The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in creative writing is your first step toward a career in writing, editing, publishing, journalism, teaching, arts administration, advertising, and other creative fields. It will also prepare you to apply to graduate programs in creative writing.

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

You 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 for which students must apply and be accepted.

The creative writing program at Portland State University is incredibly competitive and requires students to apply for admission directly to the program in their sophomore year to gain access to upper-division courses. Transfer students may need to apply to both Portland State and separately to the creative writing program.

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

Portland is a vibrant, literary city—a hub for writers and creatives. Professionals flock to the city and have created a flourishing culture and cultivated a thriving creative industry. Portland State continues to contribute to this community by creating an environment for aspiring writers and creatives to grow and develop.

Portland State offers many opportunities for students to engage in the broader creative community in the city through internships and jobs. Our students are able to work and carry out internships while they’re in school, allowing them to build relationships and add experience to their resumes.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CREATIVE WRITING?

Writing skills are valuable in every industry, we prepare our students to be adaptable and thoughtful communicators. Graduates with Bachelor of Fine Arts from Portland State have gone on to careers in politics, public affairs, writing, advertising, communications, magazine and book publishing, library science, journalism, law enforcement, education, administration, art, and even science and technology.

Many of our graduates have pursued graduate degrees in art, creative writing, journalism, business, book publishing, public affairs, and even medicine.