Online Master's in English and Creative Writing - Nonfiction Concentration

Online Master’s in English and Creative Writing - Nonfiction Concentration

Expand your knowledge of the field of nonfiction - earn an MA in English and Creative Writing with a Nonfiction Concentration. Nonfiction covers a wide swath of styles and subjects, encompassing everything from the personal essay, autobiography and memoirs to travel writing and magazine features. Study compelling “real-life” storytelling in this master’s degree program and learn to meld research with your own narrative voice.

Nonfiction is the art of telling real stories – ones that people can learn from, understand and related to. By studying these essays and narratives, you will improve your own storytelling skills and take on a deeper appreciation of nonfiction. At the culmination of the program, you will develop your own professional-quality piece of nonfiction, one that takes you deep into subjects that matter to you and help you develop the skills you need for great storytelling. From short essays to the beginning of your memoirs, you will put pen to paper and tell your tale.

The skills you learn from the Nonfiction Concentration

You will learn how and why writers craft nonfiction narratives. The tools they use, shared by fiction writers, will become your own and you will develop factual material based on research or your own (or someone else's) experiences. Gain insights into publishing, broadcasting and professional production while you explore your creative boundaries and perfect your own craft.

Careers for Master’s in English and Creative Writing Graduates

Like other areas of creative writing, graduates with an MA in English and Creative writing will see career opportunities expand. This program does more that just expose you to literature and new writing skills - you can apply the communications skills you learn directly to any profession. Apply the communications skills you learn to any profession, including journalism, law, marketing and technical writing.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of authors, writers, and editors is expected to grow by 6 percent through 2020. Employment in salaried writing and editing positions is expected to increase slightly as jobs become more prevalent throughout the economy. Opportunities for the nonfiction writer are everywhere -- magazines, newspapers, books, the Internet and more.
The following careers are expected to follow this growth trend:

• Writer/Author 
• Literary Agent 
• Publisher 
• Manuscript Reader

Applicants for the MA in English & Creative Writing programs are to submit the following:

A Statement of Purpose:  Essay between 200 to 500 words on why you are pursuing an MA in English & Creative Writing.

A creative writing sample of approximately 5 – 10 pages, double spaced.

• Writing must be entirely in the same genre – it can be fiction, poetry, nonfiction, or screenwriting.
• Genre can be independent of the genre that you choose for your concentration.
• Research papers are not acceptable.