Degree in Creative Writing From Carnegie Mellon
Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pittsburgh. It is well known as a global research university with an enrollment of 11,000 students. The student-to-faculty ratio is a low 10:1, which means students have the opportunity to develop close relationships with faculty members.
Carnegie Mellon was founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie. Originally known as Carnegie Technical Schools, the University changed its name to the current one in 1967. Many of the University’s traditions that continue to the present day reflect the Scottish heritage of its founder.
Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing
Carnegie Mellon University has been helping students to develop their writing abilities in genres such as fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, and playwriting for over 40 years. The faculty members at the school are professional prose writers and poets, which gives them a unique perspective to pass on to the students they work with.
An important part of the program is for students to participate in workshops where round table discussions are held. Students have their work critiqued by their peers, as well as their professor.
To be successful in this program, students must be highly committed to their work as writers. Those who fail to demonstrate the expected interest in their studies will not be encouraged to continue.
Curriculum
Students enrolled in the Creative Writing major at Carnegie Mellon will take courses similar to the following:
- 18th Century Literary and Cultural Studies: Empire and Literature in the Long 18th Century
- 19th Century American Literature: Hawthorne, Poe, & Melville
- 19th Century British Literary and Cultural Studies: Fin de Siecle Gothic
- African American Literature: Fantastic Blackness: African American Speculative Fiction since 1900
- Non-Fiction Novel
- Survey of Forms: Fiction
- Survey of Forms: Poetry
- Survey of Forms: Screenwriting
- Writing for the Professions
In Focus: Carnegie Mellon Overview
Applying to Carnegie Mellon
Prospective undergraduate students at Carnegie Mellon apply to the University for admission; they are not required to declare a major until their sophomore year. Applicants are asked to submit several forms as part of their application package, including:
- Common Application
- Carnegie Mellon Common Application Supplement
- Personal Evaluation Form
- Teacher Recommendation,
- High school transcript
- Standardized test scores
Application forms may be downloaded, or the University will forward them by regular mail to anyone who signs up for the school’s mailing list. Students who have made a decision that they will be attending Carnegie Mellon if they are accepted may choose one of the Early Decision Application Plans.
- Early Decision Plan I has a deadline of November 1, and applicants will receive a decision by December 15.
- Early Decision Plan II has a set deadline of December 1. Applicants find out whether they have been accepted by January 15.
The Regular Decision deadline is January 1. This is the right choice for those people who are considering Carnegie Mellon along with other schools. Applicants are notified between March 15-April 15, and have up to May 1 to enroll at the University.