Creative Writing Major

At Hamline, creative writing majors participate in research with faculty as early as their first year, something usually reserved for graduate students at other institutions. You'll design and conduct your own research project based on your individual interests and goals.

The list of possible creative writing projects is as varied as our students. For example, picture yourself:

• Co-editing and publishing the BFA program’s annual award-winning undergraduate online literary magazine, Runestone
• Examining the publishing fields of specific genres, including speculative literature, folk and fairytale, fantasy, flash fiction, and sportswriting
• Working at one of the many Twin Cities publishing houses or literary organizations
• Leading one of Hamline’s student-run publications, such as The Fulcrum literary magazine, Untold Magazine lifestyle publication, or The Oracle student newspaper

During your research process, you’ll collaborate with professionals at major research institutions, publish your research in academic journals, and present your work at local, regional, and national conferences.
 

Learn more about undergraduate research at Hamline 

We make sure you leave Hamline with work experience in creative writing on your resume. And the opportunities are boundless. Whether you want to explore a career in publishing, communications, journalism, education, or more, we have internship opportunities for you.

Examples of past creative writing student internships include:

• Graywolf Press, publishing intern
• Minnesota Historical Society, oral history office intern
• Minnesota Women’s Press, advertising sales intern
• KFAI Fresh Air Radio, journalism and content intern
• Saint Paul Public Schools, communications intern
• Milkweed Editions, editorial intern
• Alight (formerly the American Refugee Committee), operations intern
• The Loft Literary Center, communications intern
• The Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School, operations intern  

Explore internships

What can you do with a major in creative writing? Our innovative courses and one-on-one mentoring by faculty will provide you with the tools to succeed in a variety of careers, such as:

Examples of possible positions

• Essayist, poet, or fiction writer
• Magazine writer and editor
• Book publisher
• Librarian
• Attorney
• Teacher or professor
• Literary critic
• Nonprofit manager

Actual positions acquired by new grads

• Editorial Coordinator, American Academy of Neurology
• Freelance Editor, Fantasy Flight Games
• Lead Communications and Digital Media Specialist, NewPublica
• Marketing and Communications Associate, Northern Clay Center
• Educator, Hunting Learning Center
• Staff Writer, Iowa Information

Our graduates have gone on to graduate schools across the country in the pursuit of master’s and doctoral degrees. Examples of programs and schools include:

• MFA in creative writing, Hamline University
• MFA in fiction, Pacific University 
• MFA in poetry, Western Michigan University 
• MFA in creative nonfiction, University of South Florida 
• MFA in fiction, University of North Carolina at Wilmington 
• MFA in writing for children and young adults, Hamline University
• MFA in writing for children and young adults, The New School in New York