• Colleges for Writing Majors and Undergraduate Writing Programs
  •  / 
  • Writing

Colleges for Writing Majors and Undergraduate Writing Programs

Although a degree in writing is not required, some writers choose to earn a degree in order to receive more career opportunities. Writing majors can prepare students for careers in journalism, creative writing or technical writing. This article offers tips for choosing a writing college degree program.

View 11 Popular Schools »

How to Select a School That Offers Writing Majors for Undergraduates

Students who want a career where they can utilize their writing skills might consider applying to colleges that offer degrees in various forms of writing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, most employers of writers prefer to hire candidates with degrees in writing, communications or journalism (www.bls.gov).

Whether students wish to pursue creative writing, publishing, journalism or technical writing, they can find a school that offers a targeted degree program. For example, aspiring news reporters would do well to apply to a school that has a strong journalism program. Those who wish to become children's book authors may gravitate toward schools that offer degree programs in creative writing, especially creative writing for children.

Prospective students should research the credentials of the professors who teach within the writing program. One important thing to consider is whether the professors have been published in the type of writing the student wishes to pursue. For example, fiction writers often choose to write in one of two styles, literary or genre. Literary fiction focuses on characters and their motivations while genre fiction is more focused on plot. If the majority of the professors in a particular writing program write literary fiction, students who write genre fiction would probably prefer to choose schools with instructors who specialize in their preferred style of creative writing.

Before choosing a college, future writing students need to check if the school offers writing opportunities outside of class. Contributing to literary journals, school newspapers and other school publications is an excellent way for writing majors to gain additional writing experience. These experiences can be included on students' resumes when they graduate from the program, making them more attractive to potential employers and editors.

Undergraduate students enrolled in a writing program typically earn a bachelor's degree in English, creative writing, journalism, communications or technical writing. Some college writing programs lead to an associate's degree. After finishing a bachelor's degree, graduate students interested in a writing career may earn a Master of Arts or Master of Fine Arts in Writing. Most graduate programs require that prospective students submit a writing portfolio in order to be accepted to a program.

College/UniversityStudent Population Institution Type
Arizona State University67,0824-year, Public
Ohio State University-Main Campus53,7154-year, Public
University of Florida51,4744-year, Public
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities51,1404-year, Public
University of Central Florida50,1214-year, Public
The University of Texas at Austin49,9844-year, Public
Texas A & M University48,0394-year, Public
Michigan State University46,5104-year, Public
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus44,4064-year, Public
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign43,2464-year, Public
New York University42,1894-year, Private not-for-profit
University of Wisconsin-Madison41,6204-year, Public
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor41,028 4-year, Public
Indiana University-Bloomington40,3544-year, Public
College of Southern Nevada40,3104-year, primarily associate's, Public
University of Washington-Seattle Campus39,6754-year, Public
Florida International University38,7594-year, Public
Florida State University38,6824-year, Public
University of Arizona38,0574-year, Public
California State University-Long Beach37,8914-year, Public
Show me popular schools

Related to Writing Colleges

  • Related
  • Recently Updated
  • Popular
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Compare and Contrast Essays

If you're a student enrolled in English classes, compare and contrast essays may not be your favorite thing in the...

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Great Reading Response Paper

Depending on your feelings towards the English language and the study of its literature, the thought of having to...

Why Writing Skills Are More Important Than Ever

Digital technology makes a lot of things simpler. It's also causing some cherished forms of communication, like letter...

Make Your Writing Shine: Tips for Perfect Usage

Who takes grammar errors lying down? Not you! Education-Portal.com is here to help you make fewer writing gaffes in...

How To Avoid Common Writing Mistakes

11 Popular Schools

Popular Schools

Avg. Wages For Related Jobs

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics