purdue creative writing program

Department of English College of Liberal Arts

Creative Writing

College Magazine  ranks Purdue’s English Department #1 in the United States, and it’s easy to see why. Our degree programs offer individualized attention and access to excellent teachers and experts who shape how people think about literature, linguistics, and writing.

While pursuing a BA in Creative Writing, students study literary texts and then produce their own poetry or fiction. The creative writing student is an artist. This major is perfect for those who love to write poems or stories, and who plan to do so no matter what. In addition to the required five courses in poetry or fiction writing, students must take five courses in English Literature or English Language . While some creative writing students attend graduate school to hone their skills and develop their art, others practice their craft in commercial industries like marketing or publishing. Ultimately, creative writers learn many skills that employers find desirable.

Creative Writing faculty include: Casey Gray , Brian Leung ,  Donald Platt , and Sharon Solwitz .  Students interested in Creative Writing might also explore Professional Writing  or  English Literature , and English Language .

Preparation

All Purdue University College of Liberal Arts majors prepare students with skills contributing to professional and managerial success: communicating and listening well, understanding and appreciating of diverse points of view, creative thinking and problem solving, collaborating with others, synthesizing complex ideas and expressing them clearly, and a Boilermaker work ethic.

Within the field of English, students develop skills that are applicable to many different careers. These may include, but are not limited to:

• Exceptional writing for multiple audiences, and in multiple styles (stories, poems, reviews, reports, memos, essays, and critical analyses)
• Deep reading (how to read patiently, with empathy and insight; how to recognize patterns in texts; and how to express your observations about them effectively)
• Creative and literary thinking (metaphorical and other non-literal reasoning; historical and global awareness; connecting the dots and telling stories with data)
• Analytical and research skills (how to take texts and ideas apart for a greater understanding of the whole; how to find, compile, and synthesize important information)
• Cutting-edge presentation skills (how to produce, read, and understand images and digital texts; how to present your ideas in the most effective manner)

Undergraduate Admissions

• Creative Writing

Purdue University in West Lafayette

Creative Writing focuses on writing poetry, fiction, or drama. This major is perfect for students who love to write and who do so no matter what. Many creative writing students double major in creative writing and another area, like professional writing.

Most Creative Writing majors and minors want to have creative writing as a component of their future. As a creative writing major, you’ll learn many skills that employers find desirable, which may lead to jobs in publishing, marketing, management, and more. Other students plan to attend graduate school to hone their skills and further develop their art.

All liberal arts majors prepare students with the skills identified as contributing to managerial success:  communicating and listening well, possessing insights into others, creative/critical thinking, problem solving, and the ability to make connections across complex ideas.

Degree in 3

Plan of Study

• Creative Writing, BA

Transfer to Creative Writing

Purdue admits to individual majors. Transfer students must meet Purdue's overall transfer criteria , as well as any major-specific requirements. Before you apply, check the closed programs page to confirm this major is open to transfer students. If it is, refer to the information below for major-specific transfer criteria.

Minimum GPA: 2.5

Contact Information

Undergraduate Student Recruitment Office (765) 494-6291 [email protected]

Careers in Creative Writing

•   Writer
•   Teacher
•   Editor
•   Advertiser
•   Social Media Manager
•   Journalist
•   Freelance Writing
•   Production Assistant
•   Marketing Director
•   Attorney
• Marketing, Advertising, Communication, and Writing
• Public Service or Social Sciences
• Teaching and Education
• African American Studies
• American Studies
• Anthropology
• Art History
• Artificial Intelligence
• Asian Studies
• Chinese Studies
• Classical Studies
• Communication (multiple concentrations)
• Comparative Literature
• Digital Criminology
• Economics (Pre) (College of Liberal Arts)
• Film and Video Production
• Film and Video Studies
• Global Studies
• Industrial Design
• Integrated Studio Arts, BFA (Portfolio Required)
• Interior Design - Professional Program
• Italian Studies
• Jewish Studies
• Law and Society (Criminology)
• Linguistics
• Political Science
• Pre-dentistry
• Pre-medicine
• Pre-occupational Therapy
• Pre-physical Therapy
• Pre-physician Assistant
• Professional Writing
• Religious Studies
• Sound for the Performing Arts (Portfolio Required)
• Studio Arts and Technology
• Visual Arts Design Education
• Visual Arts Education
• Visual Communication Design (Graphic Design)
• Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies
• College of Liberal Arts

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Department of English and Linguistics

Degree programs, department of english and linguistics, harness the power of words..

Whether you’re reading them, writing them, studying them, analyzing them, or saying them, you cannot escape words. So why not embrace them?

Enrich your understanding of, and approach to, major issues in the study English.

Our English programs develop your critical-thinking, writing, persuasion, analytical, and research skills—all of which are highly desired in any profession. You’ll pursue your specialty in digital literacy, language, literature, or writing as you’re taught by expert faculty who’ll support you every step of your way. Our diverse curriculum includes training in theory, research, writing, and persuasion.

*Students in this program have the option of earning a dual degree with a  B.S.Ed. in secondary education . †Students in this program will also earn a B.S.Ed. in secondary education.

Minors and Certificates

Indulge in your passion—or find a new one..

Sometimes you just want to explore an area before you commit to a whole degree. Sometimes you’re just looking for that something extra to enrich your bachelor’s degree. We’ve got you covered here in English. Whether you want to amp up your writing skills or discover the world of folklore, our minors are the way to go.

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Help Us Support Purdue's MFA Program

December 15, 2021.

Dear Members,

The MFA in creative writing at Purdue University was informed by their administration that all funding for graduate student admissions would be immediately discontinued. To learn more, read this write-up of recent events from Inside Higher Education and the Letter to the Editor from The Exponent ,  Purdue’s student newspaper, by award-winning poet and long-time director of Purdue’s MFA program, Marianne Boruch.

AWP strongly disagrees with Purdue’s logic that English, the humanities, and the arts are no longer necessary to a good education. We are puzzled, too, that the Purdue administration appears to be ignoring current research about the extraordinary benefits of a creative writing degree. Since 2016 when Daniel Pink declared, “The MFA is the New MBA,” we’ve seen mounting research that confirms the value of the MFA degree across multiple professions. As an article published this week in ThinkBusiness.net puts it, “Storytelling is a nuanced art. It is the packaged content of brand and voice. And it is quite possibly the center of the human experience. That is why organizations all over the world look to storytelling as the most promising tool for sustaining organizational culture.” Purdue’s decision to cut funding for their English department stands to harm not only their writing program, but students across their university.

As AWP’s executive director, I am working hard with the AWP board to offer direct support and restore needed funding. However, I am also putting out a call to action to you, our valued members. Please help us stand up for the value of excellent English and creative writing education and the integrity of Purdue’s long-standing and exceptional English and creative writing programs by doing one or all of the following:

Sign this petition to Save the Creative Writing Program at Purdue at change.org

Write an email or letter voicing your objections to Purdue Liberal Arts Dean David A. Reingold at  [email protected] and Purdue President Mitchell Elias Daniels Junior at  [email protected] .  Their contact information and a sample letter are included below. You can also reach out directly to the Purdue University Board of Trustees whose emails are listed on Purdue's website .

Post on social media voicing your support for creative writing at Purdue and use the hashtags #SavePurdueCW and please tag us at @AWPwriter so we can reshare your posts.

As poet Rebecca Bednarz wrote on Twitter, “If it can happen at Purdue, it can happen anywhere.” This is a time for us to come together and speak together to the value of creative writing and what creative writing education provides—for Purdue and for all creative writing programs facing funding cuts across the nation.

Thank you for listening and for your support.

Cynthia Sherman

Dr. Mitchell Elias Daniels Junior

Purdue President’s Office

Hovde Hall, Room 200

610 Purdue Mall

West Lafayette, IN 47907-2040

Dr. David Reingold

Office of the Dean

Purdue University College of Liberal Arts, Room 1290

100 N. University Street West Lafayette, IN 47907-2098  

Sample Email:

As a writer, teacher, and member of AWP, I strongly object to your defunding of Purdue’s excellent graduate MFA Program in Creative Writing.

Your actions penalize not only the graduate programs, but undergraduate students across your campus who will no longer have access to excellent writing support and services. In the words of Avi Kak, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the upper administration at Purdue “has lost respect for the non-STEM educators, and that’s a huge tragedy for all of us.”

Please take action today to restore funding to the MFA program in creative writing at Purdue University and its award-winning journal, the Sycamore Review.

(Your name)

You must have member access to comment.

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School of Liberal Arts

Department of English

Concentration in Creative Writing

Hone your talent and learn the craft of creative writing.

Creative Writing offers a wide range of courses and activities to help you hone your craft and deepen your awareness of contemporary creative writing genres. Courses in Creative Writing include the following:

• Creative nonfiction
• Screenwriting
• Literary editing and publishing
• Creative writing for teachers

For more information contact:

Kyle Minor Director of the Creative Writing Program Associate Professor of English [email protected] (317)274-2258 Cavanaugh 501R

Creative Writing Requirements

The concentration in Creative Writing requires 33 credit hours.

Gateway Courses (6 cr.)

Choose two :

• ENG-W 206 Introduction to Creative Writing
• ENG-W 207 Introduction to Fiction Writing (suggested for majors)
• ENG-W 208 Introduction to Poetry Writing (suggested for majors)

Concentration Core Courses (12 cr.)

Choose four courses in at least two genres, including at least one at the 400 level :

• ENG W301 Writing Fiction
• ENG W302 Screenwriting
• ENG W303 Writing Poetry
• ENG W305 Writing Creative Nonfiction
• ENG W401 Advanced Fiction Writing
• ENG W403 Advanced Poetry Writing
• ENG W407 Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing
• ENG W411 Directed Writing (only with permission)

English Experience Courses (12 cr.):

Literature (9 cr)

Three courses at the 200-level or higher; at least one of which must be 300-400 level.

Language, Pedagogy, and Editing (3 cr)

Choose from:

• ENG W280 Literary Editing and Publishing
• ENG W310 Language and the Study of Writing
• ENG W365 Theory and Practice of Editing
• ENG W408 Creative Writing for Teachers
• ENG W426 Writing Nonfiction: Popular and Professional Publication
• ENG Z206 Introduction to Language Use
• ENG Z301 History of the English Language
• ENG Z302 Understanding Language Structure: Syntax
• ENG Z310 Language in Context: Sociolinguistics

Capstone Seminar (3 cr.)

To help you guide your four-year college journey, consult your degree map for a snapshot of classes you will be taking to finish your degree.

CONCENTRATIONS

• Film Studies
• Professional and Public Writing
• Linguistics

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Bachelor's Degree in English

Concentration: Writing (BA)

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English Writing Concentration Overview

As a student in Purdue University Northwest’s English degree program with a concentration in writing, you’ll learn the practical aspects of writing in multiple disciplines. With a wealth of academic knowledge and real-world experience, you’ll be poised to work in a number of fields, including publishing, public relations and marketing.

Department of English and World Languages

Why Study English Writing at PNW?

With a concentration in English Writing, you’ll focus on the most practical aspects of written communication, including 21st-century applications like social media, web design, interactive media and more.

English Writing Concentration Curriculum

As a student in the English writing concentration, you’ll take a balance of general education courses, College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences core courses and English courses.

Many of the courses in this concentration are offered online, so you can complete a portion of the program from a distance. You can also include creative writing, literature and cultural studies in your course plan.

Begin with a first-year seminar for English majors as well as composition and general education courses.

English Writing Concentration Course of Study

Sample Courses

• ENGL 11200 – First-Year Seminar For English Majors
• ENGL 10400 – English Composition I

Wrap up your gen-ed requirements, begin CHESS (College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences) courses and continue building writing skills.

• ENGL 10500 – English Composition II
• COM 11400 – Fundamentals Of Speech Communication

Advance to higher-level CHESS and English courses that focus on culture and genre; explore your individual interests through electives of your choosing.

• Writing Concentration Major Course
• Social Ethics

Complete CHESS and English Writing requirements, including 400-level courses and free electives.

• Social Science
• Free Elective

English Writing Concentration Highlights

Why do employers want English majors?

With training in writing, reading, and critical thinking, our majors are creative and flexible. You’ll be well positioned to find opportunities in today’s economy. We specialize in storytelling — and in a world drowning in data, we need people who can find the story in the data.

English Writing Concentration Outcomes

You’ll gain a great deal of real-world experience in this concentration, through both practical writing projects and the opportunity to complete internships with local employers.

English Writing Concentration Career Paths

This program prepares you for a range of careers, including:

• Social media coordinator
• Public relations specialist
• Technical writer

English Writing Concentration Beyond the Classroom

We encourage English majors to participate in activities like:

• “Furnace,” the student literary journal, which is edited and produced entirely by students
• Internships with local employers
• Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society

English Writing Concentration Scholarships

In addition to the scholarships available to all PNW applicants, students seeking an English writing concentration may also apply for program-specific scholarship awards.

See All CHESS Scholarships

Having the opportunity to study [abroad] and work in Spain… The experience provided me with a great opportunity to ‘try out’ living and working abroad before I fully committed to a career in international journalism. Natalia Salazar, ’22, English

It is such a supportive atmosphere. The smaller class sizes offered the opportunity to have conversations with and receive guidance from professors – opportunities I may not have had at a larger university. Kayla Vasilko

Meet the Faculty

Mark Mabrito, Ph.D.

Professor of English

Mark Mabrito is a Professor of English in the Department of English. He also is the department’s Director of Computer Labs and Computer-Supported Writing.

Karen Bishop Morris, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of English

Karen Bishop Morris specializes in the teaching of writing, has served in leadership roles for several national non-profits, and currently serves on the boards of St. Catherine Hospital and LFC, Inc.

Sarah E. White, M.F.A.

Clinical Assistant Professor of English

Sarah White is a Clinical Assistant Professor of English. Her research and teaching focus on Fiction Writing, Creative Nonfiction, Digital Humanities, and Composition.

Earn a Bachelor's Degree in English with a Concentration in Writing at PNW

Purdue University Northwest’s English writing concentration prepares you for careers in publishing, editing, writing, and technical communication.

To see how a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in writing from PNW opens doors, from publishing to leadership, take the next step today!

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