Students who wish to major in creative writing at a faith-based institution have different choices they can make for their educational goal. The creative writing major can take different forms depending upon the educational institution. Some faith-based colleges offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in creative writing, and others offer an English degree with a creative writing concentration. One faith-based college advertises the only recognized Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in creative writing. Other faith-based colleges and universities even offer graduate degrees for creative writing majors seeking a Master of Arts or Master of Fine Arts in creative writing.
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi promotes the only faith-based Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in creative writing in the U.S. Students are encouraged to contribute to the university's fine arts journal as they fulfill their degree requirements. At the conclusion of the program, students must complete and defend a senior thesis comprising a major writing project consisting of short stories, poems, or essays. In addition to the senior thesis, students must write and defend a 15 to 20 page piece describing their philosophy of aesthetics, composition, and creative writing.
Creative Writing Major
Ashbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, Bluffton University in Bluffton, Ohio, Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, and Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina are each examples of faith-based institutions offering a creative writing major program of study. Students complete extensive coursework in literature and different facets of creative writing. Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana is an example of an institution offering a Bachelor of Arts degree in writing, promoting the use of writing and creativity to help students develop their Christian voices to glorify God.
English Degree with Creative Writing Concentration
Various faith-based colleges and universities offer English degrees that allow students to pursue concentrated study in creative writing. Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana offers degrees in English with the option of a concentration in creative writing. The writing major complements the student's primary major and includes intensive course work in upper-level writing and literature study. Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee also offers an English degree with an emphasis in creative writing. Students complete coursework in various studies of literature and at least 12 credit hours of writing, focusing on poetry, short story writing, and a creative writing seminar. Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington provides an opportunity for English majors to concentrate their studies in creative writing. Students receive direct instruction in one of three major writing genres and literary study in their chosen writing genre. Hope International University in Fullerton, California offers students a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature with the option of a concentration in creative writing.
Creative Writing Graduate Degrees
An example of a faith-based institution offering graduate study in creative writing is Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles, California, which offers a Master of Arts in humanities degree in which students may elect to concentrate their studies in creative writing. The final culmination of a student's study may result in a master's thesis or a creative writing project. Another example is Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, which offers a faith-based Master of Arts in English degree with a concentration in creative writing, which explores how the Christian faith can impact an individual's creativity.
Related Articles
References
- Abilene Christian University: Master of Arts in English
- Anderson University: Department of English
- Ashbury University: Creative Writing Major
- Belhaven University: Creative Writing Department
- Bob Jones University: Creative Writing-Bachelor of Arts
- Bluffton University: Writing Major and Minor
- Carson-Newman University: The English Major
- Gordon College: English
- Hope International University: B.A. English Literature
- Indiana Wesleyan University: Writing-Bachelor of Arts
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Writer Bio
Heather Dennull has been active in the education field since 2003. She teaches developmental English and introductory courses in humanities and philosophy at the college level. She has a master's degree in education and is working toward a doctorate in educational leadership.