creative writing phd programs

creative writing phd programs

Creative Writing PhD Programs

1. Overview of Creative Writing PhD Programs

Creative Writing PhD Programs can take the form of an original research or knowledge project, where a main piece of creative work is completed and critiqued in context. This could involve the completion of an original manuscript followed by an evaluative essay that outlines the original contribution to knowledge completed through the manuscript.

While very similar to a creative writing MA, a PhD is a viable doctorate degree and consequently leads to a range of careers inside and beyond an academy setting. A Creative Writing PhD will also qualify a person to work in writing connected fields, and many schools require an English MA for admission.

Creators will be given permission to carry on writing in a structured setting, while also learning scrupulous literary discipline. Creative PhD writing programs link original work with a serious intensification of study as well as understanding the related inspiration.

Creative Writing PhD Programs Overview

2. Benefits of Pursuing a Creative Writing PhD

Learning from other doctoral students in the various literature and language departments can be a stimulating experience. Students admitted to a campus are normally funded with a five-year package which includes a summer stipend and tuition remission, along with student health insurance. These funding packages are the same as those received by other PhD students in the various language and literature departments. Students are encouraged to design individual programs of study to meet their specific needs. This may involve taking courses in a particular literary period, genre, theory, or it may involve taking courses in the various departmental offerings in linguistics, folklore, or composition. This allows the student great flexibility in meeting the 18 hour beyond the MA requirements. Typically, students take courses in areas outside the English department that may enrich their dissertation study. In these instances students may take a course in a foreign language or a course outside the department that is relevant to their particular interests in literary theory, gender studies, or regional studies.

3. Application Process for Creative Writing PhD Programs

Applicants to creative writing PhD programs must have an MA in English or in creative writing; an MA in a related field is considered on a case-by-case basis. The MFA is considered a terminal degree, which means that if you have an MFA, you are not required to get an MA in order to pursue a PhD. This also means that the PhD is a grueling, but also rewarding, residency of 5-7 years during which you will be fully funded (tuition remission + a stipend) and will have no other job opportunities. If you drop out, there is nothing waiting for you on the outside. It’s a lot like the MCATs or the bar exam; when you’re done, people will call you doctor and they will treat you differently. But before all this comes the application process. Remember, applying to a grad program is very different from applying to undergrad. You are not a customer; you are a prospective employee. The single greatest tool for research on the application process, as well as an invaluable resource for a prospective creative writing PhD, is the AWP’s annual guide to writing programs. This online book provides a detailed overview of the different types of programs for writers, their admission requirements, and all other information well cataloged and easily searchable. AWP access is strongly recommended for anyone who is considering the PhD in creative writing as well as anyone considering a career in academia.

There aren’t many “career” opportunities for the poet or creative writer. We all know that an MA in English is a terminal degree with no guarantee of employment (in academia, writing, or editing) for the holders, so anything more than that is geared toward people who A: want to be the absolute best writers they can be at any cost and B: seek an eventual life in the literary world. If you want to teach creative writing at the college or university level, this is the degree that will enable you to do that. Full-time tenure track teaching positions are VERY competitive, as in, hundreds of applicants for a single position. Most community colleges require an MA for full-time instructor positions, but that is quickly changing. The good news is that the MFA is the new MA, and in a few years, this will become the minimum qualification. This is already the case in an absurd amount of liberal arts colleges and regional universities.

4. Curriculum and Coursework in Creative Writing PhD Programs

There are, however, a few PhD programs that offer coursework to refresh their knowledge of literature and writing technique while within that program. If one is accepted into these programs, the track is likely to be the academic track and may delay completion of the degree. Consider whether an MA or MFA in creative writing would be more advantageous for you before applying to these programs.

Upon applying to a Creative Writing PhD program, you will need to be accepted into the general track or the academic track. Typically, the academic track is more desirable, and students will try to switch over if they are initially accepted into the general track. This can be done by demonstrating progress in their writing through workshops or classes outside of the creative writing program. These tracks often have differing time requirements, so depending on which one you are accepted into, it may take longer to complete the program.

5. Career Opportunities for Creative Writing PhD Graduates

While it is unlikely that you will make a living writing poetry or fiction, you will be able to find work in a field related to writing. A PhD in creative writing will also be helpful for those in fields such as journalism and publishing. You should have no trouble finding a place teaching, working in a publishing house or journalism, or doing technical writing. Higher paid positions related to writing, such as librarians or professors, are attainable with a PhD in Creative Writing. As with so many professions, a novelist or poet is not a self-made man, but a product of a learned tradition. Many agents and publishing houses will not consider a writer who has not completed a creative writing MA. In a tough and competitive industry, it is getting ever harder to make your work stand out and one of the means to do this is by having a PhD. With the job market increasingly competitive, sometimes landing the job you want simply comes down to having an edge on the next person, and a PhD can serve that purpose. There are of course no guarantees, but if you are in a place in life where you can afford to take the risk, a creative writing PhD can be a good way to work out if you have what it takes to be published, while also spending time honing your craft and broadening your understanding of literature. There is a sense of nomadism with the life of the writer, and a creative writing PhD is an opportunity to remain in education for a further three to four years, thus putting off the inevitable for a little longer. This in itself can be an attractive prospect for a writer who dreams of one day making a living through the written word. Step-by-step, a career in academia or writing can be achieved with a PhD in creative writing.