creative writing degree florida

Best Creative Writing colleges in Florida 2024

Best creative writing colleges in florida for 2024.

University of Miami offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 19 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 12 Bachelor's degrees, and 7 Master's degrees.

Florida State University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 7 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 7 Master's degrees.

University of Florida offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 11 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 11 Master's degrees.

University of South Florida offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 6 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 6 Master's degrees.

University of Central Florida offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 13 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 13 Master's degrees.

Florida Atlantic University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 9 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 9 Master's degrees.

Florida International University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 9 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 9 Master's degrees.

The University of Tampa offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city.

Stetson University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 3 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 3 Master's degrees.

Ringling College of Art and Design offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 6 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 6 Bachelor's degrees.

Find local colleges with Creative Writing majors in Florida

List of all creative writing colleges in florida.

Creative Writing

Students in the Creative Writing AOC cultivate imaginative literacy and cognitive flexibility by studying multiple genres, understanding craft from a cross-cultural perspective, and applying their creative skills both on and off the page. 

About the Creative Writing Area of Concentration

The holistic AOC in Creative Writing encourages students to explore aesthetics and methods across and between disciplines and genres.

In addition to instruction in the craft of writing and the history of literary art, coursework in Creative Writing develops core skills—like empathy, respect for other points of view, and critical thought—necessary to sustain creative livelihoods after graduation: whether that involves teaching, professional writing, using writing to inform or enrich a corresponding career, or—like Marianne Moore, William Carlos Williams, T.S. Eliot, Ted Kooser, and Michael Cunningham—writing and publishing books alongside a “day job.”

In keeping with this goal, students in Creative Writing practice engaging with the politics and issues of the larger world; building community via the literary arts; and responding to tense cultural issues and challenging situations precisely, directly, and creatively.

“The Creative Writing AOC will help students explore their value as artists and learn how to flex their creative muscles both on and off the page.”

Emily Carr Visiting Assistant Professor of Creative Writing 

Featured Course

• Writing Environments

Recent Courses

• Electronic Literature: Intermediate/Advanced Creative Writing Workshop
• Beginnings and Endings: A Beginning Creative Writing Workshop
• How a Woman Becomes a Lake and Other Unheroic Acts: A Craft Seminar in Gender and Genre Bending
• The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Reading as a Writer Seminar
• Uncategorizable: A Multi-Media Poetry Workshop

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Creative Writing

Hone your craft with the pros, start a lifelong apprenticeship in the literary arts.

The creative writing program that nurtured Dennis Lehane ’88, best-selling author and HBO writer/producer, is now accepting applications to earn B.A. and BFA degrees. But you don’t have to be gunning for a Hollywood contract to enroll. Our liberal arts graduates also go on to MFA programs and careers in journalism, media, PR, editing and publishing, counseling and software design.

Only@Eckerd

Writers in paradise.

Spend 8 days in workshops with writers like Andre Dubus III, Anne Hood, Laura Lippman, Lori Roy, Stewart O’Nan, David Yoo and Laura Williams McCaffrey. This writer’s conference is held on our Florida campus every January.

Facetime with famous authors

You’ll also have the chance to meet and talk with other celebrated writers including Stephen King, Carl Hiaasen, Julianna Baggott and Mark Bowden. These and other literary lights give talks here throughout the year.

Get help paying for college

Need help with finances? In addition to the academic scholarships we hand out upon application, you can apply for the Artistic Achievement Award .

In Their Own Words

Without my mentors through the creative writing department, I wouldn’t be in graduate school studying for my MFA with the opportunities ahead of me to teach and write. With their support, I was able to study travel writing in Paris and London, which was instrumental in my growth as a writer and a person. The creative writing department at Eckerd College is a hidden gem—once you find it, you must hold onto it! —Olivia Jacobson ’22

Beyond the Classroom

• INTERNSHIPS
• SERVICE LEARNING
• STUDY ABROAD
• LOCAL HOT SPOTS

Creative Writing majors have interned on campus with our student newspaper, The Current , and our literary magazine, Eckerd Review . Another recent student was an editing intern at I Love the Burg , a creative agency in downtown St. Petersburg.

Pay it forward by tutoring with Journeys in Journalism . This community program teaches local elementary, middle and high school students how to be reporters, photographers, editors and page designers for their school newspapers.

Spend a term living at our London Study Centre and studying the literature of Great Britain. Includes a week of travel and tickets to epic museums and theatre productions. Or choose from one of 300+ other destinations we offer every year.

Eckerd is just a stone’s throw from some of America’s hottest literary landmarks and events. Check it out:

• The Earnest Hemingway Home
• The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings historic site
• Miami Book Fair (November)
• Zora Neale Hurston Festival (January)

Popular classes

Craft of writing.

This course reviews poetic and narrative language and introduces the concept of literary texture. Present what you write in class at public readings held on campus once a semester.

Writing Workshop: The Personal Essay

Learn about literary essays by reading masters like Harry Crews, Eudora Welty and Joan Didion. This class explores how to use imagination to shape format, technique and your own personal style.

What can I do with a Creative Writing degree?

• Business Manager
• Educational Assessor
• Media and Newspaper Reporter
• Software Designer of Interactive Fiction
• Technical Writer

Where our Creative Writing majors go to graduate school

• Chapman University
• Emerson College
• Florida International University
• George Mason University
• Hollins College
• Indiana University
• Stanford University
• The Johns Hopkins University
• The University of Miami
• The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• University of Alabama
• University of Iowa Writers Workshop

Where our Creative Writing majors go to work

• Bluewater Books & Charts
• Dupont Registry
• Novelist & Poet
• St. Petersburg College
• Time Magazine

St. Petersburg, Florida 33711 800.456.9009 or 727.867.1166

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University of Florida

Creative Writing

Program information.

The Department of English offers the Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing. Complete descriptions of the minimum requirements for the M.F.A. are provided in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog. Full information concerning courses of study is available from the graduate coordinator or by visiting https://mfa.english.ufl.edu/ .

Degrees Offered with a Major in Creative Writing

• Master of Fine Arts

Requirements for these degrees are given in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

English Departmental Courses

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

Written by Rebecca Turley

Florida is where art and culture come to play. Offering a sub-tropical climate, Latin and Caribbean influences, and sugar-white beaches framing cobalt waters, the Sunshine State has long been an outlet for artistic, imaginative minds who have something to say.

An open mind and your favorite pair of flip flops are all that’s needed here. Take in an arts festival like the famous Art Basel Miami, and chances are you’ll be rubbing elbows with celebrities and artists alike. Grab a margarita at the Green Parrot Bar in Key West as you listen to eclectic bands rock their famous stage. Adopt a laid-back vibe and spend a lazy afternoon kayaking the mangrove tunnels in Sarasota. Grab your favorite longboard and head to Cocoa Beach for an afternoon of waves and salty air. It’s all here in Florida.

For Florida’s creative writer, every day is a good day for inspiration, whether the quiet shoreline of Sanibel Island or the nightclubs of South Beach serves as your muse. Florida has it all – history, culture, tradition, natural beauty, bright lights, and an undefined energy that’s always welcomed artists of every kind to stay and create.

Get involved, start networking, and then take the leap and begin sharing your work with other fellow writers. Then, once you’re ready to turn your love of the written word into a career that’s both personally fulfilling and financially rewarding, you’ll want to check out the creative writing degree programs to be found in Florida and beyond. It’s an exciting adventure, so grab your trusty journal and those flip flops and get started.

Bootlegging, Six-Toed Cats, and a $20,000 Swimming Pool: Ernest Hemingway’s Key West

Hemingway made his way to Key West in 1928 upon the advice of a fellow artist and writer. Hemingway’s route from Paris to Key West took him through Havana, Cuba, and it was this journey that inspired his novel, To Have and Have Not , a gripping tale about a fisherman forced to make ends meet during the Depression by smuggling contraband between Florida and Cuba.

Both Hemingway and his wife, Pauline, quickly fell in love with Key West and the people there and soon began to look for a home to settle in. Many of the characters of To Have and Have Not were inspired by the people Hemingway met in Key West.

In 1931, they bought a home on Whitehead Street and became permanent residents. Though the home was in a state of disrepair, they recognized its potential and embarked upon an ambitious restoration project in 1937-38 that included adding a pool – the first in-ground pool in Key West, in fact. Built at an exorbitant price of $20,000, the pool was a grand addition to their home. It even prompted Hemingway to jokingly say, “Here, take the last penny I’ve got!” as he pressed a penny into the new pool deck’s wet cement.

He also wrote, either partially or in their entirety, a number of other novels during his time in Key West, including For Whom the Bell Tolls , Death in the Afternoon , and The Green Hills of Africa .

Hemingway and Pauline divorced in 1940, and he remarried and lived in Cuba for some time but continued to visit Key West until 1961.

Today, the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum is a popular tourist destination and a National Historical Landmark. Visitors here can tour the house and view Hemingway’s personal effects that include souvenirs from his many hunting expeditions and African safaris.

The grounds here are impeccably and lovingly maintained and, chances are, you’ll see a six-toed cat or two sunbathing on the property. Hemingway was gifted a six-toed tomcat from the captain of the boat while making his way to Florida, and many of the cats that inhabit the grounds are descendants of Hemingway’s cat.

And if you have a sharp eye, you can still find that penny Hemingway pressed into the cement.

Creative Writing Classes, Courses, and Workshops in Florida Can Prepare You for a Creative Writing Degree

Regardless of which area of Florida you call home, chances are there’s a writing workshop, poetry slam, or writing convention nearby. Florida’s eclectic culture has always inspired artists and encouraged them to pursue their craft, and today it’s no exception. Where and how you’ll get involved is up to you, but there’s never a shortage of opportunities awaiting you.

Daytona Area Fiction Writers is a great community of creative writers who gather every week to critique original works by fellow members. When it’s your turn, you’ll submit up to 20 pages of your writing to the other members, so they can read it and prepare to give you their feedback at the next meeting. All forms and genres of fiction are welcome here. It’s a little intimidating, at first, but you’ll appreciate the constructive feedback.

We Write Here Black and Women of Color Writing Group is a Tampa writers group that aims to help black women and other women of color reach their writing goals. It’s a popular group (they currently have more than 450 members), but they’re always open to new members with a creative voice and a love of the written word. Just make sure to register for a future writing group meeting to get in on the fun.

Wordier Than Thou Meetup for Writers and Book Lovers is a lively group based out of St. Petersburg. This supportive community of writers frequently gets together for workshops, open mic nights, and author readings. It’s a big group of more than 2,300 active members, but there’s always room for one more.

The Florida Gulf Coast chapter of Sisters in Crime is part of a nationwide writing group with more than 70 chapters across the country that’s focused on supporting women writers of crime fiction. Pop in on one of their monthly online meetings and then head to their regular community events like books festivals and workshops for an opportunity to get to know your fellow “sisters in crime.”

The Miami Dade College Miami Book Fair is home to a host of programs and events for emerging writers and artists. They offer non-credit creative writing workshops and host an annual creative writing conference that includes craft talks, a publishing seminar, workshops with bestselling authors, and even individual manuscript consultations with a literary agent. And if the thought of writing alongside fellow writers while taking advantage of happy hour cocktails sounds like a good time, they also host First Draft – a series of informal writing events that begin with an interesting writing prompt and a cold drink.

Not to be outdone by all the cool happenings in and around Florida, the state’s literary magazines are where you’ll find inspiration and a chance at publication.

Miami’s Gulf Stream Magazine is a popular publication that features the work of emerging and established writers and artists. They’re always on the lookout for unpublished fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and visual art.

Saw Palm: Florida Literature and Art is a literary journal that’s produced by the MFA program at the University of South Florida. Whether you live in Florida or across the country, they want you to submit your original work of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction, as long as it’s Florida-themed.

The Southeast Review is a national literary magazine produced by the English Department of Florida State University and edited by grad students. They publish literary fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, book reviews, and art. This publication is available in print and online, and they offer four $500 awards annually in four categories: art, short story, nonfiction, and poetry.

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

Writers write, and there may be no better place to do so than in Florida. Whether you’re meeting fellow writers for cocktails and writing workshops in Miami; having your work critiqued or critiquing the work of others through writers groups in Fort Lauderdale, or attending a writers conference in Kissimmee, there are more than enough options in Florida to keep you engaged in the writing community and working on your craft.

But when you’re ready to take the leap and make your writing not just a part-time pursuit but a full-time job, you’ll want to consider the value of earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing among other undergraduate and graduate degree options in the field. Fine arts degrees have become popular creative writing programs in Florida and across the nation, while a BA in English with a creative writing concentration will always deliver exactly what any writer needs.

Creative writing degree programs provide aspiring writers with a solid foundation in theory, unmatched hands-on learning experiences, and outstanding guidance and mentorship from dedicated instructors who are also often published writers.

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

Eckerd college.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

Degree: Bachelor – BFA, BA

Private School

• Creative Writing

Florida State University

Degree: Bachelor – BA

Public School

Ringling College of Art and Design

Degree: Bachelor – BFA

Saint Leo University

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

• English-Creative Writing

Southeastern University

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

University of Central Florida

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

University of Florida

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES

• English-Creative Writing concentration

University of Miami

University of South Florida

University of Tampa

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS

• Writing-Creative Writing

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

Florida atlantic university.

DOROTHY F. SCHMIDT COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS

Degree:  Master – MFA

Florida International University

ARTS, SCIENCES, AND EDUCATION

Degree:  Master – MA

• Creative Writing (Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, war literature and writing for veterans)

Stetson University

• Creative Writing (Prose, Poetry)

University of South Florida

Department of English

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Creative writing mfa.

The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of South Florida is a funded three-year degree.  MFA students receive a full tuition waiver and the teaching assistantship comes with a stipend and health insurance. Each year we accept an average of nine students who write comics, creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry.

Our award-winning faculty include John Fleming, Julia Koets, Jarod Roselló, Natalie Scenters-Zapico, Heather Sellers (program director), and Jake Wolff. We value children’s literature, YA, eco literature, speculative fiction, historical fiction, documentary poetics, poetry of mindfulness, formal poetry, memoir, lyric essay, and hybrid and experimental work, alongside traditional genres.

Our program is tightly knit and sincerely supportive. Workshops are positive and generative. We offer many opportunities for students to read their work publicly, to participate in writing groups and internships, and to work in literary editing and publishing. Saw Palm , our literary magazine, gives students hands-on editorial experience.

As part of the Literary Editing and Publishing course, students have started literary magazines, edited anthologies, written book reviews and weekly columns, and started freelance copyediting and writing businesses. The Spoonbill Reading Series allows MFAs to read alongside faculty. A monthly Nonfiction Salon is open to all writers. The USF Lecture Series and the USF Humanities Institute bring in guest speakers. Recent visitors to the creative writing program include Jericho Brown, Terrance Hayes, Chen Chen, and Naomi Nye.

MFAs typically take three courses and teach two courses. Our teaching training is superb. First year MFAs teach first year writing in our thriving and diverse undergraduate program; they are supported by a pedagogy practicum and official mentoring. Second year students have the opportunity, as courses are available, to teach creative writing courses. A creative writing pedagogy practicum, one of the few in the country, prepares students to design and deliver high quality introductory creative writing courses.

• Careers in English
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Creative Writing Program

• Assistantships and Prizes
• Literary Life at FAU
• Creative Writing Program Faculty

Florida Atlantic University at Boca Raton, a diverse community with all of the cultural advantages of a major metropolitan setting, is located three miles from the Atlantic Ocean, halfway between Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. Students in the MA and MFA programs specialize in fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction, pursuing half of their coursework in creative writing workshops and half in literature and theory seminars. Both programs require completion of a creative thesis and feature small, rigorous workshops and seminars. The MFA is a 48 credit hour program. Students complete seven courses in writing workshops/special topics, six courses in literature/literary theory, ENG 6009 Research Methods for Advanced Literary Study, and six credit hours of thesis. The MA is a 30 credit hour program, consisting of four courses in writing workshops/special topics and three courses in literature/literary theory, plus ENG 6009 Research Methods for Advanced Literary Study, as well as six credit hours of thesis. Interdiscliplinary coursework is also available, in such fields as screenwriting and playwriting, through the School of the Arts in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters.

Each year in addition to the traditional workshops in fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry, a number of special topics courses are available to students. Recent examples have included The Poem in Practice, Writing The Short Story Sequence, Writing the First Novel, Teaching Creative Writing, and Writing Across Genres. Recent offerings in literature have included History of the English Language, Women in Literature, Latino Literature and Theory, James Joyce, Langston Hughes, Jane Austen, William Faulkner, Thinking Like a Poet, African-American Autobiography, American Science Fiction and The Cold War, and Food and Identities in Asian-American Literature. Thesis hours are conducted one-on-one with individual faculty.

MFA@FLA: Creative Writing

Apply to Our Program

Deadline : We will not accept applications for the MFA in Creative Writing for academic year 2024-2025. We will resume our usual admissions cycle next year.

You must apply to the University online through the  UF Online Application Portal . The portal will guide you through the process and provide information on the application fee.  All applicants should choose Fall as their application term . We do not admit for spring or summer.

The application fee is non-refundable .  It is valid for one calendar year; that is to say, an application may be updated within one year from the original anticipated term of admission without payment of a new application fee. UF currently does not offer application fee waivers.

Note that no application materials will be accepted that have not been uploaded to the admissions website.

The materials you will need for your application are:

• Test scores:  We no longer require GRE scores for admission.  International applicants  may be required to submit the TOEFL or IELTS tests (see below)
• Updated resume or CV:  Upload online as a pdf file. Pursuant to Florida Statute, your application requires inclusion of all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about ongoing international affiliations and research funding. Please ensure this information is included on your curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé.
• Statement of purpose:  We do not require a statement of purpose. On the application, please upload a complete MFA Fiction Manuscript Cover Sheet or MFA Poetry Manuscript Cover Sheet  to the statement of purpose field.
• Writing Sample:  Upload online as a pdf file. Fiction applicants should submit two stories, part of a novel or longer narrative, or a story  and  part of a novel or longer narrative, the total not to exceed 6,000 words. Poetry applicants should submit six to ten poems. Admission to the program is based primarily upon the manuscript. The writing faculty considers your writing before all else. Please upload your manuscript as the “Other Upload” file and be sure to include your full name on the first page of the manuscript itself . If you have trouble with your upload, please contact [email protected] .
• If you have not yet completed a program, you may upload unofficial transcripts to the online application.
• You may also upload official transcripts to the online application.
• If you would like to send official electronic transcripts, UF accepts electronic transcripts only from e-SCRIP-SAFE , Parchment , National Student Clearinghouse , and FASTER . Please have electronic transcripts sent to [email protected] . (Please also submit an unofficial transcript through the online application).
• You may also send an official paper copy of your transcript to UF at Office of Admissions, 201 Criser Hall, PO Box 114000, Gainesville, FL, 32611-4000. Please do not send your transcripts directly to the Creative Writing or English Departments.
• International students must send transcripts in the native language and an English translation, along with a copy of the degree certificate in English and the native language.

Letters of Recommendation: We require two recommendations. These should be completed by someone who is familiar with your academic record and writing and is in a position to assess your ability to succeed in the program. You will provide their information on your online application. After the application is submitted, your recommenders will receive instructions for submitting their letters electronically. We do not accept hard-copy letters of recommendation. If they have trouble submitting their recommendations, please contact [email protected] .

Notes for international applicants

International students should consult the  University Admissions  requirements for  TOEFL  IELTS  and  SPEAK .   The minimum scores for students holding a teaching assistantship in the Creative Writing department are, for the TOEFL, 550 on the written Speaking Portion or 28 on the internet-based test. The department may accept students with scores of 23-27 on a conditional basis pending the satisfactory completion of a course in Academic Spoken English. For the IELTS, UF requires a score of 6; for the MELAB, a minimum score of 77.

International applicants are exempt from the English proficiency requirement if they have been enrolled for one academic year in a degree-seeking program at a recognized/regionally accredited university or college in a country where English is the official language prior to your anticipated term of enrollment at UF, or if you are from one of the countries listed under the “Countries Exempt from English Proficiency” toolbar on the International Applicants page here .

Florida law requires all non-U.S. students who are going to be graduate teaching assistants—even if exempted from the IELTS, MELAB and TOEFL requirement—to prove adequate command of the English language. One way to demonstrate oral proficiency in order to teach is to take the  SPEAK  test.

Transcripts:  International students may use unofficial transcripts for the admissions process. However, once admitted, they must provide official transcripts and certificates of degree. UF requires transcripts in the native language and an English translation, as well as copies of the degree certificate in the native language and an English translation.

Further useful information may be obtained through the University of Florida  International Center .

Additional fellowship materials

• All applicants are  automatically  considered for graduate school and department fellowships. You do not need to apply for these awards separately.

Florida State University

FSU | The English Department

The English Department

• Graduate studies

For Prospective Students

About this Program  |  Application Information  |  Teaching Assistantships and Fellowships  |  Degree Requirements  |  Contacts

The online application portal for the 2024-2025 academic year opened Aug. 1, 2023 and the deadline for applications is Jan. 15, 2024. All MA/MFA applications should be for SUMMER 2024; all PhD applications should be for Fall 202 4 ; We will assume that all students want teaching assistantships unless they indicate otherwise . We do not require the GRE for any of our programs.

Click here to begin your application

About this Program

The FSU Graduate Program in English is organized into three programs: Literature, Media, and Culture , Rhetoric and Composition , and Creative Writing . 

Our Department

Faculty and Students: Our diverse, accomplished faculty are actively involved in mentoring students both during the program itself as well as the job placement process. There are currently 50 MA/MFA students and 125 PhD students enrolled in the program. Graduate classes, though, tend to be small, averaging fewer than 10 students.

Publications and Activities:  Faculty members edit such scholarly journals as Papers of the Bibliographic Society of America , Arthurian Literature , the Journal of Writing Assessment , and TheJUMP: The Journal for Undergraduate Media Projects . 

The department publishes the literary magazine, The Southeast Review , which is run by our graduate students. Creative Writing sponsors readings every week, featuring visiting writers, agents, and editors from all as well as our own faculty and graduate students. Rhetoric and Composition runs a Visiting Speakers series every semester and maintains the FSU Card Archive and the Museum of Everyday Writing . Literature, Media, and Culture’s Colloquium Series gives graduate students the opportunity to interact with visiting scholars at the cutting edge of literary and cultural studies.

Tallahassee...

... is probably not what you envision when you think about Florida. Picture live oaks, Spanish moss, rolling hills laced with lakes and streams. Not on the gulf, but we’re an easy couple hours or so from the prettiest beaches in the continental U.S.

As Florida’s capital, Tallahassee is an expanding metropolitan center with a population of about 200,000, yet it still holds many of the charms of a smaller university town. With its many cinemas, small theatres, museums, and musical events, it offers a particularly rich environment for those who care about literature and the arts.

Literary life? Our own Tuesday-night fiction and poetry series is held in a groovy bar/restaurant, just off campus, across from the Railroad Square Arts District. It’s augmented by other noteworthy literary events, including those at...

• Word of South , a weekend-long, city-sponsored festival in beautiful Cascades Park that showcases nationally known writers and musicians
• Midtown Reader , a cozy but first-rate independent bookstore in the thriving Midtown corridor

Like to run? Bike? Walk? Play tennis? Golf? Pickleball? Tallahassee's award-winning city parks system features an amazing trails system and other excellent facilities. The area around Tallahassee is also rich in natural beauty, with many state and national parks within an easy drive, including  Apalachicola National Forest ,  St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge ,  Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park , and  Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park .

A few of Tallahassee’s neighborhoods:  Downtown Tallahassee ,  Midtown Tallahassee ,  Railroad Square Art Districts .

The indie restaurant scene in Tallahassee is thriving. For a glimpse, visit Tallahassee Table and  Tallahassee Magazine . When you visit, or once you’re accepted, hit up Mark Winegardner (Associate Chair for Graduate Studies) for his indie restaurant guide.

Application Information

Back to the top

Application window: August 1, 2023 through January 15, 2024 ( for MA/MFA, apply for SUMMER 2024; for PhD, apply for FALL 2024 ).

Required Documents:

• Statement of Purpose
• Résumé/Curriculum Vitae
• Writing Sample (see specifics below)
• Three recommendation letters
• Unofficial Transcripts (from every university attended)

Office of Graduate Admissions 222 South Copeland St Westcott Building Room 314 Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410

or electronically to [email protected]

Because the English Department is committed to inclusivity and diversity and recognizes and champions differences in learning styles and educational backgrounds, we do not require the GRE for applicants to any of our programs. Click here to begin your application. 

PLEASE NOTE: the system requires you to click "Submit Application" and pay the application fee BEFORE you can upload any supporting documents . It'll seem like you're submitting an incomplete application, but rest assured: after you submit the basic application, you will be able to upload your required documents.

Application FAQs

When will admissions decisions be made?

Admissions are NOT rolling. We make our decisions early each spring semester.

Is the GRE required?

Can the application fee be waived?

Unfortunately, the Office of Admissions cannot waive application fees for graduate applicants. We do our best to keep this fee as low as we can.

Is there a separate application for a teaching assistantship?

No, there is not a separate application for a teaching assistantship.

Does the program have a foreign language requirement?

Students must demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language. This requirement can be fulfilled in a variety of ways, including 12 hours at the undergraduate level. Should this cause any concern, we’d be happy to discuss more fully . Also, this requirement does NOT have to be completed prior to applying and does NOT apply to MFA students.

Are there additional requirements for international applications?

International applicants must also take the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) and should score at least 26+ on the TOEFL iBT Speaking section. Applicants with a score lower than 26+, or who don’t have TOEFL scores, will be required to take the SPEAK test during their first term of enrollment. Please visit http://admissions.fsu.edu/international/ for further questions; the International Student Coordinator for Incoming Students is Steven Niette ( [email protected] )

Required Documents

1. Statement of Purpose

• a short essay describing the applicant’s academic and professional experience and goals (500-750 words will likely suffice; maximum is 1,000)
• Students applying for the MFA or PhD in Creative Writing should specify intended genre (poetry, fiction, non-fiction) within their statement of purpose

2. Résumé/Curriculum Vita

3. Writing Sample

• Applicants to the Literature, Media, and Culture program or Rhetoric and Composition program should submit a critical essay.
• Applicants to the Creative Writing program/Poetry should submit up to 10 poems.
• Applicants to the Creative Writing program/Fiction should submit a short story or two and/or a novel excerpt. No strict page limit—but generally, 20-40 pages will suffice; don’t sweat it if you’re a little under or over.
• Applicants to the Creative Writing program/Nonfiction should submit one or two pieces and/or an excerpt from a book. No strict page limit—but generally, 20-40 pages will suffice; don’t sweat it if you’re a little under or over.
• Applicants to the Creative Writing program are NOT required to submit a critical writing sample.

4. Unofficial Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts are sufficient for the application process and can be uploaded directly into the application portal. If admitted, official transcripts should be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions.

5. At least three letters of recommendation through the electronic application

• The online recommendation system connected to our application is the preferred method for recommenders to use.
• If they will not be using this system, applicants should enter their information and select “offline recommender.”
• Our application software is not designed to accept submissions from Interfolio.

Teaching Assistantship & Fellowships

The majority of students in the Graduate English Program receive support in the form of a teaching assistantship. Teaching assistants are provided with a stipend, a tuition waiver, and a health-insurance subsidy. TAs are often invited to teach during the summer term for an additional stipend. Typically, MA students receive a two-year assistantship, MFA students receive a three-year assistantship. PhD students receive a four-year assistantship but are eligible to apply for a fifth year contingent on satisfactory progress through the degree program and availability of funds.

The English Department gives out several awards and scholarships, the most significant of which is the Kingsbury Writing Award . The FSU Graduate School also offers fellowships and awards including Legacy Fellowships, McKnight Doctoral Fellowships, and University Dissertation Fellowships. For more information, see below.

Assistantship FAQs 

Do I need to submit a separate application to be considered for an assistantship? 

No, a separate application for assistantships is not required.

What are the stipend amounts?

Currently, graduate stipends are $19,163 (plus a full tuition waiver, plus a healthcare subsidy). Students can augment this by teaching a 6-week, summer class, bringing their annual pay to $23,953.

Which teaching opportunities are available with an assistantship?

TAs may teach as part of the College Composition Program or courses in the undergraduate English major.

Are there opportunities for non-teaching assistantships?

Opportunities for non-teaching assistantships include:

• An appointment to be assistant to the College Composition Director, Director of Graduate Studies, or Director of Undergraduate Studies
• An appointment in the Reading Writing Center or Digital Studio
• Computer Writing Classroom Coordinator
• First Year Composition Mentor
• An appointment as research assistant or a teaching assistant to a professor in the student’s discipline
• An appointment to be the advisor to our undergrad literary journal

Fellowships & Scholarships

The FSU Graduate School offers several fellowships and awards :

• Legacy Fellowships provide support for up to five years for newly admitted PhD students, 3 for newly admitted MFAs. The Fellowship is a $10,000 supplement to a 0.5 FTE assistantship (required) per academic year and provides an annual health-insurance subsidy. There is no application process for this highly selective fellowship; admitted students are automatically considered.
• Wilson-Auzenne Assistantships for Minorities are available to new or currently enrolled minority graduate students. Nomination is through the department but competition is university-wise. Awards are a minimum of $5,000 per year plus tuition waivers and health-insurance subsidy.
• PhD students at the dissertation stage are eligible to apply for a limited number of University Dissertation Fellowships, currently funded at $10,000 plus tuition waivers for three terms.
• Many Black students in the program also hold McKnight Doctoral Fellowships, which provide up to five years of support to PhD students, with a stipend of $12,000 plus tuition waivers and health-insurance subsidy. These fellowships are administered by a state-wide foundation.
• McNair Scholars Fellowships, a federally funded program that prepares first-generation for members underrepresented populations for doctoral studies. Fellowships are $16,000-$20,000 per calendar year (plus tuition waiver and health-insurance subsidy) for up to 5 years for PhD students and 3 for MFAs. Applicants MUST have been McNair Scholars at their previous institution.
• Henderson Family Fellowships support Florida public school teachers pursuing an MA or MFA, covering the cost of tuition and fees in both the spring and fall semesters.
• Eligible minority students may qualify for the FAMU Feeder Fellowship . This program, for students who graduated from Florida A&M University and completed the FAMU Feeder program. Awards of $7,250/semester plus health-insurance subsidy will be given for a maximum of four years for doctoral degree-seeking students, and two years for MA/MFA students.

Post-Graduate Teaching Appointments

Upon receiving the PhD in English, as part of their professional development and in tandem with the job search, graduates are often offered Visiting Assistant Professorships. These are salaried appointments with benefits.

Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards

The Graduate School is the proprietary body for each graduate department, including English. Please check the link to their website for additional admission information as well as scholarship and fellowship information for incoming graduate students, particularly the Legacy, McKnight, and Wilson-Auzenne Fellowships: http://gradschool.fsu.edu/

Degree Requirements

If you want to get in the weeds of our program requirements, here’s our Graduate Handbook . What follows is an overview.

MA in Literature, Media, and Culture or Rhetoric and Composition        

• 33 credit hours in approved courses as described
• Satisfactorily complete a final requirement (either Capstone Essay or Thesis)
• Gateway Theory Course
• One course pre-1660
• One additional course pre-1800
• One additional course 1660-1900
• Medieval and Early Modern British Literary and Cultural Studies (through 1600)
• British and Irish Literary and Cultural Studies: 1660-1990
• Post-1900 Literary and Cultural Studies (American, British, Irish)
• American Literary and Cultural Studies to 1900
• African-American Literary and Cultural Studies
• History of Text Technologies
• Feminism, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
• Colonial, Postcolonial, and Transnational Literary and Cultural Studies
• At least one literature course that focuses on race, class, gender, ability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.
• Capstone Course in Professional Research and Writing.
• 3 core courses: Rhetorical Theory and Practice, Theories of Composition, Research Methods in Rhetoric and Composition.
• Teaching English in College
• Issues in Literary and Cultural Studies
• 12 additional hours of coursework in English
• 6 hours of thesis credit or 3 hours of ePortfolio
• Complete and defend a thesis or ePortfolio

MFA in Creative Writing

• 45 credit hours as described below
• Complete and defend a thesis in your genre
• 12-15 hours of workshops
• 9-12 thesis hours
• 21-24 hours in literature and related courses

PhD in Literature, Media, and Culture; Rhetoric and Composition; or Creative Writing

• Completion of 27 credit hours of course work and 24 dissertation hours.
• History of Literary Genre
• Rhetoric and Composition

... or another area approved by the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies. Students may apply 9 hours from the MA/MFA level toward these requirements.

• Passing of a preliminary exam based on reading lists drawn from a major and minor Area of Concentration.
• Students’ dissertations may be an extended essay, three or more essays related by subject, or an extended original work in fiction, poetry, or nonfiction.
• For questions about the graduate program in general, broad questions about admissions, or questions about the admissions process:  [email protected]
• For questions about the Creative Writing Program:  [email protected]
• For questions about the Literature, Media, and Culture Program:  [email protected]
• For questions about the Rhetoric and Composition Program:  [email protected]

English Department

405 Williams Building Tallahassee,

Florida 32306-1580

Phone: (850) 644-4230

Program Contacts

[email protected]

[email protected]

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Creative Writing at University of Florida

Go directly to any of the following sections:

• Available Degrees

Creative Writing Degrees Available at UF

• Master’s Degree in Creative Writing

UF Creative Writing Rankings

The bachelor's program at UF was ranked #101 on College Factual's Best Schools for creative writing list .

Popularity of Creative Writing at UF

In 2021, 12 students received their master’s degree in creative writing from UF. This makes it the #80 most popular school for creative writing master’s degree candidates in the country.

UF Creative Writing Students

Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the creative writing majors at University of Florida.

UF Creative Writing Master’s Program

In the 2020-2021 academic year, 12 students earned a master's degree in creative writing from UF. About 58% of these graduates were women and the other 42% were men.

The majority of master's degree recipients in this major at UF are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 67% of students fell into this category.

The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of Florida with a master's in creative writing.

• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• Image Credit: By DouglasGreen under License

More about our data sources and methodologies .

Popular Reports

Compare your school options.

Creative Writing Graduate Programs in Florida

1-11 of 11 results

Liberal Arts and Sciences - University of Florida

Gainesville, FL •

University of Florida •

Graduate School

• • Rating 4 out of 5   1 review

Master's Student: Overall, the University of Florida seems to be a great school as far as rankings and attendance rates go. Despite the political turmoil going on in the state of Florida, there seems to be a relatively strong student body of undergraduate students. Graduate students, however, are less cohesive. Likely due to politics, our graduate student union is in jeopardy, and it is so difficult to get the union membership to 60%. In the Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Law, we have a very low union membership status, which is somewhat ironic considering the nature of our disciplines. The demands of balancing an assistantship and academic career are exhausting, and even more so with limited resources (financial, emotional, etc.). The faculty turnover in the dept. is also insane, likely due to the political situation that seems to be driving out all faculty members of color. Lastly, financial support is incredibly limited. All things aside, the education that I am receiving is appropriate. ... Read 1 review

Blue checkmark.

University of Florida ,

Graduate School ,

GAINESVILLE, FL ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Overall, the University of Florida seems to be a great school as far as rankings and attendance rates go. Despite the political turmoil going on in the state of Florida, there seems to be a... .

Read 1 reviews.

College of Arts and Sciences - University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL •

University of Miami •

• • Rating 4.67 out of 5   6 reviews

Master's Student: I am in graduate school and needed something online but also wanted something that was going to challenge me and provide me with a step further than my undergrad school provided. I compared many MPA programs and chose the University of Miami because the program was so similar to the in-person MPA program, taught by the same professors, and included the same courses. While entirely online, I have come to know my fellow graduate students and come to know the faculty in each of the courses I have taken. I'm currently half-way through the program and cannot wait to complete this degree! ... Read 6 reviews

University of Miami ,

CORAL GABLES, FL ,

6 Niche users give it an average review of 4.7 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I am in graduate school and needed something online but also wanted something that was going to challenge me and provide me with a step further than my undergrad school provided. I compared many MPA... .

Read 6 reviews.

Florida State University - The College of Arts and Sciences

Tallahassee, FL •

Florida State University •

Florida State University ,

TALLAHASSEE, FL ,

Palm Beach Atlantic University School of Education and Behavioral Studies

Palm Beach Atlantic University •

Graduate School •

WEST PALM BEACH, FL

School of Christian Leadership - William Jessup University

Jessup University •

ROCKLIN, CA

Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

Florida International University •

• • Rating 4.67 out of 5   3

University of South Florida College of Arts and Sciences

Tampa, FL •

University of South Florida •

• • Rating 4.8 out of 5   5 reviews

Alum: I earned my Early Childhood Education degree from USF in 2002. I was enrolled in an education program with a cohort, full-time. The professors were knowledgeable and caring, and my classmates were amazing human beings. My internships provided me with the knowledge and experience needed to become a successful classroom teacher. I am returning now to earn a Master of Social Work to become a trauma therapist. I will begin online in January 2023. Proud to be a USF Bull! ... Read 5 reviews

University of South Florida ,

TAMPA, FL ,

5 Niche users give it an average review of 4.8 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says I earned my Early Childhood Education degree from USF in 2002. I was enrolled in an education program with a cohort, full-time. The professors were knowledgeable and caring, and my classmates were... .

Read 5 reviews.

College of Arts and Humanities - University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL •

University of Central Florida •

University of Central Florida ,

ORLANDO, FL ,

Stetson University College of Arts and Sciences

Deland, FL •

Stetson University •

Stetson University ,

DELAND, FL ,

• Find college scholarships

College of Arts and Letters - University of Tampa

University of Tampa •

University of Tampa ,

Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters

Boca Raton, FL •

Florida Atlantic University •

• • Rating 4.5 out of 5   4 reviews

Alum: The accelerated nursing program is tough but doable. Once you’ve already experienced college and managing your time and skills, then this should come easy to you if you’re willing and focused. The professors here take the time to teach you everything properly. ... Read 4 reviews

Florida Atlantic University ,

BOCA RATON, FL ,

4 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says The accelerated nursing program is tough but doable. Once you’ve already experienced college and managing your time and skills, then this should come easy to you if you’re willing and focused. The... .

Read 4 reviews.

Full Sail University

Winter Park, FL •

• • Rating 4.74 out of 5   177 reviews

Master's Student: I am at the beginning stages of enrolling in the program. From my initial interest form online (the website was very user-friendly) to the phone call the very next day from the Admissions Guide, the attention that I have received is A+. I spent 90 minutes on the phone with Nancy, as she learned more about me, sent additional financial aid resources that I may qualify for and thoroughly guided me through the program in which I was interested. Every day, I have been emailed or texted additional information or “next steps” guidance to help with my enrollment and each department I speak with is very knowledgeable and eager to assist. If there was any anxiety about beginning my Masters program, Full Sail University has made the process really easy and seamless so far. Because of Full Sail University, my excitement to begin the program has certainly increased and I would say that everyone I have interacted with has exceeded my expectations. Thank you for your impact! ... Read 177 reviews

WINTER PARK, FL ,

177 Niche users give it an average review of 4.7 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I am at the beginning stages of enrolling in the program. From my initial interest form online (the website was very user-friendly) to the phone call the very next day from the Admissions Guide, the... Every day, I have been emailed or texted additional information or “next steps” guidance to help with my enrollment and each department I speak with is very knowledgeable and eager to assist. If... Because of Full Sail University, my excitement to begin the program has certainly increased and I would say that everyone I have interacted with has exceeded my expectations. Thank you for your... .

Read 177 reviews.

College of Education & Social Services - Saint Leo University

Saint Leo, FL •

Saint Leo University •

• • Rating 4 out of 5   3 reviews

Master's Student: I’m currently enrolled in the two year cohort social work program. Classes haven’t started yet but I was able to meet with a lot of staff before classes start. They have been helpful and are eager to assist me with any questions that I have in regards to the program. ... Read 3 reviews

Saint Leo University ,

SAINT LEO, FL ,

3 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I’m currently enrolled in the two year cohort social work program. Classes haven’t started yet but I was able to meet with a lot of staff before classes start. They have been helpful and are eager to... .

Read 3 reviews.

College of Communication, Architecture and The Arts - Florida International University

Miami, FL •

Florida International University ,

MIAMI, FL ,

College of Health and Community Well - Being - University of La Verne

University of La Verne •

LA VERNE, CA

• • Rating 4 out of 5   2

Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy

University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies

CORAL GABLES, FL

• • Rating 4.5 out of 5   2

Showing results 1 through 11 of 11

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Mfa in creative writing.

Our Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing provides the practicing writer the skills necessary to meet the professional standards and expectations of their chosen genre and is intended as the terminal degree for those intending to teach creative writing.

Housed at the Biscayne Bay Campus and set amidst the tropical beauty, social diversity and cultural dynamism of Miami, the program offers small seminars, intense mentoring, and a dedicated faculty who are highly successful and award-winning working writers including Lynne Barrett , Richard Blanco , Debra Dean ,  John Dufresne ,  Denise Duhamel ,  Campbell McGrath ,  Les Standiford  and  Julie Wade .

The deadline to apply for admission to the Fall 2024 semester (there are no Spring admissions) is Wednesday, January 10, 2024 .

Students are selected on the basis of demonstrated talent and the desire to join a hard-working, mutually supportive community of writers. Coursework includes workshops, literature offerings, and form and theory classes on Plot, Character, and Poetics. The program places great emphasis upon preparation and completion of a publishable book-length creative thesis. Graduates of the program have gone on to successful careers as authors , professors , teachers , editors , and arts administrators . Program graduates have have published more than 200 books (and counting), including several bestsellers, received prestigious literary awards and residencies, and had their work adapted into award-winning films. 

Gulf Stream Magazine

Produced by the Creative Writing program.

Graduate Catalog

Thesis Process

Program Contacts

Lester Standiford Professor; Director and Founder of the Creative Writing Program   305-919-5965   [email protected]  AC1 344

Nicholas Garnett Program Assistant (Clerical)   305-348-2874   [email protected]  AC1 339

Second annual First-Year Writing Program Writing Contest winners

FIU@Home: Create chemical poetry

The power of an English major

  Creative Writing in CASE News

Department of English MMC: 11200 SW 8 Street, DM 453 Miami, FL 33199 Tel:   305-348-2874 BBC: 3000 NE 151 Street, AC1-335 North Miami, FL 33181 Tel:   305-919-5857

The Creative Writing minor is designed for aspiring writers of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, comics, and many other genres. Students learn to read others’ work and produce their own with attention to cultural and philosophical contexts. As they explore their individual interests in small, workshop-oriented classes, they also gain valuable career competencies and skills necessary to enter multiple graduate programs.

TOTAL MINOR HOURS: 15

Minor Requirements

Courses used to satisfy concentration requirements cannot be used to satisfy minor requirements. Any course appearing in both the Creatuve Writing Minor and the Creative Writing Concentration will be manually removed by your advisor.

Minor Core (9 Credit Hours)

• CRW 3311 - Form and Technique of Poetry Credit(s): 3
• CRW 3111 - Form and Technique of Fiction Credit(s): 3
• CRW 3211 - Form and Technique of Nonfiction Credit(s): 3
• Any major course listed in the Literary Studies concentration including a 2000-level LIT course

Any two of the following:

• CRW 3112 - Fiction I Credit(s): 3
• CRW 3121 - Fiction II Credit(s): 3
• CRW 3212 - Nonfiction I Credit(s): 3
• CRW 3221 - Nonfiction II Credit(s): 3
• CRW 3312 - Poetry I Credit(s): 3
• CRW 3321 - Poetry II Credit(s): 3
• CRW 4930 - Selected Topics in Creative Writing Credit(s): 1-3

GPA Requirements

Grading requirement.

A grade of below C- will not be counted toward fulfilling the minor requirements.

Advising Information - College of Arts and Sciences

Undergraduate Advising Information

The College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) Advising Team provides students with support to create timely graduation plans that will integrate both their academic and professional goals.  Each of our undergraduate programs has dedicated professional advisors with specialized knowledge and understanding of the major requirements, course offerings, undergraduate research, and career opportunities in their field.  Additionally, we have dedicated pre-health and prelaw advisors to help students prepare for admission to professional graduate programs.

CAS Academic Advisor Contact information can be found here: CAS Advisors

To schedule an advising appointment: Advising Appointments

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English Creative Writing A.A. Transfer Plan - USF Tampa

This A.A. transfer plan is for students who want to pursue the English B.A. with a concentration in Creative Writing at the University of South Florida Tampa. Students who complete these requirements graduate from SPC with an Associate in Arts Degree and meet the state-mandated pre-requisites of their four-year major.

• Career Info

This A.A. transfer plan with a concentration in English Creative Writing prepares you to transfer to USF Tampa or work in writing, editing or teaching.

USF Tampa - English Creative Writing Transfer Plan

FTWRT-TR Effective Beginning Catalog Term: Fall 2024 (640)

The requirements shown below are valid beginning Fall 2024 (640), and may not reflect degree requirements for current students. Current students should visit My SPC and view My Learning Plan to see specific degree requirements for their effective term.

Program Summary

Academic Pathway

Academic Pathways

• the recommended order in which to take the program courses
• suggested course when more than one option exists
• which semester each course is typically offered
• if the course has a prerequisite
• courses that may lead to a certificate (if offered in the program)

Program Leadership Information

Florida cip code.

1192401010 - ASSOCIATE IN ARTS

Federal CIP Code

24.0101 - Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.

FUSE – Transfer to USF

FUSE is a program that guarantees your admission to specific University of South Florida System institution bachelor's programs after you earn your associate degree from St. Petersburg College. Save time and money by starting at SPC and transferring to USF.

English – Creative Writing Minor

Program at a glance.

• In State Tuition
• Out of State Tuition

Learn more about the cost to attend UCF.

Minor Admission Requirements

Minor requirements, prerequisite courses, university of central florida colleges.

Degree Requirements

Required courses.

• CRW3013 - Creative Writing for English Majors (3)
• CRW3053 - Theory & Practice of Creative Writing (3)

Restricted Electives

• A list of approved restricted elective courses is found in the myKnight audit.
• Please note that students will be allowed to take only one course in each of the below categories. Students wishing to take more workshop courses should consider a double major.
• CRW3120 - Fiction Writing Workshop (3)
• CRW3211 - Creative Nonfiction Writing (3)
• CRW3310 - Poetry Writing Workshop (3)
• CRW3610 - Writing Scripts (3)
• CRW4122 - Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop (3)
• CRW4224 - Advanced Nonfiction Workshop (3)
• CRW4320 - Advanced Poetry Writing Workshop (3)
• CRW4616 - Advanced Scriptwriting Workshop (3)

Restricted Upper Division Electives

• CRW3311 - Readings in Poetry for Creative Writing (3)
• CRW3540 - Literary Magazines (3)
• CRW4114 - History of Prose Style (3)
• CRW4722 - Editing for Creative Writers (3)
• CRW4724 - The Florida Review (3)
• ENC3310 - Magazine Writing I (3)
• ENC4360 - Nature Writing (3)
• LIT3607 - Mad, Bad, and Dangerous: Roles and Images of Writers in Society (3)
• CRW6806C - Teaching Creative Writing (3)
• Any other CRW elective or Special Topics course Credit Hours: 3

Foreign Language Requirements

Grand total credits: 18.

Other Requirements

• A grade of "C" (2.0) or better is required in each course used to satisfy the minor.
• At least 12 hours used in the minor must be earned at UCF within the department.
• No credit by exam (TSD, Military credit) may be used.
• Internship, Co-op, or Independent Study credit cannot be used toward the minor.
• No more than 6 hours of overlap allowed between programs when multiple English programs are declared.

ADVERTISE WITH US!

When I first came to UE to major in creative writing, I figured this would be as good a place as any for that – the esteemed college I saw with generous professors and skilled graduates gave me a positive impression. I could fit in here, hone my skills, and progress into life after while feeling positive about my attendance. I felt welcome, and everyone I knew – student or otherwise – had only compliments for the university. But as my second semester progressed, I began to see that, in addition to other valuable aspects of the university, we, the creative writing department, are in real trouble. To gain more accurate views on the issues I had begun to consider, I interviewed our main professor, Katie Mullins. Her insight will be offered generously throughout this article.

            We are, in fact, not our own department anymore. As a direct result of the realignment, English and Creative Writing, two separate departments, were combined into the same; the plan also called for the removal of two of the five then-present creative writing professors. But how do we now only have one tenured professor?

“Right now, I’m an associate professor of creative writing, but I have sort-of defaulted into a Director of Creative Writing role as well. We are lucky to have Professor Clara Strong here as a visiting professor, but this department, at one time, had as many as five professors. And then after realignment we cut it down to – well, we were going to cut it to three, and then we had two other professors leave.”

As we well know, many departments and majors were affected poorly by the realignment; quality facets of the university were removed entirely. And although I cannot speak for or against the university’s choices regarding the plan itself, Professor Mullins and I both agree that the university’s actions towards the department, separate to the realignment plan, have been concerning at the least.

“With writing, they just never re-hired, even though there are three jobs that are now gone. […] Anytime three people leave and you go, ‘That’s cool, the one guy left can do that all. And she’s disabled? I’m sure she’ll keep up.’ It feels a little bit like a quiet close, like, there’s no way around it. For English in general, I’m sure they saw the combination of the majors as sort-of a death knell…”

One of the likeliest reasons creative writing still exists as a department is thanks to the merge demanded by Realignment, which is, funnily enough, the same reason we have a place secured for the immediate future. Professor Mullins went on to reinforce this fact with a precedent revealed by the treatment of a department that no longer exists: history. From what I understand, the former history department had four tenured professors, two of whom were fired during the realignment changes. What made that possible was removing the history department entirely. As Professor Mullins put it, “To fire a tenured professor, the whole department has to go.”

For creative writing to be removed as a major or department, the university would need to take one of two actions: 1) revoke one of their former decisions by splitting English and Creative Writing back into two separate departments, which is unlikely; or 2) completely remove the conjoined department, which is unthinkable. This should be an incredible reassurance to our students – our department will stay for the foreseeable future. In Professor Mullins’s words: “So, creative writing is pretty much here until, I guess, I don’t know, I leave or die. Which I think will be a while, I hope.”

But acting as the sole remaining professor of creative writing, shouldering the burdens of what should be multiple professors, is far from the ideal state for anyone. It’s a stressful position, and though she has received warm, open support from the English department and its faculty, she is still only one person trying her best to instruct an entire department.

“So people know I’m busy and crazy and have a lot of stuff to do, but they don’t really understand. And between that, and being pretty profoundly disabled, it’s been a real challenge to kind of—and I don’t look sick in the way people want me to, if that makes sense, so they’re going, ‘Well, you’re fine, now.’”

            One colleague in particular, Dr. Mark Cirino, the department chair, has fought hard to bring in new hires necessary for allowing the department to last more than just in name. However, when contacted, he was “not able to expand on Prof. Mullins’s comments” for this article. As Professor Mullins described it, “I don’t know for sure what the university needs that we have been unable to demonstrate.” Whatever the case, the university’s reasoning in this matter remains undisclosed. Even with the department’s prolonged existence granted by its conjoining with English, a lack of replacement faculty – replacements to those who left by choice, not those removed as a result of the realignment – spell continuing danger and fear for the department and its students.

            The reason any of this matters—the department, the professors, the students—might seem clearly one-sided; and, in a slight way, it is. I’m a creative writing student, hoping for a degree from UE, fighting for a place to belong. But those are merely details which allow me the position to understand and share the larger, encompassing worth of what we do. When I asked Professor Mullins during our conversation what it would really mean – for her, for the students, for the university – if the department and the major were made unavailable at UE, she explained with increasing passion and enthusiasm the base concepts which accompany creative writing. Although she gleaned her example of the moment off the chalkboard behind me, a lesson from a previous class that day, I could surmise that she had long since considered what she told me.

“I think anytime we lose classes in story, what you’re actually losing is people’s ability to tell each other what it means to be human and how it is to be human. […] I think creative writing is the privilege we survive for. […] And I think if we lose creative writing, we lose the ability to learn how to tell those things with empathy, with a sense of humor, and with a sense of organization. […] And so, yeah, I think losing that loses more than anyone realizes when they look at creative writing. And in fact, if you struck the word ‘creative’ from the front, people would realize what a valuable major it was. But something about hearing ‘creative’ just kind of makes people go ‘Oh, it’s probably not necessary.’”

            I have experienced this bias firsthand. In high school, people who knew I planned to major in creative writing asked me, “Why? You were always so good with numbers,” as if they thought the path I chose required less skill than the one they assumed I would follow. That itch in the brain people feel when they hear the word “creative,” the one that makes them automatically dismiss whatever it applies to as unnecessary… I posed that it was because people can’t quantify creativity or imagination; they can’t put an easy label on it like they do with so many other things. Which is true; but it’s also precisely the point.

“You can’t exactly measure it. […]  I’m okay living in an area where what we do can’t be quantified. But I think that it’s hard for—I think it is really hard, in an age where we are constantly trying to have something to assess, to deal in those uncertainties. And creative writing teaches you that uncertainty isn’t necessarily a failure, or even bad. Uncertainty is just part of life, and you learn how to deal with that, too.”

            Key to the effects of losing such a valuable department is the fact that the classes and concepts are by no means exclusive to creative writing majors. Theatre; literature; math; communications; archeology… Students from across the colleges enroll in writing courses with Professor Mullins and Professor Strong, and so, as was emphasized no less than five times throughout this portion of our conversation, a loss of the department would have negative effects “more than anyone realizes.” The reasoning should, by now, be obvious: expression, wisdom, self-discovery, and of course, skill in the craft. The problem remains that, despite the tenuous security of the creative writing major and the department, we still worry – staff included.

“But the fact of the matter is, I don’t face the future unafraid here. Because what I’ve learned is, eh, it keeps being sort-of a ‘Katie’ll do it’ situation. And so for me, I want to face the future unafraid. I am afraid I am facing that future alone, which means I cannot be unafraid.”

And, about the students:

“They’re terrified. They’re all scared, everybody I’ve talked to. I’ve had students cry to me and ask me, ‘Will you just stay at least until I graduate?’ […] I know some of the freshmen and the transfer students are considering other options.”

Some weeks ago, the bells in Olmsted began ringing again. They chimed the hours, of course, but also sounded the university’s hymn at a certain time each day. Walking by, hearing it, I could not help feeling some pride in this place, in my choice; I had heard it played and sung during convocation at the beginning of the year, a time of openings and brass fanfares. However, understanding the lyrics – We face the future unafraid – and hearing them in relation to the predicament of our department… they took on a creeping façade, becoming the selfsame “death knell” that seemed to have rung for us during the department’s merge with English.

            This is not the state our, or any, department should have to be in. Despite our remainder thanks to the university’s choices, those same choices have instilled fear into the students, driving valuable prospective members to pursue their education from a college they can actually guarantee a degree from; not the liberal arts college that has forcibly removed and/or neglects the arts, the creativity. Not hiring replacement professors for those who left voluntarily – leaving one overworked individual in place of what would have been three – continues to negatively affect the creative writing department, in spite of the kindness, accommodations, and warmth generously provided to our professor by her colleagues. It is natural to fear; however, I think Professor Mullins says it best for how to behave in this situation: “So I would be sad, and then I would adapt, and I would overcome.”

            Positivity and a pleasant face in the midst of adversity and uncertainty; that’s one of the finest messages to offer. It makes you think.

That’s it; it makes you thin

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