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Genre: poetry

Aria Aber was born and raised in Germany and is currently based in Los Angeles, California. Her debut book Hard Damage won the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Poetry and was published in September 2019. Her poems are forthcoming or have appeared in The New Yorker, New Republic, The Yale Review, Poem-A-Day, Narrative, POETRY, and elsewhere. A graduate of the NYU MFA in Creative Writing, she holds awards and fellowships from Kundiman, the Wisconsin Institute of Creative Writing, and the Wallace Stegner Fellowship at Stanford University. She is the recipient of a 2020 Whiting Award in Poetry.

Website: https://www.ariaaber.com/

Amelia Ada is a trans poet and essayist. She holds an MFA in poetry from Vanderbilt University, and she graduated with honors from both the undergraduate journalism and creative writing programs at Northwestern University. Her work has appeared in numerous literary journals, including  ZYZZYVA,   Denver Quarterly, Boston Review, Southwest Review , and  West Branch.  Her first book manuscript was a finalist for the 2020 National Poetry Series Open Competition. She lives in Los Angeles and co-hosts the podcast  You Shouldn’t Let Poets Lie To You .

Website: https://amelia-ada.com/

Akhim Alexis

Genre: fiction

Akhim Alexis is a writer from Trinidad and Tobago. He received his BA and MA from The University of the West Indies. He is the winner of the Brooklyn Caribbean Lit Fest Elizabeth Nunez Award for Writers in the Caribbean. He was also a finalist for the Barry Hannah Prize in Fiction, the Grist Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors Contest and the Johnson and Amoy Achong Caribbean Writers Prize for poetry. His writing has appeared in The Massachusetts Review , Electric Literature , The Rumpus , and elsewhere.

Taneum Bambrick

Taneum Bambrick is the author of Intimacies, Received ( Copper Canyon Press 2022), and Vantage ( American Poetry Review /Honickman First Book Award 2019). A 2020 Stegner fellow, their work can be found in the New Yorker , The Nation , American Poetry Review, PEN,  and elsewhere. She has received fellowships from the Vermont Studio Center, Sewanee Writers Conference, and a scholarship from Bread Loaf Writers Conference.

Remy Barnes

Remy Barnes’s fiction has appeared in The Iowa Review, Mississippi Review, The Southampton Review, Southern Humanities Review and elsewhere. He received his MFA from Cornell University where he taught courses on fiction, poetry and film. He is at work on a novel.

Website: www.remybarnes.org

Mayookh Barua

Genre: nonfiction

Mayookh Barua is a writer belonging to the Ahom community in Northeast India. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in nonfiction in the Creative Writing and Literature Department at USC and holds an MFA in Fiction from North Carolina State University. His work explores sexuality, art, mythology, education and family through a queer South-Asian voice. A 2023 Roots.Wounds.Words Non-Fiction fellow, MOZAIK Philanthropy’s 2023 Future Art Writers Award winner, and a Dorianne Laux Poetry Prize 2023 Finalist, his works appear in The Audacity by Roxane Gay, The Gay & Lesbian Review , Litro Magazine , Espace Art Actuel , The Third Eye , Mezosfera Magazine and elsewhere.

Damien Belliveau

Damien Belliveau is a fiction fellow at the University of Southern California. As a creative writer, he has two dissertation projects: one creative, the other critical. The creative project is an autobiographical coming-of-age story inspired by his time serving as a medic in the U.S. Army during the mid-90s. The critical project examines book-to-film adaptations where he explores the editorial strategies employed to translate literature to cinema. Damien’s been a reality television editor for nearly two decades; his credits range from “The Real World” to “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” to “Bill Nye Saves the World.” He’s directed episodes of reality TV, but in the non-scripted space, he prefers the power of the edit bay. A PEN Emerging Voices Fellow, his work has appeared in  The Los Angeles Review of Books ,  Epiphany Magazine ,  The Spectacle , and more.

Website: www.damienbelliveau.com

Ben Bush is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, a 2017-2018 Fulbright Fellow to Bulgaria, and a Dornsife Fellow at the University of Southern California creative writing PhD program. His fiction has appeared in  The Iowa Review, The Literary Review, Yeti, The Fanzine , and  Vol. 1 Brooklyn . His non-fiction and interviews have appeared in  Bookforum, The Believer, Poets & Writers, San Francisco Chronicle, Salon, Bitch , and the  Los Angeles Review of Books . He has received fellowships and scholarships from the Truman Capote Foundation, Vermont Studio Center, Wesleyan Writers Conference, Kimmel Harding Nelson, Sozopol Fiction Seminars, and Key West Literary Seminars. He is a former managing editor of the Organist podcast from McSweeney’s and KCRW and has taught creative writing in Morocco, Bulgaria, and at the University of Iowa.

Bryan Byrdlong

Bryan Byrdlong is a Black poet from Chicago, Illinois. He received his MFA in Creative Writing from the Helen Zell Writers Program. He has been published in Guernica Magazine , The Kenyon Review , and Poetry Magazine , among others. Bryan received a 2021 Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowship from the Poetry Foundation. He is currently a PhD student in Creative Writing at USC in Los Angeles.

Website: https://bryanbyrdlong.com/

Amanda Choo Quan

Amanda Choo Quan is a Trinidadian/Jamaican writer. Though she writes in all genres, her concentration at USC is in nonfiction. Previously, she attended the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica, where she was a valedictorian nominee, and CalArts, where she was a Truman Capote Fellow. She’s former UN staff as well as a journalist who has published in Harper’s , Teen Vogue , NYLON , and Caribbean Beat . Most recently, she was a correspondent for NY, London, Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks. Her interests are eclectic: race, culture, aesthetics, humour, and the psychologies of the above. She’s always rooting for everybody Black. She tweets at @amandachooquan.

Ariel Chu is a PhD student in Creative Writing and Literature at the University of Southern California. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Syracuse University, where she was awarded the Shirley Jackson Prize in Fiction. Ariel’s work has been published by The Rumpus , Black Warrior Review , and The Common , among others. Her writing has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net Award, and Best Short Fictions Anthology, and she has received support from Kundiman, the Steinbeck Fellowship, the Luce Scholars Program, and the P.D. Soros Fellowship for New Americans.

Ariel is currently writing a collection of short stories about queer suburban hauntings. She also serves as the fiction editor of Nat. Brut and translates contemporary queer Taiwanese fiction into English. Her research interests include queer Taiwanese and Taiwanese American literature, hybrid Asian American writing, and experimental fiction.

Website: ariel-chu.com

James Ciano

James Ciano holds an MFA from New York University. His poetry  appears in  Prairie Schooner ,  The Literary Review ,  Poetry Northwest ,  Bennington Review ,  Greensboro Review , and  Alaska Quarterly Review , among others. His reviews and writings on poetry have appeared in  The Adroit Journal ,  Poetry Northwest , and  Los Angeles Review of Books . Originally from New York, he lives in Los Angeles, California where he is currently a Provost Fellow and PhD candidate in Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Southern California.

Website: https://jamesciano.com/

Marcus Clayton

Marcus Clayton is a multigenre Afrolatino writer from South Gate, CA, with an M.F.A. in Poetry from CSU Long Beach. Currently, he pursues a PhD in Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Southern California, focusing his creative work on genre-bent nonfiction, and his critical work on the intersections between Latinx literature, Black literature, Decolonization, and Punk Rock. He has a poetry chapbook,  Nurture the Open Wounds , through Glass Poetry Press, and will be releasing a full-length book of mixed-genre prose titled  ¡PÓNK! with Nightboat Books. A few other publications include the Los Angeles Review of Books , Joyland Magazine , Indiana Review , Apogee Journal , Passages North , Black Punk Now! , and  The Oxford Handbook of Punk Rock. In his free time, he also screams and plays guitar for local LA punk band, tudors.

Website: https://marcus-clayton.com/

Antonia Crane

Genre: nonfictoin

Antonia Crane is a queer sex worker, activist, and filmmaker. She’s the author of the memoir, Spent (Rare Bird Lit/Barnacle Books). She was awarded the Outstanding Community Service & Activism Award from Antioch University Alumni Association in 2018. PRISM International magazine named Antonia the grand prize winner of their 2019 creative nonfiction contest. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Nation, Quartz:  Atlantic Media, CNN.com, Buzzfeed, N+1 , Playboy, Los Angeleno, Cosmopolitan, Salon.com, The Huffington Post, DAME, The Los Angeles Review, Bustle , and lots of other places. Most recently, her work has appeared in the anthologies: Whorephobia: Strippers on Art, Work and Life , edited by Lizzie Borden, and Voices of a People’s History of the United States in the 21 st Century: Documents of Hope and Resistance, edited by Anthony Arnove & Haley Pessin. She lives in Los Angeles.

Website: https://www.antoniacrane.com/

Ashley Dailey

Ashley Dailey (she/her) is a writer and multimedia artist from Sargent, Georgia. She mostly writes about family and the cultural legacies of the American South. Her work has received support from the Academy of American Poets and the Bread Loaf Writers Conference and is published or forthcoming in Sonora Review ,  Tupelo Quarterly ,  Waxwing , Breakwater Review , New Delta Review , Plume Poetry , The Florida Review , and elsewhere. She was a 2021 Best of the Net nominee and a finalist for the 2021 Peseroff Poetry Prize. Her work has also been featured on Ada Limón’s podcast The Slowdown . She received her MFA from the University of Tennessee, where she served as the Poetry Editor for Grist , volume 14, and hosted the interdisciplinary reading series Chiasmus. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Website: https://www.ashleydaileypoetry.com/

Michael Deagler

Michael Deagler is the author of the novel Early Sobrieties (Astra House, 2024). His short fiction has appeared Harper’s , McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern , and Electric Literature’s Recommended Reading . Originally from Bucks County, PA, he received his BA from Temple University and an MFA from Rutgers University-Camden.

Website: michaeldeagler.com

Joseph De La Torre

Joseph is a fiction writer from Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Darren Donate

Darren Donate is a Mexican American writer. He previously received an MFA in poetry at the University of New Mexico where he taught courses in creative writing and technical communication. He is interested in the intersections of race and labor. You can find his work in Berkeley Poetry Review, the minnesota review, ANMLY  and others.

Cyrus Dunham

Cyrus Dunham is the author of  A Year Without a Name  (2020), a finalist for the Lambda Literary Awards. His writing on grassroots anti-prison organizing and trans politics has appeared in  The New Yorker , Granta , and The Intercept , among other publications and anthologies. He is a co-founder and editor of Deluge Books.

Kyle Edwards

Kyle Edwards grew up on the Lake Manitoba First Nation in Manitoba. A graduate of Ryerson University, he has worked as a journalist for Native News Online , ProPublica and Maclean’s , and has been a Nieman Visiting Fellow at Harvard University and a Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University. He is a Provost Fellow at the University of Southern California, where he is pursuing a PhD in Creative Writing and Literature. His debut novel is forthcoming from Pantheon in spring 2025.

Jonathan Escoffery

Jonathan Escoffery is a Jamaican American writer from Miami. He is the recipient of the 2020 Plimpton Prize for Fiction, a 2020 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) fellowship, and the 2020 National Magazine Award for Fiction from the American Society of Magazine Editors. His writing has appeared, or is forthcoming, in The Paris Review, American Short Fiction, Electric Literature, Prairie Schooner, Passages North, ZYZZYVA, AGNI, Pleiades, The Best American Magazine Writing 2020, Creative Nonfiction , and elsewhere. He has received fellowships and support from Aspen Words, the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico, Kimbilio Fiction, the Anderson Center, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, and elsewhere. Jonathan earned his MFA in Fiction from the University of Minnesota, and attends the University of Southern California’s Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literature Program as a Provost Fellow.

Website: https://jonathanescoffery.com/

Lessa Fenderson

Leesa Fenderson’s work has appeared in Callaloo Journal , Uptown Magazine , Moko Magazine , and she was a Finalist in Paper Darts’ Short Fiction contest. Leesa completed her MFA at Columbia University. She is an attorney, a teacher, and a Jamaican immigrant who hails from New York. She currently writes in Los Angeles where she is a PhD fellow in USC’s Writing and Literature Program.

Website: https://www.leesafenderson.com/

Seth Fischer

Seth Fischer is a Los Angeles-based writer and editor. His work has twice been listed as notable in  The Best American Essays , and his publications have appeared in Guernica, Zocalo Public Square, Slate, Buzzfeed, and elsewhere. He’s been an editor at The Rumpus, Gold Line Press, Air/Light, and The Nervous Breakdown, and he’s been awarded fellowships and residencies by, among others, Ucross, Disquiet, the Jean Piaget Archives, Lambda Literary, Jentel, and Ragdale. Prior to starting the PhD program in Creative Writing and Literature at USC, he taught at UCLA-Extension Writer’s Program and Antioch University Los Angeles, where he also received his MFA.

Website: https://www.seth-fischer.com/

Emily Geminder

Emily Geminder is the author of  Dead Girls and Other Stories , winner of the Dzanc Books Short Story Collection Prize. Her work has appeared in  AGNI, American Short Fiction, Conjunctions, Kenyon Review, New England Review, Prairie Schooner, Tin House,  and elsewhere. She is currently a Stegner Fellow in fiction at Stanford University.

Website: emilygeminder.com

Carrie Guss

Carrie Guss is a Canadian writer and artist. She has worked with clients including Dzanc Books, The Baltimore Review , CBC shortDOCS, the Florida Writers Festival, Persea Books, Quarter After Eight , Lucky Peach , and AOL News, and held editorial positions at Subtropics and Ricochet Editions. Her fiction has been shortlisted for the MASH Stories Prize, longlisted for the CBC Short Story Prize, and has appeared most recently in Nat. Brut , NANO Fiction , and The Collagist . She has been awarded two Writers’ Reserve Grants by the Ontario Arts Council, and was honored on the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Top Prospects List. She holds a BA in Politics from Pomona College, an MFA in Fiction from the University of Florida, and is currently a doctoral candidate in Creative Writing and Literature at the University of Southern California.

Alexandria Hall

Alexandria Hall is the author of Field Music (Ecco, 2020), a National Poetry Series winner. She holds an MFA from NYU and is currently a PhD candidate in Creative Writing and Literature at USC. She is a founding editor of Tele- and co-host of You Shouldn’t Let Poets Lie to You . Her poetry and prose have appeared in The Yale Review , Bennington Review , LARB Quarterly Journal , No Tokens , and other publications.

Website: https://www.alexandria-hall.com/

David Haydon

David Haydon (they/them) is essayist and poet originally from Springfield, KY. They are a student in the Creative Writing and Literature PhD program at the University of Southern California and completed an MFA in Creative Writing at Western Kentucky University. Their writing has appeared in Taunt magazine and is anthologized in Once a City Said: An Anthology of Louisville Poets (Sarabande). They are the nonfiction editor for Gold Line Press.

Stephanie Horvath

Stephanie Horvath’s poems have appeared in Gulf Coast , Poetry Northwest , Bennington Review , and Denver Quarterly , among other journals. She completed her MFA at Indiana University, where she was awarded the Yusef Komunyakaa Fellowship in poetry. Currently, she is a PhD candidate in Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Southern California.

Lucas Iberico Lozada

Lucas Iberico Lozada is a PhD candidate (ABD) in nonfiction writing. He is working on a book about the many tombs of Christopher Columbus. His reporting—from Brazil, Peru, and across the US—and essays have appeared in magazines and newspapers including the  Virginia Quarterly Review, the New York Times , The Nation , and Dissent. 

Victor Imko

Victor Imko is an essayist from Charleston, SC. They studied queer theory and literature as a Mellon Fellow at Northwestern University. They’ve taught classes in composition and creative writing at the University of Florida and Trident Technical College. Today they live in LA, writing as a Dornsife Fellow at the University of Southern California.

Mitchell Jacobs

Mitchell Jacobs is a poet and fiction writer from Minnesota. He earned an MFA from Purdue University, where he served as managing editor of Sycamore Review . Currently, he is a PhD candidate in literature and creative writing at the University of Southern California, where he serves on the editorial board of Ricochet Editions. His work has appeared in journals such as the Cincinnati Review , Massachusetts Review , Ploughshares , and Southern Review , as well as the Best New Poets anthology and The Slowdown podcast through American Public Media.

Website: mitchellbjacobs.com

Jane Kalu’s work has been featured or is forthcoming in American Short Fiction , Boston Review , The Hopkins Review , Isele Magazine , Munyori Journal , and elsewhere. She’s a graduate of the MFA program at the University of New Mexico, where she was the recipient of the Joseph Badal Prize and the Hillerman/McGarrity Prize. Other awards include residencies and fellowships from StoryKnife and American short fiction. She is at work on a novel and a collection of short stories.

Website: https://janekalu.com/

Rebecca Kantor

Rebecca Kantor is a writer from Plano, Texas. She taught English in Madrid, Spain, for two years, then received her MFA in fiction from Vanderbilt University. Her fiction often deals with themes of girlhood and hauntings. She is currently at work on a novel.

Matt Kessler

Matt Kessler grew up in Mobile, Alabama and has since called many places home, including Chicago, Oxford and the Hudson Valley. His writing has appeared in  The Guardian, The Atlantic, MTV News, Dazed and Confused, Pitchfork, Candy, Vice  &  The Rumpus . His radio work has been broadcast on  Mississippi Public Broadcasting  &  Illinois Public Media . He holds an MFA in Fiction from the University of Mississippi, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Literature & Creative Writing at the University of Southern California.

Website: www.matt-kessler.com

Victoria Kornick

Victoria Kornick is a writer from Virginia. Her creative nonfiction and poetry appear in  American Chordata ,  Copper Nickel ,  The Greensboro Review ,  No Tokens Journal , and  The Yale Review , among other publications. She holds an MFA from New York University, where she was a Rona Jaffe and Goldwater Hospital fellow. She has received support from the Elizabeth George Foundation, the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, the Community of Writers, and the Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts. Victoria lives in Los Angeles, where she is a PhD candidate at the University of Southern California.

Website: victoriakornick.com

Cameron Lange

Cameron Lange is a British-Iranian writer from London. His work has appeared in Roads & Kingdoms, Zócalo Public Square, and Lodestars Anthology . He holds an MSc in Social Anthropology from the London School of Economics. He currently lives in Los Angeles.

Brian Lin is a doctoral candidate in Creative Writing and Literature. He has attended the Tin House Summer Workshop, the Napa Valley Writers’ Conference, and the VONA Summer Workshop. He was a resident at Ragdale and The Cabins and a fellow at the Community of Writers Workshop and the Writing by Writers Workshop. His stories and essays can be found in  Electric Literature ,  The Rumpus ,  The Margins ,  Lambda Literary ,   Hyphen Magazine , and the  Los Angeles Review of Books . Brian is working on a novel and other books of prose.

Website: https://www.brianlinlit.com

Erin Marie Lynch is the author of Removal Acts (Graywolf Press, 2023). Her writing appears in POETRY, New England Review, DIAGRAM, Narrative , Best New Poets , and other publications. She has received awards and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, MacDowell, Indigenous Nations Poets, and the Wurlitzer Foundation. She lives in Los Angeles.

Website: http://www.erinmarielynch.com

Stephanie Mullings

Stephanie Mullings is a fiction writer from Chicago and a graduate of Boston University’s MFA program. She is a 2021 First Pages Prize winner and a finalist of the 2021 Arkansas International Emerging Writer’s Prize and CRAFT’s 2022 Short Fiction Prize. A PEN/O. Henry Prize nominee, her stories have appeared in Boulevard , Catapult , the Los Angeles Review , Ninth Letter , The Rumpus , Swamp Pink , Wigleaf , and elsewhere.

Charlie Napolitano

Charlie Napolitano was raised in Florida and received their MFA from the University of Central Florida. Their short story “Cobra” won the 2016 AWP Intro Journal Awards. Their work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Rumpus, Quarterly West ,  The Florida Review , and elsewhere. Currently, they are a Ph.D. student in Creative Writing and Literature at the University of Southern California.

Rose Nguyễn

Rose Nguyễn is a writer from Honolulu, HI. She holds a BA from Princeton University and an MA in Literature from UC Berkeley. Her criticism has appeared in The Drift , and her essay in the Indiana Review, which won their 2021 Creative Nonfiction Prize, is a notable essay in Best American Essays 2023 . She is currently based in Los Angeles.

JoAnna Novak

JoAnna Novak’s debut memoir  Contradiction Days: An Artist on the Verge of Motherhood  was published in July. Her fourth book of poetry,  Domestirexia , will be published by Soft Skull in 2024. She is the author of the novel  I Must Have You  and  Meaningful Work: Stories. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Paris Review , and other publications.

Website: https://www.joannanovak.com/

Katharine Ogle

Katharine Ogle is a Provost Fellow at the University of Southern California, where she is pursuing a PhD in Literature and Creative Writing. She holds a BA with distinction from the University of Virginia and an MFA in poetry from the University of Washington. She has worked as an Associate Editor of  Poetry Northwest , as a writer-in-residence for Seattle Arts & Lectures, and as a lecturer for the University of Washington’s creative writing programs at Friday Harbor Laboratories and at the UW Rome Center. Her work has been published in Pleiades, Five Points, Poetry Northwest, by The Broad Museum in Los Angeles, and at a public bus stop in Seattle, among other places.

Michelle Orsi

Michelle Orsi is a writer from Spokane, Washington. She currently lives in Los Angeles, where she is pursuing her PhD in Creative Writing & Literature at the University of Southern California. She received her MFA in Poetry from the University of Houston, where she was an Inprint Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones Fellow and worked as Poetry Editor for Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Fine Arts. She was recently awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to teach in Argentina in 2020.

Catherine Pond

Catherine Pond is the author of Fieldglass (Southern Illinois University Press 2021), winner of the Crab Orchard First Book Prize and a finalist for the National Poetry Series. Her poems have appeared in Best New Poets, Best American Nonrequired Reading, AGNI, Salmagundi, The Adroit Journal, Narrative , and other publications. Pond is a PhD candidate (ABD) in Literature & Creative Writing at the University of Southern California.

Crystal Powell

Before devoting her time to writing, Crystal Powell was the VP of Production & Development for Electric City Entertainment and Silverwood Films, where she developed, co-produced, and associate-produced several features, including Matt Ross’s Captain Fantastic starring Viggo Mortensen and Derek Cianfrance’s The Place Beyond The Pines , starring Bradley Cooper, Ryan Gosling, and Eva Mendes. Crystal was also a production executive on Tim Burton’s Big Eyes. She went on to study creative writing as a Lillian Vernon MFA Fellow at New York University. After graduating, she was a Center for Fiction NYC Emerging Writers Fellow, a Jack Jones Literary Arts Fellow, and a fiction finalist for both the Disquiet Prize and a New York Foundation For The Arts Fellowship. She’s working on her first novel while pursuing a PhD in creative writing and literature at the University of Southern California.

Jianan Qian

Jianan Qian writes in both Chinese and English. In her native language Chinese, she has published a story collection, a novel, an essay collection, and a letter collection. In English, she is a staff writer at The Millions and her works have appeared in The New York Times , Granta , Guernica Magazine , Gulf Coast , and elsewhere. She received her MFA in fiction from The Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in English Literature and Creative Writing at The University of Southern California.

Thomas Renjilian

Thomas Renjilian is a fiction writer and poet originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania. He received his BA from Vassar College and MFA from Oregon State University. His stories and poems appear in  The Missouri Review, Gulf Coast, Kenyon Review, Denver Quarterly, DIAGRAM,  and other publications. He is the editor-in-chief of Gold Line Press and a fiction editor for  Joyland Magazine . He previously served as managing editor of Ricochet Editions. He lives in Los Angeles, where he is a PhD candidate in Literature & Creative Writing at the University of Southern California.

Website: https://www.thomasrenjilian.com

Laura Roque

Laura Roque is the daughter of Cuban exiles and was raised in Hialeah, Florida. In 2018, she won Kenyon Review’s Short Fiction Contest and Glimmer Train’s Fiction Open Contest. She is currently a Wallis Annenberg fellow at the University of Southern California and a PhD candidate in their creative writing program. Her novel-in-progress, Aguanta, Diana, has received support from the American Association of University Women and was awarded a dissertation fellowship for the 2023-2024 academic year, as a project important to advances in equity for women and girls.

Website: lauraroque.com

Austen Leah Rose

Austen Leah Rose’s debut book of poems Once, This Forest Belonged to a Storm was the 2022 winner of the Juniper Prize and published by the University of Massachusetts Press. Her poetry has appeared in Zyzzyva, AGNI, The Southern Review, Narrative, The Adroit Journal,  and elsewhere. She has received fellowships from Hedgebrook, Bread Loaf, and Djerassi. In 2018, she was awarded the Walter Sullivan Award from The Sewanee Review. She holds an MFA from Columbia University.

Website: https://austenleahrose.com/

Lindsey Skillen

Lindsey Skillen is currently pursuing a PhD in Creative Writing (Fiction) & Literature at the University of Southern California, where she has taught in the honors writing program, directed the Association of English Graduate Students, and served on the editorial board of Ricochet Editions .  Her most recent publications can be found in -tele and  Cosmonauts Avenue,  where she was long-listed for a prize judged by Ottessa Moshfegh. She was the recipient of the Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation Scholarship for the Community of Writers at Squaw Valley workshop, and the Vaclav Havel Scholarship for the Prague Summer Program for writers, and had also received support from Tin House Summer and Winter workshops and the Kenyon Review Writers Workshop. She received an MFA in Fiction from New York University, where she was a Goldwater Fellow, Managing Editor of  Washington Square Review , and a Provost Visiting Graduate Student Fellow at the NYU Global Research Institutes in London and Prague. She’s read at the LA Times Book Festival, the NYU Emerging Writers reading series at KGB Bar in NYC, and The Wooly and Broken Shelves in Gainesville, FL. As an undergraduate at the University of Florida her work was featured in  Prairie,  The Fine Print ,  and  Tea Literary Magazine ,  where it was awarded the Palmetto Prize for Fiction. Her story “A Sunny Place for Shady People” was selected for publication in  plain china ,  a national anthology of the best undergraduate writing. She was hand-selected by Joyce Carol Oates for participation in her Master Class and spent a summer reading for The Book Group Literary Agency. She has volunteered her time with Still Waters in a Storm, Women Who Submit, and as a mentor with WriteGirl.

Sophia Stid

Sophia Stid is a poet from California. She is the author of the chapbooks But For I Am a Woman , winner of the 2022 Host Publications Chapbook Prize, and Whistler’s Mother , published by Bull City Press in 2021. A graduate of the MFA program at Vanderbilt University, Sophia has also received fellowships and support from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, the Collegeville Institute, and Georgetown University’s Lannan Center for Poetics and Social Practice. She is the winner of the 2021 Barthelme Prize from Gulf Coast ; recent poems and essays can be found in Best New Poets , Poetry Daily, and the Kenyon Review .

Website: https://www.sophiastid.com/

Essy Stone is a PhD student in poetry at the University of Southern California. She holds an MFA from the University of Miami, and recently completed a Wallace Stegner Fellowship at Stanford University. Her work has been published in the New Yorker , 32 Poems , and Prairie Schooner . Her first book, What It Done to Us , was awarded the Idaho Prize in Poetry and was published by Lost Horse Press in 2017.

Leah Tieger

A recipient of support from the Vermont Studio Center and Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Leah Tieger is a doctoral candidate in the University of Southern California’s Literature and Creative Writing program. As a 2023 Wrigley Institute fellow, her ecopoetic practice led to a qualitative study of communities surrounding the Santa Susana Field Lab. Recent related work appears in Poetry Northwest, Waxwing, Blackbird, and Tupelo Quarterly . Her manuscript, Disaster Tourist, is a 2023 National Poetry Series finalist.

Website: https://leahtieger.com/

Clancy Tripp

Clancy Tripp is a queer Midwestern writer, graphic artist, and humorist. Her work has appeared in Black Warrior Review , Catapult , december magazine , Electric Literature , The Florida Review , The Greensboro Review , Indiana Review , Ninth Letter , Slice , The Rumpus , McSweeney’s Internet Tendency , Reductress , and elsewhere. She won the 2020 Iowa Review Award in Nonfiction (selected by Leslie Jamison), the 2021 Witness Literary Award in Nonfiction (selected by Cinelle Barnes), and the 2023 Spring Flash Fiction contest at F(r)iction. She has an MFA from the Ohio State University and an MA from Columbia University.

Website: www.ClancyTripp.com

Katrin Tschirgi

Katrin Tschirgi is a PhD candidate in Literature and Creative Writing. Her work has appeared in journals such as The Literary Review, Washington Square Review,  Quarterly West, and The Normal School. She is from Boise, Idaho.

Website: https://www.katrintschirgi.com/

Vanessa Villarreal

Vanessa Angélica Villarreal was born in the Rio Grande Valley to formerly undocumented Mexican immigrants. She is the author of the poetry collection Beast Meridian (Noemi Press, Akrilica Series 2017), recipient of a 2019 Whiting Award, a Kate Tufts Discovery Award nomination,  and winner of the John A. Robertson Award for Best First Book of Poetry from the Texas Institute of Letters. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, New York Magazine’s The Cut, Harper’s Bazaar, Oxford American, Paris Review, Poetry Magazine, and elsewhere. She is a recipient of a 2021 National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Fellowship, and a doctoral candidate in English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she is working on a poetry and an essay collection while raising her son in Los Angeles.

Website: https://vanessaangelicavillarreal.com/

Jorrell Watkins

Jorrell Watkins is from Richmond, VA. He received fellowships from the Smithsonian Institution, Fulbright Japan, and the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. His chapbook, If Only the Sharks Would Bite , won the inaugural Desert Pavilion Chapbook Series in Poetry and his debut full-length collection, PlayHouse: poems, is forthcoming in 2024 with Northwestern University Press.

Website: https://jorrellwatkins.com/

Thalia Williamson

Thalia Williamson is an essayist, fiction writer, and poet. Her writing has appeared or is forthcoming in Joyland Magazine , The Audacity , Longreads , BRINK , The Masters Review , and the Los Angeles Review of Books .

She was a finalist for the 2023 BRINK Literary Journal Award for Hybrid Writing and a semifinalist for the 2022 Sewanee Review Fiction Contest. Her work has received support from the Tin House Scholarship for Trans Writers, the Marius DeBrabant Fund, the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, and the Sewanee Tennessee Williams Scholarship.

She was born in London and now lives in Los Angeles, where she is completing a PhD in Creative Writing and Literature at the University of Southern California. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from UC Riverside and a BA in Philosophy from King’s College London.

Website: thaliaw.com

Joliange Wright

Joliange Wright’s short stories have appeared in Lunch Ticket , Midwestern Gothic , and  Consequence Magazine . She has an MFA from The Bennington Writing Seminars, where she was editor of The End of the World , June 2017. She is currently a PhD candidate in Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Southern California, where she holds a Wallis Annenberg Fellowship. She volunteers for 826LA and InsideOut Writers.

Ph.D. in Creative Writing & Literature

3501 Trousdale Parkway

Taper Hall of Humanities 431

Los Angeles, CA  90089-0354

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8:30 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.

Times may adjust in accordance with university holidays.

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RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Effective technology is available to move the needle on sustainability. The challenge is to implement these solutions quickly and at scale. 

That’s why USC Dornsife is thinking differently. Our researchers explore how to overcome the economic, political, and psychological challenges that stand in the way of a sustainable future.

Alumnus Jaren Lewison, Star of ‘Never Have I Ever,’ to Deliver 2024 USC Dornsife Commencement Address

Lewison, who portrayed Ben Gross in the popular Netflix series while studying psychology, will speak during the College’s graduation ceremonies — and receive the USC Dornsife Distinguished Alumni Medallion — on May 10.

Celebrating the Class of 2024

Find everything you need to know about  USC Dornsife Commencement Ceremonies  on Friday, May 10, 2024.

You Are What You Eat? More Like Where You Eat.

Strategies to promote healthy food choices have targeted neighborhoods lacking healthy, affordable eating options. A new study suggests a different approach by analyzing where people eat beyond their home neighborhoods.

Curiosity at Work

IBM agreement boosts USC’s quantum computing leadership

USC Study: Climate change graphics are important, so make them simple

USC Dornsife celebrates Tyler Prize winner for defining Earth’s vital limits

Microbes in oil spills could shed light on ecosystem recovery

Two USC Dornsife scientists elected senior members of the National Academy of Inventors

Are bugs bugging humans or the other way around? Study reveals surprises

Pandemic-driven exodus from L.A. slows to a crawl, consumer confidence among Angelenos improves

Fueling dreams: USC Dornsife and Hyundai propel young minds into futures in science

Unconventional cancer research consortium created with $3.2M grant from US Department of Defense

How researchers are “CReATiNG” synthetic chromosomes faster and cheaper

Eco Film & Media Arts Festival, Urban Trees Initiative receive national sustainability accolades

USC Dornsife’s Public Exchange launches practice to tackle health and well-being challenges

Could a simple blood test detect cancer?

$50 million gift commitment establishes The Ronald and Leslie Sherwin Initiative for environmental protection at USC Dornsife

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At USC Dornsife you’ll study the things you love the most. You’ll explore ideas that you’ve never thought about before. You’ll learn how to make sense of the world from all different angles. And, as part of our community, you will help to define a dynamic academic environment focused on improving lives and the world around us.

Meet the Students

USC Dornsife students demonstrate an impressive combination of academic excellence, accomplishment, creativity, and hard work. Each and every student is hand-selected because they bring something special and unique to our community.

A Brighter Future

USC Dornsife student Isabella Pangilinan is passionate about finding solutions to some of our world’s most pressing challenges like climate change and social and economic inequity. The multidisciplinary courses offered through her major are preparing her for a career in environmental law.

The Power of “And”

USC Dornsife student Joshua Senior is studying to become a neurosurgeon. He explains how his liberal arts education at USC Dornsife prepares him for his career goals – and for life.

A Trojan Family Like No Other

As a student at USC Dornsife, Victoria Quon-Chow is bouyed by the support of the Trojan Family as she prepares to become a doctor.

Unprecedented Access to Academic Expertise

Public Exchange fast-tracks collaboration between academic researchers and the public and private sectors to define, analyze, and solve complex problems that organizations face. Through our first-of-kind model, we amplify social impact by making academic expertise more easily accessible than ever before.

“Public Exchange provides the connective tissue that not only identifies appropriate expertise within the university to solve a particular problem, but it takes care of the contracts, project management, and other hurdles that have traditionally made collaboration with researchers challenging.”

Stand Out With Purpose

News and events.

“Just as physicians ask patients about unexplained weight loss and take those concerns seriously, we believe questions that explore a patient’s cognitive state need to become the norm.” Here’s why.

Food trucks are proudly a Latino invention. How did they become a culinary phenomenon? Learn about their cultural origins with a USC Dornsife expert.

Faculty and alumni featured at 2024 LA Times Festival of Books

The nation’s largest book festival descends once again on Troy on April 20 and 21, featuring USC Dornsife scholars and graduates.

Career Fair: Students and Recent Graduates

@uscdornsife.

*Extra dramatic speaker reveal incoming* ⏲️

Dornsife 2024 grads: You’ll be the first to find out who your speaker is in a special just-for-grads email we’ll send you April 3.

Tip: Prepare for the announcement by connecting with us on LinkedIn .

Bachelor’s Degree

• •  Accounting (BS)
• •  Acting for the Stage, Screen and New Media (BFA)
• •  Aerospace Engineering (BS)
• •  American Popular Culture (BA)
• •  American Studies and Ethnicity (African American Studies) (BA)
• •  American Studies and Ethnicity (Asian American Studies) (BA)
• •  American Studies and Ethnicity (BA)
• •  American Studies and Ethnicity (Chicano/Latino Studies) (BA)
• •  Animation and Digital Arts (BA)*
• •  Anthropology (BA)
• •  Anthropology (Visual Anthropology) (BA)
• •  Applied and Computational Mathematics (BA)
• •  Applied and Computational Mathematics (BS)
• •  Applied Mechanics (BS)
• •  Archaeology (BA)
• •  Architectural Studies (BS)
• •  Architecture (BArch)
• •  Art (BA)*
• •  Art History (BA)
• •  Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation (BS)
• •  Astronautical Engineering (BS)
• •  Astronomy (BA)
• •  Astronomy (BS)
• •  Biochemistry (BS)
• •  Biological Sciences (BA)
• •  Biological Sciences (BS)
• •  Biomedical Engineering (BS)
• •  Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Emphasis, (BS)
• •  Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Emphasis, (BS)
• •  Biomedical Engineering, Molecular and Cellular Engineering Emphasis, (BS)
• •  Biophysics (BS)
• •  Business Administration (BS)
• •  Business Administration (Cinematic Arts) (BS)
• •  Business Administration (International Relations) (BS)
• •  Business Administration (Real Estate Finance) (BS)
• •  Business Administration (World Program) (BS)
• •  Central European Studies (BA)
• •  Chemical Engineering (BS)
• •  Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering Emphasis (BS)
• •  Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering Emphasis (BS)
• •  Chemical Engineering, Nanotechnology Emphasis (BS)
• •  Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering Emphasis (BS)
• •  Chemical Engineering, Polymer/Materials Science Emphasis (BS)
• •  Chemical Engineering, Sustainable Energy Emphasis (BS)
• •  Chemistry (BA)
• •  Chemistry (BS)
• •  Chemistry (Chemical Biology) (BS)
• •  Chemistry (Chemical Nanoscience) (BS)
• •  Chemistry (Research) (BS)
• •  Choral Music (BA)*
• •  Choral Music (BM)
• •  Cinema and Media Studies (BA)*
• •  Cinematic Arts, Film and Television Production (BA)*
• •  Cinematic Arts, Film and Television Production (BFA)
• •  Civil Engineering (BS)
• •  Civil Engineering, Building Science Emphasis (BS)
• •  Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management Emphasis (BS)
• •  Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering Emphasis (BS)
• •  Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering Emphasis (BS)
• •  Civil Engineering, Water Resources Engineering Emphasis (BS)
• •  Classics (BA)
• •  Cognitive Science (BA)
• •  Communication (BA)*
• •  Comparative Literature (BA)
• •  Composition (BM)
• •  Computational Linguistics (BS)
• •  Computational Neuroscience (BS)
• •  Computer Engineering and Computer Science (BS)
• •  Computer Science (BS)
• •  Computer Science (Games) (BS)
• •  Computer Science/Business Administration (BS)
• •  Contemporary Latino and Latin American Studies
• •  Dance (BFA)
• •  Data Science (BA)*
• •  Dental Hygiene (BS)
• •  Design (BFA)
• •  Earth Sciences (BA)
• •  East Asian Area Studies (BA)
• •  East Asian Languages and Cultures (BA)
• •  Economics (BA)
• •  Electrical and Computer Engineering (BS)
• •  English (BA)
• •  Environmental Engineering (BS)
• •  Environmental Science and Health (BA)
• •  Environmental Science and Health (BS)
• •  Environmental Studies (BA)
• •  Environmental Studies (BS)
• •  Fine Arts (BFA)
• •  French (BA)
• •  Gender and Sexuality Studies (BA)
• •  GeoDesign (BS)
• •  Geological Sciences (BS)
• •  Global Geodesign (BS)
• •  Global Health Studies (BS)
• •  Global Studies (BA)
• •  Health and Human Sciences (BA)
• •  Health and Humanity (BA)
• •  Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies (BS)
• •  History (BA)
• •  History and Social Science Education (BA)
• •  Human Biology (BA)
• •  Human Biology (BS)
• •  Human Development and Aging (BS)
• •  Human Development and Aging, Health Science Track (BS)
• •  Human Development and Aging, Honors Programs (BS)
• •  Industrial and Systems Engineering (BS)
• •  Intelligence and Cyber Operations (BA)
• •  Interactive Entertainment (BA)*
• •  International Relations (BA)
• •  International Relations (Global Business) (BA)
• •  International Relations and the Global Economy (BA)
• •  Italian (BA)
• •  Jazz Studies (BM)
• •  Jewish Studies (BA)
• •  Journalism (BA)*
• •  Latin American and Iberian Cultures, Media and Politics
• •  Law, History, and Culture (BA)
• •  Lifespan Health (BS)
• •  Linguistics (BA)
• •  Linguistics and Cognitive Science (BA)
• •  Mathematics (BA)
• •  Mathematics (BS)
• •  Mechanical Engineering (BS)
• •  Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering (BS)
• •  Media Arts and Practice (BA)*
• •  Middle East Studies (BA)
• •  Music (BA)*
• •  Music Industry (BM)
• •  Music Industry (BS)
• •  Music Production (BM)
• •  Musical Theatre (BFA)
• •  Narrative Studies (BA)
• •  Neuroscience (BA)
• •  Neuroscience (BS)
• •  Non-Governmental Organizations and Social Change (BA)
• •  Occupational Therapy (BS)
• •  Performance (Classical Guitar) (BM)
• •  Performance (Flute), (Oboe), (Clarinet), (Bassoon), (Saxophone), (French Horn), (Trumpet), (Trombone), (Tuba) or (Percussion) (BM)
• •  Performance (Organ) (BM)
• •  Performance (Piano) (BM)
• •  Performance (Popular Music) (BM)
• •  Performance (Studio Guitar) (BM)
• •  Performance (Violin), (Viola), (Violoncello), (Double Bass) or (Harp) (BM)
• •  Performance (Vocal Arts) (BM)
• •  Pharmacology and Drug Development (BS)
• •  Philosophy (BA)
• •  Philosophy and Physics (BA)
• •  Philosophy, Politics and Economics (BA)
• •  Philosophy, Politics and Law (BA)
• •  Physical Sciences (BS)
• •  Physics (BA)
• •  Physics (BS)
• •  Physics/Computer Science (BS)
• •  Political Economy (BA)
• •  Political Science (BA)
• •  Psychology (BA)
• •  Public Policy (BS)
• •  Public Relations (BA)*
• •  Quantitative Biology (BS)
• •  Real Estate Development (BS)
• •  Religion (BA)
• •  Russian (BA)
• •  Social Sciences, with an Emphasis in Economics (BA)
• •  Social Sciences, with an Emphasis in Psychology (BA)
• •  Sociology (BA)
• •  Spanish (BA)
• •  Theatre (BA)*
• •  Theatre, Acting Emphasis (BA)*
• •  Theatre, Comedy Emphasis (BA)*
• •  Theatre, Design Emphasis (BA)*
• •  Theatre, Design Emphasis (BFA)
• •  Theatre, Sound Design Emphasis (BFA)
• •  Theatre, Stage Management Emphasis (BFA)
• •  Theatre, Technical Direction Emphasis (BFA)
• •  Urban Studies and Planning (BS)
• •  Visual and Performing Arts Studies (BA)*
• •  Writing for Screen and Television (BFA)

Combined Major

• •  Economics/Mathematics (BS)
• •  Linguistics and East Asian Languages and Cultures (BA)
• •  Linguistics and Philosophy (BA)
• •  Mathematics/Economics (BS)

Undergraduate Certificate

• •  Food Industry Management Program
• •  3-D Animation in Cinematic Arts Minor
• •  3-Dimensional Design Minor
• •  3D Computer Graphics and Modeling Minor
• •  Accounting Minor
• •  Advertising Minor
• •  American Popular Culture Minor
• •  American Studies and Ethnicity Minor
• •  Animation and Digital Arts Minor
• •  Applied Analytics Minor
• •  Applied Computer Security Minor
• •  Arabic Minor
• •  Archaeology Minor
• •  Archaeology of California Minor
• •  Architecture Minor
• •  Art History Minor
• •  Astronautical Engineering Minor
• •  Astronomy Minor
• •  Behavioral Economics Minor
• •  Biotechnology Minor
• •  Blockchain Minor
• •  Business Economics Minor
• •  Business Finance Minor
• •  Business Law Minor
• •  Business Minor
• •  Business Technology Fusion Minor
• •  Ceramics Minor
• •  Chemistry Minor
• •  Chinese for the Professions Minor
• •  Choreography for Stage and Screen Minor
• •  Cinema-Television for the Health Professions Minor
• •  Cinematic Arts Minor
• •  Classical Greek Minor
• •  Classical Perspectives Minor
• •  Classics Minor
• •  Comedy (Performance) Minor
• •  Comedy Minor
• •  Communication Design Minor
• •  Communication Policy and Law Minor
• •  Communication Technology Practices and Platforms Minor
• •  Comparative Literature Minor
• •  Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Minor
• •  Computer and Digital Forensics Minor
• •  Computer Programming Minor
• •  Computer Science Minor
• •  Connected Devices and Making Minor
• •  Construction Planning and Management Minor
• •  Construction Planning and Management Minor (Public Policy)
• •  Consumer Behavior Interdisciplinary Minor
• •  Consumer Behavior Minor
• •  Contemplative Studies Minor
• •  Craniofacial and Dental Technology Minor
• •  Critical Approaches to Leadership Minor
• •  Cultural Anthropology Minor
• •  Cultural Competence in Medicine Minor
• •  Cultural Diplomacy Minor
• •  Cultural Studies Minor
• •  Culture, Media and Entertainment Minor
• •  Cultures and Politics of the Pacific Rim Minor
• •  Dance in Entertainment Minor
• •  Dance Minor
• •  Designing for Experiences Minor
• •  Digital Studies Minor
• •  Disruptive Innovation Minor
• •  Documentary Minor
• •  Drawing Minor
• •  Dynamics in Workplace Communication Minor
• •  Early Modern Studies Interdisciplinary Minor
• •  Earth Sciences Minor: Climate Change, Stewardship and Resiliency
• •  East Asian Area Studies Minor
• •  East Asian Languages and Cultures Minor
• •  Economics Minor
• •  Education and Society Minor
• •  Engineering Management Minor
• •  English Minor
• •  Enterprise Information Systems Minor
• •  Entertainment Industry Minor
• •  Entrepreneurship Minor
• •  Environmental Chemistry and Sustainability Minor
• •  Environmental Health Minor
• •  Environmental Studies Minor
• •  Ethics and Moral Philosophy Minor
• •  Folklore and Popular Culture Minor
• •  Food and Society Minor
• •  Forensics and Criminality Minor
• •  Foundations of Data Science Minor
• •  French Minor
• •  Future Cinema Minor
• •  Game Animation Minor
• •  Game Audio Minor
• •  Game Design Minor
• •  Game Entrepreneurism Minor
• •  Game Studies Minor
• •  Game User Research Minor
• •  Gender and Sexuality Studies Minor
• •  Gender and Social Justice Minor
• •  Geobiology Minor
• •  Geohazards Minor
• •  German Studies Minor
• •  GIS and Sustainability Science Minor
• •  Global Communication Minor
• •  Global Health Minor
• •  Health Administration Minor
• •  Health Care Studies Minor
• •  Health Communication Minor
• •  Health Innovation Minor
• •  Health Policy Minor
• •  Hip Hop, Street and Social Dance Forms Minor
• •  History and Culture of Business Minor
• •  History Minor
• •  Human Movement Sciences Minor
• •  Human Resource Management Minor
• •  Human Rights Minor
• •  Human Security and Geospatial Intelligence Minor
• •  Immersive Media Minor
• •  Individuals, Societies and Aging Minor
• •  Innovation: The Digital Entrepreneur Minor
• •  Intermedia Arts Minor
• •  International Health, Development, and Social Justice Interdisciplinary Minor
• •  International Policy and Management Minor
• •  International Relations Minor
• •  Internet of Things Engineering Minor
• •  Iranian Studies Minor
• •  Italian Minor
• •  Jazz Studies Minor
• •  Jewish American Studies Minor (American Studies)
• •  Jewish American Studies Minor (Jewish Studies)
• •  Jewish Studies Minor
• •  Judaic Studies Minor
• •  Justice, Voice, and Advocacy Minor
• •  Korean Studies Minor
• •  Landscape Architecture Minor
• •  Latin American Studies Minor
• •  Latin Minor
• •  Law and Public Policy Minor
• •  Law and Society Minor
• •  Legal Studies Minor
• •  LGBTQ Studies Minor
• •  Linguistics Minor
• •  Luso-Brazilian Studies Minor
• •  Management Consulting Minor
• •  Managing Human Relations Minor
• •  Marine Biology Minor
• •  Marketing Minor
• •  Mathematical Finance Minor
• •  Mathematics Minor
• •  Media and Social Change Minor
• •  Media Economics and Entrepreneurship Minor
• •  Medical Anthropology Minor
• •  Middle East Studies Minor
• •  Mobile App Development Minor
• •  Modern Art Markets and Ethics Minor
• •  Multimedia for Designers and Entrepreneurs Minor
• •  Music Industry Minor
• •  Music Production Minor
• •  Music Recording Minor
• •  Musical Studies Minor
• •  Musical Theatre Minor
• •  Nanotechnology Minor
• •  Native American Studies Minor
• •  Natural Science Minor
• •  Neuroscience Minor
• •  News Media and Society Minor
• •  Nonprofits, Philanthropy and Volunteerism Interdisciplinary Minor
• •  Nonprofits, Philanthropy and Volunteerism Minor
• •  Nutrition and Health Promotion Minor
• •  Occupational Science Minor
• •  Operations and Supply Chain Management Minor
• •  Organizational Leadership and Management Minor
• •  Painting Minor
• •  Performance Science Minor
• •  Performing Arts Studies Minor
• •  Performing Leadership Minor
• •  Performing Social Change Minor
• •  Petroleum Engineering Minor
• •  Philosophy for Business, Law, and the Professions Minor
• •  Philosophy Minor
• •  Photography and Social Change Minor
• •  Photography Minor
• •  Physics Minor
• •  Playwriting Minor
• •  Political Organizing in the Digital Age Minor
• •  Political Science Minor
• •  Popular Music Studies Minor
• •  Practical Politics Minor
• •  Product Design Minor
• •  Professional and Managerial Communication Minor
• •  Psychology and Law Minor
• •  Psychology Minor
• •  Public Health Minor
• •  Public Relations Minor
• •  Race, Ethnicity and Politics Minor
• •  Real Estate Development Minor
• •  Real Estate Finance Minor
• •  Religion Minor
• •  Resistance to Genocide Interdisciplinary Minor
• •  Risk Management Minor
• •  Russian Area Studies Minor
• •  Russian Minor
• •  Science and Management of Biomedical Therapeutics Minor
• •  Science Visualization Minor
• •  Science, Health and Aging Minor
• •  Screenwriting Minor
• •  Sculpture Minor
• •  Social Entrepreneurship Minor
• •  Sociology Minor
• •  Songwriting Minor
• •  Southeast Asia and its People Minor
• •  Spanish Minor
• •  Spatial Studies Minor
• •  Sports Business and Management Minor
• •  Sports Media Industries Minor
• •  Sports Media Studies Minor
• •  Statistics Minor
• •  Substance Abuse Prevention Minor
• •  Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Minor
• •  Technology Commercialization Minor
• •  The Dynamics of Early Childhood Minor
• •  Theatre Minor
• •  Thematic Approaches to Humanities and Society Minor
• •  Themed Entertainment Minor
• •  Two-Dimensional Studies Minor
• •  Urban Sustainable Planning Minor
• •  User Experience Minor
• •  Video Game Design and Management Minor
• •  Video Game Programming Minor
• •  Visual Culture Minor
• •  Web Technologies and Applications Minor

Interdisciplinary Minors

• •  Narrative Structure Interdisciplinary Minor

Joint Degree

• •  Master of Science in Computer Science Dual Degree with Tsinghua University School of Information Science and Technology – China
• •  Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy (PhD)
• •  Artist Diploma Program

Master of Business Administration

• •  Executive MBA Program
• •  Full-time MBA Program
• •  International MBA Program
• •  Management Science (STEM) MBA Program
• •  MBA Program for Professionals and Managers
• •  Online MBA Program

MBA Dual Degree Programs

• •  Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration (JD/MBA)
• •  Master of Business Administration/Doctor of Medicine (MBA/MD)
• •  Master of Business Administration/Doctor of Pharmacy (MBA/PharmD)
• •  Master of Business Administration/Master of Arts in East Asian Area Studies (MBA/MA)
• •  Master of Business Administration/Master of Arts in Jewish Nonprofit Management (MBA/MA)
• •  Master of Business Administration/Master of Real Estate Development (MBA/MRED)
• •  Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Gerontology (MBA/MS)
• •  Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering (MBA/MS)
• •  Master of Business Administration/Master of Science, Systems Architecting and Engineering (MBA/MS)
• •  Master of Business Administration/Master of Social Work (MBA/MSW)
• •  Master of Business Administration/Master of Urban Planning (MBA/MUP)

Master’s Degree

• •  Academic Medicine (MACM)
• •  Accounting (Data and Analytics) (MAcc)
• •  Accounting (MAcc)
• •  Advanced Architectural Studies (MAAS)
• •  Advanced Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine (MS)
• •  Advanced Placement Gerontology (MS)
• •  Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics) (MS)
• •  Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (Dynamics and Control) (MS)
• •  Aerospace Engineering (MS)
• •  Aerospace Engineering/Engineering Management (MS)
• •  Aging Services Management (MA)
• •  Alternative Certification Master of Arts in Teaching, Multiple Subject
• •  Alternative Certification Master of Arts in Teaching, Single Subject
• •  Alternative Dispute Resolution (LLM)
• •  Analytics (MS)
• •  Animation and Digital Arts (MFA)
• •  Anthropology (MA)
• •  Applied Behavior Analysis (MS)
• •  Applied Biostatistics/Epidemiology (MS)
• •  Applied Data Science (MS)
• •  Applied Economics and Econometrics (MS)
• •  Applied Mathematics (MA)
• •  Applied Mathematics (MS)
• •  Applied Psychology (MS)
• •  Applied Theatre Arts (MA)
• •  Architecture (MArch)
• •  Art History (MA)
• •  Arts Leadership (MS)
• •  Astronautical Engineering (MS)
• •  Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (MS)
• •  Biokinesiology (MS)
• •  Biokinesiology (Sports Science) (MS)
• •  Biology (MS)
• •  Biomaterials and Digital Dentistry (MS)
• •  Biomedical Engineering (Medical Imaging and Imaging Informatics) (MS)
• •  Biomedical Engineering (MS)
• •  Biomedical Implants and Tissue Engineering (MS)
• •  Biopharmaceutical Marketing (MS)
• •  Biostatistics (MS)
• •  Building Science (MBS)
• •  Business Administration (MS)
• •  Business Analytics (MS)
• •  Business for Veterans (MBV)
• •  Business Research (MS)
• •  Business Taxation (MBT)
• •  Business Taxation for Working Professionals (MBT)
• •  Chemical Engineering (MS)
• •  Choral Music (MM)
• •  Cinema and Media Studies (MA)
• •  Cinematic Arts (Media Arts, Games and Health) (MA)
• •  Cinematic Arts, Film and Television Production (MFA)
• •  Civil Engineering (MS)
• •  Civil Engineering (Transportation Systems) (MS)
• •  Civil Engineering (Water and Waste Management) (MS)
• •  Classics (MA)
• •  Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics (MS)
• •  Clinical, Biomedical and Translational Investigations (MS)
• •  Communication (MA)
• •  Communication Data Science (MS)
• •  Communication Management (MCG)
• •  Community Music (MM)
• •  Community Oral Health (MS)
• •  Comparative Law (MCL)
• •  Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture (Comparative Literature) (MA)
• •  Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture (Comparative Media and Culture) (MA)
• •  Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture (French and Francophone Studies) (MA)
• •  Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture (Spanish and Latin American Studies) (MA)
• •  Composition (MM)
• •  Computational Molecular Biology (MS)
• •  Computer Engineering (MS)
• •  Computer Science (Computer Networks) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (Computer Security) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (Data Science) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (Game Development) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (High Performance Computing and Simulations) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (Intelligent Robotics) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (MS)
• •  Computer Science (Multimedia and Creative Technologies) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (Scientists and Engineers) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (Software Engineering) (MS)
• •  Conducting (MM)
• •  Construction Management (MCM)
• •  Contemporary Teaching Practice (MM)
• •  Craniofacial Biology (MS)
• •  Criminal Justice (MS)
• •  Curatorial Practices and the Public Sphere (MA)
• •  Cyber Security Engineering (MS)
• •  Design (MFA)
• •  Digital Social Media (MS)
• •  Dispute Resolution (MDR)
• •  Dollinger Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
• •  Early Music Performance Emphasis (MA)
• •  East Asian Area Studies (MA)
• •  East Asian Languages and Cultures (MA)
• •  Economic Developmental Programming (MA)
• •  Economics (MA)
• •  Educational Counseling (MEd)
• •  Electrical and Computer Engineering (Machine Learning and Data Science) (MS)
• •  Electrical Engineering (Computer Architecture) (MS)
• •  Electrical Engineering (Computer Networks) (MS)
• •  Electrical Engineering (Electric Power) (MS)
• •  Electrical Engineering (MS)
• •  Electrical Engineering (Multimedia and Creative Technologies) (MS)
• •  Electrical Engineering (VLSI Design) (MS)
• •  Electrical Engineering (Wireless Health Technology) (MS)
• •  Electrical Engineering (Wireless Networks) (MS)
• •  Electrical Engineering/Engineering Management (MS)
• •  Engineering Management (MS)
• •  English (MA)
• •  Enrollment Management and Policy (MEd)
• •  Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MS)
• •  Environmental Engineering (MS)
• •  Environmental Risk Analysis (MS)
• •  Environmental Studies (MA)
• •  Experimental and Molecular Pathology (MS)
• •  Finance (MS)
• •  Financial Engineering (MS)
• •  Fine Arts (MFA)
• •  Food Industry Leadership (MS)
• •  Geographic Information Science and Technology (MS)
• •  Geological Sciences (MS)
• •  Geriatric Dentistry (MS)
• •  Gerontology (MA)
• •  Gerontology (MS)
• •  Global Communication (MA)
• •  Global Medicine (MS)
• •  Global Supply Chain Management (On‑Campus/Residential) (MS)
• •  Global Supply Chain Management for Executives (MS) (Online)
• •  Green Technologies (MS)
• •  Health Administration (Executive MHA)
• •  Health Administration (MHA)
• •  Healthcare Data Science (MS)
• •  Healthcare Decision Analysis (MS)
• •  Heritage Conservation (MHC)
• •  History (MA)
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Did anyone apply to the USC Literature/Creative Writing PhD?

By viracity February 21, 2012 in Literary

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Just curious if anyone on this board applied to the University of Southern California Literature and Creative Writing PhD program. Or, if anyone knows when that school generally reports.

(Side note: The recent acceptance posts for other schools on the results forum make me nervous! I'm half glad I stumbled upon this website and half wishing I hadn't so I wouldn't even know that the universities were already reporting. Do most schools reply all at once or stagger responses?)

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stylechallenge10

I applied! I don't know that they'll start sending out acceptances to the middle of March--blah!--like they have in the past few years.

Also, it's so competitive. It looks like they take 4/200.

Where else did you apply, viracity?

I applied. I'd expect to hear sooner than mid-March if you're accepted, but who knows.

Jeepers, 4/200? That's so few students. Hopefully notification is before mid-March! I heard back last week from them, but just asking for a financial supplement form to be filled out. Got my hopes up for a second when I saw the email..and then I realized that it wasn't about a decision. Oh well.

I also applied to Yale, Harvard, UPenn, UVa, Chicago, Rice, and WashU. I haven't heard back from anyone yet. Looking at some of the other posts, both in the results survey and in the forums, it seems like at this point I can count implied rejections at a few of those schools, but I'm hoping that's not necessarily true! We'll see, I guess.

Where else did you apply? Did you apply to any other programs that allow creative dissertations?

I applied at Utah, Lincoln, Illinois-Chicago, Cincinnati and Georgia along with USC. I haven't heard back from any of those, and I don't believe that acceptances have gone out. It doesn't seem like that many people are interested in PhD's in Lit/Creative Writing, at least not on this board.

Thanks. Good luck to you as well! Those other schools actually don't allow creative dissertations; I applied to them for English lit with a focus in literary criticism/theory. And I think you're right, not too much interest on these boards for the creative PhDs. Oh well.

There are some people over at creative-writing-mfa-handbook2.blogspot.com/, but people don't post there too much, either.

It is a strange beast. When I first finished my MFA, I thought for sure I wouldn't apply for the Ph.D. And now here I am. I think more and more MFA grads are applying as time goes on.

I applied and am eagerly waiting!

Stately Plump

I considered applying to some MFA/Creative Writing PhD programs, and if I had, USC definitely would have been one of them!

+++ energy to all. (<--- this just worked for me today, so here's hoping it works for all of you!)

You are very kind, StatelyPlump! Congratulations to you!

Do all of you PhD applicants for creative writing already have MFA's? I am applying straight from undergrad (I'm a few years out, but I have no master's degree), and I hope I'm not completely out of my element. We'll see, I guess. I know that Utah has a B.A. to PhD direct route, at least.

I just graduated with my MA this past June and will have a MFA in June 2012.

I considered applying to some MFA/Creative Writing PhD programs, and if I had, USC definitely would have been one of them! +++ energy to all. (<--- this just worked for me today, so here's hoping it works for all of you!)

Thanks! I need it!

Thanks! And, many congrats!

Stylechallenge, I applied with a BFA (I just finished up this past semester). Hopefully we're not at a disadvantage going the direct to PhD route; the past accepted students listed on the USC webpage didn't all have MFAs when entering, though, so I have to imagine the writing samples are of much greater significance than which degree (BA or MA, or variant thereof) the applicant holds.

Captain Enjambment

I too have applied (as well to six other schools, and a few fellowships.) I was told they will be taking 3 poets and 3 fiction writers by Janalynn, the program coordinator, back in November when I called to ask about the program and various application details. I also (will) have an MFA and have heard from several programs that they prefer you have an MA/MFA before applying. USC is one school that has accepted people out of undergrad in the past though, so there's that.

Oh three is better than the 2 hat I had heard they took in the past.

truckbasket

Last year there were a couple of notifications kinda early, and everyone else was notified on April 15th.

And yes, it's usually 2 for fiction, 2 for poetry out of several hundred applicants.

EDIT: Actually, if memory serves correct, there was a semi-early wave of rejections and then everyone else got theirs on 4/15 (by mail). They won't give out any info via phone / email.

Considering the program isn't ranked super duper highly (for English at least) it's one of the most competetive programs out there because of location, faculty, and mind-blowingly good funding. They do take students with just the BA, but more often than not, it's MFA students who have published (I know a bunch of them).

I think I read somewhere that they notified people by email if you were waitlisted. I haven't heard of that happening yet this year, but it has happened in the past.

Is anyone else about to burst into flames?

Last year, according to the MFA Research Project, acceptances went out on 2/23 (today, dammit). Also, I do think waitlistees received emails.

I applied to the Literature/Creative Writing program at USC. I haven't heard anything yet. I would love to be in the program, but I know it's a slim-to-none chance of getting in. I'm in thesis right now and should graduate with an MA in May.

and English Ph.D people have apparently been getting calls this afternoon. I have a feeling this means the CWR program is notifying as well.... meep.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh *runs around*

Won't someone put me out of my misery?

FEAR NOT, the delightful Ms. Janalynn just informed me over the phone that USC isn't making its CW offers until the first week of March. KEEP HOPE ALIVE KIDS!

Oh thanks for finding out! Good luck everyone.

thanks for the info, Insertbrackets! nice to know there's still a (slim-to-none) chance..

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Home / Graduate / Prospective Student Information / Creative/Critical Writing Concentration

• Creative/Critical Writing Concentration

Prospective Student Information

UC Santa Cruz offers a concentration in Creative/Critical Writing for Literature Ph.D. students. This is an individualized course of study in which students can write a creative dissertation with a critical introduction or a cross-genre creative/critical project. Students have completed speculative novels, collections of poems and personal essays, experimental memoirs, biographies, cross-genre work, and translations of works of poetry and prose. Descriptions of previous qualifying exam and dissertation topics can be found with student bios here .  

Creative/Critical Writing Concentration Overview (please refer to the Literature Ph.D. Program overview for more information) Entering students complete all the requirements for the Literature Ph.D. with the addition of a creative/critical enhancement to their degree in the form of original creative work, with a critical introduction, and, if desired, work in poetics, translation, form and/or critical writing from the perspective of writerly practices.

Admissions For applicants to the Creative/Critical Writing concentration, the department requests the following additional materials: 20-25 pages of prose (at least one complete piece and an additional sample preferred), or 10-12 pages of poetry. The writing can be poetry, prose fiction, creative non-fiction or hybrid/cross-genre.

Requirements The general requirements for all Ph.D. students apply to the Creative/Critical Writing concentration:

• The Proseminar , Literature 200, to be taken in Fall Quarter of the first year;
• A one-quarter Pedagogy of Teaching/Teaching Assistant Training, Literature 201, to be taken prior to or in conjunction with the first Teaching Assistant appointment;
• One course must focus on pre-modern literature and culture. This course may, but need not, be in the student’s area of concentration; it may also be used to satisfy one of the non-English-language course requirements.
• A minimum of two courses must be in a non-English language literature.
• Four courses must be Creative/Critical concentration-designated courses (Graduate Creative Writing Workshops and Methods and Materials); 
• One two-credit advising course, Literature 291F, per quarter;
• Three quarters of supervised teaching experience; Creative/Critical Writing concentration only: Of the three quarters of supervised teaching experience required, at least two will be in the undergraduate creative writing concentration;
• The Literature Department’s intensive three-week Graduate Summer Language Program or equivalent;
• A qualifying exam portfolio (includes an oral component);
• A prospectus outlining and defining the dissertation project;
• A dissertation (written in conjunction with Literature 299, Thesis Research).

Qualifying Examination and Dissertation At least one member of the QE committee, normally the chair, must be from among the participating core faculty in Creative Writing, and at least one departmental member of the committee will not be one of these.  Students in the concentration will meet the requirements of the (revised) Ph.D. program Qualifying Examination, with the choice to substitute original creative work for the Qualifying essay requirement. This work may also be, if the student chooses, a hybrid creative/critical work.

Ph.D. candidates in the Creative/Critical concentration may choose one of two options for the dissertation:

• A book-length original creative project—novel, novella, collection of poems, collection of stories, creative nonfiction, or a hybrid/experimental form (including but not limited to digital/new media, performance/performativity/screenplay, the lyric essay) with a critical chapter or chapters totaling at least 75 pages exploring the historical, methodological, and/or theoretical foundations of the creative work;
• A dissertation on theory, form, poetics or literary history; a translation of a creative work with a 30-50-page, substantive, critical introduction; a critical edition.

Faculty The following faculty are participating Creative Writing faculty mentors: Christopher Chen Micah Perks Jennifer Tseng Rob Wilson Ronaldo Wilson

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Step 1: review program and application requirements.

Application Instructions: Before you begin your application to USC, please carefully read all instructions. Once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to revise it. You will, however, be able to amend certain sections (such as test scores). Submitting incorrect information on your application or failing to include important details can delay the admission process.

Deadlines : Since application deadlines vary by program, be sure to confirm your intended program’s deadline and apply on time.

You should also use the months leading up to the deadline to complete the following steps:

GRE/GMAT and Other Tests : If required by your program of interest, schedule the GRE or GMAT exam. Your scores are considered valid only if earned within five years to the month of your intended first term at USC. (For example, no earlier than August 1 five years before applying to the fall term).

Résumé/Curriculum Vitae : There is no “right” approach to structuring your résumé/CV for graduate school. However, it is a good idea to take some time to identify the skills and achievements you would like to highlight for your graduate program and structure the document accordingly. Please note: You will be required to upload a copy of your résumé/CV as part of your application.

Recommendation Letters: The number of letters you will need varies by program. Be sure to check with your program of interest for specific requirements. Identify potential recommenders and let them know that you would like them to write a recommendation for you. Recommendations may be optional for some programs at USC.

Step 2: Complete the Online Application

Please complete our graduate application for your intended program online.

You may apply to up to three programs per term. Applications to additional programs in a single term will not be considered. Please note that withdrawing an application does not reset the three-program application limit for that term.

For additional tips, tricks and advice, please view our video tutorial, “ Navigating your USC Graduate Application .”

Video Tutorial: Navigating your USC Graduate Application

Completing the online application:, apply to usc.

You must create a graduate application account in order to apply to a graduate program at USC. Please set aside 45 to 60 minutes to complete the online application. Alternatively, you may save your information and continue it at a later date. You must use the same account to apply to multiple programs. You can apply to all programs at the same time or add a program after you have submitted your application. Please note: You may apply up to a maximum of three programs per term. Applications to additional programs in a single term will not be considered.

Technical Requirements

The online application supports the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari. The application uses Cookies, JavaScript and Pop-up windows, so please be sure all are enabled within your browser. (The default setting is “On” so it is unlikely that you will need to make any changes.)

Dates and Deadlines

Most graduate departments will indicate if their deadline refers to the date by which only the application must be received, or if the deadline applies to all supporting materials as well. In most cases, it is understood that some supporting materials will arrive later. This may not be a problem as long as they arrive within a reasonable period of time.

• PhD Programs: The priority deadline for Ph.D. applicants is December 1 . However, many of our doctoral programs, such as the ones offered by the Viterbi School of Engineering and the School of Cinematic Arts , have different deadlines. Please refer to their websites for deadline information.
• Master’s and Graduate Certificate Programs: All deadlines for USC master’s and graduate certificate programs are set by individual academic departments. These deadlines may vary from program to program and are subject to change. Please check with your intended graduate department directly for this information.

Programs with Separate Applications

The following graduate degree programs administer their own applications. You will need to apply to them through a separate website.

Independent Health Professions Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Keck School of Medicine Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Master of Public Health (MPH) Master of Science in Biostatistics Master of Science in Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology Master of Science in Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology Primary Care Physician Assistant Program

Ostrow School of Dentistry Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S) Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists (D.D.S) Postgraduate Specialty Certificate Programs

Gould School of Law All programs

USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences All programs

Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Chemistry , PhD Physics, PhD  

Confidentiality and Document Submission Policy

Transcripts and all other materials submitted for admission consideration become the property of USC. The university does not return or duplicate materials for any reason whatsoever. The information and materials in your submitted application are made available only to the central Office of Admission and the admission committee of your academic department or professional school.

Additional Help

Please contact us if you experience difficulties while completing your application or have questions about submitting your application.

Step 3: Pay your Application Fees

The application fee is $90 for all graduate programs, except those offered by the Marshall School of Business ($155) and the International Academy’s Pre-Master’s program ($175). We accept payments via Visa, MasterCard and Discover card.

Fee Waivers: You will be able to request a fee waiver only after you have started (but not submitted) your online application and indicated your program of interest. You will be asked for documentation to verify your eligibility for a waiver. If your request is approved, you will then be able to submit your application and skip payment of the application fee. Please refer to our Fee Waivers page to see if you are eligible.

Step 4: Provide Program Materials

In addition to transcripts and test scores, most USC graduate programs require supplemental materials for admission review. These materials may include (but are not limited to) a statement of intent, recommendations, writing samples, creative portfolio, etc. Supplemental materials are reviewed by the department only, not the Office of Graduate Admission.

To verify what supplemental materials are required by your program of interest and how to submit them, refer to their homepage or to the instructions on the “Program Materials” quadrant on the application. In most cases, they can be submitted via the application.

Some programs may require that you submit your supplemental materials via Slideroom. You will receive instructions on our application or directly from your department if this is the case.

If any materials need to be mailed, the postal address will be provided on the department website. (This is usually not the same address to which you send your transcripts.)

Please contact your intended graduate program with any questions regarding supplemental materials.

After You Apply:

Your USC ID Number : You will receive your 10-digit USC ID via email within two to three business days after submitting your online application. Please keep this ID on record and make sure to include it in all your communication with USC. You will also need to include it when mailing any documents to the university.

It is important to note that your 10-digit USC ID is different from the USC CAS ID you will receive when you begin your application. The CAS ID is required for only technical support during the application process and is not issued by the university.

Step 5: Submit your Official Transcripts

You will need to have your official transcripts sent to USC, with any university seals or security features intact. Please note: Unofficial transcripts from university student portals are not acceptable. Please refer to our detailed guidelines .

Make sure to also upload copies of your university-issued transcripts (issued on official letterhead) to your online application. These copies are considered unofficial but can help speed application review.

Step 6: Submit your Official Test Scores

Most USC graduate programs require either GRE or GMAT scores. Please review your program’s website for their test score requirements. Make sure to include your test scores as part of your application. Once you submit your application, you will be able to return to it to add additional test scores if necessary.

Only scores received electronically from the testing service are considered official. USC does not accept self-reported test scores or paper scores sent via postal mail.

If you are sending GRE scores: USC’s ETS school code is 4852 . Use this code to ensure that USC receives your official test results. No department code is required.

If you are sending GMAT scores : Select “University of Southern California” from the list of available schools and refer to your intended program for their program code.

Video Tutorial: Entering Your Standardized Test Scores

For additional tips, tricks and advice, please view our video tutorial, “Entering Your Standardized Test Scores.”

Step 7: Track your Application Status

Our admission processing center receives a high volume of materials during the peak admission period (November through May). During these months, please allow approximately 15 business days from the date of receipt of your official academic records to process these documents and match them to your application in our database.

Graduate applicants are responsible for properly submitting all items required for review and responding promptly to requests for additional materials or information. Once you submit your application, all notifications regarding any missing transcripts or other required materials will be emailed to you. Therefore, it is important that you regularly check the email address you provided on the application.

Please note: You will not receive confirmation emails when specific materials have been received.

Step 8: View Your Decision

While the Office of Graduate Admission processes all graduate applications, admission decisions are ultimately made by the program to which you applied. Once the admission committee for your intended program of study has completed the review process, you will receive an email notification from the Office of Graduate Admission informing you that a decision has been made.

The length of time required to make a decision varies by the program, type of degree, and the size of the applicant pool. Most applicants to the fall term receive decision notifications by June. Most applicants to the spring term receive decision notifications by December.

When you receive your decision notification, follow the instructions on the email to register for and view your decision at youSC .

Video Tutorial: The Decision Letter and Statement of Intent Form

For additional tips, tricks and advice, please view our video tutorial, “The Decision Letter and Statement of Intent Form.”

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Home / PhD in Creative/Critical Writing / Concentration Overview

• Concentration Overview

"Creative writing and critical writing disciplines are too often viewed as separate and combative frenemies. When these two methodologies dance together under a full moon, real magic happens—a third entity is born. This third entity, the relationship between the two, is a synergistic understanding that can be lost when one is left to solo without the other" (Kristen Nelson, cw/cr PhD, from "Fleshing the Archive of Witches: A Creative/Critical Case Study of Somatic Synecdoche"  published in  Feminist Studies )

Please refer to the  Literature Ph.D. Program  overview for more information. Entering students complete all the requirements for the Literature Ph.D. with the addition of a creative/critical enhancement to their degree in the form of original creative work, with a critical introduction, and, if desired, work in poetics, translation, form and/or critical writing from the perspective of writerly practices.

Admissions For applicants to the Creative/Critical Writing concentration, the department requests the following additional materials: 20-25 pages of prose (at least one complete piece and an additional sample preferred), or 10-12 pages of poetry. The writing can be poetry, prose fiction, creative non-fiction, or hybrid/cross-genre.

Requirements The general requirements for all PhD students apply to the Creative/Critical Writing concentration:

• The   Proseminar , Literature 200, to be taken in Fall Quarter of the first year;
• A one-quarter Pedagogy of Teaching/Teaching Assistant Training, Literature 201, to be taken prior to or in conjunction with the first Teaching Assistant appointment;
• Twelve courses leading to the definition of an area of concentration.  At least two of these must be in a second-language literature; at least one must focus on pre-1750 literature and culture. Up to three courses may be taken in other departments (in exceptional cases, up to one additional course may be requested by petition); up to three may be independent studies; Creative/Critical Writing concentration only:   Of the twelve courses a total of four courses must be Creative/Critical concentration-designated courses (Graduate Creative Writing Workshops and Methods and Materials); 
• One two-credit advising course, Literature 291F, per quarter;
• Three-quarters of supervised teaching experience; Creative/Critical Writing concentration only:   Of the three-quarters of supervised teaching experience required, at least two will be in the undergraduate creative writing concentration;
• The Literature Department’s intensive three-week Graduate Summer Language Program or equivalent;
• A qualifying exam portfolio (includes an oral component);
• A prospectus outlining and defining the dissertation project;
• A dissertation (written in conjunction with Literature 299, Thesis Research).

Qualifying Examination and Dissertation At least one member of the QE committee, normally the chair, must be from among the participating core faculty in Creative Writing, and at least one departmental member of the committee will not be one of these.  Students in the concentration will meet the requirements of the (revised) Ph.D. program Qualifying Examination, with the choice to substitute original creative work for the Qualifying essay requirement. This work may also be, if the student chooses, a hybrid creative/critical work. Ph.D. candidates in the Creative/Critical Writing concentration may choose one of two options for the dissertation: 1. A book-length original creative project—novel, novella, collection of poems, collection of stories, creative non-fiction, or a hybrid/experimental form (including but not limited to digital/new media, performance/performativity/screenplay, the lyric essay) with a substantial critical chapter of at least 75 pages that locates the work in its literary and historical contexts; OR 2. A dissertation on theory, form, poetics or history of the novel/ poetry; a translation; a critical edition.

Faculty The following faculty are participating Creative Writing faculty mentors: Christopher Chen Micah Perks Jennifer Tseng Rob Wilson Ronaldo Wilson

See   Also

• Literature Ph.D. Program
• Creative/Critical Ph.D. Students
• Report an accessibility barrier
• Land Acknowledgment
• Accreditation

Last modified: January 30, 2024 128.114.113.82

Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literature

Get a ph.d. in creative writing and literature.

Admission to the creative writing program is extremely competitive, with up to 20 new students across the two genres selected each year from the hundreds of applications received from around the world. The curriculum for Ph.D. students emphasizes creative writing and literary study. The city of Houston offers a vibrant, multi-cultural backdrop for studying creative writing at the University of Houston. With a dynamic visual and performing arts scene, the Houston metropolitan area supplies a wealth of aesthetic materials.

Overview of Admissions Requirements

Minimum requirements for admission.

• M.A. in English or M.F.A. in Creative Writing  
• 3.5 GPA in graduate studies 

Application Deadline

The admissions deadline for our Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literature is January 15.

For more admissions information, visit the How to Apply web page for our Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literature.  

History of the Creative Writing Program

Over the years many more internationally acclaimed writers have made the Program their home, including Mary Gaitskill, Richard Howard, Howard Moss, Linda Gregg, Adam Zagajewski, Daniel Stern, David Wojahn, Edward Hirsch, Alan Hollinghurst, Mark Strand, David Wagoner, Philip Levine, Charles Wright, Claudia Rankine, Kimiko Hahn, Mark Doty and Ruben Martinez.

Current faculty includes Erin Belieu, Robert Boswell, Audrey Colombe, Chitra Divakaruni, Nick Flynn, francine j. harris, Antonya Nelson, Alex Parsons, Kevin Prufer, Brenda Peynado, Martha Serpas, Roberto Tejada, and Peter Turchi.

Quick Links

Program Breakdown & Degree Requirements

Graduate Curricular Specializations

Financial Aid

How to Apply

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