Creative Writing, B.F.A.
Become immersed in the craft of writing, workshopping, and publishing across fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and nonfiction.
About the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
The Department of English in the College of Liberal Arts offers the B.F.A. in Creative Writing. A major in Creative Writing emphasizes the craft of writing, workshopping, and publishing creative literary work in several genres, including fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and nonfiction.
The study of creative writing
- develops creative writing techniques and strategies, including worldbuilding, character development, and figurative language;
- explores ideas from literary and popular works; and
- allows discussion and critique of peers' work in workshop settings.
Students learn and advance as part of a cohort, and therefore become skilled writers within a vibrant and supportive community.
The Value of a Creative Writing Degree
- Creative Writing majors study with award-winning and bestselling creative writers as well as acclaimed literature faculty in a town renowned for its literary and artistic culture. They hone their skills in small seminars alongside talented and creative students.
- Creative Writing serves students who wish to improve their writing, communication, and analytic skills, as well as strengthen their imaginative and expressive faculties.
- Creative Writing graduates have a variety of options, including becoming professional authors, entering the fields of editing and publishing, and exploring careers in media, film, writing, communications, and marketing. Some seek advanced graduate degrees in creative writing, film production, and literary and media studies.
On this Page…
Program Information
Degree
B.F.A. in Creative Writing
Required Credit Hours
120
Program Type
Major
Minor
Program Location
School
Duration
4 Years
Degree Requirements
Find out about credit hour and course requirements for the 2025-26 academic catalog.
Students in the B.F.A. in Creative Writing have a common set of 33-35 credit hours of general education.
Categories of General Education:
- First Year Writing I, II
- English Literature Survey
- History
- Additional Humanities
- Fine or Performing Arts Appreciation
- Mathematics
- Social Sciences
- Natural Sciences
To see the details for these general education requirements, visit the UM online catalog or the degree sheet attached at the top of this webpage.
Students in the B.F.A. in Creative Writing degree complete 53 credit hours of English courses and 9 credit hours of courses outside the department in Advanced Interdisciplinary Histories, Practices, and Theories of Art. Students finish the program by writing and successfully defending a creative writing thesis and by participating in a public reading or showcase of creative writing theses.
Literary History Core (18 hours; at least 6 hours at the 400-level or above)
- Eng 299. Intro to Literary Studies
- One course from the list of Medieval and Early Modern Literatures:
- Eng 316: Introduction to Medieval Studies
- Eng 317: Chaucer
- Eng 318: Medieval Romance
- Eng 319: Medieval Drama
- Eng 320: The Heroic Age
- Eng 321: Literature of Medieval Europe
- Eng 322: Studies in Medieval Literature
- Eng 324: Shakespeare
- Eng 326: Renaissance and Early Modern Studies
- Eng 327: Early Modern Genres and Forms
- Eng 328: Studies in Early Modern Literature
- Eng 417: Early Middle English
- Eng 418: Advanced Studies in Chaucer
- Eng 419: 14th Century English Literature
- Eng 420: Medieval Lit of the North Atlantic
- Eng 421: Literature of Medieval Europe
- Eng 422: Literature of Medieval Piety
- Eng 423: Special Topics in Medieval Literature
- Eng 424: Medieval Forms and Genres
- Eng 426: Seminar on Shakespeare
- Eng 427: Shakespeare on Film
- Eng 428: Special Topics in Early Modern Literature
- Eng 506: Old English I
- Eng 507: Old English II
- Eng 513: Old Norse
- One course from 18th/19th Century Literatures:
- Eng 330: Studies in 18th Century Literature
- Eng 332: 18th Century Genres and Forms
- Eng 333: Studies in Early American Literature
- Eng 334: Early American Genres and Forms
- Eng 335: Studies in Transatlantic Lit to 1900
- Eng 337: Studies in Romanticism
- Eng 338: Studies in Victorian Literature
- Eng 339: Victorian Genres and Forms
- Eng 340: Studies in Antebellum American Lit
- Eng 341: Studies in American Lit 1860-1900
- Eng 343: Studies in 19th Century Literature
- Eng 344: 19th Century Genres and Forms
- Eng 361: African American Lit Survey to 1920
- Eng 431: Special Topics in 18th Century Lit
- Eng 434: Special Topics in Early American Lit
- Eng 435: Transatlantic Lit to 1900
- Eng 438: Special Topics in Romanticism
- Eng 439: Special Topics in Victorian Lit
- Eng 442: Antebellum American Literature
- Eng 443: Special Topics American Lit 1860-1900
- Eng 445: Special Topics in 19th Century Lit
- One course from Diverse Perspectives:
- Eng 315: Studies in Black Film
- Eng 357: Women in the South
- Eng 359: Survey of Native American Literature
- Eng 361: African American Lit Survey to 1920
- Eng 362: African American Lit Survey Since 1920
- Eng 363: African American Genres
- Eng 364: Studies in African American Lit
- Eng 365: Literature in Prison
- Eng 366: African American Science Fiction Lit
- Eng 367: Blues Tradition in American Literature
- Eng 370: Studies in World Literatures
- Eng 371: Studies in Anglophone Literature
- Eng 373: Studies in 20th & 21st c. Comp. Black Lit
- Eng 374: Survey of Caribbean Literature
- Eng 375: Survey of 20th & 21st c. African Lit
- Eng 376: Studies in Asian Literature
- Eng 377: Studies in National Counter-Canons
- Eng 378: Studies in Postcolonial Literature
- Eng 382: Intro to Gender and Sexuality Studies
- Eng 383: Studies in Gender and Feminism
- Eng 384: Studies in Gay & Lesbian Lit/Theory
- Eng 385: Women in Literature
- Eng 386: Gender on Film
- Eng 396: Studies in Diverse Perspectives
- Eng 462: Special Topics in the Global South
- Eng 465: Special Topics in Native American Lit
- Eng 468: Major African American Writers
- Eng 469: Special Topics in African American Lit
- Eng 472: Seminar in Diverse Perspectives
- Eng 473: Prison & the Literary Imagination
- Eng 474: Special Topics in World Literature
- Eng 476: Special Topics in Anglophone Literature
- Eng 479: Special Topics in Comparative Black Lit
- Eng 481: Special Topics in Caribbean Literature
- Eng 483: Special Topics in African Literature
- Eng 486: Special Topics in Postcolonial Studies
- Eng 488: Special Topics Gender/Sexuality Studies
- Eng 489: Power, Knowledge, and Gender
- Eng 490: Special Topics in Queer Theory
- Eng 491: Special Topics in Gender and Literature
- Eng 493: Special Topics in Race and Ethnicity
- Two courses of Eng literature electives at the 300-level or higher.
See all Eng courses in the catalog.
Creative Writing Core (21 hours):
- Eng 199 or 300: Intro to Creative Writing
- Eng 298: Intro to Form, Craft, and Influence
- Eng 301: Poetry Workshop
- Eng 302: Fiction Workshop
- Eng 308: Editing, Writing, and Digital Publishing
- Eng 400: Advanced Poetry Workshop
- Eng 401: Advanced Fiction Workshop
Creative Writing Electives (6 hours) chosen from:
- Eng 303: Nonfiction Workshop
- Eng 304: Screenwriting Workshop
- Eng 402: Advanced Nonfiction Workshop
- Eng 403: Advanced Screenwriting Workshop
- Eng 404: Special Topics in Creative Writing
- Eng 405: Nature Writing
- Eng 515: Nonfiction Workshop
- Eng 516: Fiction Workshop
- Eng 517: Poetry Workshop
Creative Writing Thesis:
- Eng 499: Thesis (final two semesters)
- Eng 498: Thesis Workshop
Courses Outside the Department (9 hours at the 300-level or higher) chosen from the list of Advanced Interdisciplinary Histories, Practices, and Theories of Art. Other courses may be approved by the program director.
African American Studies
- AAS 337: Anthropology of Blues Culture
- AAS 395: Survey of Black American Art
- AAS 412: Studies in Black Popular Culture
- *AAS courses cross-listed with Eng cannot count
Art and Art History
- Any 300-level or above AH or Art course
Classics
- Clc 303. Greek and Roman Tragedy
- Clc 304. Greek and Roman Comedy
- Clc 305. Topics in Classical Mythology
- Clc 307. Survey of Greek Literature
- Clc 308. Survey of Roman Literature
- Clc 309. Greek and Roman Epic
- Clc 315. Egyptian Art and Archaeology
- Clc 316. Bronze Age Aegean Art & Archaeology
- Clc 317. Etruscan Art and Archaeology
- Clc 318. Greek Vase Painting
- Clc 319. Greek Sculpture
- Clc 320. Greek Architecture
- Clc 321. Greek Art and Archaeology
- Clc 322. Roman Art and Archaeology
- Clc 323. Art & Archaeology of Pompeii
- Clc 328. Ancient Art on Location
- Clc 333. Poetry and Politics at Rome
Gender Studies
- G St 330. Queer Rhetorics
- G St 350. Gender and Sexuality in Cinema
- G St 353. Gender and Sexuality in the Media
- G St 442. Feminist Rhetorics
History
- Hst 456. Southern Music History
- Hst 481. Topics in History and Film
- Hst 482. Samurai in Film
Philosophy & Religion
- Phil 320. Aesthetics
- Phil 355. Philosophy of Film
- Rel 386. Religion and Film
Sociology and Anthropology
- Anth 302. Anthropological Films
- Anth 305. Archaeology
- Anth 306. Archaeology of the Ancient Celts
- Anth 308. Death and Dying of the Ancient Celts
- Anth 324. North American Archaeology
- Anth 332. Early Medieval Art and Archaeology
- Anth 335. Archaeological Field Session
- Anth 336. Viking Art and Archaeology
- Anth 337. Anthropology of Blues Culture
- Anth 339. Art & Archaeology of Pompeii
- Anth 412. Ceramic Analysis
- Soc 315. Leisure and Popular Culture
- Soc 440. Sociology of Music
Southern Studies
- S St 533. Fieldwork and Oral History
- S St 534. Documentary Photography
- S St 537. Documenting the South in Film
- S St 540. Photographing Place in the U.S. South
Theatre and Film
- Thea 305. Screenwriting I
- Thea 321. Theatre History I
- Thea 322. Theatre History II
- Thea 325. Playwriting
- Thea 329. Queer Playwriting & American Culture
- Thea 406. Screenwriting II
- Thea 421. Musical Theatre History and Literature I
- Thea 422. Musical Theatre History and Literature II
- Thea 463. Writing from Stage to Screen
Writing & Rhetoric
- Rhet 330. Queer Rhetorics
- Rhet 442. Feminist Rhetorics
A minor in Creative Writing requires 18 credit hours of English courses and approved electives taught outside the department.
- Eng 198, 199 or 300: Intro to Creative Writing
- three Creative Writing electives (at least 9 credit hours) from:
- Eng 301: Poetry Workshop
- Eng 302: Fiction Workshop
- Eng 303: Nonfiction Workshop
- Eng 304: Screenwriting Workshop
- Eng 305: Advanced Creative Writing
- Eng 387: Creative Writing on Location
- Eng 400: Advanced Poetry Workshop
- Eng 401: Advanced Fiction Workshop
- Eng 402: Advanced Nonfiction Workshop
- Eng 403: Advanced Screenwriting Workshop
- Eng 404: Special Topics in Creative Writing
- Eng 405: Nature Writing
- two additional courses (6 credit hours) chosen from:
- additional creative writing courses
- English courses
- approved courses in Classics and Linguistics
- Clc 303: Greek and Roman Tragedy
- Clc 304: Greek and Roman Comedy
- Clc 305: Topics in Classical Mythology
- Clc 307: Survey of Greek Literature
- Clc 308: Survey of Roman Literature
- Clc 309: Greek and Roman Epic
- Clc 333: Poetry and Politics at Rome
- Clc 368: African American Literature and the Classics
- Lin 303: Phonology
- Lin 304: Morphology
- Lin 305: Syntax
- Lin 506: Discourse Analysis
- Lin 510: Advanced English Grammar
- Lin 511: Dialects of English
- Lin 520: Historical Linguistics
Department Opportunities
Video: Get to Know the Department of English
Hear firsthand from students, faculty, and staff about the Creative Writing program.
Welcome to the College of Liberal Arts
As Coordinator of Student Recruitment for the College of Liberal Arts, I work with students, and their parents, who are interested in attending UM for their undergraduate degrees. I coordinate personalized visits to our departments, answer questions about the majors and programs in the CLA and handle all recruitment communications from the CLA. Please feel free to send me any questions you may have. It is my job to make sure you have everything you need to make an informed decision on where to spend your college career, and I hope it will be with the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi!
Annabelle Harris
Admissions Counselor
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