Bachelor of Fine Arts - Creative Writing

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Creative Writing at Portland State University (PSU) is a first step toward a career in writing, editing, publishing, journalism, teaching, arts administration, advertising, and other creative fields. It will also prepare students to apply to graduate programs in creative writing.

The degree provides students with a comprehensive and intensive curriculum of classes and workshops in craft and technique, exposure to the work of established writers, and opportunities for students to work closely with peers and published writers as they develop and hone their creative work and critical skills.

Students get the opportunity to learn from distinguished faculty who bring their real-life experience and expertise as published authors into the classroom. Faculty are deeply engaged with creative writing students and act as mentors and advisors. Students in the program enjoy small class sizes, access to internship opportunities in a vibrant literary city, and a supportive community of peers. Students complete a final portfolio project that they can use alongside a resume. There are active creative writing student groups and writing events, including an annual reading series that brings writers of national and international reputation to campus. The B.F.A. requirements are designed to provide introductory-level experience writing in the three customary genres: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. This is followed by intensive work in one of those genres.

The creative writing major is highly flexible with an elective structure that allows students to pursue their interests in literature, literary theory, film, screenwriting, and publishing.