College of Arts and Sciences
Creative and Professional Writing BA
Become an expert writer. Learn how to effectively compose writing across genres to move and inform any audience.
Program details
- Modality
- On-campus
- Duration
- 4 years, 3 year option
- Total Credits
- 120
- Average annual salary of writers and authors:
- $76,910 Average annual salary of writers and authors. View career outcomes.
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Why study creative and professional writing at UMass Dartmouth?
Earn an English degree with a concentration in creative and professional writing to hone your ability to compose effective, well-formulated written communication for audiences across media modalities.
Study fiction, non-fiction, poetry, journalism, digital media production, script, drama, screenwriting, professional writing, and technical writing.
The skills you'll acquire during our English degree program, such as reading, writing, researching, and analyzing, are evergreen and universally applicable to any career. Become an impactful communicator who can expertly write about important ideas in print, on the web, and on social media.
Launch your career
Salary range: $76,910What can I do with a creative and professional writing concentration?
The English degree program at UMass Dartmouth teaches students how to be engaged and analytical readers and writers that can thrive in many fields. Skilled writers are in-demand for careers such as:
- Writing
- Editing
- Publishing
- Marketing
- Communications
- Journalism
- Content writing
- Public relations
- Grant writing
Top employers
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Curriculum
During the English creative and professional writing concentration, you will learn the skills to:
- Write and compose original texts
- Apply key concepts in writing analytically, creatively, and professionally across multiple genres and modes based on audience needs and information design principles
- Synthesize primary and secondary sources using appropriate research and writing methods
- Evaluate the appropriateness of compositional and rhetorical strategies used in texts
- Read and think critically
You will take courses like Journalism, Fiction Writing, Public Relations Writing, Internet Communications, Screenwriting, Poetry, Shakespeare, Article Writing, Sports Writing, and more.
Real-world experience
Our English students have interned with top employers like WGBH Radio, Akamai Technologies, and The New Bedford Light.
Students also have the opportunity to get their work published in one of our on-campus publications, such as Corridors, Temper, and The Torch.
Course descriptions and requirements
Explore the official academic catalog for detailed curriculum requirements, course descriptions and program information.
Accelerated degree options
Explore accelerated pathways that may help you complete your bachelor’s degree sooner, begin graduate coursework early, or pursue a streamlined path to a master’s, teaching, or law degree. Available options vary by program and eligibility.
UMassD in Three
UMassD in Three is an advising track to help you graduate in three years instead of four—saving you time and costs and allowing you to enter graduate school or begin your career a year early.
Learn more about UMassD in Three
Accolades
UMass Dartmouth is a nationally ranked R2 research university that combines the resources of a major university with a personalized educational experience. Ranked among the top 15 public research institutions with fewer than 10,000 students and in the top 17% nationally for return on investment, UMass Dartmouth is recognized for advancing research, social mobility, and career-ready education.
Nationally ranked discovery across arts and sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences brings together nationally ranked programs, accomplished scholars, and research with measurable impact. Its faculty includes eight Fulbright Scholars and has secured more than $14 million in grants over three years, creating opportunities for students to learn through research, creative inquiry, and community engagement.
Frequently asked questions
Have questions about the English—Creative and Professional Writing BA program? Here you will find answers to common questions about admissions, curriculum, career outcomes, and student experience.
Both concentrations teach valuable skills in reading, writing, text analysis, and critical thinking—all skills that employers highly value.
If you are more interested in writing to effectively communicate with audiences, the creative and professional writing concentration is a good fit. If you are interested in literature, text analysis, and formulating critical arguments, the literature and criticism concentration is a good fit.
No, the concentration does not add more credits to your English degree program.
The English program focuses on analyzing literature and developing critical writing skills, while the communication program focuses on multimedia messaging and strategy. Both majors heavily include reading and writing, but the English program specializes in areas such as producing and analyzing complex texts. The communication program specializes in areas such as business, public relations, and journalism.