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Creative Writing, BFA

BFA students show dedication to their writing craft through a strong work ethic, a willingness to strengthen the fundamentals, and an openness to fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.
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    Among Public National Universities,
    U.S. News & World Report

  • 1 of 4

    UNC System Schools Featured in the Fiske Guide to Colleges

  • 20th

    Nationally, Best Online Bachelor's Programs,
    U.S. News & World Report

Our alumni work as:

BFA graduates can apply their training in positions that call for writing and editing. This includes options in digital/tech fields.

BFA students who earn the Certificate in Publishing are equipped to move into careers in the publishing industry.

BFA graduates are qualified to move into fields of professional communication, including those with government agencies and marketing firms.

With training in powerful communication, our students are uniquely equipped to attend law school.

program completion feature
program completion feature

Learn To

Participate in a rigorous apprenticeship in the art and craft of creating literature

Develop critical faculties, understanding of literary forms, and aesthetic judgment

Build a strong foundation in the historical literary tradition and a grounding practice of the art of writing

Construct a thoughtful interdisciplinary foundation for understanding the relationship of creative writing to other arts and scholarly areas

“ I admire the energy, artistic nuance, and emotion with which a writer can carry a story. This is what I love about reading what other writers have created: discovering the heart of a story. ”
Patricia BFA alumna
Creative Writing BFA Program Overview

Liberal Arts Foundation

We encourage our graduate students to become people of letters, and our goals for undergraduates are no less ambitious.

We offer a broad liberal arts education that fosters creativity, exercises communication skills, sharpens analytical perception, and encourages informed, integrated cultural viewpoints.

Studio-Academic Experience

Our BFA program provides aspiring writers an apprenticeship in writing, informed by the close study of literature among a community of professional writers.

As a studio-academic experience in writing fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction, our BFA program unites passionate people who believe the creation of art is a pursuit valuable to self and culture.

Sample Courses in a Creative Writing Major

Table lists sample courses for this program
CRW 203 The Evolution of Creative Writing
CRW 204 Research for Creative Writers
CRW 207 Fiction Writing
CRW 208 Poetry Writing
CRW 209 Creative Nonfiction Writing
CRW 302 Reading Fiction/Poetry/Creative Nonfiction for Craft
CRW 321 Introduction to Book Publishing
CRW 323 Bookbuilding
See The Full Curriculum

How Do I Major In Creative Writing?

Students may declare a major in pre-creative writing at any point upon completing at least 24 hours of college credits.

Admission to the full creative writing major comes through application only.

Application process

  1. Complete at least 24 hours of college credits.
  2. Complete CRW 201 and CRW 203, plus ALL THREE of these introductory courses with a minimum grade of B (not B-) in at least one:
    • CRW 207: Introduction to Fiction Writing
    • CRW 208: Introduction to Poetry Writing
    • CRW 209: Introduction to Creative Nonfiction Writing
  3. Submit BFA Application for Admission through Canvas 
  4. Submit creative work/portfolio for review by faculty members.

Application deadlines

  • January 31
  • September 15
Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on deadline dates. If those dates fall on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will be the first class day immediately afterward. Late applications will not be accepted.

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