uc irvine creative writing major

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2023-24 edition, english, b.a..

This major seeks to introduce students to the entire range of literatures written in English, from British and American to African, Asian, and Australasian literatures. The major emphasizes the differences among historical periods and various genres, and encourages exploration of a broad range of literary theories. 

B.A. in English

All students must meet the university requirements ., all students must meet the school requirements ..

Residence Requirement for the English Major: ENGLISH 100 , ENGLISH 101W , two ENGLISH 102s, and ENGLISH 106 must be completed successfully at UCI.

B.A. in English with a Specialization in English for Future Teachers

 Foreign literature-in-translation courses are offered in Classics, Comparative Literature, East Asian Studies, French and Italian, German, and Spanish and Portuguese.  COM LIT 150 and COM LIT 160 , EAS 160 , FLM&MDA 160 , FRENCH 160 , GERMAN 160 , and SPANISH 160 when appropriate, also qualify as foreign language literature-in-translation courses.

ENGLISH 10 and ENGLISH 15 may be taken more than once as topics vary.

Students should plan coherent programs of study with their faculty advisors, including undergraduate seminars, workshops and seminars in writing (for students choosing a Literary Journalism major or Creative Writing minor), and courses in allied areas outside the Department. It is possible to combine a cluster of courses in literature with other majors in the sciences and social sciences, and to use an English or Literary Journalism major as preprofessional training in government, law, or medicine. Students who wish advice in planning such programs should consult both the Department and people in their prospective professional areas.

A student who intends to continue with graduate work is urged to study a second foreign language before graduation.

Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad through the UC Education Abroad Program. Visit the Study Abroad Center website or an academic counselor for additional information.

The study of literature helps students express their ideas clearly, do independent research, and think analytically and imaginatively. These capabilities will help qualify majors for careers in education, law, technical writing, communications, journalism, public relations, business, marketing, and management. Departmental advisors encourage their students to investigate various career options before completing their undergraduate educations.

The Division of Career Pathways provides services to students and alumni including career counseling, information about job opportunities, a career library, and workshops on resume preparation, job search, and interview techniques. See the Division of Career Pathways website  for additional information.

• Creative Writing, Minor
• English, M.F.A.
• English, Minor
• English, Ph.D.
• Literary Journalism, B.A.
• Literary Journalism, Minor
• Master of English

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2023-2024 Catalogue

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Writing Studies at University of California - Irvine

Here, you'll find out more about the major, including such details as the number of graduates, what degree levels are offered, ethnicity of students, and more. In addition, we cover how UC Irvine ranks in comparison to other schools with writing programs.

Go directly to any of the following sections:

• Available Degrees
• Related Majors

Featured Writing Studies Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

BA in Creative Writing & English

Develop your creativity and gain practical skills with a creative writing degree program –featuring 100% online classes – through a bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.

Writing Studies Degrees Available at UC Irvine

• Master’s Degree in Writing

UC Irvine Writing Rankings

The bachelor's program at UC Irvine was ranked #127 on College Factual's Best Schools for writing list .

Popularity of Writing at UC Irvine

In 2021, 11 students received their master’s degree in writing from UC Irvine. This makes it the #107 most popular school for writing master’s degree candidates in the country.

Writing Student Diversity at UC Irvine

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

UC Irvine Writing Studies Master’s Program

Of the 11 students who graduated with a Master’s in writing from UC Irvine in 2021, 55% were men and 45% were women.

The majority of the students with this major are white. About 82% of 2021 graduates were in this category.

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

Most Popular Related Majors

View All Writing Studies Related Majors >

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• Image Credit: By TFNorman under License

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New Creative Writing Major Added to Curriculum

The English department has added a new creative writing major to its list of offerings. Available starting the fall of 2024, the new major combines extensive workshop classes across a spectrum of writing styles and genres with rigorous reading and analysis of literature.

“There has always been a tremendous interest in creative writing,” said Professor of English Jon Volkmer. “With a large number of applications every year for the creative writing scholarship , we have the engine for the recruitment of creative writers built in. Plus with the department’s addition of two really strong professors, Katie Schmid Henson and Shane Kowalski ’11, we are well positioned to add this major. This is an exciting next step.”

As part of the new major, which will have a substantial literary requirement, a “Writing in the Real World” course will be added to the curriculum. Aimed at making young writers market savvy, the course will cover topics such as how to identify markets and how to submit work. “It will cover the business side of things that students really want to know, and it will help them navigate the very difficult world of publication and the process of trying to find your way as a writer,” said Volkmer.

It joins courses such as “Humor” taught by Talia Argondezzi, director of the writing and speaking program; “Poetry of Family and Childhood” taught by Henson; “Nothing Makes Sense” taught by Kowalski; and “Fable and Fantasy” taught by Volkmer, who noted that “one of the things we do well at Ursinus is offer a wide variety of creative writing classes.”

“We have a very strong English major here. With 70 students enrolled in the major, we are the largest humanities department at Ursinus,” said Volkmer, who cited a New Yorker article from February that put the number of undergraduate English majors at Harvard University at fewer than 60 in 2020. “They’re five times the size of Ursinus, so we are doing something right.”

Noting the impressive outcomes of the creative writing minor, which has been in existence for more than 35 years, Volkmer said that the major, much like a degree in English, prepares students for much more than creative writing alone. “It prepares students for jobs in social media, editing, publications, journalism, and communications, with skills that are convertible to business jobs. It gives them something that is unusual for their resume because there aren’t many schools that offer this as a major,” said Volkmer.

“There have been so many students over the years who have taken a lot of creative writing classes and taken more than a minors’ worth. This new major satisfies a yearning in our student population to do more and to see a higher credential for it.”

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• English and Creative Writing

Creative Writing

Graduate Studies

• Master of Fine Arts

The UC Davis graduate creative writing program is a two-year master of fine arts degree rooted in the study and creation of literature that reaches toward the other arts with the goal of presenting students with a wide range of aesthetic approaches and models for being a writer. Students may specialize in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, as well as multi‐genre, multi‐media, or hybrid forms of literary art. 

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List of All U.S. Colleges with a Creative Writing Major

Writing has been my passion practically since I learned to read in kindergarten. I would write stories about princesses and my family dog, Gansett. When it came time to look at colleges, I was set on attending one with a strong creative writing program. Ultimately, I graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in Writing Seminars.

Today, colleges across the country offer creative writing as a major. Because writing skills are essential for a wide range of careers, and because most curricula emphasize broad liberal arts competencies, a degree in creative writing can set you up for success in numerous fields, whether you want to be an editor or a lawyer.

Interested in majoring in creative writing? Learn which schools offer the major and what to look for in a program.

Overview of the Creative Writing Major

Creative writing is about more than spinning tales. For your major, you’ll generally need to pursue a curriculum grounded in literature, history, foreign language, and other humanities courses, along with distribution courses, if the college requires them.

Most creative writing majors must participate in workshops, in which students present their work and listen to peer critiques, usually with a certain number of advanced courses in the mix. In some cases, colleges will ask you to specialize in a particular genre, such as fiction, poetry, or playwriting. 

To succeed in creative writing, you’ll need to have a tough spine, in order to open yourself up to feedback from your classmates and instructors. You may need to give readings in public — if not as an undergraduate, certainly during your career. Of course, a passion for creating is essential, too, as is a willingness to revise your work and learn from the greats and your peers.

A creative writing major opens up doors to many careers, including journalism, content marketing, copywriting, teaching, and others. Even careers that don’t center around writing often have a strong writing component: you’ll need to write reports, deliver presentations, and so on.

Some writers go on to earn an MFA, which will help you hone your craft. It’s also often a prerequisite for teaching creative writing at the college level.

What to Look for in a College as a Creative Writing Major

Published authors on faculty.

Many world-renowned authors have another claim to fame: professorships. Writers who have taught their craft include (among many others):

• Maya Angelou (Wake Forest University)
• Colson Whitehead (many colleges, including Vassar College and Columbia University)
• Stephen Dixon (Johns Hopkins University)
• Viet Thanh Nguyen (University of Southern California)
• Eula Biss (Northwestern University)
• Toni Morrison (Princeton University)

Be aware that as an undergraduate, you may not be able to learn from the greats. That’s why it’s important to look into which courses these faculty teach before you have dreams of being mentored by Salman Rushdie — who is a Distinguished Writer in Residence at NYU.

Genres Offered

While many schools that have creative writing majors offer fiction and poetry courses and tracks, there are some niche genres that could be more difficult to find. If you’re interested in playwriting, for example, you won’t find that at every school. Before you decide on a program, be sure it includes the genres you’d like to explore further, whether that’s flash fiction, creative nonfiction, or something else.

Workshopping Opportunities

The core of most quality creative writing curriculum is workshopping. This means sharing your work in your classes and listening to your peers discuss and critique it. While this may sound intimidating, it can do a lot to help you hone your work and become a better writer. Look for colleges that make this the bedrock of their curriculum.

Showcasing Opportunities

Are there opportunities to present your work, such as college-sponsored readings where undergraduates can participate? Or, perhaps the school has a great literary journal. At my school, students could submit their plays and have them performed by fellow students. 

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

List of All U.S. Colleges With a Creative Writing Major

Notice a school that’s missing? Email us and let us know!

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

No matter what major you’re considering, the first step is ensuring you’re academically comparable to students who were previously accepted to the college or university. Most selective schools use the Academic Index to filter out applicants who aren’t up to their standards.

You’ll also want to demonstrate your fit with the school and specific major with the qualitative components of your application, like your extracurriculars and essays. For a prospective creative writing major, the essay is particularly important because this is a way to demonstrate your writing prowess. Activities might include editing your school’s newspaper or literary journal, publishing your work, and participating in pre-college writing workshops.

Want to know your chances of being accepted to top creative writing schools? Try our Chancing Engine (it’s free). Unlike other calculators, it takes your individual profile into account, including academic stats and qualitative components like your activities. Give it a try and get a jumpstart on your journey as a creative writing major!

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