Creative Writing Department

The BFA in creative writing is a studio-academic degree, primarily designed to train aspiring authors to pursue graduate studies in creative writing and/or careers as professional literary artists. The BFA creative writing curriculum, designed to accompany a well-rounded liberal arts education and study of literature and literary theory, provides students with fundamental and advanced knowledge and skills that will prepare them (though they may go on to choose any number of career options) to pursue the literary writing life and to function as emerging literary artists.

The tiered curriculum of our BFA courses is designed to train apprentice writers to navigate the complexities of craft proficiency, creative process, identification of voice, and the journey toward publication, as well as to prepare them—particularly if they wish to go on to teach creative writing as well as write—to be accepted into and succeed in a graduate creative writing program. Required English literature courses are crucial to the education of the undergraduate writer because literary artists need to read broadly as well as write, need grounding in the history of literary forms, and need the practice and instruction in the critical thinking and expository writing skills necessary to interpret those forms. BFA students combine this necessary study of literature with an intensive applied training in creative writing process and craft.

Other Creative Writing Options

There are several options other than the major available to students interested in studying creative writing. The English Department offers an English major with a concentration in creative writing or an English creative writing minor as part of the Bachelor of Arts degree. Non-creative writing majors are encouraged to take those creative writing courses open to the general student body. These courses can develop appreciation of literary forms, fundamentals of the craft, creative process and textual interpretation skills across artistic disciplines.

Internships

An internship experience is a required component of the degree program. Hamline’s commitment to community-based learning and its location in the Twin Cities give students the opportunity to choose from a wide-range of internship experiences in the literary marketplace. Hands-on experience working in local literary and commercial publishing and in related fields will give students invaluable insights into the world of work and practical knowledge of the kinds of professions open to you after you graduate. The Twin Cities is home to The Loft Literary Center and a multitude of publishers, including Lerner Publications, Llewellyn Worldwide, Minnesota Historical Society Press, University of Minnesota Press and three of the finest literary presses in the country—Graywolf Press, Milkweed Editions, and Coffee House Press—all with well-established internship programs.

Applying to the BFA Program

Students may apply to the program after earning a “C” or better in WRIT 3000.

Postgraduate Opportunities

Creative writing graduates have excellent writing and communication skills; they know how to think and problem solve, and they are prepared to interact effectively in a multicultural, global environment. Upon graduation from Hamline, BFA graduates will have a wide range of fundamental and advanced knowledge and skills that will prepare them to pursue the literary writing life or a range of careers in publishing, professional writing, corporate communications, advertising, marketing and some other related fields. A large percentage of students will go on to pursue graduate study.

Teaching

Those creative writing majors who would like to pursue a 5-12 teaching license in communication arts and literature while pursuing their BFAs may do so through the Hamline School of Education. Since the requirements for licensure are extensive, this will require careful planning and may entail an additional semester to complete. Another option is to pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching at Hamline after the student completes his/her BFA.

Faculty

Our creative writing faculty are published, award-winning authors and highly effective teachers who create a caring, engaged, and supportive environment. English department faculty are highly regarded teachers and scholars known for their attention to students and the quality of their students’ individual and collaborative research project

John Brandon, assistant professor. BA 1999, University of Florida; MFA 2001, Washington University. Publications: A Million Heavens (McSweeney’s Press, 2012), Citrus County (McSweeney’s Press, 2011), Arkansas (McSweeney’s Press, 2008).

Patricia Weaver Francisco, professor of practice. BA 1974, University of Michigan. Publications: TELLING: A Memoir of Rape and Recovery (HarperCollins, 1999), Cold Feet (Simon & Schuster, 1988).

Deborah Keenan, professor. BA 1974, Macalester College. Publications: Willow Room, Green Door: New and Selected Poems (Milkweed, 2007), Good Heart (Milkweed Editions, 2003), Kingdoms (Laurel Poetry Collective, 2006).

Sheila O’Connor, assistant professor. BA 1982, University of Minnesota; MFA 1986, Iowa Writers Workshop. Publications: Keep Safe the Stars (G.P. Putnam and Sons, 2012), Sparrow Road (G.P. Putnam and Sons, 2011), Where No Gods Came (University of Michigan Press, 2003), Tokens of Grace (Milkweed, 1990).

Mary Rockcastle, associate professor, chair. BA 1974, Douglas College; MA 1980, University of Minnesota. Publications: In Caddis Wood (Graywolf Press, 2011), Rainy Lake (Graywolf Press, 1995)

Larry Sutin, professor. BA, University of Michigan; JD, Harvard University. Publications: When to Go Into the Water (Sarabande Books, 2009), Jack and Rochelle: A Holocaust Memoir of Love and Resistance (Graywolf Press, 1995) and A Postcard Memoir (Graywolf Press, 2000), All Is Change: The Two Thousand Year Journey of Buddhism to the West (Little, Brown, 2006).

Katrina Vandenberg, assistant professor. BFA 1992, Bowling Green State University; MFA 1997, University of Arkansas. Publications: The Alphabet Not Unlike the World (Milkweed, 2012) and Atlas: Poems (Milkweed, 2004).