university of denver professional creative writing

Access personal records, make payments, and see your schedule.

Get into your courses through our learning management system.

Access your university emails.

• Courses & Schedule
• Request Info Apply
• Students Open Students Side Nav
• Open search form Search magnifying glass
• 'X' close button

Professional Creative Nonfiction Writing

Progress toward mastering the fundamentals of writing narrative nonfiction. From memoir to personal essay, find your narrative voice and tell your story. In this certificate, you’ll discover how to capture the attention of your audience with nonfiction writing that sparks interest and inspires action.

At a Glance

Free Application

University College is committed to educational access, and given the difficult circumstances currently impacting millions of people, we are waiving application fees.

Skills You'll Learn

Identify and analyze key elements of creative nonfiction writing

Define your audiences and write in ways that move and entertain them

Critique your own writing

• 4-Course Certificate
• 6-Course Certificate

Specialized Graduate Certificate in Professional Creative Nonfiction Writing requires completion of 16 credit hours (4 courses).

All students are required to complete a zero-credit Student Success Course .

Focus on a specific professional area within the larger industry sector and master the skills needed to excel in that area.

Graduate Certificate in Professional Creative Nonfiction Writing requires completion of 24 credit hours (6 courses).

Popular electives for students in the Professional Creative Writing program include:

Electives may be chosen from among all courses in the Professional Creative Writing program. You may also select courses from other University College graduate programs with approval from the academic director.

Your academic advisor will help you select electives that align with your career and personal goals, and your advisor will obtain any necessary approvals from the academic director.

Sample Schedule

Finish a graduate certificate in as few as six months or take up to a year. Choose your time to completion to get a better sense of what your schedule will look like during your certificate program.

Interested in a master's degree?

Explore our Master of Arts in Professional Creative Writing with a concentration in Professional Creative Nonfiction Writing .

Take a Course Before You Apply

We know how important it is to get started when you're ready and that's why you can enroll in a course before you officially apply.

Career Outcomes

Predicted outcomes for graduates of professional creative nonfiction writing.

Nonfiction writing is on the rise and consumers are even willing to spend more on nonfiction titles, according to a Smashwords survey. According to Publishers Weekly, adult nonfiction had the largest gains in sales compared to other genres.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment for writers and authors is projected to grow 9% through 2030. Writers and authors who adjust their work for online content and social media may have an advantage.

Writer and Author Salary: National Average

Get ahead with career services.

One-on-one career coaching and mock interviews

Job database dedicated to DU students and alumni

Résumé and cover letter guidance

Hear from Our Students

Professional Creative Writing

“The writing assignments at that level really helped elevate my writing. It made me more keenly aware of the editing process as well as some more practical purposes.” —Bobby LeFebre, graduate.

Flexible Online Classes

We understand the demands of balancing work, friends and family, and school can be challenging. That's why at University College, you can complete your program entirely online. Our online learning platform makes it easy to work anywhere at any time.

Featured Instructors

Featured instructors carousel.

• Right arrow

Accreditation

University College programs maintain the highest level of accreditation offered by The Higher Learning Commission, one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the federal government. The University of Denver and all of its academic programs are regionally accredited by this commission, and regional accreditation is the highest standard for universities in the United States.

Take the Next Step

Test page for modal implementation and styling.

To reset the page, click the following links in order:

We're READY when YOU are.

Apply by february 16. start classes in april ., we understand that learning is a continuous, year-round endeavor. that's why we offer four term starts per year . request more information today..

Skip to Content

• Current Students
• Faculty/Staff
• University of Denver
• College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
• English & Literary Arts

Creativity Meets Critical Thinking

Department of english & literary arts, study literature as a site of possibility.

The Department of English & Literary Arts connects historical context to contemporary innovations across writing, research and scholarship. Our faculty, graduate students and undergraduates come together to spark intellectual curiosity and feed literary creation.

Undergraduate English students gain access to leading writers, critics and scholars across diverse fields of study who connect classroom learning to professional experience in editing, publishing, research and creative writing.

Graduate students in the master’s and doctoral programs develop their scholarly and creative interests through seminars and workshops, as well as tutorials and colloquia aimed at in-depth study, teaching mentorship and professional development. Creative writers can serve as readers and editorial staff at Denver Quarterly, a leading voice in avant-garde and experimental writing since 1966.

Degree Programs

Undergraduates can major or minor in English & Literary Arts, with options for distinction and honors in the major. Concentrations in literary studies, English education or creative writing allow majors more fully to develop their interest in a particular subfield.

Graduate students can pursue an MA in our flexible literary studies concentration or develop expertise through our doctoral program in English & Literary Arts. PhD students choose between a concentration in literary studies or creative writing, with further options for writers to specialize in poetry or prose.

Explore Programs

Like literature classes, the creative writing courses at DU are eclectic, interesting and as diverse as the people teaching them. As every instructor approaches the material with their own collection of passions and curiosities, no two sections of creative writing class are the same. Emelia Kamadulski (BA '21) English & Literary Arts

I have been encouraged here to look at my scholarly writing through a creative lens, and at my creative writing through a scholarly one. For me, this has broadened my understanding of what it is possible to study, to think and to write. Zeeshan Reshamwala PhD Candidate, Literary Studies

There has often been a kind of divide and conflict between academic programs and creative writing programs. I don’t know exactly how that began, but I have found over the years that that divide has lessened — practically disappeared — here. Bin Ramke Poet, Professor and Phipps Chair

Publications

Denver quarterly.

Founded in 1966 by John Williams, Denver Quarterly has published major writers at the cutting edge of avant-garde and experimental thought for more than 50 years. The journal, which publishes reviews, poetry, prose and cross-genre writing, is edited by a DU faculty member with the assistance of graduate students.

Scholarly & Creative Publications

Faculty and graduate students publish scholarship and creative works with top journals, magazines and presses. The Department of English & Literary Arts at DU is made up of researchers, scholars and writers whose works span academic and creative publications — and frequently explore where critical and creative work meet.

Foothills Visual and Textual Journal

Foothills, published annually by a staff of undergraduate students at DU, is a longstanding publication that brings textual and visual innovations together. First established in 1946, Foothills is dedicated to the ways in which verbal and artistic creativity vitalizes community.

The Denver School of Forms & Poetics

This two-week summer program connects communities across disciplines, interests and intellectual pursuits. The Denver School of Forms & Poetics brings DU faculty, graduate students and advanced seniors together with guest artists and the broader Denver community. Through a variety of workshops and seminars, the program serves as a forum to explore literary and creative endeavors, and to experience innovations in how such endeavors can interact.

Support innovations in the creative and literary arts

Resources for.

• Prospective Students

Request Information

Start Your Application

Undergraduate applicants.

We accept the Common App, a universal application that can be sent to many schools.

First-Year Students Transfer Students

Graduate Applicants

Go to the graduate admission application to submit your information. For information on admission requirements, visit the graduate academic programs page and locate your program of interest.

Graduate Application

Graduate Academic Programs

Request Info

Courses & Schedule

Scholarship for New Graduate Students Who Enroll in Fall 2024

Get into your courses through our learning management system.

Tuition Payment

Waitlist/course, withdrawals and refunds, more resources you may be looking for:, professional fiction writing: master’s degree.

Broaden your imagination and share your story through the written word. From short stories to novels, examine the art of writing fiction and develop an authentic voice and style. You’ll learn to create a personal presence in the creative marketplace while honing your fiction writing expertise. Develop a deeper understanding of genres and influential masterworks as you strive to become a published author.

Let us help you succeed.

* Indicates a required field.

Top-ranked, career-focused education in a flexible format.

At a Glance

Classes Begin September 9

Term Length 10 Weeks

Master's Degree Tuition $40,032

Format Asynchronous and Hybrid Online

Admission No GRE or GMAT

Duration As few as 18 months

Top-Ranked University

U.S. News & World Report Rankings

Talk to an Enrollment Manager

Chris Heriza 303-871-4785 Schedule an appointment Email me

Free Application

University College is committed to educational access, and given the difficult circumstances currently impacting millions of people, we are waiving application fees.

Skills You’ll Learn

Identify and analyze key elements of strong fiction

Produce fiction writing that connects with the audience for your work

Apply professional editing standards to evaluate both published writing and writing for your peers

Annual Schedule 5 Master of Arts in  Professional Creative Writing  with a concentration in  Professional Fiction Writing  requires completion of 48 credit hours (12 courses).

Core Courses

Concentration Courses

Elective courses.

Learn the scope of activity, historical development, and future direction of the industry. These courses provide a foundation that you'll draw on throughout your concentration and elective courses. The capstone serves as the culminating academic experience in which you'll explore a problem of practice in your field of study.

Focus on a specific professional area within the larger industry sector and master the skills needed to excel in that area.

Popular electives for students in the Professional Creative Writing program include:

Elective courses may be chosen from among non-core and concentration courses in the academic program, and you may also select courses in other University College graduate programs. Your academic advisor will help you select electives that align with your career and personal goals.

More Electives 5

Featured Instructors

Joseph Hutchison

Hilary Leftwich

Emily Vizzo

Annie Dawid

Sample schedule.

Plan out your schedule and determine your preferred timeline for completing your master's degree —finish in as few as 18 months or take up to five years.

Interested in a graduate certificate?

Explore our four and six course graduate certificates in Professional Fiction Writing .​

Take a Course Before You Apply

We know how important it is to get started when you’re ready and that’s why you can enroll in a course before you officially apply.

Career Outcomes

Predicted outcomes for graduates of professional fiction writing.

According to Publishing Perspectives, 81% of Americans want to write a book, but how many actually possess the skills and determination to achieve the dream?

According to the Association of American Publishers, the U.S. book and journal publishing industry generated $28 billion dollars in revenue last year, massive growth primarily due to the increasing popularity of audiobooks.

The International Trade Administration Top Market Reports found that the U.S. publishing industry is the largest in the world. PwC forecasts that total global consumer book revenue will continue its upward trajectory.

Writer and Author Salary: National Average

(u.s. bureau of labor statistics), get ahead with career services.

One-on-one career coaching and mock interviews

Job database dedicated to DU students and alumni

Résumé and cover letter guidance

Career Services 5

Hear from Our Students

Theme: job satisfaction, view more stories 5, professional creative writing.

“The writing assignments at that level really helped elevate my writing. It made me more keenly aware of the editing process as well as some more practical purposes.” —Bobby LeFebre, graduate.

We understand the demands of balancing work, friends and family, and school can be challenging. That's why at University College, you can complete your program entirely online. Our online learning platform makes it easy to work anywhere at any time.

Accreditation

University College programs maintain the highest level of accreditation offered by The Higher Learning Commission, one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the federal government. The University of Denver and all of its academic programs are regionally accredited by this commission, and regional accreditation is the highest standard for universities in the United States.

Take the Next Step

Financial Aid 5

Apply Now 5

• Become A Member
• Remember Me      Forgot Password?
• CANCEL Login

Association of Writers & Writing Programs

• Writing Programs & Pedagogy
• Community & Calendar
• Magazine & Media
• AWP Conference
• Writers' Conferences & Centers
• Guide to Writing Programs

• Advice Articles
• Campus Visit Video Series

University Of Denver | University College

Colorado, united states.

Professional Creative Writing is a Master's Degree (MA) offered online-only, evenings on campus, or a combination of the two. Students learn how to reach an audience with their writing and build a brand around their passion and persona. No GRE is required for admission, and we specialize in helping working adults discover or rediscover their passion, bring it to the page in professional form, and then find the audience it deserves.

University College is the college of professional and continuing studies at the University of Denver — a top 100 university as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

Contact Information

2211 S. Josephine St. Denver Colorado, United States 80210-4805 Phone: 303-871-4785 Email: [email protected] http://universitycollege.du.edu/pwri/

Master of Arts in Professional Creative Writing +

Graduate program director.

The Professional Creative Writing program cultivates a genre-based approach and a supportive writing community to help students define, foster, and enrich their writing in ways that prepare them for careers as professional authors.

The program prepares students to:

• Craft written works that demonstrate a productive awareness of the limits and opportunities presented by their chosen genre.

• Employ writing routines and habits of mind that support their creative productivity.

• Apply sophisticated knowledge of literary structures to their own work based on critical engagement with works in a variety of genres.

• Apply professional editing standards to evaluate both published writing and the writing of their fellow students.

• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of their own writing and revise their works to create a higher quality product.

• Define the audiences for their creative work and effectively present it to those audiences.

NOTE: We are on the quarter system, so each class is 10 weeks long.

Page Lambert

Page Lambert grew up in the Colorado mountains, where she fell in love with harebells, wild onions, and gangly ponderosas. In her teens, she courted the North Platte River, cottonwood trees, horses and frogs. She’s been “writing nature” since the mid-80s, when she moved to a small ranch in the Black Hills of Wyoming. She is the author of a memoir, "In Search of Kinship: Modern Pioneering on the Western Landscape," and a novel, "Shifting Stars." A presenter of over 260 seminars, workshops, and conferences, in 2015 she designed and began teaching “The Writing Life,” a foundational course for the MA Program in Professional Creative Writing at the University of Denver’s University College.

In September 2015, The Denver Post ran a feature story about Lambert, “Women writers connect with nature on rivers in the West.” In 2014, The Denver Art Museum invited Lambert to speak about and read an excerpt from her epic poem The Whisper of the Land. A copy of the poem is ensconced inside the monumental sculpture by Roxanne Swentzell, Mud Woman Rolls On, commissioned by the DAM as a featured, permanent exhibit.

Lambert has received numerous awards for her writing, including the 2015 Writer’s Studio Best Fiction Award, two Literary Fellowships from the Wyoming Arts Council, the Colorado Authors’ League “Best Essay of the Year Award”; and the Orlando Nonfiction Award (A Room of Her Own Foundation). Her most recent novel excerpts appeared in Progenitor and Huffington Post. Her most recent essay is forthcoming in Sojourns Magazine (2016). Her books include the Wyoming memoir In Search of Kinship (hailed by the Rocky Mountain News when it was released as one of the summer’s hottest reads), and the novel Shifting Stars, a Mountains and Plains Book Award finalist. You can find her essays and poems in dozens of anthologies, including the Willa Award-winning Writing Down the River, and West of 98: Living and Writing the American West.

Lambert has been leading outdoor adventures, writing seminars and workshops for eighteen years, often working in partnership with organizations such as True Nature Journeys, The Women’s Wilderness Institute, the Grand Canyon Field Institute, and the Aspen Writers’ Foundation. In 2006, Oprah’s O magazine featured her River Writing Journeys for Women as “One of the top six great all-girl getaways of the year.”

http://www.pagelambert.com/

Joseph Hutchison

Joseph Hutchison, Poet Laureate of Colorado (2014-2019), directs the Professional Creative Writing program for the University of Denver’s University College. Has has published 20 poetry volumes, including THE WORLD AS IS: NEW & SELECTED POEMS, MARKED MEN, and the Colorado Poetry Award-winning BED OF COALS. His latest book, UNDER SLEEP’S NEW MOON, was released in September 2021. His poetry, fiction, and essays have appeared in over 100 journals and anthologies, including A RITUAL TO READ TOGETHER: POEMS IN CONVERSATION WITH WILLIAM STAFFORD, American Poetry Review, NEW POETS OF TTHE AMERICAN WEST, Santa Fe Literary Review, and Poetry (Chicago). He has also translated EPHEMERAL, a collection of flash fictions by Mexican author Miguel Lupián, and he has edited or co-edited three anthologies: LEGIONS OF THE SUN: POEMS OF THE GREAT WAR, MALALA: POEMS FOR MALALA YOUSAFZAI (all profits benefit the Malala Fund for girls' education worldwide), and A SONG FOR OCCUPATIONS: POEMS ABOUT THE AMERICAN WAY OF WORK.

https://www.jhwriter.com/

Share this page:

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2024 by AWP. All rights reserved.

Skip to Content

• University of Denver
• University Writing Program

University Writing Center

Explore this Section

The University Writing Center works with all University of Denver students, staff, and faculty as part of the Writing Program's mission to foster inclusive, accessible, collaborative, and ethical writing and literacy practices needed in diverse rhetorical contexts.

Our graduate and advanced undergraduate peer consultants help writers in all fields and majors and at all levels to make informed choices about how they navigate language, literacy, and learning in the writing they do. We encourage all writers to build peer conversation and response into their writing practice. 

We offer a variety of supports for writers, including writing consultations, written/recorded peer response on short writing projects, workshops, drop-in hours, writing groups, support for thesis and dissertation writers, and specialized STEM writing support. 

Quick Links

August 2024 hours.

For August 2024 hours, please check du.mywconline.com  for the most up-to-date schedule information. 

If you cannot find an appointment that works for your schedule, please write to us at [email protected] , and we will do our best to make arrangements for you. 

Learn about our offerings

Make an appointment

Writing Resources

We have a wide range of resources available to support writers with anything from composing literature reviews or designing research poster to writing ethically about others and navigating American edited academic English. 

If you don't find the resource you need, let us know. We are always adding to our site. 

Access writing & citation resources

Faculty & Staff Support

We work with faculty and staff on their own writing and on the teaching of writing in a range of contexts.

Our offerings include class visits to introduce the Writing Center and talk about peer review or sustainable writing habits, helping to curate resources for a particular writing situation, and much more. 

 Writing Center Faculty & Staff Support

Ask a Writer

Our peer consultants can help you find answers to your writing and citation questions, usually within a business day. 

Trying to make sure that a citation style endorses the use of the singular "they"? Need a strategy for writing an introduction to your policy brief? Submit your question and let us help. You can also make appointments or stop by during our drop-in hours to have a short conversation about your writing question. 

Ask a writer!

Center Voices Podcast

With support from a grant from the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, our staff produced two seasons of Center Voices,  a podcast series dedicated to guests' experience with language and language practices. Guests share their stories, writing, and perspectives to jumpstart conversation about the effects of standardized language practices and potentials for a reimagined future. 

Listen to episodes

Center Action Blog

Our student staff-produced blog,  Center Action , currently features a series of posts written by students from Prof. Kathleen Guerra's SPRING 2023 ASEM: The Politics of Bilingualism in the US. Students were asked to reflect on how multilingual practices, coupled by the formal and informal language policies in their communities, have cumulatively shaped their identities. 

Read our blog

Academic Advising

Student Support Offices & Resources

Policies & Procedures

Online Students

For All Online Programs

International Students

On Campus, need or have Visa

Campus Students

For All Campus Programs

What is a Creative Writer and What Do They Do?

Understanding the Numbers When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors — like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

Many of life’s great stories that are told in the form of literature, film, short stories and poetry, among many other outlets, first get their start in the minds and on the pages of creative writers.

Creative writing is a professional discipline that is unique in many ways and has the potential to take your career in a vast array of different directions.

If creative writing is a field you’re interested in pursuing, it’s important to keep in mind that while it can be a challenging and competitive profession, it also offers a number of distinctive benefits.

What Are the Different Types of Creative Writing?

“Creative writing” is a broad term that, when it comes to professional careers, encapsulates many different forms of writing.

“There are so many genres,” said Melissa Hart , an instructor in the online Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program in Creative Writing  at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

Hart, who has a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and an MFA in Creative Writing, has authored seven fiction and nonfiction books and published articles and essays in The New York Times, Smithsonian, CNN, The Washington Post, Slate and The Los Angeles Times, among others.

She said the career pathways for creative writers are virtually unlimited.

“Creative writers can be poets and screenwriters, personal essayists, novelists, short story writers,” Hart said, explaining that even within the world of creative writing , there are a number of creative avenues you can take. Some of these include:

• Flash fiction
• Hybrid forms
• Researched nonfiction
• Writing that embraces audio and video

What Are the Main Duties of a Creative Writer?

Much like their earning potential, the daily duties of a creative writer can vary greatly depending on what projects they’re working on at any given time, Hart said.

“I think duties differ writer to writer,” she said. “In my work, I practice writing almost every day — usually rough drafts, and then revisions, of novel chapters and nonfiction book chapters, magazine and newspaper articles and essays and newsletter posts.”

According to the BLS , how you spend your days as a creative writer depends largely on what type of writer you are, some of which include:

• Biographer – writing about the accounts of an individual’s life.
• Copywriter – working in advertising and marketing writing persuasive ad copy.
• Novelist – authoring books of fiction based on imaginary plots and characters.
• Screenwriter – creating scripts for movies and television.
• Speechwriter – developing orations for government leaders, political candidates and business leaders.

And in today’s digital world, another form of writing that continues to thrive is blogging , which is defined by global website development leader Wix as articles posted to a website focused on a specific area of interest.

Social media writing , too, continues to emerge with many large organizations like Mailchimp establishing specific standards for its social media writing.

What Credentials Do You Need to Become a Creative Writer?

Hart pointed out that creative writing is a unique profession in that it doesn’t require a degree or academic credential of any kind in order to succeed.

“You don't need any credentials," she said. "You just need an open mind and a willingness to learn your craft in the genre that most interests you.”

However, high-quality college programs in creative writing can be an excellent way for writers who have natural talent and abilities to further develop their skills, Hart said. For instance, in the SNHU online Bachelor of Arts (BA) program in Creative Writing and English, students develop and sharpen their skills in a number of areas, including:

• Writing and editing techniques
• Literary form, genre, structure, style, analysis and critical thinking
• Application of storytelling elements
• Use of genre conventions  and techniques
• Professional portfolio building

There is also an abundance of resources you can look into on your own to better position yourself for a career as a creative writer .

“There are piles of books, for instance, on how to write children's fiction,” Hart said. “Ditto poetry, screenplays, creative nonfiction... and there are so many resources online, as well.”

Is Creative Writing a Skill or a Talent?

Another aspect of creative writing that makes it a unique professional field, Hart said, is that it involves both natural talent and skills that can be learned.

“Perhaps a person is born with an innate talent for storytelling, but reading and practicing and studying creative writing for years will give you the skills you need to write fiction and nonfiction and poetry that appeals to readers,” she said.

Hart said that she’s had a love of language since the age of five, which is when she started writing short stories. It was her passion for writing and storytelling that inspired her to work hard developing her skills.

“All that practice gave me skills as a creative writer,” she said. “I believe I developed a talent for writing in particular genres because I studied them so deeply.”

Is it Hard to Learn Creative Writing?

While for many, learning to be a creative writer could be characterized as hard, Hart explained that “time consuming” is probably a better way of putting it.

“For instance, I just spent three years learning to cross-country ski when I’d never been on skis before,” she said. “I think it generally takes people at least three years to grow adept at creative writing in a particular genre because you’re constantly reading and deconstructing literature and thinking about it and writing and rewriting and rewriting some more.”

That said, among the many benefits of a career in creative writing is the flexibility and freedom it provides, Hart said.

“Creative writers can work anywhere they want,” she said. “I've written novel chapters in my car outside my daughter's dance studio, on airplanes, on the bank of a local river while my kid looked for newts.”

According to Hart, many of her students work in a corner of their house with noise-canceling headphones, while others write on their lunch breaks or in bed late at night.

“You can train yourself to get into a creative writing space the moment you open your laptop,” she said. “It just takes a while.”

Find Your Program

Is creative writing a good career.

What determines if writing is a “good” career will vary person to person, but there are a lot of considerations to keep in mind if it’s a path you’re interested in following, Hart said.

“It’s a good career for me, because I get to write about topics and issues which interest me,” she said. "However, it's my husband who has the great health insurance. If I didn't have health insurance, it might not be a viable career option because freelance writers and authors don't get subsidized health insurance — we must pay for our own."

While freelance writers and authors typically do find and fund their own health insurance, there is a growing number of writer unions and guilds that can assist with health insurance plans, according to Find the Plan , an online hub for freelance writers. And non-freelance copywriters, social media writers and blog writers usually get health benefits through the organization for which they work.

Does Creative Writing Pay Well?

Unlike other professional fields — in areas like business, engineering, education, medicine and law, among others — that typically have a salary range based on experience and the level of your degree, there is a vast disparity in what creative writers earn.

While high-profile, bestselling authors can command six-figure advances for their work, they comprise just a small fraction of those earning a living as creative writers, Hart said.*

“Most of us are midlist writers, earning modest advances and royalty checks,” she said. “It's interesting to note that I can earn as much off of two 4,000-word researched essays for magazines as I can for one of my young adult novels.”

Hart said that it’s common for creative writers to generate their income from a combination of different forms of writing for a variety of outlets, along with other professional activities where they’re paid for their professional expertise. For example, Hart said she earns her living through a combination of:

• Fiction writing
• Nonfiction writing
• Private teaching and instruction through her website
• Teaching college-level creative writing

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean annual wage for writers and authors in 2023 was $87,590.*

“But creative writing isn't about the money, for me,” she said. “It's about getting to join the conversation and put something beautiful and inspiring out into the world.”

Discover more about SNHU's online bachelor’s in creative writing : Find out what courses you'll take, skills you'll learn and how to request information about the program.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Cary Jordan is an Iowa-based writer with more than 20 years of writing and editing experience on a wide range of issues related to higher education. Cary has held administrative and cabinet-level positions at multiple colleges and universities, and his writing has spanned topics related to undergraduate education as well as graduate education in the areas of business, law, medicine and engineering, among others.

Explore more content like this article

What Does a Technical Writer Do?

Is a Liberal Arts Degree Worth It?

What is a Liberal Arts Degree And What Can You Do With It?

About southern new hampshire university.

SNHU is a nonprofit, accredited university with a mission to make high-quality education more accessible and affordable for everyone.

Founded in 1932, and online since 1995, we’ve helped countless students reach their goals with flexible, career-focused programs . Our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH is home to over 3,000 students, and we serve over 135,000 students online. Visit our about SNHU  page to learn more about our mission, accreditations, leadership team, national recognitions and awards.

Skip to Content

Current Students

Interested in more? Search Courses

• Search Input Submit Search

Admission Steps

English and literary arts - creative writing - phd, admission requirements.

Terms and Deadlines

Degree and GPA Requirements

Additional Standards for Non-Native English Speakers

Additional standards for international applicants.

For the 2023-2024 academic year

See 2024-2025 requirements instead

Fall 2023 quarter (beginning in September)

Final submission deadline: December 15, 2022

Final submission deadline: Applicants cannot submit applications after the final submission deadline.

Degrees and GPA Requirements

Bachelors degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.

Masters degree: This program requires a masters degree as well as the baccalaureate.

Grade point average: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree. An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution supersedes the minimum standards for the baccalaureate. For applicants with graduate coursework but who have not earned a master’s degree or higher, the GPA from the graduate work may be used to meet the requirement. The minimum GPA is a cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework undertaken.

Program GPA requirement: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for this program is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale

Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), C1 Advanced or Duolingo English Test are required of all graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship status, whose native language is not English or who have been educated in countries where English is not the native language. Your TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test scores are valid for two years from the test date.

The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test score requirements for this degree program are:

Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80

Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5

Minimum C1 Advanced Score: 176

Minimum Duolingo English Test Score: 115

English Conditional Acceptance Offered: No, this program does not offer English Conditional Admission.

Read the English Language Proficiency policy for more details.

Read the Required Tests for GTA Eligibility policy for more details.

Per Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulation, international applicants must meet all standards for admission before an I-20 or DS-2019 is issued, [per U.S. Federal Register: 8 CFR § 214.3(k)] or is academically eligible for admission and is admitted [per 22 C.F.R. §62]. Read the Additional Standards For International Applicants policy for more details.

Application Materials

Transcripts, letters of recommendation.

Required Essays and Statements

Writing Sample

We require a scanned copy of your transcripts from every college or university you have attended. Scanned copies must be clearly legible and sized to print on standard 8½-by-11-inch paper. Transcripts that do not show degrees awarded must also be accompanied by a scanned copy of the diploma or degree certificate. If your academic transcripts were issued in a language other than English, both the original documents and certified English translations are required.

Transcripts and proof of degree documents for postsecondary degrees earned from institutions outside of the United States will be released to a third-party international credential evaluator to assess U.S. education system equivalencies. Beginning July 2023, a non-refundable fee for this service will be required before the application is processed.

Upon admission to the University of Denver, official transcripts will be required from each institution attended.

Three (3) letters of recommendation are required.  Academic recommendations preferred.  Letters should be submitted by recommenders through the online application.

Essays and Statements

Essay instructions.

A sample of critical prose (e.g., a seminar paper, scholarly publication, or excerpt from thesis or other longer work demonstrating familiarity with the conventions of academic research and writing) not to exceed 20 pages.

Personal Statement Instructions

The 1-2 page personal statement should address the applicant's past academic experience, future scholarly goals, and address his/her suitability for graduate study in our program.

Résumé Instructions

The résumé (or C.V.) should include work experience, research, and/or volunteer work.

Writing Sample Instructions

Applicants must submit representative samples of creative work (for Prose, no more than 30 pages; for Poetry, 5 - 10 poems).

Start the Application

Online Application

Financial Aid Information

Start your application.

Your submitted materials will be reviewed once all materials and application fees have been received.

Our program can only consider your application for admission if our Office of Graduate Education has received all your online materials and supplemental materials by our application deadline.

Application Fee: $65.00 Application Fee

International Degree Evaluation Fee: $50 Evaluation Fee for degrees (bachelor's or higher) earned from institutions outside the United States.

Applicants should complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15. Visit the Office of Financial Aid for additional information.