creative writing degree georgia

Best Creative Writing colleges in Georgia 2024

Best creative writing colleges in georgia for 2024.

Emory University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 51 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 51 Bachelor's degrees.

Georgia State University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 1 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 1 Master's degree.

Mercer University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 5 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 5 Bachelor's degrees.

Kennesaw State University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 3 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 3 Certificates.

Berry College offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2022, 5 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 5 Bachelor's degrees.

Georgia College & State University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2022, 10 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 10 Master's degrees.

Agnes Scott College offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 16 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 16 Bachelor's degrees.

Reinhardt University offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a outlying rural area. In 2022, 10 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 7 Master's degrees, and 3 Bachelor's degrees.

Young Harris College offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a remote rural area. In 2022, 3 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 3 Bachelor's degrees.

Piedmont University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2022, 1 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 1 Bachelor's degree.

Find local colleges with Creative Writing majors in Georgia

List of all creative writing colleges in georgia.

2024 Best Colleges with Creative Writing Degrees in Georgia

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1-7 of 7 results

Emory University

Atlanta, GA •

• • Rating 3.83 out of 5   1,606 reviews

Senior: My experience at Emory has been nothing short of amazing. The people you will meet, the professors you have the opportunity to interact with are incredibly enriching. The school is also close to the heart of Atlanta so there is always something to do whether it's a farmers market, the park, downtown, or concerts there's something for everyone. ... Read 1,606 reviews

• grade  A+ Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 13%

Net price $28,367

SAT range 1420-1540

#2 Best Colleges in Georgia .

Blue checkmark.

ATLANTA, GA ,

1606 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Senior says My experience at Emory has been nothing short of amazing. The people you will meet, the professors you have the opportunity to interact with are incredibly enriching. The school is also close to the... .

Read 1606 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : A+ ,

Acceptance Rate : 13% ,

Net Price : $28,367 ,

SAT Range : 1420-1540 ,

Mercer University

Macon, GA •

• • Rating 3.67 out of 5   1,605 reviews

Freshman: Mercer University is overall a really good school, the academic and student life at Mercer are very strong and students are given the chance to take advantage of all opportunities. The party scene at Mercer is there but many students are not distracted by this scene, so many of the students are still focussed on their education. ... Read 1,605 reviews

• grade  B+ Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 75%

Net price $21,164

SAT range 1180-1400

#4 Best Colleges in Georgia .

MACON, GA ,

1605 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says Mercer University is overall a really good school, the academic and student life at Mercer are very strong and students are given the chance to take advantage of all opportunities. The party scene at... .

Read 1605 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : B+ ,

Acceptance Rate : 75% ,

Net Price : $21,164 ,

SAT Range : 1180-1400 ,

Agnes Scott College

Decatur, GA •

• • Rating 3.72 out of 5   709 reviews

Freshman: My first year at Agnes Scott has been better than I could have imagined! As a queer woman, I felt very safe and supported, especially coming from a conservative family. The student life is wonderful, with clubs for any interest, and the opportunity to create your own. Professors are also very personable, and love to support students. ... Read 709 reviews

• grade  B Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 70%

Net price $13,420

SAT range —

#7 Best Colleges in Georgia .

DECATUR, GA ,

709 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says My first year at Agnes Scott has been better than I could have imagined! As a queer woman, I felt very safe and supported, especially coming from a conservative family. The student life is wonderful,... .

Read 709 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : B ,

Acceptance Rate : 70% ,

Net Price : $13,420 ,

Emmanuel University

FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA

• • Rating 3.5 out of 5   208

ATLANTA, GA

• • Rating 3.83 out of 5   1,606

Loyola University New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, LA

• • Rating 3.83 out of 5   1,027

Piedmont University

Demorest, GA •

• • Rating 3.77 out of 5   366 reviews

Junior: Coming here has been great! It is a small local university with professors who care. I came here to be more than a number and at Piedmont I feel as though as I matter. Since arriving I have made connections with fellow students and professors that will not only be lifelong, but have given me more opportunities than a large competitive university elsewhere. Piedmont has been a great school and I am proud to be a lion! ... Read 366 reviews

Acceptance rate 67%

Net price $19,803

SAT range 1010-1220

#10 Best Colleges in Georgia .

DEMOREST, GA ,

366 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Junior says Coming here has been great! It is a small local university with professors who care. I came here to be more than a number and at Piedmont I feel as though as I matter. Since arriving I have made... .

Read 366 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 67% ,

Net Price : $19,803 ,

SAT Range : 1010-1220 ,

Berry College

Mount Berry, GA •

• • Rating 3.71 out of 5   789 reviews

Senior: Berry College is known for prioritizing community. There is a small student to professor ratio, which amplifies the academic experience. Berry college offers unique student activities, such as bringing food trucks, zip-lines, carnivals, and water slides, etc. on campus, and it is covered within the student's tuition activity fee. Traditions are the heart of Berry College and each year, marthapalooza and mountain day keep Martha Berry's Legacy alive, whom is Berry College's founder. As a senior at Berry College, I would like to see the residence halls updated. Traditional housing is offered to students, but apartment-style living needs to be more accessible to students. ... Read 789 reviews

Net price $24,741

SAT range 1120-1320

#11 Best Colleges in Georgia .

MOUNT BERRY, GA ,

789 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Senior says Berry College is known for prioritizing community. There is a small student to professor ratio, which amplifies the academic experience. Berry college offers unique student activities, such as... .

Read 789 reviews.

Net Price : $24,741 ,

SAT Range : 1120-1320 ,

Young Harris College

Young Harris, GA •

• • Rating 4.07 out of 5   416 reviews

Sophomore: My experience at Young Harris has been amazing so far! I'm a member of the YHC Women's golf team, a part of the local sorority Phi Delta, and a sweetheart for the local fraternity Upsilon Delta Sigma. The connections on campus are like no other. Since our school is so small, you know or know of virtually everyone! It's such a great community, even with your professors! The class sizes are so small that all of your professors know you by name! I also really like the surrounding environment around our campus. I know that I can always go out during the weekend and find somewhere new to explore, whether that's a town near here or a hiking trail! Young Harris really is a place where you can find your people! I have met many of my lifelong friends here, and know that I will continue to make amazing memories and connections with the new classes! ... Read 416 reviews

• grade  C+ Overall Niche Grade

Net price $19,035

SAT range 930-1160

YOUNG HARRIS, GA ,

416 Niche users give it an average review of 4.1 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says My experience at Young Harris has been amazing so far! I'm a member of the YHC Women's golf team, a part of the local sorority Phi Delta, and a sweetheart for the local fraternity Upsilon Delta... .

Read 416 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : C+ ,

Net Price : $19,035 ,

SAT Range : 930-1160 ,

• Will you get in? Understand your chances of getting accepted into any college in the country, and it's completely free

Reinhardt University

Waleska, GA •

• • Rating 3.83 out of 5   496 reviews

Freshman: I like all the different amounts of academic support on campus. It's easy to find your around campus. There are small class sizes. There are no exams in some classes, depending on the professor. FYS class is a chill class, depending on the professor. Some professors may bump up your grade depending on which class you are taking. Most night classes afforded on campus are only eight weeks long. I wish the university would offer more dinner options to the students in the main dining hall. I also wish that the art appreciation class could be afforded online and in person. Not meeting with the professor at all does not work for some students. ... Read 496 reviews

• grade  C Overall Niche Grade

Net price $23,917

SAT range 940-1160

WALESKA, GA ,

496 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says I like all the different amounts of academic support on campus. It's easy to find your around campus. There are small class sizes. There are no exams in some classes, depending on the professor. FYS... .

Read 496 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : C ,

Net Price : $23,917 ,

SAT Range : 940-1160 ,

Baldwin Wallace University

• • Rating 3.59 out of 5   1,080

Millikin University

DECATUR, IL

• • Rating 3.5 out of 5   640

Clark University

WORCESTER, MA

• • Rating 3.69 out of 5   840

Showing results 1 through 7 of 7

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2024 Best Creative Writing Schools in Georgia

For its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools in Georgia to determine which ones were the best for creative writing students pursuing a degree. Combined, these schools handed out 94 degrees in creative writing to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

• Best Overall Creative Writing Schools List

Creative Writing Rankings by Degree Level

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings , including this Best Creative Writing Schools in Georgia list, to help you choose the best school for you. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state .

To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Read more about College Factual's methodology .

Best Schools for Creative Writing in Georgia

The schools below may not offer all types of creative writing degrees so you may want to filter by degree level first. However, they are great for the degree levels they do offer.

Top Georgia Schools in Creative Writing

It is difficult to beat Emory University if you want to pursue a degree in creative writing. Emory is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Atlanta. More information about a degree in creative writing from Emory University

It is difficult to beat Georgia College & State University if you wish to pursue a degree in creative writing. Georgia College is a moderately-sized public university located in the distant town of Milledgeville. More information about a degree in creative writing from Georgia College & State University

Best Creative Writing Colleges in the Southeast Region

Explore all the Best Creative Writing Colleges in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.

Other Rankings

Bachelor's degrees in creative writing, master's degrees in creative writing.

View All Rankings >

Rankings in Majors Related to Creative Writing

One of 4 majors within the Writing Studies area of study, Creative Writing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Majors Similar to Creative Writing

View All Creative Writing Related Majors >

Notes and References

• The bars on the spread charts above show the distribution of the schools on this list +/- one standard deviation from the mean.
• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System ( IPEDS ) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s ( College Scorecard ).
• Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO .

More about our data sources and methodologies .

Popular Reports

Compare your school options.

Creative Writing

Explore methodologies across all writing categories as you refine both your personal style and voice utilizing the most effective tools and techniques. Schedule flexibility combined with a variety of elective options allows you to tailor the curriculum based on personal interests and skill sets. Build your platform and grow your brand as you work to successfully achieve your writing goals.

Creative Writing Certificate

Essentials of creative writing, introduction to screenwriting, narrative writing workshop, poetry workshop, funny business: finding humor, even funnier business: finding humor 2, the business of creative writing, writing inspired by surrealist art, film, and poetry, writing your truth: memoir, advanced revision workshop, certificates.

Our customizable Creative Writing Certificate program provides individualized guidance from experienced instructors who have published works in multiple genres.

Through weekly lectures, readings, and opportunities to share your work in a supportive environment, you will begin to hone your craft, learning tips for how to create compelling characters, snappy dialogue, and satisfying story structures.

Do you think you have a great idea? Join our class as we combine professional screenwriting formatting lessons and story structure in order to create entertaining and engaging screenplays.

This writing-intensive course takes a hands-on approach to the craft of storytelling, exploring the tools, materials, and mechanics used to construct powerful narratives, whether fictional or factual.

In this class, we will cover the “how-to” of haiku, in addition to reviewing the basic elements underlying poetry of any length or style—meter, metaphor, and musicality.

You have a funny bone, but you seem to have misplaced it in your writing. How can you create a balance with all those pesky narrative components while adding humor? This course will set you on the path to highlight moments with humor.

Get ready to have even more fun than before (if that’s possible). Even Funnier Business will give you access to more techniques and styles to further develop what you consider to be humorous and myriad ways to access it.

Learn how to identify your brand and build your platform, as well as to evaluate the commercial potential of your work and understand the paths toward monetizing your writing.

Tap into the endless flexibility of your imagination by utilizing Surrealist techniques to generate and express your wildly creative ideas.

This course will set you on the path to discovering your truth, highlighting your supporting cast of characters, and determining the urgency behind your own story.

During this workshop, our instructor—an experienced editor and writer—will provide valuable constructive feedback for participants and their respective works. Participants must submit a sample of work.

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Department of English

College of Arts and Humanities

Creative Writing at Georgia Southern

In creative writing classes, you learn the craft of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and screenwriting. our faculty hold terminal degrees in creative writing, have published full-length collections, chapbooks, essays and articles, and are active in the national spotlight..

Our class sizes are some of the smallest on campus, so your workshop peers and teachers really get to know your writing and offer feedback. Graduates go on to pursue MFAs in Creative Writing, write professionally for corporations, publish their work , and win awards .

The open mic reading series Burning Swamp gives you a monthly chance to read your work aloud. Creative Writing club builds friendships. And because Georgia Southern is part of the nationally renowned Georgia Poetry Circuit , you’ll have the chance to meet world-famous poets in the cozy setting of a classroom.

Questions? Curious what courses we offer next semester? Want to declare a minor in creative writing? Email Professor Christina Olson [ [email protected] ].

What’s Going On in Creative Writing @ Georgia Southern

Our Faculty

Our introductory classes are also taught by a rotating selection of permanent faculty that includes Benjamin Drevlow , Christopher Cartwright, William Belford, Claire Nelson, and Janet Dale.

Last updated: 1/26/2024

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Graduate Catalog 2022-2023

Graduate Catalog 2022-2023 > College of Arts and Sciences > Creative Writing M.F.A.

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Department E-mail: [email protected]

The MFA degree prepares artists—in this case, short story writers, novelists, poets, and other writers—to study their craft seriously and create publishable works in their respective genres. Although students in the program will typically focus on one genre, they are required and encouraged to explore at least one other genre. To this end, the program will prepare resourceful and open-minded writers rather than specialists. Because great writers are also great readers, the program will also expect students to study literature and other graduate courses in linguistics, criticism, and pedagogy in the Department of English. In this way, the program prepares talented writers by taking advantage of complementary, current departmental talents and strengths. Creative Writing courses will emphasize studio work (peer workshops and mentoring from distinguished, publishing writers) that will be complemented by studies in literature, poetics, prose forms, the pedagogy and practice of teaching writing, and other special topics related to the aesthetics of creative writing. The program enhances a student’s curricular experience with superior extracurricular experiences not only in creative writing but also in editing, publishing, arts programming, education, and community service. Finally, the MFA Program in Creative Writing is designed to fulfill the University’s institutional mission—to be the state’s designated public liberal arts university—a mission ideally suited to creative writing. The writer more than any other artist is a student of all the liberal arts, ranging among the humanities, the social sciences, the fine arts, and the sciences, a student whose work is both in the classroom and in the world at large.  Although MFA graduates will pursue positions in teaching, editing, publishing, marketing, arts-programming, and related fields, the program's primary goal is focused on helping talented writers improve, refine, and develop their careers as writers .

Regular Admission Requirements

Admission to the MFA in Creative Writing Program is competitive and based primarily (but not exclusively) on the candidate’s Writing Portfolio. Students regularly admitted to the program will successfully meet the following criteria.

• Writing Portfolio.  A writing sample in your thesis genre (please label as fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction). Submission should indicate the genre to which you are applying: poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. Submit up to 10 pages of poems (typed, single-spaced, no more than 1 poem per page); or submit up to 20 pages of prose, one or two short stories or creative nonfiction essays/memoir excerpt (typed and double- spaced).
• Statement of Purpose. Submit a 500-word essay (typed, double-spaced) in which you discuss expectations and goals for your writing, as well as any other relevant points you may wish to make regarding your studies in the MFA program.
• Submit three letters of recommendation from teachers or other references able to comment on your creative writing and your potential for successful graduate study. 
• Resume or CV.
• Submit one copy of official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate studies (including institutions where you only took courses but did not complete a degree). An appropriate four-year degree is required for admission. Transcripts should reflect prior coursework in both intuitive and discursive writing as well as critical reading. Student transcripts should demonstrate a 3.0 GPA (based on a 4.0 scale) in the final 60 hours of undergraduate work and in all prior graduate-level work; however, the 3.0 GPA is not a requirement, but only a measure of what most of our students have achieved in their academic work (most have had even higher GPA's in prior academic work).

Please submit your writing portfolio, resume, and statement of purpose directly to the MFA Program Coordinator via [email protected] . Submit three letters of recommendation directly to the Graduate Admissions Office via the online Graduate Application portal or [email protected] .

Provisional Admission

Students who do not meet regular admission criteria may be admitted provisionally. After completing nine hours of coursework (at least one course should be in literature) with at least a “B” in each course, the student may be granted regular admission status. Students enrolled with provisional status are not eligible for graduate assistantships.

Academic Dismissal

Only grades of "B" or higher in graduate courses will count towards the MFA degree. Students who receive more than one grade of "C" or lower in a graduate course, or whose GPA at any time falls below a 3.0, will be dropped from the program.

Degree Requirements

Basic Requirements:

• All students complete 42 hours (34 hours coursework and 8 thesis hours). See below for specific requirements relating to coursework and thesis work.
• Only grades of “B” or higher in graduate courses will count towards the MFA degree. Students who receive more than one grade of “C” or lower in a graduate course, or whose GPA at any time falls below a 3.0, will be dropped from the program.
• No more than six hours of coursework may be transferred from another M.A. in English or MFA program (if approved by the program director), and no hours may be transferred in a student’s major writing genre. Only courses in which the student earned a “B” or higher will be considered for transfer credit.
• The MFA program of study is designed to be completed in three years and must be completed in no more than four years. All degree work (with the exception of accepted transfer credits), including the thesis, must be completed in residence.

Program of Study

All students take 34 hours of coursework: ENGL-MFA 4-semester credit hour courses (28 hours); ENGL 3-semester credit hour courses (6 hours):

12 hours: 5000-level and 6000-level courses in the student's major writing genre (3 courses): ENGL 5021 , ENGL 6021 and ENGL 6025 (poetry genre); ENGL 5012 , ENGL 6012 and ENGL 6026  (creative nonfiction genre); ENGL 5022 , ENGL 6022 and ENGL 6026 (fiction genre).

4 hours: Course in non-thesis genre workshop (1 course); ENGL 5011 , ENGL 5012 , ENGL 5021 , or ENGL 5022 . Note that 5000-level workshops in a genre are the prerequisite for 6000-level seminars in a genre (see electives section below).

12 hours: Electives chosen from ENGL 5011 , ENGL 5012 , ENGL 5021 , ENGL 5022 , ENGL 6012 , ENGL 6021 , ENGL 6022 , ENGL 6024 , ENGL 6025 , ENGL 6026 (these courses are repeatable; some have prerequisites; approved ENGL 5950 MFA Special Topics may also be chosen. 

6 hours: Non-MFA ENGL 5000 -6000 level courses (at least one course at the 6000 level).

All students also complete the MFA Thesis (8 hours). See below for more details about the thesis and thesis defense.

For a list of all ENGL graduate courses, visit the  ENGL courses page in the graduate catalog.

Total Credits required: 42

Other Requirements

Thesis and Thesis Defense. Students typically devote two years (four semesters) to their thesis work. With the thesis director (selected near the end of the student’s first year), the student will establish a timetable and proposal for completing the thesis in a timely manner. In the second (or early in the third) year the student and thesis director will establish a committee of two other departmental graduate faculty members and one outside reader (optional) proficient in that student’s major genre who will also read the final draft of the thesis. The student’s thesis will be a full-length creative work of superior literary quality (for example a novel, a collection of short stories, a collection of poems, a collection of essays or book-length work of creative nonfiction). Students must enroll for at least one thesis hour and defend their thesis in the semester in which they graduate. If a student does not complete the thesis in the Spring semester of the third year, the student must register for at least one thesis hour in the semester in which the student defends the thesis and graduates. The thesis defense will include a presentation to the thesis committee of aesthetic and other issues related to the student’s work, as well as questions and comments from the thesis committee. Students also participate in a short reading from the thesis and any other curricular or extra-curricular questions related to the student’s progress.  Students are required to submit to the library electronic copies of the thesis at a cost determined by the Ina Dillard Russell Library.

The general advisor of all students working towards the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree is the Coordinator of the MFA Program. However, students should work closely with their thesis advisors in preparation for a specific thesis project.

Graduate Assistants: Teaching Fellows

Students selected for MFA graduate assistantships may apply to teach (typically in their second and third years); teaching Fellows must meet certain eligibility requirements (including the completion of 18 hours of graduate ENGL credit) in order to teach.  Teaching Fellows will also be required to take additional pedagogy course work (beyond their degree course work) and participate in training, orientation, and other supervisory requirements as determined by the Department of English. 

Please contact the Department of English for more details about the application process.

Further Information

Please visit the Creative Writing Web site for more details about the program, courses offered, and the creative writing community at GC. Inquiries about the program, graduate assistantships, and other forms of financial assistance should be directed to the MFA Program, Department of English, CBX 44, Georgia College, Milledgeville, GA 31061. Telephone: 478-445-3509. Fax: 478-445-5961. E-mail: [email protected] .

Creative Writing Pathway

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Explore West

Take advantage of what the University of West Georgia has to offer. UWG boasts 87 programs of study.

UWG offers an exciting, diverse curriculum that allows its students to flourish and become community and world leaders.

Everything in Writing.

The Creative Writing Pathway allows students to develop narrative tools and strong writing ability in concert with study in selected disciplines, including Art, Sociology, or Mass Communication

Request Information Program Map

Pathway Information

A strong foundation in writing and narrative strategies in specific academic and pre-professional contexts enables students to become resourceful, creative, and effective leaders, entrepreneurs, intellectuals, and professional writers.

Graduates can pursue careers in graphic novels and memoirs, narrative video games, policy analysis, social advocacy, communication strategists, social media managers, literary agents, and influencers, among many others.

WHAT YOU WILL STUDY

All IDS majors complete an XIDS course sequence through which they learn interdisciplinary concepts and method, culminating with a capstone project that reflects their intellectual and career interests:

• XIDS 2000 - Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies
• XIDS 3000 - Interdisciplinary Methods
• XIDS 4000 - Interdisciplinary Capstone

Creative Writing Track

You will need to take Introduction to Creative Writing as well as Intermediate and Advanced Creative Writing courses. The focus options are: 

• Creative Nonfiction
• Screenwriting

ART, COMMUNICATIONS, OR SOCIOLOGY

Visual storytelling track.

• Focus on Printmaking, Graphic Design, or Painting

Communication Studies Track

• Focus on theories and modes of communication

Writing the Social Experience Track

• Focus on social relationships & processes

Dr. Neema Noori Director, Center of Interdisciplinary Studies (678) 839-6329 [email protected]

Creative writers make art. The study and practice of creative writing teaches you to read and write like a writer . In this program, you’ll learn the strategies and techniques that professional writers use to create stories, novels, poems, screenplays, and other media and creative forms . You will gain both a broad and deep understanding of creative writing craft for different genres. You’ll share your work in progress with your peers and to get coached by professors who are published, working writers during workshops. You’ll also learn how to submit your work for publication and contests-and how the skills you learn in your courses transfer to a range of professional settings and opportunities. Coursework toward the Creative Writing minor may be taken on-campus or online.

Creative Writing Minor

Course requirements: 3 credit hours.

• ENGL 3130 - Creative Writing (3 Credit Hours)

Choose four courses from the following: 12 Credit Hours

• ENGL 2133 - Applied Creative Writing (3 Credit Hours)
• ENGL 3290 - Creativity Methods for Writers (3 Credit Hours)
• ENGL 3310 - Digital Storytelling (3 Credit Hours)
• ENGL 3433 - Comic Books, Culture, and Composition (3 Credit Hours)
• ENGL 3490 - Writing the Southern Experience (3 Credit Hours)
• ENGL 4130 - Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop (3 Credit Hours)
• ENGL 4231 - Screenwriting Workshop (3 Credit Hours)
• ENGL 4430 - Poetry Writing Workshop (3 Credit Hours)
• ENGL 4530 - Fiction Writing Workshop (3 Credit Hours)
• ENGL 5239 - Advanced Screenwriting Workshop (3 Credit Hours)
• ENGL 5431 - Advanced Poetry Writing Workshop (3 Credit Hours)
• ENGL 5531 - Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop (3 Credit Hours)
• ENGL 5552 - Intellectual Property (3 Credit Hours)
• ENGL 5561 - Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop (3 Credit Hours)

Total Credit Hours: 15

Undergraduate Academic Advisement at Georgia Southern is provided to all degree-seeking undergraduate students by professional advisors. Academic Advisors are located on all three Georgia Southern University campuses. Students are required to meet with their assigned Academic Advisor at least once a semester. For more information visit the Academic Advisement    catalog page. 

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• Department of English

English B.A., Creative Writing Concentration

Words Matter!

The Creative Writing concentration introduces students to a rigorous exploration of our common literary and linguistic heritage.  Students practice their craft in small workshops in which they develop their own voices as writers.  The program produces effective communicators, people whose skills are applicable in a wide range of careers, including writing, publishing, editing, media relations, and marketing.

Degree Requirements  

Key Benefits of this Degree

• Become well versed in both critical skills of an English literature major and the creative artistic skills of a literary author.
• Participate in a wide range of extra curricular activities such as working with our publications and reading series or participating in the annual spring “24-Hour plays” project.
• Choose the capstone experience you want to specialize in. We have several options including journal editing, poetry translation, teaching of writing in the schools, study abroad, and more .
• Learn unique perspectives from our Visiting Writers Series which brings nationally renowned authors to campus
• Pursue various scholarship and award opportunities such as the Sarah Gordon Scholarship, the Wellington Study Abroad Scholarship, and the Margaret Harvin Wilson Writing Award .

What can my career look like with this degree?

Something Worth Reading

Creative Writing students pass their knowledge of the craft to seventh graders.

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Learn more about careers available to English majors.

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• Certificate in Creative Writing - Graduate
• Kennesaw State University
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Creative Writing Certificate

A Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing is offered through the Master of Arts in Professional Writing Program in the English Department, Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, at Kennesaw State University. A unique four-course, non-degree program, its mission is to provide instruction and membership in a community of writers to qualified writing students in metro Atlanta and North Georgia who seek intensive creative writing practice but who do not want to matriculate in a graduate degree program.

This Graduate Certificate program allows qualified writers to study in graduate-level writing workshops taught by professional writers on the Kennesaw State University faculty.

Program Snapshot

Required Courses:  (12 credit hours) 

Select twelve credit hours from the following. Students should select at least one workshop-based course.

• PRWR 6400: Writing the Biography
• PRWR 6410: Feature Writing
• PRWR 6455: The Genres of Creative Writing
• PRWR 6460: Fiction Writing I
• PRWR 7460: Fiction Writing II
• PRWR 6470: Poetry Writing I
• PRWR 7470: Poetry Writing II
• PRWR 6480: Playwriting I
• PRWR 7480: Playwriting II
• PRWR 6520: Creative Nonfiction Writing I
• PRWR 7520: Creative Nonfiction Writing II
• STVW 6490: Screenwriting I
• STVW 7490: Screenwriting II
• STVW 6495: TV Writing: Half-Hour
• STVW 6496: TV Writing: One-Hour
• STVW 7495: TV Writing II
• STVW 7496: TV Writers Room

Non-Workshop-Based Courses

• PRWR 6810: Publishing in the 21st Century
• PRWR 6100: Readings for Writers
• PRWR 6440: Professional and Academic Editing
• PRWR 6760: World Englishes
• PRWR 6800: Careers in Professional Writing
• PRWR 7600: MAPW Practical Internship
• PRWR 7810: Research Methods for Writers
• PRWR 7900: Special Topics

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Phone:  (470) 578-4377

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• School of Arts & Letters

• Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing

Starting Fall 2023

Middle Georgia State University is pleased to offer a new Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing.

The Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing offers a fully online, 15-hour credential to prepare writers to use their talents in the professional world. 

This certificate supports writers already working in a creative field, students honing their craft before navigating the publishing world or film industry, and those pursuing a personally enriching goal in parallel to their current career. Whether writing is your career or your passion, this certificate will prepare you for success.

• Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing Curriculum

The Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing is:

• Fully online
• Taught in 8-week sessions. Students can complete this program in a calendar year.
• Designed to develop skills in multiple genres -- fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and narrative journalism -- as well as introduce writer to practical aspects of publishing
• Taught by published authors and master teachers

The Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing is a stand-alone degree. But students in MGA’s Master of Arts in Technical and Professional Writing (or who wish to pursue that degree) can count as up to two of your electives for the MATPW.

• A bachelor’s degree from an institutionally accredited college or university
• 2.50 undergraduate GPA
• Letter of application that states the applicant's interest in and goals for the program
• Evidence of aptitude for graduate study
• For residents of Georgia, documentation of lawful residence

To apply, go to the application page for the Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing .

What classes would I take?

The Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing is a 15-credit hour program made up of these courses:

• CRWR 5040: Fiction Writing
• CRWR 5050: Poetry Writing
• CRWR 5440: Screenwriting
• CRWR 5700: Narrative Journalism
• CRWR 5900: Publishing and the Creative Writer

How long would it take to complete this program?

The Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing can be completed in a calendar year. Two courses will be taught in the Fall Semester (one in each 8-week session), two in the Spring Semester (one in each 8-week session), and one in the Summer Semester.

Does the program start only in the Fall Semester?

Not so. Admitted students may begin this graduate certificate program in fall, spring, or summer semester.

Can I combine this program with other MGA Graduate Programs, especially the MA in Technical and Professional Writing?

MGA’s School of Arts and Letters offers “stackable” graduate programs. In this case, any two of these courses can count as electives in MGA’s Master of Arts in Technical and Professional Writing. See Graduate Technical Writing Programs for more.

Completion of this graduate certificate qualifies applicants for expedited admission to the Master of Arts in Technical and Professional Writing.

If you are an MATPW student or graduate and have taken graduate CRWR classes as electives, those classes will count toward your Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing. You may take additional classes either during or after completion of your MATPW to add this graduate certificate as an additional credential. Please contact the graduate coordinator for further details.

Any testing requirements for admission?

We do not require admissions exams for acceptance into the Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing

Financial aid available?

Federal financial aid is not currently available for this graduate certificate. However, we do offer Graduate Certificate students other financing options such as Nelnet payment plans , alternative loans , tuition assistance programs (TAP), and third-party scholarships.

Are letters of recommendation required?

Letters of recommendation are not required for the Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing.

What is “evidence of aptitude for success in graduate-level studies”?

A graduate admissions committee determines aptitude for success by reviewing applicants’ official transcript(s) and statement of interest. No additional materials beyond those indicated in the application instructions are required.

Do I need to live in Georgia or near Macon?

Not at all. Both programs are fully online. MGA’s graduate writing programs have students from across Georgia, but also students from as far away as Pennsylvania, Texas, and Oregon.

Are there application deadlines?

Our admissions committee will make all efforts to review all complete applications before the start date of each semester, even those that come in after any deadline. Also, students whose applications are not complete before the 1 st session of a semester can be admitted for the 2 nd session. For admission deadline information for other graduate programs, select the program here:  https://www.mga.edu/graduate-admissions/programs/index.php  

How do I apply?

Fill out the application and prepare required documents as listed on the application page here .

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Dr. Monica Miller

Coordinator of Graduate Technical Writing Programs

Department of English 100 University Parkway Macon, GA 31206

Phone: 478.471.5799

Concentration Requirements

• Fifteen to 21 hours of ENGL 8030 - Fiction Writing    (must be completed while enrolled in degree program) *
• Fifteen to 21 hours of English and American and World literature, and/or Rhetoric and Composition, and/or folklore. Three hours of these 15 to 21 hours may be a Creative Writing workshop in a secondary genre. *
• ENGL 8160 - Form and Theory of Literary Craft    in Fiction (3)
• ENGL 8202 - Contemporary Fiction Craft    (3)
• At least six hours of ENGL 8999 - Thesis Research    
• Graduate assistants are required to enroll for a minimum of 12 credit hours each for the fall/spring semesters and 9 credit hours for the summer semester. These credit hours will consist of courses required for the prescribed program of study, as well as additional hours of thesis research and non-thesis individual research.

* 36 hours are required for Areas 1 and 2 combined.

Students with an M.A. in English or Creative Writing

Students who enter the M.F.A. program with an M.A. in English or creative writing must satisfy a different set of course requirements totaling 36 hours:

• Fifteen to 18 hours of ENGL 8030 - Fiction Writing    (must be completed while enrolled in degree program) *
• Six to 9 hours of English and American and World literature, and/or Rhetoric and Composition, and/or folklore. Three hours of these 6 to 9 hours may be a Creative Writing workshop in a secondary genre. *
• ENGL 8160 - Form and Theory of Literary Craft    in fiction (3)
• At least 6 hours of ENGL 8999 - Thesis Research    
• Graduate assistants are required to enroll for a minimum of 18 credit hours each semester. These credit hours will consist of courses required for the prescribed program of study, as well as additional hours of thesis research and non-thesis individual research.

* 24 hours are required for Areas 1 and 2 combined.

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Creative Writing and Contemporary Literature

Students who choose the creative writing English major or minor explore their creative potential through fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction courses. These courses offer the intensive training in language and analytical skills that careers in business, the profess ions, and publishing demand. Courses are taught by faculty members who have published in well known literary journals and reviews. Students are encouraged to submit work to  Odradek , the university literary magazine, and to take positions on the magazine's staff for practical, hands-on experience in producing and editing a magazine. Students also have the opportunity to present their work to the public at quarterly readings sponsored by the Department of English.

The following educational outcomes will be achieved by students in the creative writing English major. Creative writing majors will

develop a comprehensive understanding of the English language and British, American, and world literature, both traditional and contemporary, including a familiarity with key facts, concepts, and values; a sensitivity to the contexts in which that literature was and is written and read; and an ability to interpret that literature in appropriate ways;

develop their ability to write and to speak with clarity, precision, and sophistication;

develop their ability to research carefully and systematically, utilizing the appropriate computer technology, and to apply that research to the study of language and literature;

develop their ability to produce poems, stories, and/or essays blending knowledge of literary forms and techniques;

develop the ability to evaluate and discuss critically their own writing and writing of their peers in a workshop environment. 

Creative Writing Major (Semester System)

Core curriculum: 60 hours Courses required for the major: 40 hours  

ENGL 3110: British Literature I  ENGL 3120: British Literature II  (3 hours)

ENGL 3210: American Literature  (3 hours)

EN GL 3060: Introduction to Literary Criticism and Research  (3 hours) ( prerequisite or corequisite to all 4000-level courses )

One of the following courses (3 hours):

ENGL 3080: Grammar and Editing

ENGL 3090: Advanced Composition

One British period course (ENGL 4110-4150)  (3 hours)

One 20th-century American literature course  (3 hours)

One 4000-level ENGL course  (3 hours)

ENGL 3600: Introduction to Professional Writing  (1 hour)

ENGL/CRWR 3400: Introduction to Creative Writing  (3 hours)

One three-course CRWR sequence (9 hours):

Poetry (  CRWR 3440,  4440,  ENGL/CRWR 4410  )

Prose Fiction (  CRWR 3460,  4460,  ENGL/CRWR 4420  )

Prose Non-Fiction (  CRWR 3420,  ENGL/JOUR 4520,  ENGL/CRWR 4420  )

ENGL 4900: Senior Seminar  (3 hours)

Minor and/or elective courses: 20 hours ( Must include at least 6 hours of courses numbered 3000 or above in a single discipline outside of CRWR, ENGL, JOUR, & LING ) Total hours: 120   Online Undergraduate Checklist

Online Track Checklist for Creative Writing

Creative Writing Minor (Semester System)

Courses required for the minor: 15 hours  

CRWR/ENGL 3400: Introduction to Creative Writing  (3 hours)

One two-course CRWR sequence (6 hours):

Poetry (  CRWR 3440  ,  4440  )

Prose Fiction (  CRWR 3460  ,  4460  )

Prose Non-Fiction (  CRWR 3420  ,  ENGL/JOUR 4520  )

Two ENGL courses at 3000 level or above  (6 hours)

The Department of English offers four undergraduate tracks leading to a Bachelor of Arts in English as well as minors in each track:

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How to Become a Writer in Georgia with a BFA, MFA or Similar Creative Writing Degree

Created by CreativeWritingEDU.org Contributor

There’s something unique about Georgia; how it disproportionately contributes to the literary and creative scenes of American cultural life.

Georgia is a place that inspires creative expression, even if not always for the right reasons. from the Civil War as the setting of Atlanta-native Margaret Mitchell’s all-time classic Gone with the Wind , the Civil Rights era and birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. who published some of the most impactful pieces on racial equality, to the present day as the home state of award-winning crime writer Karin Slaughter whose work has been adapted to the Netflix series Pieces of Her .

Maybe there’s something special about the combination of the Atlantic breeze, the anonymity offered by a sprawling city like Atlanta, the smell of fertile earth, and the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As yet, the mystery behind Georgia’s secret sauce for inspiring creative writers remains elusive.

MLK Jr. – A Person of Many Talents, Including Creative Writing

But MLK Jr. also deserves credit for his exemplary skill in creative writing. Indeed, one of the reasons he was a successful Civil Rights leader was because of his writing prowess, combined with a unique talent for oratory.

In his most famous “I Have a Dream” speech given from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 at the height of the Civil Rights movement, MLK Jr. changed the course of history in less than 1,700 words. In that short bit of inspired prose he encapsulated huge concepts, capturing the zeitgeist of the Declaration of Independence, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation, Constitutional and Biblical principles, and archetypal human values, combining them all in a rhetorical masterpiece.

King’s skill as a writer didn’t just emerge overnight. After skipping a grade and entering high school in Atlanta’s Washington Park neighborhood, King chose English as a main focus and went on to enroll in college by the time he was 15 years old. He earned a doctoral degree at 26.

Other inspired pieces by Dr. King include, “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” “A Time to Break Silence,” and, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.”

Whether it’s themes of equal rights and freedom, de-industrialization, bucolic romanticism, Southern Gothic, or even true crime, Georgian writers have a larger-than-life footprint that shapes the cultural direction of our country.

Georgia’s local bookstores, coffee shops, libraries, and college campuses have long been fertile incubators for the state’s literary minds. Atlanta, Savannah, Columbus, Augusta, and Macon are all hubs of opportunity where you can connect with your fellow aspiring writers and rub elbows with the pros.

Eventually you’ll want to break out of doing more than just writing on the side and move up to the big leagues, which is when it’s time to start considering a BFA or MFA in creative writing.

Georgia’s Creative Writing Classes, Courses, and Workshops Can Prepare You for a Creative Writing Degree

Every published author will tell you there’s no prescriptive path towards becoming a writer and unlocking your inner creativity.

Savannah-native Flannery O’Conner, widely known for her short stories in the Southern Gothic style which won her the US National Book Award for Fiction, bemused that most people think they know what a story is, “until they sit down to write one.”

The art of creative writing has a unique meaning for each person. For some it’s a process of self-discovery. For others it’s the opposite: escapism. Or it could be something entirely different: observational, or cathartic.

In whatever way you choose to develop your writing talents, you’ll find it helpful to cross pollinate your thoughts with like-minded creatives.

The Atlanta Writers Club (AWC) has roots stretching back over 100 years and is a prime example of a well-established organization that strives to support local writers, foster quality craftsmanship, and promote reading in general. The AWC is the group behind the twice-a-year Atlanta Writers Conference where members can gain feedback on their work from established literary artists and publishers.

Naturally the AWC also hosts an annual writing contest, serves as a hub for writers looking to establish groups online and in the Atlanta metro area, and publishes a monthly newsletter.

Workshops, events, and building a general community of camaraderie among writers are all on the menu at the Georgia Writers Association (GWA), a non-profit organization open to all aspiring writers and based in Kennesaw. GWA was founded in 1994 by a poet, a prize-winning author, and a literary agent. It provides resources for writers at all stages of development with the goal of promoting diverse works and authors.

These are just some of the writing groups meeting in any of a dozen cities at any given time throughout Georgia. You can also stay connected to your local literary scene through circulars like the Sand Hills literary magazine.

Printed every spring and published by Augusta University, submissions are accepted for creative non-fiction, creative fiction, and poetry. Sand Hills is proud to be a place where submissions from new writers are published alongside those from established award-winning authors.

Local literary journals are also recruiting grounds for professionals looking for new talent. Peachtree  Publishers, University of Georgia Press, and Top Shelf Productions are all publishing houses based in Atlanta.

Writing Colleges in Georgia Offering Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Creative Writing Provide a Path to Becoming a Writer

Creative writers are stereotypically disorganized, pictured near a writing desk in the middle of the night, flanked by cats, next to a coffee cup and binders overflowing with scrap-paper notes. And even though the popular image of a writer at work doesn’t hold true for everyone, there’s no denying that a formal education in creative writing does help to bring order to chaos.

Years of writing groups, active reading, open mic nights, and offering up favorite lines with your buddies over a glass can all be tied together with professional residencies and academic discipline. There’s ultimately a difference between lifelong hobby writers and those who cross the Rubicon to the world of professional storytellers.

There’s no time like the present to up the professional ante and find the creative writing BFA or MFA program that’s right for you!

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Other Bachelor’s Degrees in Creative Writing in Georgia

Agnes scott college.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

Degree: Bachelor – BA

Private School

• English Literature-Creative Writing

Berry College

EVANS SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES, ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

• Creative Writing

Emory University

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

• English and Creative Writing

Georgia College and State University

Public School

• English-Creative Writing concentration

Georgia State University

• English-Creative Writing

Mercer University

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES

Piedmont University

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Reinhardt University

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Degree: Bachelor – BFA

Young Harris College

DIVISION OF HUMANITIES

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Other Master’s Degrees in Creative Writing in Georgia

Degree:  Master – MFA

Degree:  Master – MFA

Degree Programs

The master of arts in english.

Admission.  The University of Georgia Department of English accepts into its M.A. programs students who present a B.A. in English or its equivalent, and a solid undergraduate grade-point average (at least a 3.0), especially in English courses (3.65 or better), as well as positive letters of recommendation and other evidence of scholastic achievement, including proficiency in writing.

Course work.  The M.A. program at the University of Georgia encourages students to take courses in a variety of areas to broaden and deepen their literary and critical backgrounds. The program offers a two-year degree, which requires 30 hours of course work (one course is three hours of credit), at least three hours of which must represent research on their thesis. Students must also demonstrate reading knowledge of an approved foreign language.

Students will complete a core requirement of one course from each of three literary divisions:

1) English literature before 1800

2) English literature after 1800

3) American literature. 

Students will also specialize in an area of concentration (defined as three related courses) from one of our Thematic Arcs.  Students will round out their program of study with a course from another Thematic Arc plus two electives.  Major professors and advisory committees help students plan appropriate courses of study and otherwise offer advice and encouragement.

General Examination.  At the end of their course work, students must pass an oral examination covering their course of study, a portfolio of three essays written in their courses, and a selective list of major works studied.  The student's major professor will offer guidance on selecting the papers and compiling the reading list.

Thesis Project.  The M.A. thesis project of about 50 pages is submitted for approval in the student's final semester of study. It may be developed from a class paper or be the product of original research and study. It may take the form of an academic thesis (necessary for those considering a Ph.D. program here or elsewhere); a pedagogical study, such as a curriculum or a teaching approach to a text; or a project employing methods from one of the concentrations, such as a computer program or an edition. All options require a written component, referred to institutionally as the thesis.

The thesis project is prepared under the guidance of the major professor and advising committee. Once the thesis project is approved in final form, the student must pass a one-hour oral examination, given by the candidate's committee.

The Doctor of Philosophy in English

Admission.  To qualify for admission, an applicant must hold at least a B.A., and preferably an M.A., in English; have a high grade-point average (at least 3.0 in undergraduate studies), especially in English courses (3.65 or better in undergraduate English classes). In addition, applicants should provide supportive letters of recommendation and other evidence of scholastic achievement, including proficiency in writing. While most of the applicants who are admitted in the Ph.D. program already hold a Master's degree in English, applicants with exceptional undergraduate records may be admitted directly into the doctoral program without an M.A.

Course work.  Students entering the program with the M.A. will take a minimum of 27 hours of course work (one course is three hours of credit) before admission to candidacy, three hours of which must be dissertation research (9300). Students entering the program with a bachelor's degree will take a minimum of 45 hours of course work, exclusive of research hours, before admission to candidacy. The program allows students to select courses and areas for examination with the advice and direction of a major professor and advisory committee.

Advisory Committee.  For each entering student, the graduate coordinator serves as the first advisor and then appoints a temporary major advisor, who provides counsel on course work and general directions for study.  Before the end of the first year of study, the student should select a Major Professor and constitute an Advisory Committee. The chair of the Advisory Committee (the Major Professor) will usually be the prospective director of the dissertation. For many students the success of their program of study depends on a close and productive relationship with the Major Professor.

Course Requirements.  Ordinarily, the student who enters with an M.A. spends the first two years of study completing course work, the third year studying for the written and oral examinations, and the fourth year completing the dissertation. The student who enters with a B.A. devotes the first three years to course work, the fourth year to studying for the examination, and the final year to completing the dissertation. Some students move through the program at a faster pace. There are no required courses, but the student's Advisory Committee may recommend or require specific courses that provide a foundation for the dissertation, address particular gaps in a student's preparation, or round out a special area of concentration.

Research Skills Requirement.  Doctoral students must fulfill the Research Skills Requirement, which can be done so--as detailed in the Graduate Student Handbook--in a variety of ways.  The first way to to demonstrate reading knowledge of two foreign languages; the second way is to demonstrate proficiency (a higher level of language fluency) in one foreign language; the third way is to demonstrate reading knowledge of one foreign language and competence in specified research skills. The student's Advisory Committee must approve the language or languages offered, and the Graduate Committee must approve any proposed set of research skills (such a plan of study should involve substantial study taken at the graduate level outside the English Department). New graduate students should plan to satisfy this portion of their degree requirements as soon after matriculation as possible.

Comprehensive Examinations.  No later than the end of the third year, the student will complete his or her written and oral comprehensive examinations. These examinations are administered by a three-member examining committee (the student's Advisory Committee) appointed by the Graduate Coordinator in consultation with the student's Major Professor. The examinations cover three areas chosen from the approved areas listed in the Graduate Student Handbook by the student and approved by the student's Advisory Committee.  A reading list is composed for each area of examination in consultation with the examining faculty member of the Advisory Committee.  The written portion of each of the three exams is typically a field survey or literature review of approximately 20 pages (excluding bibliography) of each examination area, as directed by the examining faculty member of the Advisory Committee.  An oral portion of the exam provides time to follow up on the written component, as well as to discuss the items on the reading list.

In addition, all students prepare a "project description," which is a preliminary discussion on the students' dissertation topic. This is an 8-10 page document, with an accompanying annotated bibliography.  The Project Description defines a research question that is worth pursuing and demonstrates the student's ability to answer it.  The Oral Exam provides the opportunity for early feedback on the dissertation project.

The Creative Writing Program

The University of Georgia offers the Ph.D. in English with creative dissertation.  The Ph.D. is not a creative writing degree.  Rather, it gives students enrolled in an academic program the opportunity to do creative work. Academic standards and program requirements for are the same for creative writing students as those for non-creative writing students (see above) with the following exception:

Creative writing students are expected to take at least one creative writing class per year (ENGL 6800 or 8800) as part of their required course work.

6800: Topics in Form and Craft (3 hours---maximum 9 hours)---an exploration of topics and issues around the act of writing. Sample courses include The First Book of Poetry, The Art of Translation, The Art of the Book, Novel Form, Novel Genres, and Publishing and Editing.

8800: Seminar in Creative Writing (3 hours---maximum 9 hours for credit) Advanced instruction in the craft of writing, including all genres, such as fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.

Please see the Creative Writing  website  for further information about the opportunities afforded to students who join us in the pursuit of their Ph.D.

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