Creative Writing

Creative writing is a major that melds intellectual inquiry and critical analysis with writing that is compelling and strategic.

It offers outstanding career preparation for journalism, marketing, publishing and other fields where strong writing and analytical thinking are invaluable.

As a creative writing major, you'll learn about poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and drama. You'll build skills in oral and written communication, close reading, formal analysis, problem solving, research strategies and debate.

BW faculty are accomplished writers and poets. They'll work closely with you to deepen your reading and writing abilities and to enhance competencies in self editing and analysis.

Experiential learning is a key part of the major. You'll supplement classroom studies with enriching activities that include co-curricular involvement, independent study, internships, service-learning and study abroad.

ENGLISH IS A CAREER-FOCUSED MAJOR

Majoring in English aligns well with career preparation by developing the characteristics employers value:

• Effective oral and written communication
  English majors are highly articulate in all areas of communication.
• Critical thinking and analytical reasoning
  Close reading enhances an ability to use logic, balance various points of view, recognize how meaning is determined by context and develop a sustained argument.
• The ability to analyze and solve complex problems
  Literary interpretation is an exercise in complex problem solving. English student learn to synthesize diverse points of view and apply multiple perspectives–social, political, economic, philosophical, historical and others–to the understanding of literary texts.
• Ability to make ethical decisions
  Through literature, readers reflect on the meaning and consequences of human action. Literature enables a deeper understanding of ethical questions by contextualizing them.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A TEACHER?

If you would like to become an English teacher, BW has an outstanding teacher education program.

Admission to Baldwin Wallace is selective, and determined by a thorough review of all items submitted. Completed applications are reviewed on a daily basis with decisions determined within 2-4 weeks. 

Required items are submitted through the applicant portal and include:

• Application
• Secondary School Transcripts
• Secondary School Report Form
• Teacher Recommendation
• International Student Certification of Financial Support Form
  • Prospective F-1 students must have the financial resources to live and study in the United States. This includes being able to cover the cost of tuition, books, living expenses and travel while enrolled. BW must collect evidence of the student’s financial ability to attend BW for at least one year (or the program length, whichever is shorter) before issuing a Form I-20. Please review the Instructions for Completing the International Student Certification of Financial Support Form for additional information.
• Financial Sponsor Letter
  • A financial sponsor letter is required documentation if a sponsor is helping the student financially.
    • Sample financial sponsor letter
• One of the following exams*:
  • TOEFL (recommended scores of IBT 79, CBT 213, PBT 550)
  • IELTS (recommended composite of 6.5)
  • SAT (recommended evidence-based reading/writing score of 520)
  • ACT (recommended English score of 21) 

As noted, the score levels above are recommended but not required. Students whose English language skills need development may be conditionally admitted and placed in BW’s ESL program provided by the LADO International Institute.

* Students who have taken an English language curriculum are highly encouraged to take the SAT or ACT exam. If these exams are not available, students should submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.