Northwestern University Creative Writing Degrees
Northwestern University is located in Evanston, IL. This private school was founded in 1851 by a group of Chicago businessmen. The University is home to over 18,000 undergraduate students and approximately 8,200 graduate students.
Northwestern University’s Continuing Education Division offers a Master of Arts as well as a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing. This program is designed to help students further develop their writing skills. By working closely with the faculty, graduate students in writing gain a firm understanding of the strengths in their writing and find out which areas need improvement.
Students enrolled in the Master’s program at Northwestern can choose to concentrate their studies in one of three areas:
- Creative Nonfiction
- Fiction
- Poetry
Curriculum
A graduate student in Creative Writing at Northwestern will take courses similar to the following:
- Prose for Poets
- Poetry for Prose Writers
- Seminar on Journal Publishing
- Seminar on Teaching Creative Writing
- Special Topics in Creative Writing: Brief Encounters
- Special Topics in Creative Writing: Enriching Narrative with Character
- Special Topics in Creative Writing: Film and Writing
- Special Topics in Creative Writing: Literary Journalism
- Special Topics in Creative Writing: Professional Writing in the Arts
- Special Topics in Creative Writing: Reading Russians
- Special Topics in Creative Writing: Reading Poetry
- Special Topics in Creative Writing: Research for Fiction Writers and Poets
- Special Topics: Shosetsu in Nonfiction, Fiction, and Poetry
- Special Topics in Creative Writing: The Narrator in Fiction, Essay and Poetry
- Special Topics in Creative Writing: The Short Story
- Special Topics: The Video Essay: Writing with Images and Sound
- Special Topics in Creative Writing: Travel Literature
- Special Topics in Creative Writing: War, Violence, Suffering
- Special Topics in Creative Writing: Writing and Photography
- Studies in Fiction Writing
- Studies in Novel Writing
- Studies in Writing Creative Nonfiction
- Studies in Writing Poetry
How to Apply to Northwestern University
A person interested in applying for the graduate program in Creative Writing at Northwestern University must have successfully completed an undergraduate degree, preferably in writing, English or a similar major. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required to be considered for admission.
Application forms are available online, and must be submitted with the application fee. The following materials must also be submitted to the University:
- A sealed copy of transcripts from all colleges and universities the applicant attended
- Two letters of recommendation written by someone who can comment on the person’s writing ability and academic record
- 20-page writing portfolio (four copies)
- Brief (5-10 page) critical essay on an author or major work of nonfiction, fiction or poetry
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
Along with the items listed above, the applicant must also provide a written statement of purpose. In approximately 300 words, he or she is asked to explain how attending graduate school at Northwestern will help reach their goals. A person who didn’t major in English as an undergraduate are asked to set out how their life experiences (academic and otherwise) have helped to prepare them for studying Creative Writing at the University.