• A nonrefundable $60 application fee
• Official transcripts 
  • Official transcripts from the high school(s) you have attended are required. For transfer students, transcripts from each college you have attended are required. They must be mailed directly by your school in a sealed envelope to the Office of Admissions, emailed directly from your school, or sent through a secure electronic transcript delivery service. Transcripts sent or emailed by students are not considered official. They should be sent to the Office of Admissions, University of the Arts, 320 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19102 or via email to undergradcredentials@uarts.edu. 
  • For transcripts from outside the U.S., refer to the instructions for international students. 
• A writing sample
  • Your writing sample should address one of the following questions, interpreted as you wish. There is no right or wrong answer.
    1. When and how did you discover your creativity?
    2. How will University of the Arts help you achieve your creative and professional goals?
    3. How do you want your creativity to impact the future?
  • Submit an existing piece of writing, such as an essay or class assignment, on any topic.
  • Pay attention to grammar, spelling and punctuation. There is no required word count, but we recommend a 250-word statement, which is about one double-spaced page. You can upload your sample with your application for admission, or email it to undergradcredentials@uarts.edu.
• Your portfolio 
  • Your portfolio should be 10 to 15 pages long and must include at least two different pieces of writing. Writings can include poetry, short stories, creative nonfiction and excerpts from short stories or novels. Applicants submitting poetry must also submit some prose.
  • Essay: The portfolio should also include a 150- to 200-word essay that responds to the prompt, “Describe an important window.” Learn more about submitting a Creative Writing portfolio.
• International applicants must submit proof of English proficiency
• Optional Materials 
• You can also submit SAT scores, a résumé and/or letters of recommendation. None of these materials are required. Learn more about submitting optional materials. 

For more information, visit our first-year application checklist and transfer checklist. 

Apply now.
 

Scholarships & Financial Aid

UArts recognizes the extraordinary talent of our students through a range of merit-based scholarships. All applicants are automatically considered for such scholarships—no special application is necessary.

Nearly 80 percent of UArts’ undergraduate students enrolled on a full-time basis are eligible for some type of need-based aid. Additionally, some scholarship opportunities take need-based criteria into account. All students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens and are enrolled in a degree program are encouraged to apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Learn more about tuition and financial aid.