Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing
Our degree in creative writing enables you to channel artistic passion into professional output.
Oakland University’s degree in creative writing equips you to make a good living while you explore your potential as a writer. You will receive intensive training in fiction, poetry, memoir, essay and screenwriting from a nationally recognized college writing program, while acquiring marketable skills that are trending up in the job market. Our creative writing degree features intimate, graduate-style workshops led by successful authors and poets. But you can also acquire hands-on training and internship experience in digital storytelling, social media strategy and multimedia production. Whether you’re bound for the workforce or a graduate writing program, our bachelor’s degree in creative writing gives you a practical foundation for your future.
Oakland University’s degree in creative writing equips you to make a good living while you explore your potential as a writer. You will receive intensive training in fiction, poetry, memoir, essay and screenwriting from a nationally recognized college writing program, while acquiring marketable skills that are trending up in the job market. Our creative writing degree features intimate, graduate-style workshops led by successful authors and poets. But you can also acquire hands-on training and internship experience in digital storytelling, social media strategy and multimedia production. Whether you’re bound for the workforce or a graduate writing program, our bachelor’s degree in creative writing gives you a practical foundation for your future.
Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing: The Oakland University Advantage
Oakland’s creative writing program has won national attention for its pioneering embrace of new storytelling forms. You’ll get the opportunity to apply classical narrative forms in modern contexts that have both artistic and commercial merit, including podcasting, YouTube and other digital media.
Our bachelor’s degree in creative writing also allows you to:
- Hone your craft. You’ll learn the nuts and bolts of storytelling in our creative writing program, with the freedom to focus on the genre(s) and style(s) that interest you most. You’ll master the fundamentals and then move beyond them, with the chance to experiment and grow artistically.
- Get one-on-one mentoring from active writers. Our degree in creative writing is built around small, interactive workshops that are led by senior faculty (not graduate students). You’ll get personal attention from published writers who can help you channel creative passion into professional output.
- Get real-world experience. Oakland’s creative writing program maintains an exceptionally robust list of internship opportunities. We have placed creative writing majors in professional settings that involve hands-on practice in teaching, tutoring, social media management, corporate and technical writing, public relations and many other skills.
- Showcase your talent. Oakland University has a vibrant arts scene that includes five literary journals, student film festivals, theatrical productions and more. In addition, our faculty often help creative writing majors prepare their work for submission to magazines, journals, websites and other publications.
- Belong to a supportive community. Our degree in creative writing operates on principles of inclusion and mutual support. We actively nurture a culture in which students respect each other’s talent, challenge each other to improve and take pride in each other’s successes.
What Can You Do With a Degree in Creative Writing?
If you aspire to attend graduate school, Oakland’s degree in creative writing offers excellent preparation. Nearly one-fourth of our creative writing majors go on to graduate school, with the majority receiving full-ride funding.
If you’re seeking to build income after graduation, there is a growing range of jobs you can get with a creative writing degree due to the growing demand for content for social media, websites and other digital platforms. Oakland University’s degree in creative writing provides you with a strong professional background that enables you to make a good income while you pursue artistic and creative growth.
After completing your bachelor’s degree in creative writing, you’ll be qualified for work in fields such as:
- Website content development
- Social media
- Copywriting
- Corporate communication
- Education and tutoring
- Digital storytelling
Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing: What You’ll Learn
The Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing with specialization in fiction includes five creative writing workshops and two courses in literary history, plus four electives in English. You have the option to substitute a sixth writing workshop for one of the electives.
Creative writing workshop options cover many genres, including:
- Fiction
- Screenwriting
- Television writing
- Poetry
- Literary nonfiction
- Play Writing
Electives in English are similarly diverse, with dozens of courses available. A brief sample of course titles includes:
- The English Novel
- Early American Literature
- Modern Fiction
- African American Literature
- Modern Drama
- Modern Poetry
- Adaptation: Fiction, Drama, Film
- Ethnic Literature
Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing Program Resources
Programs Related to the Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing
Not sure if the degree in creative writing is right for you? Check out these other undergraduate programs at Oakland and contact our admissions team to discuss your options.
- Bachelor of Arts in English
- Bachelor of Arts in Professional and Digital Writing
- Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Theatre