B.F.A. in Creative Writing
Plymouth, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
USD 31,900 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* rolling up to 1 week before term start allow for visa processing time
Introduction
Unique Offerings
The BFA in Creative Writing is unlike any other writing degree offered in Wisconsin. A rigorous and focused curriculum for arts-minded students, this degree prepares students for a variety of careers, including creative writing, editing, and publishing.
At Lakeland, students take three tiers of creative writing workshops in three genres, as well as courses in our other fine arts programs - Music, Art, and Theater - to magnify study, extend practice, and enrich experience.
Required Cooperative Education experiences and internships pair students with national literary journals, a national book press, the Great Lakes Writers Festival, the Community Book Read, and the campus’ digital media outlet, The Mirror.
Expressive Communicating
What Makes Our Program Unique?
- Wisconsin's only BFA program offering a completely creative-writing-focused major
- Opportunity to learn from over 14 published authors
- Development of craft in all genres: poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and screenwriting
- Creative writing workshops that build from beginner to advanced levels
- Special topics in writing such as plot, children's literature, travel writing, social change, prose poetry, myths and fairy tales
- Composition of a book written, revised, edited, designed, and printed by student
- Exploration of other artforms as inspiration--graphic design, music, studio art, and theater
- Participation in the student-led creative writing club
Backed by Experience: 100% Placement Rate
In the last decade, Lakeland's Creative Writing program has achieved a remarkable 100 percent job placement rate for students who pursued this degree. Many of these graduates secured highly coveted teaching assistantships and tuition remission upon acceptance.
Lakeland University Writing Major: A Staple for Over Three Decades
Lakeland University also offers a major in Writing, which has been a cornerstone at our campus for more than three decades.
One-on-One Attention from Experienced Writing Faculty
Lakeland's dedicated Writing faculty takes pride in providing personalized attention to every student. While our primary instructors possess expertise in all aspects of the written word, Madeleine Wattenberg stands out as an award-winning poet with dozens of published works and numerous readings under her belt. Her debut poetry collection, "I/O," was a finalist for the 2021 Miller Williams Poetry Prize. Additionally, Jodie Mortag, an authority in fiction and nonfiction, has been featured in numerous prestigious literary magazines, including Ruminate, North Dakota Quarterly, Counterclock, Fourteen Hills, Barnstorm, and Stoneboat, among others.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Traditional Undergraduate Scholarships
Lakeland is committed to providing exceptional value at a manageable cost. That's why we offer a variety of scholarships to help make the cost of your education more affordable.
We also encourage all students applying for scholarships to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
After gaining acceptance to Lakeland, you may begin applying for scholarships through your Future Muskie Portal. You will use the login information you created when you first applied to Lakeland to access the portal site. Each scholarship opportunity will be listed as a "Form" on your checklist.
If you have any questions or would like additional scholarship information, please contact your admissions counselor or the financial aid office!
Curriculum
Creative Writing, B.F.A.
Major Requirements (56 semester hours)
- CRW 115 - Writing in the Genres
- CRW 215 - Fiction Writing
- CRW 220 - Poetry Writing
- CRW 240 - Nonfiction Writing
- CRW 400 - Internship in Writing (1-4 semester hours) (4 semester hours)
- 2 semester hours in literary publishing or Mirror Editorship
- 2 semester hours in literary event planning and management
- CRW 410 - Advanced Fiction Writing
- CRW 420 - Advanced Poetry Writing
- CRW 440 - Advanced Nonfiction Writing
- CRW 460 - Writer's Studio (0 semester hours)
- CRW/WRT 465 - Developing the Writing Project (1 semester hour)
- CRW/WRT 470 - Senior Project in Writing
- CRW/WRT 480 - Special Topics in Writing
- ENG 320 - Exploring American Literature
- ENG 370 - Shakespeare
- MUS 120 - Music in History and Culture
- WRT 300 - Advanced Composition (WI)
- Three (3) semester hours from any ART/GDN/MUS/THE production or performance course
- Three (3) additional semester hours of English (ENG) coursework numbered 300 or above
One of the following:
- CRW 250 - Screenwriting
- ENG 275 - The Art of Comics
One of the following:
- ART 263 - Art History I
- ART 264 - Art History II
Public Reading Requirement
Students must plan, advertise, and give a public reading of their original work to complete the requirements of the B.F.A. in creative writing. This reading may occur on or off campus and typically occurs in the final semester of the student's degree.
Note:
Students planning to pursue a residential M.F.A program should take ENG 325 - How We Write: An Introduction to Composition Studies.
Program Outcome
Students who have successfully completed a B.F.A. in Creative Writing from Lakeland University should be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of key terms, histories, forms, and structures from a variety of fields within the fine arts.
- Present work clearly and professionally when writing within different genres.
- Master the conventions of Standard English.
- Use artistic conventions in creative and unique ways.
- Work both independently and within a community of writers.
- Demonstrate work habits necessary for successful careers within the writing profession.
- Apply knowledge and skills gained in the classroom to real-world settings (e.g., internships, The Mirror, Seems, etc.).
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
- Author
- Copywriter and Editor
- Publisher
- Teacher
- Reporter
- Writing Festival Coordinator
- Pursuit of an M.F.A. in Creative Writing
- Pursuit of a M.A. in Publishing and Editing
Co-Op & Internship Opportunities
- Report for the University newspaper The Mirror
- Editorship on Seems literary magazine
- Assistantship organizing Great Lakes Writers Festival, Community Book Read, Writer's Studio
- Social Media Content Creator for writing program and/or Humanities and fine arts pages
- Copywriter and Editor for the Great Lakes Writers Festival website
- Curator for Writing Room
English Language Requirements
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