creative writing degrees texas

Best Creative Writing colleges in Texas 2024

Best creative writing colleges in texas for 2024.

The University of Texas at Austin offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 100 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 81 Certificates, and 19 Master's degrees.

University of Houston offers 3 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 14 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 8 Doctoral degrees, and 6 Master's degrees.

University of North Texas offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 4 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 4 Master's degrees.

Southern Methodist University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 11 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 11 Bachelor's degrees.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 12 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 12 Master's degrees.

The University of Texas at El Paso offers 3 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 44 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 28 Master's degrees, and 16 Bachelor's degrees.

Sam Houston State University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2022, 4 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 4 Master's degrees.

Texas State University offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 20 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 20 Master's degrees.

The University of Texas at San Antonio offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 4 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 4 Certificates.

University of Houston-Victoria offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 7 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 7 Master's degrees.

Find local colleges with Creative Writing majors in Texas

List of all creative writing colleges in texas.

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Do you love writing to express yourself? As a creative writing student at Austin College, you will learn how to craft effective stories and poems, build new worlds, and connect to your audience in powerful ways. You will enjoy small workshop classes, hands-on feedback from expert instructors, and opportunities to explore the landscape of publishing. Come and join our vibrant community of writers. Everyone has a story to tell. 

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Student Literary Works

Not Desi Enough

Sonia Charales

Honors Thesis: Poetry Collection

to tell, for the sake of the birds

Carrie Johnson

Honors Thesis: Poetry and Nonfiction Collection

“Build That Wall"? The Price of a Part-Time Citizenship

Larry Ramirez-Quintana

Honors Thesis: Poetry and Prose Collection

The Secret I Was

Leslie Erwin

Honors Thesis: YA Novel

Finish in Four* with the skills to launch your career  Being a great writer is about joining a community, publishing your work, and learning how to think critically about your own writing. Your four-year academic experience will strengthen and refine your skills in communication, critical thinking, and collaboration. With a degree in creative writing studies, upon graduation you will be prepared to:  act as a responsible and valuable member of a community of readers and writers  express yourself in writing for a variety of contexts and audiences    explore ideas from a variety of perspectives with empathy and intellectual curiosity   engage in effective revision of your ideas  write in a wide range of genres and styles  Explore our  Graduate Outcomes  to learn more about what our graduates are doing today. 

Program Highlights

The Lemuel Scarbrough Center for Writing supports a culture of writing at Austin College. The Center for Writing provides free peer writing assistance, writing workshops and resources, and support for the teaching of writing across campus. 

Our Professionalism and the Humanities (PATH) program helps you build career-ready skills, explore the real-world career paths of successful recent alumni, and incorporate project-based learning into your courses that allow you to work with community organizations, develop exhibitions, and learn about the publishing process. 

Suspension is Austin College’s entirely student-led literary magazine. Published once a year in print, Suspension highlights poetry, prose, and art created by Austin College students. Editorial staff are involved in every step of the publication process, from advertising open submissions, judging contest entries, selecting works for publication, and creating the final magazine layout. 

Meet our Faculty

Dr. Tom Blake Jr.

Dr. Meg Brandl

Dr. Alex Garganigo

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Popular Courses

• Fiction Writing 
• Poetry Writing 
• Craft and the Writing Community 
• Creative Nonfiction 
• Form and Theory of Writing 
• Screenwriting  
• Script Writing 

Related Programs

media studies

communication

Michener Center for Writers

Mfa in writing.

The Michener Center for Writers is the only Creative Writing M.F.A. program in the world that provides full and equal funding to every writer—yet it is our extraordinary faculty and sense of community that most distinguishes us. Our program is a three-year, fully-funded residency M.F.A. with a unique multi-disciplinary focus. Writers apply and are admitted in a primary genre—fiction, poetry, playwriting or screenwriting—and study in both their primary and a secondary genre(s). There are no teaching duties, a luxury that allows our Fellows to commit themselves fully to their writing. And because only twelve writers are admitted each year, our faculty can devote ample time and energy to every writer. With unparalleled support and the deeply held belief that literary art matters now more than ever, the Michener Center offers writers 3 years of unencumbered space to make the work that only they can make.

News & Events

2024 emmy nominations: mcw alumni & their work.

The 2024 Primetime Emmy nominations were announced this week. We’re thrilled to see three MCW alumni and their work in the mix!   Shōgun, written… Read more

5 New Books by MCW Alumni to Read This Summer

1. The World After Alice by Lauren Aliza Green “When Morgan and Benji surprise their families with a wedding invitation to Maine, they’re aware the… Read more

Alumn John McManus Wins American Short(er) Fiction Prize

Alumn John McManus (MCW 2004) is the winner of the 2024 American Short(er) Fiction Prize, judged by Dantiel W. Moniz for his story “Jack Sprat’s… Read more

MCW Alumn Monica Macansantos Awarded Shearing Fellowship

MCW Alumn Monica Macansantos (MCW 2013) been awarded a Black Mountain Institute 2024-2025 Shearing Fellowship. The fellowship brings writers to the UNLV campus for one year… Read more

MCW Alumn Rachel Kondo to Receive Austin Film Festival New Voices Award

Rachel Kondo (MCW 2016), co-creator of Shōgun on FX, has been awarded the 2024 New Voice Award from Austin Film Festival. Kondo is being honored alongside… Read more

Alumni Work Streaming This Summer

Look out for MCW alumni work in your feed this summer: TV series Shōgun (FX) and Fallout (Prime Video), and podcast Pack One Bag (Lemonade… Read more

MCW Fellow Darius Atefat-Peckham is Keene Prize Runner-Up

Michener Center Fellow Darius Atefat-Peckham has been named a runner-up for the 2024 UT Keene Prize for Literature, for an excerpt from his forthcoming book… Read more

Alumn Abe Koogler’s Play Opens to Positive Reviews

Michener Center Playwriting Alumnus Abe Koogler‘s play Staff Meal has opened to rave reviews, with recent coverage from The New York Times, Vulture, Observer, New York Theatre… Read more

The Michener Center aims to be a welcoming, inspiring, and invigorating community where writers feel safe and supported to take chances on the page. We are extremely proud that there is no hierarchy here—all students receive equal funding—and we firmly believe that our egalitarian approach fosters a higher level of work that more competitive environments suppress.

Our MFA candidates have come from places as varied as western India, South Korea, eastern Europe, and northern Idaho. Their backgrounds and experiences lend to the pages they produce, which are unique and uniquely vital. We aren’t seeking writers of any particular aesthetic, but rather we are looking for writers whose work is distinct, urgent, and arresting.

Each year, we receive hundreds of applications for twelve seats in the cohort. We accept only full-time, in-residence candidates for the three-year program. There is no low-residency or part-time option.

Applicants must meet the UT Graduate School’s minimum requirements for consideration, which include completion of a Bachelor’s Degree prior to enrollment. The Michener Center no longer requires GRE scores.

James Michener was the Pulitzer-Prize-winning author of over 40 books, including Texas , Hawaii , and Tales of the South Pacific . In his final years, he and his wife, Mari Yoriko Sabusawa, moved to Austin, TX, where they endowed the Texas Center for Writers, a three-year MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Texas. The first cohort of Michener Fellows graduated in 1996. After Mr. Michener’s death in 1997, the Center was renamed in his honor.

To ensure both continuity and fresh perspectives, the Michener Center faculty is built with fixed and moving parts. Writers from UT’s departments of English, Theatre and Dance, and Radio-Television-Film comprise our Resident Faculty, and each year we also welcome an exciting roster of distinguished Visiting Faculty. That our faculty members—resident and visiting—are as passionate about their teaching as they are their writing is of the utmost importance. Like our students, our faculty afford the program a wealth of varied experience, an abiding sense of shared enterprise, and deep commitment to the making of literary art. For more on our outstanding faculty in each genre, visit our Faculty page .

• College of Liberal & Applied Arts

Department of English & Creative Writing

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Creative Writing

Texas' only bachelor of fine arts in creative writing.

Do you dream of writing the next great American novel or making it big as an award-winning screenwriter in Hollywood? SFA’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing will give you the training you need to succeed in a wide range of professions. It’s ideal preparation for a career as a novelist, poet, journalist or playwright. Even if you want to work in a field like media, public relations or corporate communications, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing is a significant advantage. SFA boasts the only program of its kind in Texas – and one of just a handful in the nation!

Learn more about possible career paths.

An inspirational setting

Our beautiful East Texas setting is ideal for writers seeking a creative environment. At SFA, you’ll get the best of both worlds. You’ll live in a dynamic community of your peers and acclaimed visiting writers, and you’ll have instant access to the inspiring sights and peaceful sounds of the East Texas Piney Woods.

Undergraduate programs and requirements

Bachelor of fine arts in creative writing.

Our Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing program is the only one in Texas and one of only 16 in the nation. If you’re an aspiring writer, this program will give you fundamental and advanced training in the craft and technique of writing for a variety of genres. This program includes coursework in playwriting, screenwriting and literary publishing.

View a degree plan on the advising web page .

To learn more about the requirements of this program, please see the  Undergraduate Bulletin or discuss with your advisor.

View Degree Maps and Course Descriptions

Creative Writing Dr. John McDermott [email protected]  

Dugas Liberal Arts North Room 214

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 13007, SFA Station Nacogdoches, Texas 75962

Department of English

Creative Writing at UNT

Welcome to Creative Writing at the University of North Texas. We offer a Ph.D. in English with a concentration in creative writing , an M.A. in creative writing , and an undergraduate major with a concentration in creative writing. At UNT, we've fostered a thriving literary community enriched by our Visiting Writers Series and by our national journal, American Literary Review .

Corey Marks Director of Creative Writing [email protected] (940) 565-2126

For more details about the application process, please contact the department's Graduate Office:

(940) 565-2273

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Pictured (L-R): Kimberly Grey, Daniel Peña, Sarah Perry

Click here for creative writing faculty profiles.

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Spring 2024 Events

Unt's visiting writers series presents andrew boryga.

Please join us for the latest installment of UNT's Visiting Writers Series, featuring Andrew Boryga and his debut novel, Victim .

When: Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Where: 4PM - Craft Talk and Q&A in Curry 103

8PM - Reading and Signing in Art 223 (in the CVAD building, located at the corner of W Mulberry and S Welch)

Andrew Boryga began his career writing for a local newspaper in the Bronx at age 16. Two years later, he had worked his way into an internship with The New York Times . Since then, his nonfiction work has appeared frequently in the Times, as well as The New Yorker , The Atlantic , The Paris Review , The Daily Beast , and many other outlets. Now, his debut novel, titled Victim , is being released by Penguin Random House. Find a snippet of it here: https://lithub.com/victim/ .

"A thrilling work that requires a sense of openness and surrender, not only does [Victim] place the onus on us to decide whether Javi is a victim, a victimizer or both, it also forces us to interrogate our own complicity in the commodification of being a casualty." - New York Times

"A pointed satire of the culture of victimhood… Boryga's experiences as a journalist making a name for himself just as society was grappling with diversity inform this razor-sharp satire of the ways race and class can be exploited." - Washington Post

Copies will be available for sale and signing.

Add this date to your UNT Event Calendar here: https://calendar.unt.edu/event/unts-visiting-writers-series-presents-andrew-boryga .

UNT's Alumni Reading Series presents Matt Morton and Jessica Murray

Join us for a reading and book-signing with alumni Matt Morton and Jessica Murray.

Thursday, March 7th, 2024

Where: ART 223 (in CVAD Building)

MATT MORTON

Matt Morton is the author of Improvisation Without Accompaniment , winner of the A. Poulin, Jr. Poetry Prize, selected by Patricia Smith (BOA Editions, 2020), and the chapbook What Passes Here for Mountains (Carnegie Mellon, 2022). His poems have appeared in AGNI , Gettysburg Review , Harvard Review , the Los Angeles Review of Books , Missouri Review , and elsewhere. He has received fellowships and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Fulbright Program, the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, and the Sewanee Writers' Conference. He holds a BA from the University of Texas at Austin, an MFA from the Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars, and a PhD in English from the University of North Texas. He serves as associate editor for 32 Poems and teaches high school English and creative writing in Missoula, Montana.

Website: mattmortonpoetry.com

JESSICA MURRAY

Jessica Murray is the author of the poetry collection Breakfast in Fur (Galileo Press, 2022). Her poems, essays, reviews, and one poetry manifesto appear in the Birmingham Review , The Boiler , Cherry Tree , Cortland Review , Free State Review , Hapden - Sydney Review , Memorious , Painted Bride Quarterly , and other journals. She has an MFA from University of Florida and a doctorate from University of North Texas and lives in Austin, Texas.

Website: murrayjessica.com

Social Media Links

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Instagram: @UNTCreativeWriting

UNT Department of English

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X/Twitter: @UNTEnglish

Thinking about UNT?

It's easy to apply online. Join us and discover why we're the choice of over 46,000 students.

2024 Best Creative Writing Bachelor's Degree Schools in Texas

Other factors we consider, one size does not fit all, best schools for bachelor’s students to study creative writing in texas, top texas schools for a bachelor's in creative writing, best creative writing colleges in the southwest region.

Other Rankings

Best associate degrees in creative writing, best doctorate degrees in creative writing, best master's degrees in creative writing, best overall in creative writing, creative writing related rankings by major, most popular related majors.

Notes and References

Popular reports, compare your school options.

• Fine Arts Degrees

BFA in Creative Writing

Houston Christian University’s (HCU) Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Creative Writing degree program is an immersive exploration into the world of writing, where traditional and modern storytelling techniques converge with internship experience to launch vibrant careers in writing and publishing.

Our Creative Writing program is grounded in a deep appreciation for storytelling, encouraging students to explore various genres, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and screenwriting. It’s a place where your talent is nurtured within a supportive network of fellow writers and mentors, ensuring a rich, collaborative learning experience.

Experience opportunities to publish academic research and receive guidance from established authors, transforming your passion for words into a refined skill for various careers and further graduate education. Embark on a journey to hone your voice and make an indelible mark in the literary world with our BFA in Creative Writing program.

Creative Writing Major Overview and Requirements

For a total of 125 undergraduate credits, the curriculum encompasses a broad spectrum of general education and narrative arts core courses alongside specialized classes in professional and technical writing, creative genres including poetry, nonfiction, and fiction, and a comprehensive portfolio development process.

As a Creative Writing major at HCU, engage in the art of pitching stories and extending your network within author spaces, which are vital practices for any aspiring writer aiming to navigate the publishing industry successfully. Your academic journey is punctuated by hands-on experiences, including an internship that offers real-world writing and editing exposure.

Degree Plans

Review degree plan

As a Creative Writing major in a Fine Arts bachelor’s degree program, you will enroll in in-depth courses exploring various works and genres. These classes help you learn to write your own creative content in your preferred genre and expand your horizons by pushing boundaries in styles and techniques you may not have attempted before.

The BFA in Creative Writing degree curriculum includes courses such as:

• Advanced Grammar and Writing
• Creative Writing: Fiction
• Creative Writing: Nonfiction
• Creative Writing: Poetry
• Professional and Technical Writing
• Storytelling in Creative Writing

Creative Writing Minor

If you feel pulled to pursue a different HCU bachelor’s degree, adding a minor in Creative Writing intersperses your main area of study with hands-on writing workshops in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and literary and narrative writing electives of your choice.

Review minor requirements

What Can I Do With a BFA in Creative Writing From HCU?

By engaging deeply in the practice of writing across genres, receiving insightful feedback, and refining their craft in collaborative workshop settings, graduates of the BFA in Creative Writing from HCU are well-prepared to bring their literary creations to life in the diverse landscapes of today’s literary and media environments.

This balanced approach ensures that you’re proficient in crafting compelling stories and poised for success in various professional writing contexts upon graduation.

Career and Salary Outcomes

From mastering the art of storytelling for traditional publishing and digital platforms to honing the skills necessary for effective content creation in marketing and communications, you’re ready to enter a wide range of writing-focused careers strengthened by versatile knowledge and practical experiences.

Roles that you can pursue with a BFA in Creative Writing include:

• Marketing Copywriter
• Travel Writer
• Writing Professor

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that writers and authors in the publishing industry earn an average of $73,150 annually. Becoming an editor can bring an average annual salary of $73,080 .

Embrace your entrepreneurial spirit to explore self-publishing or content creation ventures and develop the essential communication and networking skills to succeed in the dynamic and competitive realms of creative writing, publishing, and beyond. Whether your path leads you to becoming a novelist, screenwriter, editor, or content strategist, a BFA in Creative Writing from HCU offers the foundation and inspiration to pursue your passion and make a significant impact with your words.

Opportunities for Creative Writing Majors

Tutoring and writing center.

Feel comprehensively supported in your writing journey through our Tutoring Center , which covers 90+ course subjects, and the Writing Center , where you receive in-depth assistance on writing assignments. Becoming a tutor at the Center enhances your résumé and allows you to contribute to the success of your peers, embodying the spirit of community and collaboration that defines our institution.

With the assistance of the Department of Student Success specialists, you can ensure you graduate on time with the experiences you’ve aimed to have.

Pursue Graduate Writing Programs

HCU’s Master of Arts (MA) in Creative Writing , Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing , and MFA in Screenwriting programs present an exceptional opportunity for bachelor’s degree students to further refine their talents across various disciplines, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and professional writing. This continuation of education allows you to dive deeper into their craft, ensuring mastery of a chosen genre under the guidance of esteemed faculty.

Engaged Artistic and Writerly Community

The melding of academic rigor and creative exploration is a hallmark of student involvement and student life at HCU . The Houston Christian University campus and the vibrant city of Houston offer a rich tapestry of cultural experiences, from art galleries showcasing contemporary works and timeless masterpieces to museums that inspire and educate.

Join the English Honor Society, or attend School of Fine Arts events such as the Writer’s Conference that draw authors from various genres to share insights and connect with writing students.

Related Programs

If you love words and language, we offer multiple writing and creatively focused bachelor’s degree programs because we’re confident that our students have the gifts and talents that lead to fulfilling lives and vocations using creativity to better the world.

Explore taking courses or earning a minor in a secondary field or different creative medium. Or, choose another major from our fine arts and writing degree offerings :

• Bachelor of Arts in English : A bachelor’s degree in English crosses the boundaries of critical reading and writing practice to prepare for many careers.
• Bachelor of Arts in Great Texts : Read and understand the works of writing that shape our consciousness as humans and the contemporary world around us.
• Bachelor of Arts in Narrative Arts : Break down genre and medium to learn the art of narrative, from writing to film and media.
• Bachelor of Science in English, Language Arts & Reading 7-12 With Teacher Certification : Teach English and the gift of reading and writing to students in middle and high school settings.

See our breadth of majors and minors in all areas .

Admissions and Aid

Join a community where words craft worlds and stories ignite change. In our BFA in Creative Writing program, accomplished writers are your mentors and you engage in dynamic workshops, becoming part of a network of peers who share your passion for storytelling.

• Begin the undergraduate admissions journey : Submit a free application.
• Discover success through understanding tuition and aid : Explore financial aid options designed to meet your needs.
• Dive into our essence : Learn about our mission, values, and the vibrant community waiting to welcome you.

Become a Creative Writing Major at Houston Christian University

HCU’s BFA in Creative Writing program is the first step to becoming a writer who tells stories that change the world. Take on success in multiple professional settings, backed by an unrivaled education in crafting the written word.

Apply to HCU as a Creative Writing major today .

• Faculty and Departments
• Animation (BFA)
• Art History (minor)
• Art with All Level Teacher Certification (BS)
• Cinematic Arts (BFA)
• Cinema Production (minor)
• Creative Writing (BFA and minor)
• Digital Media (minor)
• Graphic Design (BFA)
• Music (BA and minor)
• Music Education (BME)
• Music (BM): Organ, Piano, or Vocal Performance
• Narrative Arts (BA)
• Studio Art (BA and minor)
• Studio Art (BFA and minor)
• Video Game Design (BFA)
• Master of Arts in Cinematic Arts
• Master of Arts in Creative Writing
• Master of Fine Arts: Creative Writing (MFA)
• Master of Fine Arts: Screenwriting (MFA)
• Master of Fine Arts: Studio Art (MFA)
• Student Opportunities
• Events and Concerts
• Art Museum and Galleries

• College of Liberal Arts
• Creative Writing
• Academic Programs

The University of Texas at El Paso is proud to offer a fully online Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Writers can complete the entire degree from anywhere in the world, as there is no residency requirement.

Our goal is to prepare serious writers for publishing and teaching careers. The degree plan consists of 48 hours of coursework - 42 hours of workshops and literature classes (14 courses), followed by 6 hours of thesis during which students complete a publishable manuscript in poetry or fiction.

We offer a workshop-heavy M.F.A., but we believe in the necessity of a background in theory and form. Our candidates enjoy a wide variety of graduate courses in literature, from the “Form of the Short Story” to “Asian American Poetry.”

We believe that the excellent reputation of our M.F.A. program is created by our faculty and the writers we graduate. Therefore, our primary goal is to connect our students with solid writers who will aid in their artistic and intellectual development.

The main criterion for admission is a writing sample in either fiction or poetry. We look for writers with distinctive or developing voices, a sense of cultural or social awareness, and a yearning to expand one’s use of the craft. It’s simple; if you’re good at what you do, we want you to study with us.

We encourage but do not favor undergraduate degrees in Creative Writing or English. Our students and graduates come from various fields, from physics to theater, and all of them enrich the writing experience. Some of our applicants are establishing themselves as writers, while some already have books published, but need the M.F.A. degree to advance in their teaching careers. Whatever level you find yourself at, we welcome your work.

Our classes and discussions are held in English, however if you feel more comfortable, or feel like exploring language, you may submit your creative assignments in Spanish.

We look forward to hearing from you.

No matter where you are in the world, write with us.

Sylvia Aguilar-Zéleny, Advisor for the Online MFA

For questions concerning the M.F.A. curriculum itself, please write us at [email protected]

For questions about the application process, please contact  [email protected]

Maestría en Escritura Creativa en Línea de UTEP

La Universidad de Texas en El Paso se enorgullece en ofrecer la Maestría en Escritura Creativa en línea completamente en español. Ahora también los escritores latinos podrán realizar sus estudios de posgrado con nosotros en tu idioma y desde cualquier lugar del mundo. 

El programa consta de 48 créditos académicos a completar en el curso de tres años. Nuestras materias cubren un amplio rango de tópicos como traducción literaria, guión, crónica, novela corta y prosa poética, entre otros. Además, si eres bilingüe puedes optar por llevar materias en inglés.

Nuestro objetivo es preparar a los escritores para que publiquen y emprendan una carrera como maestros a nivel licenciatura y posgrado. La tesis a desarrollar dentro del programa es un libro en los géneros de poesía, ficción, o no ficción. Así que al graduarte estarás listo para el mundo editorial.

Aceptamos postulantes de cualquier parte del mundo y de diversas carreras. Aunque la gran mayoría de ellos vienen del área de literatura, nuestros alumnos y graduados provienen también de áreas como física, comunicación, y teatro, consolidándose así un diálogo enriquecedor.

Buscamos escritores que tengan conciencia intercultural y social, así como un deseo por ampliar la técnica de su oficio. Todos nuestros profesores son escritores activos y destacados en la escena literaria de las Américas. Cada uno de ellos habrá de contribuir en tu desarrollo artístico e intelectual. Esta es tu oportunidad de discutir tu trabajo con voces experimentadas y consolidar tu progreso literario.

Nuestras clases son impartidas en inglés, sin embargo, nuestro profesorado es bilingüe, esto te permite escribir en el idioma que más te sientas cómodo, español o inglés, como prefieras.

Envíanos tu solicitud, queremos que estudies con nosotros, no importa en qué parte del mundo estés.

Sylvia Aguilar-Zéleny

Consejera del MFA en Línea

Universidad de Texas en El Paso. Para preguntas sobre el programa, por favor contactar a [email protected]

Preguntas sobre el proceso de admisión, por favor contactar a Samantharai Yrigoyen [email protected]

Program Information:

For prospective students, faq’s, step by step process, application check list, for current students, online mfa faculty, connect with us.

The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Creative Writing Education Building, Room 901 Additional Emails English: [email protected] Español: [email protected] MFA Online: [email protected] Undergrad: [email protected] 500 W University Ave El Paso, Texas 79968

E: [email protected] P: (915) 747-5237

26 Best colleges for Creative Writing in Texas

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Texas ranked based on their research performance in Creative Writing. A graph of 70.1K citations received by 6.4K academic papers made by 26 universities in Texas was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. University of Texas at Austin

For Creative Writing

2. Texas A&M University - College Station

3. University of Houston

4. Texas Tech University

5. University of North Texas

6. Rice University

7. Baylor University

8. University of Texas at San Antonio

9. Southern Methodist University

10. Texas State University

11. Texas Christian University

12. Trinity University

13. University of Texas at Dallas

14. University of Texas at El Paso

15. University of Texas Medical Branch

16. University of Texas at Arlington

17. Baylor College of Medicine

18. Texas Woman's University

19. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

20. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

21. Sam Houston State University

22. University of Houston - Clear Lake

23. Texas A&M University - Commerce

24. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

25. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

26. Stephen F Austin State University

Closest to Texas states to learn Creative Writing

Art & Design subfields in Texas

The application window for Fall admission to the Creative Writing Certificate Program will open on Feb. 1, 2024 , with a deadline of March 1, 2024.  All links and instructions for the application will be available on this website.

• Applicants in Fiction need to submit a writing sample of up to 2,500 words.  The sample can consist of one story, several stories, or a novel excerpt. 
• Applicants in Poetry need to submit up to 5 pages of poetry, which can consist of one poem or several poems. 
• All applicants need to submit a brief personal statement in the application.

The application has TWO parts:

• Fill out the Creative Writing Certificate Application Form (including personal statement).
• Upload your writing sample to the UT Box Folder .

MFA in Creative Writing

Degree Requirements    |   Getting Started   |   Institution and Advisor   |   FAQs  

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) offers a bilingual, fully-online Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program. The goal of this unique bilingual program is to prepare writers for the publishing marketplace and for teaching and editing careers, both in the United States and Latin America.

Degree Requirements

The degree plan consists of 42 credits of coursework, followed by 6 credits of thesis during which the student completes a publishable manuscript in poetry or fiction. Refer to the Online MFA Curriculum page for a listing of available courses and course descriptions. Spanish is not a requirement for admission.

Many online MFA in Creative Writing courses are open to cross-campus enrollment. Check with your program advisor prior to registering for any of cross-campus courses to ensure they apply toward your degree program, and non-UTEP students who want to take MFA courses must get permission from the MFA Advisor.

To view Online MFA in Creative Writing program courses currently open for cross-campus registration, go to the Student Portal Course Schedule and select Creative Writing-Bilingual (MFA) from the Finish@UT Program menu, or search for a specific course name/number. UTEP students should refer to the UTEP Course Schedule and register directly through your home campus.

Getting Started

Interested in applying? Be sure to review the Online MFA Application Process , Application Check List , and FAQs . If you have any questions regarding the application process after reviewing this information, please contact Coordinator of Graduate Enrollment, Sally Vasko .

Refer to the Student Support section of our website for additional information on cross-campus registration and course access.

Institution and Program Advisor

Degree Awarded: Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Program Advisor:

Sylvia Aguilar-Zéleny

Please send program-related questions to  [email protected] .

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to questions such as, "Do I need to know Spanish to be admitted into the program?" and, "Who do I contact about financial aid?" on the MFA Online website .

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Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Major in English (Creative Writing Concentration)

Minimum required: 120 semester credit hours, general requirements.

• The general education core curriculum courses are listed in the degree plan below along with the statewide component code number. See the  General Education Core Curriculum  section of this catalog for the Texas State requirements and options in the core curriculum, including Honors courses.
• In addition to the general education core curriculum requirements, the  Bachelor of Arts degree  (B.A.) requires three additional hours of English literature, three additional hours of math/science/logic/computer science courses, six hours of 2000-level modern language courses, and a minor. For this program, the additional literature course may be satisfied by selecting a sophomore literature course for the 040 component of the core curriculum.
• Students must select a minor from the approved list of  Undergraduate Minors .
• Students must complete a minimum of 36 advanced hours (3000 or 4000 level courses).
• Nine hours of writing intensive (WI) courses are required for graduation.
• This major requires 36 semester credit hours of English courses. Within the 36 hours, students are required to complete six hours of early literature, three hours of literature focused on the work of a single author, and three hours of 4000-level literature. To satisfy the group requirements, students must select one course from 4 of the 5 groups. ENG 1310  and  ENG 1320  or ENG 1321 are recommended prerequisites to all other English courses.
• The minimum number of hours required for this degree program is 120. The number of free elective hours a student will complete depends on the number of hours a student may need to achieve the required 120 total or 36 advanced hours.

For transfer students, 12 semester credit hours in English (or equivalents) may be transferred from a Texas public institution of higher education for the English Language and Literature Field of Study and be applied to the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English at Texas State University. More information about the Field of Study is available in the Academic Policies section of this catalog. The transferable Texas Common Course Number (TCCN) is listed below the Texas State University course number in the following course list.

Course Requirements 

Students who earn a grade of “B” or higher in the first sophomore course may elect to take an advanced literature course in lieu of the second sophomore course. No more than six hours of sophomore literature may count toward the major.

ENG 3301 is required, and students should take it immediately after completing the sophomore literature requirement.

An ENG Literature course may be selected from the following:  ENG 2310  (TCCN ENGL 2322),  ENG 2320  (TCCN ENGL 2323),  ENG 2330  (TCCN ENGL 2332),  ENG 2340  (TCCN ENGL 2333),  ENG 2359  (TCCN ENGL 2327),  ENG 2360  (TCCN ENGL 2328),  ENG 2371

Advanced English Courses

Students are required to take ENG 3301 , preferably immediately after completing the sophomore literature requirement. Students must also take two courses focusing on early literature at either the sophomore or advanced level. In addition to ENG 3301 , students must complete seven advanced courses. Students must take at least one advanced course from three of the four non-writing groups listed below (A, B, C, or D), and three specified courses from Group E: ENG 3315 and either ENG 3348 and ENG 4348 (fiction track) or ENG 3349 and ENG 4349 (poetry track). They also select one three-hour elective from any group. One of the advanced courses must focus on the works of a single author and is recommended to be taken at the end of the major.

May fall into other groups depending on specific course content.

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MFA in Creative Writing

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About the Texas State MFA

A top ranked, funded mfa program in creative writing.

MFA faculty includes Tim O’Brien, Naomi Shihab Nye, Kali Fajardo-Anstine, and 9 full-time instructors who mentor students in completing book-length theses. Our student to faculty ratio is 6:1.

Student Accomplishments

Our Creative Writing MFA students come from a competitive international pool of applicants. Alumni have published countless books, won national awards, and secured teaching positions throughout the country.

Extensive Funding

Almost 90% of interested students receive funding in the form of graduate assistantships and scholarships. The cost of living in San Marcos is relatively low, though we're in the Austin Metro area.

Visiting Writers, Editors, and Agents

Our visiting writers series is one of the most robust in the country. Writers teach a master class, enjoy dinner with students, and host a craft Q&A, in addition to several readings.

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English Creative Writing Ph.D.

Want more info.

We're so glad you're interested in UNT! Let us know if you'd like more information and we'll get you everything you need.

Why Earn an English Creative Writing Ph.D.?

The Ph.D. program is designed to give you a broad, solid foundation in the academic profession, while at the same time preparing you to conduct original, in-depth research or to compose original works of literature. You'll benefit from the guidance of a nationally recognized faculty with a strong record of publication in prestigious journals like PMLA, Philological Quarterly, The Paris Review and Granta.

We make every effort to foster our graduate students' success and help them attain their educational and career goals.

While at UNT, our students have published their work in nationally and internationally recognized journals and magazines, including The New Yorker , Shakespeare and SEL: Studies in English Literature . They have placed books with presses like Button Poetry, the University of Georgia Press and the University of Wisconsin Press. And they have won prestigious awards and fellowships, including grants from the Newberry Library and from the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Reason rigorously, subtly and independently
• Analyze minutely sources and narratives
• Identify and address interpretative complexity
• Develop and contribute new knowledge
• Convey knowledge in self-designed courses

English Creative Writing Ph.D. Highlights

What can you do with an english creative writing ph.d..

Many recent Ph.D. graduates have gone on to tenure-track positions at other institutions all over the country, including Texas Women's University (Texas), Radford University (Virginia), St. Catherine University (Minnesota), Valparaiso University (Indiana), SUNY-Potsdam (New York) and Brigham Young University (Utah).

English Creative Writing Ph.D. Courses You Could Take

Learn More About UNT

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Creative Writing Master's

English Ph.D.

It’s easy to apply online. Join us and discover why we’re the choice of nearly 47,000 students.

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The NYU Creative Writing Program

is among the most distinguished programs in the country and is a leading national center for the study of writing and literature.

Graduate Program

The graduate Creative Writing Program at NYU consists of a community of writers working together in a setting that is both challenging and supportive.

Low Residency MFA Workshop in Paris

The low-residency MFA Writers Workshop offers students the opportunity to develop their craft in one of the world's most inspiring literary capitals.

Undergraduate Program

The undergraduate program offers workshops, readings, internships, writing prizes, and events designed to cultivate and inspire.

Spring 2022 Reading Series

The lively public Reading Series hosts a wide array of writers, translators, and editors, and connects our program to the local community.

Creative Writing Program

Low-residency mfa writers workshop in paris, undergraduate, washington square review, literary journal, a sample residency calendar, write in paris, scholarships and grant opportunities, program of study, dates and deadlines, creative writing, recent highlights from the mfa community.

• Alum Bruna Dantas Lobato   won the 2023 National Book Award in translation

• Faculty member Sharon Olds received the Joan Margarit International Poetry Prize from King Felipe VI in July 2023

• Alumni  Tess Gunty  and  John Keene   each won a 2022 National Book Award in fiction and poetry , respectively

• Books by faculty members  Sharon  Olds  and  Meghan O'Rourke;  and alums  Tess Gunty, John Keene ,  and  Jenny Xie  were named finalists for the 2022 National Book Awards; books by alum  Rio Cortez and faculty member Leigh Newman were also longlisted

• Alum  Ada Limón   has been named the nation's 24th Poet Laureate  by the Library of Congress

• Alum  Amanda Larson 's debut poetry collection  GUT  was selected by Mark Bibbins as the winner of the Poetry Society of America Norma Farber Book Award

• Alum  Sasha Burshteyn  was named a 2022 winner of the 92Y Discovery Prize. Alums Jenna Lanzaro and JinJin Xu were also named semi-finalists for the prize.

• Alum Clare Sestanovich was selected as a  2022 5 under 35 Honoree  by the National Book Foundation

• Alum  Maaza Mengiste  was awarded a  2022 Guggenheim Fellowship

• Visiting graduate faculty member  Brandon Taylor 's collection  Filthy Animals  was named a 2021/22  finalist for The Story Prize  and was shortlisted for the  2022 Dylan Thomas Prize

• Alum  Raven Leilani  won the 2021 Clark Fiction Prize, Dylan Thomas prize, the 2020 Kirkus Prize for Fiction and the Center for Fiction 2020 First Novel Prize for her debut novel  Luster,  and was named a finalist for the 2021 VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, the Gotham Book Prize, the 2021 PEN/Hemmingway Award for Debut Novel, the 2021 PEN/Jean Stein Book Award

• Alum Desiree C. Bailey 's debut poetry collection  What Noise Against the Cane  was longlisted for the 2022 Dylan Thomas Prize and was also named a finalist for the 2021 National Book Award in Poetry and the 2022 Kate Tufts Discovery Award, and was published as the winner of the 2020 Yale Series of Younger Poets

• Senior faculty member  Sharon Olds  was named the 2022 recipient of the Poetry Society of America's Frost Medal for distinguished lifetime achievement in poetry

You can read more MFA Community news here and find a list of forthcoming and recently published books by alumni here .   NYU CWP alumni include  Aria Aber, Amir Ahmadi Arian, Julie Buntin, Nick Flynn, Nell Freudenberger, Aracelis Girmay, Isabella Hammad, Ishion Hutchinson, Mitchell S. Jackson, Tyehimba Jess, John Keene, Raven Leilani, Robin Coste Lewis, Ada Limón, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, Maaza Mengiste, John Murillo, Gregory Pardlo, Morgan Parker, Nicole Sealey, Solmaz Sharif, Peng Shepherd, Ocean Vuong, Jenny Xie,  and  Javier Zamora. 

Announcements

Ocean Vuong joins the NYU Creative Writing Program Faculty

Mary Gabriel, Author of “Ninth Street Women”, Receives the NYU/Axinn Foundation Prize

Claudia Rankine joins the NYU Creative Writing Program Faculty

Classic podcasts from the lillian vernon reading series.

Anne Carson

Zadie Smith and Jeffrey Eugenides

Terrance Hayes

Where to find us.

Faculty Spotlight

Katie Kitamura’s most recent novel Intimacies was longlisted for the National Book Award and named a Best Book of 2021 by numerous publications.

Ocean Vuong is the author of the bestselling novel, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous and the poetry collection, Night Sky with Exit Wounds.

Hari Kunzru is the author of six novels, including the most recent Red Pill, and White Tears, a finalist for the PEN Jean Stein Award.

Sharon Olds is a previous director of the Creative Writing Program. Her 2012 collection Stags Leap was awarded the T.S. Eliot Prize and a Pulitzer.

Terrance Hayes’s most recent publications include American Sonnets for My Past And Future Assassin and To Float In The Space Between.

Foer was listed in Rolling Stone's "People of the Year," Esquire's "Best and Brightest," and The New Yorker's "20 Under 40" list.

Jeffrey Eugenides is the author of acclaimed novels The Virgin Suicides, Middlesex, and The Marriage Plot. His latest collection is Fresh Complaint. 

Claudia Rankine is a recipient of the 2016 MacArthur Fellowship, and the author of six collections including Citizen and Don’t Let Me Be Lonely.

Darin Strauss is the author of several acclaimed novels, including the most recent The Queen of Tuesday: A Lucille Ball Story.

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Inspiring Creative, Narrative and Argumentative Writing with Art (Spring 2024 Webinar)

  On April 2, 2024, Humanities Texas held a webinar in partnership with the Smithsonian American Art Museum on inspiring student writing with art.

Schedule and Curriculum

This interactive session for humanities teachers modeled three distinct classroom strategies exploring different styles of writing in response to artwork. The webinar supported students' development in the areas of critical thinking, analysis, and writing.

Led by museum education professionals, the webinar, like all Humanities Texas teacher programs, emphasized the development of effective pedagogical strategies and engaging assignments and activities.

Phoebe Hillemann of the Smithsonian American Art Museum led the webinar.

The webinar took place over Zoom on April 2. The schedule is available here .

The webinar was made possible with major funding from the State of Texas with ongoing support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Questions about Teacher Institutes

Call 512.440.1991 or email [email protected] .