Creative Writing, B.F.A.

Program Description

Students in the B.F.A. in Creative Writing major develop their writing skills and artistic vision through craft classes, literature classes, and writing workshops in preparation for a variety of post-graduation options, from continuing on to graduate writing programs to working in the professional fields of publishing, editing, technical writing, and education.

The program recognizes students must read well to write well and must understand the relationship between tradition and individual talent, so literature courses are an integral part of the curriculum. Students also take a sequence of writing workshops, a course in creative writing theory, a publishing practicum, and a course that fosters professional development and features live readings by visiting authors. The program culminates in a two-semester capstone experience, the senior thesis project, for which they compose a collection of original poetry or prose, write a critical preface and an annotated bibliography, offer a public reading, and participate in a graduate school-style thesis defense.

What is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is a liberal arts discipline concerned with the practice of literary art, the life of the imagination, and the capacities of language. Creative writing students analyze masterworks of fiction, poetry, and literary nonfiction from different periods and cultures; compose their own original works; develop editing and communication skills; and explore the world of contemporary publishing.

You Might Like This Program If...

• Your nose is always in a book.
• When you’re not reading, you’re writing.
• You enjoy the editing and revision process.
• You can see yourself working on the editorial staff of Lake Effect, Penn State Behrend’s international literary journal.

Entrance to Major

In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:

1. attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
2. have at least third-semester classification.

READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing, a minimum of 120 credits is required:

Per Senate Policy 83.80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of coursework in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned.

0-12 credits are included in Electives if world language proficiency is demonstrated by examination.

Requirements for the Major

A student enrolled in this major must earn at least a grade of C in each 300- and 400-level course.

To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
ENGL 6	Creative Writing Common Time 1	4
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
ENGL 200	Introduction to Critical Reading	3
ENGL 209	Journal or Magazine Practicum 2	3
ENGL 212	Introduction to Fiction Writing	3
ENGL 213	Introduction to Poetry Writing	3
ENGL 312	Globality and Literature	3
ENGL 494	Senior Thesis in English	6
Additional Courses
Select 12 credits of a World Language (0-12 credits are included in ELECTIVES if world language proficiency is demonstrated by examination)		12
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
ENGL 401W	Creative Writing Theory	3
or ENGL 482W	Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory
Select 3 credits from the following:		3
CAMS 45	Classical Mythology
CMLIT 10	Worlds: Literature, Media, and Society
ENGL 104	The Bible as Literature
Select 3 credits from the following:		3
APLNG 210	Global English
ENGL 100	English Language Analysis
LING 100	Foundations of Linguistics
Select 3 credits from the following:		3
ENGL 440	Studies in Shakespeare
ENGL 443	The English Renaissance
ENGL 444	Shakespeare
Select 9 credits from the following:		9
ENGL 412	Advanced Fiction Writing
ENGL 413	Advanced Poetry Writing
ENGL 422	Fiction Workshop
ENGL 424	Creative Writing and the Natural World
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better
Select 12 credits in literature courses from a departmental list (at least 6 credits must be at the 400 level)		12
Select 3 credits from courses in professional writing from a departmental list		3

¹

Students are required to take ENGL 6 a minimum of four times. Students planning to major in creative writing are encouraged to enroll in this course every semester (typically 8 semesters). Students can take additional credits of ENGL 6 as Supporting Course credits.

²

Students can take additional credits of ENGL 209 as Supporting Course credits.

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
• Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Arts (GA): 3 credits
• Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
• Humanities (GH): 3 credits
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
• Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

• Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

• GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
• GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

• United States Cultures: 3 credits
• International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Program Learning Objectives

• Application of Knowledge: Apply knowledge of critical, theoretical, and technical traditions to the production of original literary works.
• Articulation of Knowledge: Articulate the relationship between their own original literary works and the traditions of literature.
• Foundational Reading: Demonstrate familiarity with representative literary texts from a significant number of historical, geographical, and cultural contexts, with particular focus on Modern and contemporary literature.
• Presentation: Effectively present their own literary work in public forums
• Professional Knowledge: Demonstrate familiarity with the contemporary literary publishing milieu.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

Erie

Tom Noyes, Ph.D.
Professor of English and Creative Writing
141 Kochel
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6209
twn2@psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2026-27 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

 Creative Writing, B.F.A. at Erie Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

Additional Notes

Academic Advising Notes: The course series listed about is only one of many possible ways to move through this curriculum.  Please be sure to consult with an adviser about your intended plan.

Career Paths

As a Creative Writing major, you’ll enhance your knowledge and sharpen your skills through a variety of literature courses and writing workshops. Additionally, you’ll interact with established writers who visit campus as part of the Smith Creative Writers Reading Series, and you’ll have the opportunity to help edit Lake Effect, an international literary journal. Penn State Behrend has a comprehensive support system to help you identify and achieve your goals for college and beyond. Meet with your academic adviser often and take advantage of the services offered by the Academic and Career Planning Center beginning in your first semester.

Careers

A B.F.A. in Creative Writing can lead to a variety of careers. Graduates of Penn State Behrend’s program publish their writing widely. They also work as technical writers, communications coordinators, copy editors, editors of presses, marketing directors, project managers, media associates, university professors, teachers, lawyers, librarians, and freelance writers and editors.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAM

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

Recent Behrend B.F.A. graduates have earned advanced degrees at the University of Utah, Bowling Green State University, Ohio State University, Indiana University, the University of Minnesota, Wichita State University, George Mason University, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the University of Southern California, Northeastern University, the University of North Dakota, the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Northern Michigan University, Duquesne University, and Syracuse University.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

Professional Resources

• Association of Writers and Writing Programs

Contact

Erie

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
170 Irvin Kochel Center
4951 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6108
HSSOffice@psu.edu

https://behrend.psu.edu/school-of-humanities-social-sciences