Creative Writing Certificate

Andrea Gazzaniga, Ph.D., Department Chair

Christopher Wilkey, Ph.D., Program Director

Introduction

The Creative Writing Certificate is a non-degree, graduate certificate program composed of 18 credit hours of specialized courses designed to explore, in an intensive workshop environment, the theoretical and practical concerns of creative writers today. The Creative Writing Certificate is appropriate for candidates with experience in creative writing at the undergraduate level or extensive professional or independent experience as creative writers.

Credits earned toward the Creative Writing Certificate may apply to or be transferred into the Master of Arts in English (MAE) at the graduate program director’s discretion. If certificate coursework is applied to the MAE program, this certificate coursework can be no more than six years old at the time of graduation from the MAE program. Candidates must complete all coursework for the certificate program within six years, including any transfer work.

Candidates should refer to the graduate catalog in effect when they are accepted to this or another NKU certificate program to determine the extent to which credit hours may be applied to more than one NKU certificate or degree program. Candidates whose transcripts do not show substantial undergraduate preparation in creative writing may be asked to submit a writing sample.

Admission

Applications to the Creative Writing Certificate require the following:

1. an application for graduate admission to Northern Kentucky University.
2. official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work.
3. a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
4. an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
5. a grade of B or higher on all graduate work that may apply to the certificate.

At the discretion of the graduate program director, a writing sample may be required for evaluation and undergraduate courses recommended for applicants who did not focus on creative writing at the undergraduate level.

♦ Indicates prerequisite.