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University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Wisconsin, united states.

The Department of English offers a Master of Arts degree in Creative Writing (Plan C), a studio/academic program. The emphasis is on the writing of fiction or poetry or both, with supplemental courses in literature. The cornerstone of the program is a 2-semester sequence in either fiction or poetry. The first semester ("Narrative Craft and Theory" or "Poetic Craft and Theory") introduces the student to a broad range of literary techniques and models and to the practice of criticism at the graduate level. The second semester ("Seminar in Fiction Writing" or "Seminar in Poetry Writing") provides a graduate-level workshop in which student manuscripts are discussed. Each of the four courses may be repeated, with a change in subtitle, up to three times. In addition, students are required to take at least two literature courses (6 s/hrs) from department courses providing graduate-level introductions to the study of English. The program also provides a variety of options in creative writing and other areas. Students may take workshops in fiction, poetry, or expository writing and special workshops which cover other forms and genres (e.g., personal journalism, creative nonfiction). Courses are also available in the teaching of writing, business and technical writing, article writing, digital writing, literary criticism, and formal academic research and writing. Creative writing students may also take courses in the department's large programs in Rhetoric and Composition; Professional Writing; Literature and Cultural Theory; and Media, Cinema and Digital Studies.

The most important feature of the program is the final project ("thesis") - a substantial collection of fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction, which grows out of the student's course work and independent study. The student's adviser will assist in the planning and development of this project, which is then submitted to a three-person committee for evaluation. An informal colloquium ("oral examination") concludes the student's work in the program.

The Department of English also offers a limited number of students the option of a creative dissertation in the English doctoral program. Students must meet the academic standards of the program in literature (as demonstrated by previous course work, GRE scores, writing samples, and, for those who are finishing their MA at UWM, a qualifying examination); they must also show exceptional promise as creative writers with the expectation of substantial publication before the completion of the doctorate. It is assumed that students applying to this program wish to enter careers as college teachers and mean to compete for academic positions with the best writers and scholars produced by American graduate schools.

Students in the doctoral program may take more creative writing as well as literature courses, including 12 s/hrs at the graduate seminar level. A major portion of the student's course work in literature should be selected in preparation for the first part of the preliminary examination - a written exam covering a literary period, genre, or special topic which the student has designated as a supplemental teaching area. A second, oral part of the examination covers not only the literary texts the student has studied but also his/her plans for the creative dissertation. Students interested in teaching composition or applied writing may include work in those areas in their program of study. Each student is advised by a three-member advisory board, which normally serves as the nucleus of the student's dissertation committee.

The program publishes a national literary magazine, the cream city review, which is edited by graduate students and advised by a faculty board.

Contact Information

3243 N Downer Avenue English Department, Curtin Hall 566 Milwaukee Wisconsin, United States 53211 Phone: [email protected] Email: [email protected] http://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/english/grad/c-creative/index.cfm

Bachelor of Arts in English/Creative Writing Concentration +

Undergraduate program director, master of arts in english/creative writing +, graduate program director.

The Department of English offers a Master of Arts degree in Creative Writing (Plan C), a studio/academic program. The emphasis is on the writing of fiction or poetry or both, with supplemental courses in literature. The cornerstone of the program is a 2-semester sequence in either fiction or poetry. The first semester ("Narrative Craft and Theory" or "Poetic Craft and Theory") introduces the student to a broad range of literary techniques and models and to the practice of criticism at the graduate level. The second semester ("Seminar in Fiction Writing" or "Seminar in Poetry Writing") provides a graduate-level workshop in which student manuscripts are discussed in the context of the preceding course. Each of the four courses may be repeated, with a change in subtitle, up to three times. In addition, students are required to take at least two literature courses (6 s/hrs) from department courses providing graduate-level introductions to the study of English. The program also provides a variety of options in creative writing and other areas. Students may take workshops in fiction, poetry, or expository writing and special workshops which cover other forms and genres (e.g., autobiography, personal journalism, creative nonfiction). Courses are also available in the teaching of writing, in business and technical writing, in article writing, in literary criticism, and formal academic research and writing. Creative writing students may also take courses in the department's large programs in Rhetoric and Composition, Professional Writing, and Modern Studies.

The most important feature of the program is the final project ("thesis") - a substantial collection of fiction, poetry, or nonfiction, which grows out of the student's course work and independent study. The student's adviser will assist in the planning and development of this project, which is then submitted to a three-person committee for evaluation. An informal colloquium ("oral examination") concludes the student's work in the program.

The Department of English also offers a limited number of students the option of a creative dissertation in the English doctoral program. Students must meet the academic standards of the program in literature (as demonstrated by previous course work, GRE scores, and a qualifying examination); they must also show exceptional promise as creative writers with the expectation of substantial publication before the completion of the doctorate. It is assumed that students applying to this program wish to enter careers as college teachers and mean to compete for academic positions with the best writers and scholars produced by American graduate schools.

Students in the doctoral program may take more creative writing as well as literature courses, including 12 s/hrs at the graduate seminar level. A major portion of the student's course work in literature should be selected in preparation for the first part of the preliminary examination - a written exam covering a literary period, genre, or special topic which the student has designated as a supplemental teaching area. A second, oral part of the examination covers the student's plans for the creative dissertation. Students interested in teaching composition or applied writing may include work in those areas in their program of study. Each student is advised by a three-member advisory board, which normally serves as the nucleus of the student's dissertation committee.

The program publishes a national literary magazine, the Cream City Review, which is edited by graduate students and advised by a faculty board.

PhD in Creative Writing +

The Department of English offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree in English with a Concentration in Creative Writing (Plan C), a studio/academic program. The emphasis is on the writing of fiction or poetry or both with additional substantial work in the study of literature and literary criticism/theory. The cornerstone of the program is a 2-semester sequence in either fiction or poetry. The first semester ("Narrative Craft and Theory" or "Poetic Craft and Theory") introduces the student to a broad range of literary techniques and models and to the practice of criticism at the graduate level. The second semester ("Seminar in Fiction Writing" or "Seminar in Poetry Writing") provides a graduate-level workshop in which student manuscripts are discussed. In addition, students are required to take at least 24 credit/hrs. of literature, 12 credit/hrs. in graduate level creative writing courses, and 12 credit/hrs. in electives, including those that may be transferred in from the student’s MA or MFA degree. The program provides a variety of options in creative writing and other areas. Students may take workshops in fiction, poetry, or expository writing and special workshops, which cover other forms and genres (e.g., autobiography, personal journalism, creative nonfiction). Courses are also available in the teaching of writing, in business and technical writing, in article writing, in literary criticism, and in formal academic research and writing. Creative writing students may also take courses in the department's large programs in Rhetoric and Composition; Professional Writing; Cultural Theory; and Media, Cinema and Digital Studies.

A major portion of the student's course work in literature should be selected in preparation for the first part of the preliminary examination - a written exam covering a literary period, genre, or special topic which the student has designated as a supplemental teaching area. A second, oral part of the examination covers the student's plans for the creative dissertation—a substantial collection of fiction, poetry, or nonfiction, which grows out of the student's course work and independent study. The student's adviser will assist in the planning and development of this project, which is then submitted to a five-person committee for evaluation. Students interested in teaching composition or applied writing may include work in those areas in their program of study. Each student is advised by a three-member advisory board, which normally serves as the nucleus of the student's dissertation committee.

Applicants must meet the academic standards of the program in literature (as demonstrated by previous course work, GRE scores, and critical writing samples); they must also show exceptional promise as creative writers with the expectation of substantial publication before the completion of the doctorate. It is assumed that students applying to this program wish to enter careers as college teachers and mean to compete for academic positions with the best writers and scholars produced by American graduate schools.

Liam Callanan

Listen and Other Stories, All Saints, The Cloud Atlas

http://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/english/people/faculty/callanan.cfm

Brenda Cardenas

Boomerang, From the Tongues of Brick and Stone

http://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/english/people/faculty/cardenas.cfm

Rebecca Dunham

Cold Pastoral, Glass Armonica, Fascicle, The Flight Cage, The Miniature Room

http://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/english/people/faculty/dunham.cfm

Valerie Laken

Separate Kingdoms: Stories, Dream House

http://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/english/people/faculty/laken.cfm

Publications & Presses +

cream city review

Furrow: Undergraduate Literary Magazine

Visiting Writers Program +

Visiting Writers (for short periods, which include presenting readings, craft talks, and/or one-day workshops) have included Juan Felipe Herrera, Ramona Ausubel, Paisley Rekdal, Margot Livesey, Jesse Lee Kercheval, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Carmen Gimenez Smith, Dawn Lundy Martin, Peter Rock, Daniel Borzutzky, Ken Barris, Pete Fromm, Eric Pankey, Arthur Sze, Chase Twitchell, Matthew Zapruder, Matthea Harvey, C.D. Wright, Nicole Cooley, Jesse Lee Kercheval, David Kherdian, Pam Houston, Jean Thompson, George Bowering, Robert Olen Butler, Kyoko Mori, Carolyn Knox, Ron Tanner, Adam Johnson, Robert Coover, Nega Mezlekia, Charles Bernstein, Cornelius Eady, and Galway Kinnell, among others.

Reading Series +

United We Read: Graduate Student/Faculty Reading Series ( http://uwm.edu/english/graduate/graduate-plans/creative-writing/creative-writing-events/ )

The Boudreaux Poetry Series ( https://www.facebook.com/UWMEnglish )

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Welcome to Your University

MEET OUR EDITORS

Art editor, copyeditor.

Elyse is majoring in Journalism and Media Studies (JAMS) and minoring in Writing, Editing, and Publishing at UWM. She will be graduating in the spring of 2025. Beyond her literary pursuits, Elyse is a passionate observer, finding inspiration in the nuances of human interaction. She spends her days in deep contemplation, listening to various indie bands, and painting her nails.

Fiction Editor, Layout Designer        

Danny calderon.

Poetry Editor, Fundraiser

Nonfiction Editor, Event Planner

Evan is a junior, pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering at UWM after moving from New Berlin, Wisconsin in 2020. Evan plays in two Americana-Country bands,  Grain Elevator,  and  Max Niemann & The Fellow Travelers , as a means of surviving the mental onslaught of senior-year engineering classes.  

Jason Don Christensen

Art Editor, Graphic Designer

Jason is graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from UWM in May 2024. He also practices as a studio artist, specializing in mixed media and design. When he's not studying, he helps at North Shore Academy of the Arts (NSAA), a nonprofit art organization and educational space in Grafton, Wisconsin.

Editor-in-Chief

Dal is a senior at UWM, majoring in Creative Writing and minoring in Psychology. In addition to their role in  Furrow , they serve as the Operations Manager of the Union Recreation Center. In their free time, Dal enjoys rock climbing, writing poetry and flash fiction, and reading Frank Herbert's  Dune  series. Their published work can be found in Furrow , VA Press'  Secret Words , and Catkin ,  and explores the intersections of identity, family, and ethnicity.  

Nick Gamble

Fiction Editor, Web Editor

Nick is a senior majoring in Creative Writing and minoring in both Spanish and Japanese at UWM. When not in class, he enjoys reading comic books and working on his own comics.

Noelle Gómez

Poetry Editor, Copyeditor

Noelle is a junior majoring in Creative Writing and minoring in Spanish at UWM. Their short story, “Earthworms” was delightfully published In Furrow’ s 2023 edition. When Noelle isn’t obsessively daydreaming about Twilight , they’re over-buttering their toast, annotating objectively bad romance novels, and oversharing through poetry on their Instagram @fernorley.

Michael Janssen

Art Editor, Graphic Designer    

Michael is a fifth-year student majoring in Design and Visual Communication at UWM. Outside of school, Michael enjoys creating art, playing basketball, listening to music, and consuming geeky media. He has a special interest in sports and comics and hopes to incorporate both into his future career plans as a creative. You can find his work here .

Kim is set to graduate from UWM this spring with a Bachelor’s in English on the Creative Writing track and a minor in Japanese. He aims to have his first manuscript accepted into a publishing house and intends to work as an ALT in Japan or Korea after he graduates. When he is not engaged with school activities, he often writes manuscripts for stories and keeps up with his schedule of writing two pages per day.

Annaliese Kunst

Poetry Editor, Managing Editor  

Annaliese is currently working towards her English degree with a focus in Creative Writing at UWM. In her limited free time, she hangs out with her sort-of-ugly Pitbull-Aussie-Cattle Dog mix and obsesses over classical literature.

Lily Lalios

Lily is an English Undergraduate at UWM. They are also Editor-in-Chief of Agapimeni Literary Magazine, and an Editor for VA Press. Lily has been published in the 14th issue of Grim and Gilded and the 6th volume of Secret Words . Their work explores themes of generational cycles, alchemy, and speculative technologies.   

Jasmine LeClair 

Fiction Editor, Layout Designer

Jasmine is majoring in English on the Rhetoric and Professional Writing track and minoring in Psychology. When she is not busy working in her classes, she writes short stories and poems, one of which has been published in the  Sheepshead Review ; reads; plays video games; and spends time with her two cats. She hopes to pursue a Master’s degree in Creative Writing and become an author in the future.

Jakob is majoring in English on the Creative Writing track at UWM and plans on graduating in 2025. In his work, Jakob writes fiction with a fantasy focus and dabbles in poetry. Storytelling bleeds into his hobbies as well—he has a deep love of theatre and tabletop games.

Fiction Editor, Event Planner

Ava  is currently a junior at UWM majoring in English on the Creative Writing track. When unoccupied with class or work, you can find her fluttering through the aisles of Barnes & Noble, going to concerts with her younger sister, or adding to her steadily growing plant collection.

Tessa Naylor

Tessa is majoring in English and Pre-Law, minoring in Sociology, and obtaining a certificate in Cultures and Communities from UWM, graduating in May of 2024. She is a poet and has been published in  Catkin  and Straylight literary magazines. When she isn't writing or editing for  Furrow,  she is helping others process their grief as an Undertaker.  

Lily Passarelli 

Nonfiction Editor, Layout Designer  

Lily is graduating in May of 2024, majoring in Film and minoring in Writing, Editing, and Publishing. When she's not making movies with friends, she can be found bundled up in bed, listening to music and working on her next yarn project.  

Hazel Ramos

Nonfiction Editor, Copyeditor

Hazel is a senior at UWM, majoring in English and minoring in Communications. Her dream is to work as a publisher after graduating in May of 2024. Outside of class, she can be found listening to music, going to concerts, and supporting indie coffee shops.   

Abby Schroder

Abby is a senior at UWM, majoring in English and minoring in Comparative Literature. When Abby is not working or in class, she enjoys taking long walks with her two Pekingese pups, journaling about books, and half-finishing fantasy novels she one day hopes to finish and publish.  

Liv Sheppard

Art Editor, Web Editor

Liv is majoring in Animation and minoring in Creative Writing and loves anything and everything with a fantastical flair. She aims to leap into the animation industry with her degrees and can't wait to be immersed in the world she grew up dreaming about. When she's not gushing about Gravity Falls or the 2017 reboot of  DuckTales , Liv is cuddling her with her three cats and playing her favorite game,  Sun Haven .

Natalie Starks

Natalie is majoring in Design & Visual Communications at UWM, where she enthusiastically engages with fellow artists and art- appreciators and works as a Production and Design Team Lead at UWM's Planetarium. She is thrilled about all things related to art and design and is excited to keep pushing out creative and colorful energy into the world!

Poetry Editor, Event Planner

Max is majoring in English, with plans to study abroad in the Fall of 2024. He likes to write fiction and poetry in his free time and has been published in  Inkblots  and  The Pink Moth . Against all odds, Max has hope for humanity and hopes to one day be a published author and touch the lives of those who are struggling with their own story.  

Noah Strzykalski

Art editor, staff photographer.

Noah is a senior set to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design in May of 2024. When he's not editing for Furrow , he is talking about his interests in extensive detail.  

Noah Vincent

Nonfiction Editor, Publicist

Noah is a senior majoring in Film at UWM. Noah loves food and is a certified barista. Subscribe to his YouTube channel, Electric Lasagna Production .

Danielle Harms

Faculty Advisor

Danielle is in the English PhD program at UW-Milwaukee.  She has been published in Conjunctions , The Offing , DIAGRAM , and Fourth Genre . Her work was listed as Notable in the 2023 Best American Essays , she is the winner of a UWM Teaching Fellow Award, and is a staff scholar at the Bread Loaf Writer's Conference. Danielle received her MFA from George Mason University, where she was the Editor-in-Chief for Phoebe. Before moving back to Wisconsin, she was an English teacher in D.C., Denver, South Korea, and Hungary. Once, she went to Space Camp. Find her online: @ danielleharms .  

2023 Editors:

Cody Burt (Editor-in-Chief)

Fridarose Hamad (Managing Editor)

Madelyn Schneider (Managing Editor)

Mackenzie Bergemann

Matthew Byers

Jaidon Boyd

Jacob Collins

Alison Dewers

Liam Dooley

Dally Du Mez

Emma Filzen

Kaitlyn Hein

Janae Mancheski

Daniel Mellor

Macy Ortner

Emily Taylor

Hannah Perez

Anna Welter

Kristian Zenz

Emily Fedewa (Editor-in-Chief)

Syd Vinyard (Editor-in-Chief)

Cody Burt (Managing Editor)

Vivian Coenen

Simeon De Valk

Tayler Drew

Olivia Faleta

Leah Fischer-Toerpe

Evelyn Hinton

Madeline Hornok

Tasneem Jassar

Tabitha Kerr

Tanya Khazin

Wyatt Koelsch

Haley Krueger

Grace Lubinski

Mandy McAllister

Nicholas Oscar

Neve Schauer

Shepherd Silver

Kahrima Winston

2021 Editors

Tristan Adams (Editor-in-Chief)

Emily Fedewa (Managing Editor)

Tyler Acker

Katie Beeman

Lauren Breunig

Kaitlyn Diskin

Rae’ven Eddy

Erika Jacobsen

Carly Minor

Lindsey Naze

Andrea Riley

Bill Stephens

Libby Thomas

Syd Vinyard

Natalie Wallace

Patrick Weary

Melissa Wesloski

Casandra Zimmerman

Shelby Zwintscher

2020 Editors

Natalie Bagniefski (Editor-in-Chief)

Tristan Adams (Managing Editor)

Daniel Clinton

Lizbeth Gama

Allie  Habeck

Robbie Imbrie

Valerie Johnson

Faith LeMay

Aleah Merriwether

Amanda Niebauer

Nick Orfield

Elliott Vickrey

Grace Winter

Brittany Wetter

2019 Editors

Kat Skjoldager (Editor-in-Chief)

Morissa Young (Managing Editor)

David Acosta

Natalie Bagniefski

Nathan Adam Beadel

Matthew Brandfass

Katie Durant Schultz

Rachael Kohler

Kayley Lane

Rachel Lapow

Rachel Radomski

Joe Schmidt

Hayley Stumbris

Jordan Sykes

Katie Turyna

Tesia Zeitlow

2018 Editors

Scott Clark (Editor-in-Chief)

Eddie Ahrenhoerster

Meghan Calderone

Jessie Choinoski

Paul Crowley

Mai Yer Hang

Stephen Jensen

Shenandoah LaRock

Keyllyn Emily Lock

Malachi Lyonsdove

Deanna Schneider

Kat Skjoldager

Callie Weers

2017 Editors

Elliott Baas

Katrina Brinkman

Hannah Bulgerin

Scott Clark

Brian Eisel

Nat Froiland

Nicholas Gruber

Alena Hansen

Jennifer Johnston

Margaret Kennedy

Lauren Lisak

Christina Luick

Rachel Lynn

2016 Editors

Kayci Bodart

Kearstin Estrada

Nick Fitzpatrick

Jessica Gollwitzer

Melissa Holck

Alexandra Howard

Andrew Mathwick

Lorna Pecard

Benjamin Smart

Rachel Stuplich

Emily Talapa

2015 Editors

Ashanti Anderson

Rebecca Bohdalik

Max Bradshaw

Eric Buenning

Jack Ceschin

Leah Froats

Jacob Herzfeld

Carli Knudten

Casey Kyles

Chelsea Morrow

Amanda Puerzer

Rehanna Skonecki

Angelika Villafuerte

2014 Editors

Colleen Cotter

Theresa Gamble

Sarah Grzezinski

Joshua Hancock

Alexander Knox

Spero LoMenzo

KrisAnne Madaus

Brian Malloy

Chelsea Moskow

Tanner Rogers

Nicole Timblin

2013 Editors

Kristin Drescher

Maddy Hughes

Tanner Irons

Rachel Kinnard

Veronika Kunath

Lexi Majack

Rachel Niemann

Amber Scarborough

Monica Thomas

Emily Tobias

Sharon Jessica Van Leuven

Jess Wichman

Jason C. Wilkerson

Margaret Wilson

English 215: Introduction to English Studies

• Locating Articles
• Literary Criticism - Miscellaneous Reference Sources
• Literature and Cultural Theory
• Rhetoric and Professional Writing
• Creative Writing
• Media, Cinema, and Digital Studies
• Frankenstein
• Finding Cited Sources
• Library Research Tutorial This link opens in a new window

Creative Writing Databases

Archival and current issues of scholarly journals and ebooks across more than 60 academic disciplines.

MLA International Bibliography indexes international scholarly materials, including over 4,400 journals, books, working papers, and conference proceedings on language, literature, linguistics, and folklore. It is updated 10 times a year.

Academic Search Complete is a comprehensive scholarly, multi-disciplinary full-text database, with more than 7,000 full-text periodicals, including nearly 6,000 peer-reviewed journals. In addition to full text, this database offers indexing and abstracts for more than 11,000 journals and a total of more than 11,600 publications including monographs, reports, conference proceedings, etc. The database features PDF content going back as far as 1887, with the majority of full text titles in native (searchable) PDF format. Searchable cited references are provided for more than 1,000 journals.

• Project Muse Project MUSE is a leading provider of digital humanities and social sciences content. UWM has full text access to over 29,000 ebooks and 350 journals. Searching can be limited to subscribed full text access by choosing the books or journals tab and checking off a full text access box. It is also home to Modern Fiction Studies: The journal's substantial book review section keeps readers informed about current scholarship in the field. MFS alternates general issues with special issues focused on individual novelists or topics that challenge and expand the concept of "modern fiction."

Helpful resources

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• Last Updated: May 2, 2024 1:46 PM
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University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

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PhD Program

Poetry: Rebecca Dunham Fiction: Katharine Beutner, Liam Callanan, Valerie Laken

This program offers teaching assistantships, fellowships, and awards.

Cream City Review , Furrow

The program hosts several internal writing contests with cash awards, and the United We Read Graduate Student/Faculty Reading Series and the Visiting Writers Series. Visiting writers and poets have included Juan Felipe Herrera, Peter Rock, Daniel Borzutzky, Paisley Rekdal, Nicole Cooley, C. Dale Young, Carmen Giménez Smith, Robert Olen Butler, Kyoko Mori, Ron Tanner, Adam Johnson, Nega Mezlekia, Charles Bernstein, Lysley Tenorio, and Craig Santos Perez, among many others.

The program also features internal projects such as the Literary Circular and Read Local: Eat Local, which provide opportunities for students to edit and curate flash fiction and poetry publications in inventive formats.

Students usually complete their PhD in four to five years.

Henri Cole, José Dalisay, Derrick Harriell, William (Trent) Hergenrader, Rachel Himmelherber, Caroline Knox, Soham Patel, Ching-In Chen, Phong Nguyen, Kyoko Mori, Melissa Olsen, Stephen Powers, Rene Steinke, Ron Tanner

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Creative Writing Program

The University of Washington English Department's Creative Writing Program offers a BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and a two-year Master of Fine Arts  degrees in Poetry and Prose. 

Founded in 1947 by Theodore Roethke, the Creative Writing Program's tradition of transformative workshops continues with our current faculty:  David Bosworth , Nikki David Crouse ,  Rae Paris ,  David Shields,  and  Maya Sonenberg  (Prose), and  Linda Bierds (part-time) ,  Andrew Feld ,  Richard Kenney,  and  Pimone Triplett  (Poetry).  They include among their many honors fellowships from the MacArthur Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as prizes such as the Flannery O’Connor Award in Short Fiction and the McCarthy Prize. The list of our alumni publications represents a significant chapter in the history of American literature. To see recent examples of our MFA Program alumni publications, see the article MFA Program Graduates Publish at Impressive Rates in our Spring 2022 English Matters newsletter .

The MFA Program remains purposely small, admitting only ten students per year. The relatively small size of our program (20 students at most at any given time) allows for close associations to develop among students and faculty. The first year is devoted to participation in workshops and literary seminars, and the second year allows for concentrated work on a creative manuscript and critical essay under the supervision of two creative writing faculty members. 

The BA in English with a Creative Writing Concentration prepares students not only to be more effective communicators and artists, but also creative problem solvers and more nuanced critical thinkers. By situating small, student-oriented writing workshops alongside literary models, Creative Writing classes enhance the broader study of literature and critical theory, helping students gain a greater understanding of the social and cultural forces informing their work. A student completing the program is more able to situate themselves in a larger aesthetic and social context and make more meaningful, informed decisions about their own artistic practice. In addition, through the intense practice of creative writing, students are able to see the world more clearly, in a more nuanced and meaningful manner, and apply these skills to a wide variety of work and life situations.

Director:  Nikki David Crouse

Program Coordinator: Shannon Mitchell 

Graduate Program Advisor: Tim Cosgrove

Undergraduate Program Advising: Humanities Academic Services

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Creative Writing Certificate

Department website

College: College of Arts & Humanities

Requirements for the Creative Writing Certificate

University Requirements for Undergraduate Certificates

Course work in a certificate must be completed with a minimum 2.00 GPA. Departments or programs may require a higher GPA.

A minimum of 9 credits in a certificate program must be taken at UW-Parkside. Individual departments and programs may require more than 9 credits to be taken at UW-Parkside.

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2023-2024 UW-Parkside Catalog PDF

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UW-Milwaukee Academic Catalog

General studies (college of).

Liberal Arts, AAS

The Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS) degree program is a great place for students to begin their college careers. It provides a strong foundation for many bachelor programs. This degree also shows employers that you possess essential employability qualities, such as critical thinking, problem solving, and effective communication skills. 

The AAS program allows you to explore courses related to your intended major while completing the general education classes required for most bachelor’s degrees. Many bachelor's degree programs consider students with an AAS degree to have satisfied their general education requirements.

The AAS program is also perfect for returning students who need to fill in gaps in their general education requirements from their previous college work.

Students can complete the AAS degree in-person, online, or through a combination of both types of courses. The degree is also offered as an online, flexible option . This allows you to earn the credits you need at your own pace, on your schedule, building on knowledge you already have.

Requirements

A minimum of 60 credits is required. At least 36 of the 60 credits, or, at least 12 of the final 24 credits must be earned at UWM. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in credits attempted at UWM.

The Associate of Arts and Sciences degree requires that core requirements in writing and mathematics be completed as well as a distribution of credits in breadth of knowledge categories. The breadth categories in the degree are defined on the  General Education  page.

Students must achieve a grade of C or better or receive an exemption.

• Exemption from the Core Writing requirement can be achieved by submitting a portfolio of written work that demonstrates achievement of the English 102 learning outcomes. Only students who have achieved an appropriate score on the English Placement Test (or other appropriate test, as determined by the Arts and Humanities Department) are eligible.
• Exemption from the Core Math requirement can be achieved by earning a placement code of at least 30 on the Mathematics Placement Test (or other appropriate test, as determined by the Math and Natural Sciences Department).

Courses used to satisfy the writing and mathematics requirements and their prerequisites may not be used to satisfy a breadth requirement except that: 

Students pursuing the Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree (AAS) may elect to receive a degree with emphasis: a concentration of coursework in a given discipline or in more than one discipline, in the case of an interdisciplinary emphasis. Students seeking an Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree with an emphasis must successfully complete the AAS requirements and the specific emphasis requirements.

Anthropology Emphasis

Art emphasis, biological sciences emphasis, business emphasis, chemistry emphasis, communication arts emphasis, education emphasis, engineering emphasis, environmental studies emphasis, gender, sexuality, and women's studies emphasis, geography emphasis, geosciences emphasis, health sciences emphasis, history emphasis, literature emphasis, mathematics emphasis, music emphasis, philosophy emphasis, physics emphasis, political science emphasis, pre-nursing emphasis, psychology emphasis, sociology emphasis, sustainability emphasis, theatre arts emphasis, writing emphasis.

Completion of the following courses will fulfill the requirements for this emphasis.

CGS MAT 215 is not recommended for students who intend to major in Mathematics.

A minimum of 3 credits of CGS CTA 131 is required. An additional 1 to 3 credits can be taken of CGS CTA 131 to count towards the emphasis.

Students should be aware that the Theatre Arts Emphasis will give them the basic knowledge and individualized experience to successfully prepare them for a major/minor in Theatre Arts, but they will be required to take additional lower division courses in Theatre when they transfer.

Liberal Arts AAS Learning Outcomes 

Students graduating from the Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree program have demonstrated proficiency with: 

• Knowledge of Human Cultures: Students can describe and evaluate existing knowledge of human cultures by interpreting and analyzing data, texts, and/or artifacts and/or applying concepts across disciplines. 
• Knowledge of the Natural World: Students can describe and evaluate existing knowledge of the natural world by interpreting, analyzing, and communicating data, results, and conclusions and/or applying concepts across disciplines.
• Critical Thinking: Students will investigate problems and execute analytical, practical, or creative tasks.
• Creative Thinking: Students will combine or synthesize existing ideas, images, or expertise in original ways. 
• Effective Communication: Students use reading, listening, speaking, and/or writing skills for a variety of purposes and audiences; students use language effectively to construct scholarly, evidence-based arguments. 
• Intercultural Knowledge and Competence: Students have developed cultural self-awareness in the context of diverse human cultures and/or developed strategies for effectively and appropriately negotiating intercultural interactions. 
• Individual, Social, and Environmental Responsibility: Students can engage in active learning to explore ethical, social, and/or environmental issues. Students can apply knowledge and skills for the purpose of civic engagement. 

College of General Studies Dean's Honor List

GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.

Commencement Honors

Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 20 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).

Final Honors

Earned on a minimum of 30 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.

Contact Information

Campus Websites:

https://uwm.edu/waukesha/ https://uwm.edu/washington/

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