Creative Writing Degree

If you are passionate about writing and determined to make a career as a writer, the best help you can get in achieving your goals is to continue your studies and pursue a creative writing degree. Whether you hope to hone your skills in screenwriting, playwriting, poetry, fiction or nonfiction furthering your talents through higher education can be a great stepping stone to a life long career as a writer.

Most accredited community colleges and universities that offer creative writing degrees employ faculty members who are professional writers. Many colleges and universities also provide students with an opportunity to work part of the time with various distinguished writers as well as appointing visiting writers as part-time faculty members. Both students and staff who teach and study creative writing are extremely dedicated to their art.

When looking to see which college or university would be best suited to your goals it is a good idea to choose one that offers a wide variety of smaller writing workshops where both students and professors have an opportunity to listen and provide constructive criticism on all work. Becoming a good writer involves the ability to practice ones craft, to experiment with different styles and to learn to continue growing as a writer. Most recognized creative writing degree programs allow students to complete several short stories, a screenplay, a book of poems or even a novel by the end of their senior year with the help of a college advisor. Since creative writing involves a great deal of exploration a creative writing degree is ideal for those looking to grow both professionally as well as personally.

Many students pursuing a creative writing degree continue their studies through a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing. Together with a degree in creative writing, a bachelor’s degree can open the door to such career opportunities as:

• Communication specialist
• Web writing
• Advocacy writing
• Journalism
• Science writing
• Corporate communications

Even if your professional goals are not aimed at becoming a full time writer, a creative writing degree will allow you to communicate ideas and reports more clearly as well improve your creative thinking and problem solving skills. Effective writing needs to surpass basic mechanical writing skills in order to get peoples’ attention and convey ideas and proposals in a professional and positive manner.

Whether you decide to study at a traditional community college or through online or distance learning, it is important to make certain that both the school and your creative writing degree will be recognized by industry. There are a number of informative college search engines that will take you to the sites of colleges and universities that offer writing degree programs. Take some time to visit each college website and browse the writing programs that they offer. Request more information or speak to a student advisor who can answer your questions about such things as admission fees, the application process and whether or not they offer degrees both online and on campus.

The final area that you will want to verify before deciding on a particular college is the school’s professional accreditation. If your studies will be in the United States, you can go to the following sites for more information:

• The National Accrediting Agency
• The Regional Accreditation for Online Schools

If you will be studying in Canada you can visit the following Canadian accreditation sites:

• The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
• The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges & Schools (ACICS)

Obtaining a creative writing degree will provide you with advanced writing and communication skills that will help you in whatever career path you choose. In today’s highly competitive job market, being able to communicate well is a skill that others will always appreciate and take notice of.