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Crw - creative writing, creative writing: crw, lower-division courses, crw 315d. playwriting i..

Same as Theatre and Dance 315 . The study and practice of writing plays. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Creative Writing 315D and Theatre and Dance 315 may not both be counted.

CRW 315F. Introducton to Writing Fiction.

Intended for students with minimal prior experience in creative writing. Three lecture hours or one lecture hour and three workshop hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: English 303C (or 603A ), Rhetoric and Writing 306 , 306Q , or Tutorial Course 303C (or 603A ).

CRW 315P. Introduction to Writing Poetry.

Upper-division courses, crw 325. topics in creative writing..

Detailed study and practice of the techniques of biography, creative nonfiction, or other special topics of creative writing; includes reading and analysis of contemporary models. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: One of the following: Comparative Literature 315 , English 303D , 316L , 316M , 316N , 316P , or Tutorial Course 303D .

Topic 1: Writing Border Narratives. Same as Mexican American Studies 374 (Topic 34). Examines the United States and Mexico border through the use of the personal essay in its various forms. Students write personal essays that focus on their relationships to the border. Creative Writing 325 (Topic 1) and Mexican American Studies 374 (Topic 34) may not both be counted. Additional prerequisite: One of the following: Comparative Literature 315, English 303D, 316L, 316M, 316N, 316P, or Tutorial Course 303D.

CRW 325C. Writing Climate Fiction.

Study and practice the techniques of writing climate fiction. Read and analyze contemporary models. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Creative Writing 325 (Topic: Writing Climate Fiction) and 325C may not both be counted. Prerequisite: One of the following: Comparative Literature 315 , English 303D , 316L , 316M , 316N , 316P , or Tutorial Course 303D .

CRW 325E. Personal Essay.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Creative Writing 325 (Topic: Personal Essay) and 325E may not both be counted. Prerequisite: One of the following: Comparative Literature 315 , English 303D , 316L , 316M , 316N , 316P , or Tutorial Course 303D .

CRW 325F. Fiction Writing.

Detailed study and practice of the techniques of fiction writing; includes reading and analysis of contemporary models. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: One of the following: Comparative Literature 315 , English 303D , 316L , 316M , 316N , 316P , or Tutorial Course 303D .

CRW 325M. Creative Writing.

Detailed study and practice of the techniques of fiction, poetry, and other genres of creative writing; includes reading and analysis of contemporary models. Three lecture hours or one lecture hour and three workshop hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: One of the following: Comparative Literature 315 , English 303D , 316L , 316M , 316N , 316P , or Tutorial Course 303D .

CRW 325P. Poetry Writing.

Detailed study and practice of the techniques of poetry writing; includes reading and analysis of contemporary models. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: One of the following: Comparative Literature 315 , English 303D , 316L , 316M , 316N , 316P , or Tutorial Course 303D .

CRW 325S. Screenwriting.

Study and practice the techniques of screenwriting. Read and analyze contemporary models. Three lecture hours and one discussion hour a week for one semester. Creative Writing 325S and Radio-Television-Film 333 may not both be counted. Prerequisite: One of the following: Comparative Literature 315 , English 303D , 316L , 316M , 316N , 316P , or Tutorial Course 303D .

CRW 325T. Writing for Black Performance.

Same as African and African Diaspora Studies 330F , American Studies 321Q , and Theatre and Dance 357T (Topic 5). Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: African and African Diaspora Studies 330F , 372E (Topic: Writing for Black Performance), American Studies 321 (Topic: Writing for Black Performance), 321Q , Creative Writing 325T , English 376M (Topic: Writing for Black Performance), Theatre and Dance 357T (Topic: Writing for Black Performance), 357T (Topic 5). Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

CRW 330. Literature for Writers.

Readings in fiction, poetry, drama, literary criticism, biography, and autobiography from the point of view of a creative writer. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: One of the following: Creative Writing 325 , 325F , 325M , or 325P .

CRW 335. Business of Writing.

Same as English 335P . Study the book publishing landscape including traditional and non-traditional career paths available to writers and those interested in the publishing industry. Analyze the publishing process, from concept to finished book: the acquisition, editorial, publicity, marketing, and sales stages of a book's life. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Creative Writing 335 , English 324 (Topic: Business of Writing), 335P . Prerequisite: One of the following: Comparative Literature 315 , English 303D , 316L , 316M , 316N , 316P , or Tutorial Course 303D .

CRW 340D. Playwriting II.

Same as Theatre and Dance 325 . Emphasis on the form and writing of the full-length play or equivalent. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Creative Writing 340D and Theatre and Dance 325 may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing, Creative Writing 315D or Theatre and Dance 315 , and consent of instructor.

CRW 340F. Short Story Workshop.

Practice in writing the short story, with study of contemporary models. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Creative Writing 340F and 355F ; or 660 . Prerequisite: Creative Writing 325F or 325M .

CRW 340P. Poetry Workshop.

Practice in writing poetry, with study of contemporary models. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Creative Writing 325M or 325P .

CRW 355D. Playwriting III.

Same as Theatre and Dance 355 . Focus on experiments in revising dramatic text in order to create a common vocabulary around narrative structure. Revision often includes the creation of multiple new drafts, digging through past drafts for abandoned themes, lost focus, and new inspiration as well as exploring character, narrative, and/or language. Three lecture hours a week for one semester, with laboratory hours as required. Only one of the following may be counted: Creative Writing 355D , Theatre and Dance 355T (Topic: Playwriting III), 355 . Prerequisite: Upper-division standing, Creative Writing 340D or Theatre and Dance 325 , and consent of instructor.

CRW 355F. Advanced Fiction Workshop.

A third semester seminar-style workshop in fiction for experienced creative writers. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Creative Writing 340F and 355F ; or 660 . Prerequisite: Creative Writing 340F .

CRW 355P. Advanced Poetry Workshop.

A third semester seminar-style workshop in poetry for experienced creative writers. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Creative Writing 340P .

CRW 660. Intensive Creative Writing.

An accelerated seminar-style workshop for highly motivated students. Designed to be taken over two consecutive summer sessions; offered only during the summer semester. Three lecture-workshop hours a week for two semesters. Completion of this course is equivalent to completion of both Creative Writing 340F and 355F . Only one of the following may be counted: Creative Writing 340F and 355F ; or 660 . Prerequisite: For 660A , credit or registration for Creative Writing 325F ; for 660B , Creative Writing 660A .

CRW 370H. Honors Creative Writing Project.

For advanced students already proficient in writing who wish to work under supervision on specific and substantial projects. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Consent of the honors adviser.

CRW 375. Conference Course in Creative Writing.

Continue independent work in a creative project with a faculty advisor. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit twice. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Creative Writing 370H ; approval of written application by supervising instructor and the director of undergraduate creative writing.

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Professional courses.

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2023-2024 General Information Catalog

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Degree Requirements    |   Getting Started   |   Institution and Advisor   |   FAQs  

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) offers a bilingual, fully-online Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program. The goal of this unique bilingual program is to prepare writers for the publishing marketplace and for teaching and editing careers, both in the United States and Latin America.

Degree Requirements

The degree plan consists of 42 credits of coursework, followed by 6 credits of thesis during which the student completes a publishable manuscript in poetry or fiction. Refer to the Online MFA Curriculum page for a listing of available courses and course descriptions. Spanish is not a requirement for admission.

Many online MFA in Creative Writing courses are open to cross-campus enrollment. Check with your program advisor prior to registering for any of cross-campus courses to ensure they apply toward your degree program, and non-UTEP students who want to take MFA courses must get permission from the MFA Advisor.

To view Online MFA in Creative Writing program courses currently open for cross-campus registration, go to the Student Portal Course Schedule and select Creative Writing-Bilingual (MFA) from the Finish@UT Program menu, or search for a specific course name/number. UTEP students should refer to the UTEP Course Schedule and register directly through your home campus.

Getting Started

Interested in applying? Be sure to review the Online MFA Application Process , Application Check List , and FAQs . If you have any questions regarding the application process after reviewing this information, please contact Coordinator of Graduate Enrollment, Sally Vasko .

Refer to the Student Support section of our website for additional information on cross-campus registration and course access.

Institution and Program Advisor

Degree Awarded: Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Program Advisor:

Sylvia Aguilar-Zéleny

Please send program-related questions to  [email protected] .

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to questions such as, "Do I need to know Spanish to be admitted into the program?" and, "Who do I contact about financial aid?" on the MFA Online website .

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Creative Writing

Certificate in the college of liberal arts.

The Creative Writing Certificate is intended for any university student interested in advanced study of creative writing, both as reader and as writer.

The certificate program is a small one: approximately 60 students will be admitted each year.

How to Declare

Those who plan to pursue the certificate should begin the program by the fall of the junior year; applications are accepted each spring, beginning in March. The primary criteria for admission are UT-Austin GPA and a student’s progress toward degree, with additional consideration given to writing ability. Generally, admitted students have earned a 3.0 or higher GPA. The online application will remain open from March 1 through July. Students who apply prior to March 21 will be notified by April 1. All other students will be notified throughout the spring and summer, no later than August 1. The application requires a short personal statement (approximately one paragraph) about your interest in the program, as well as a writing sample (any genre, maximum of three double-spaced pages).

Required Courses

Visit the Creative Writing curriculum to see all required courses for the Creative Writing Certificate.

• Writing and communicating
• Critical thinking
• Analytical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Research skills
• Listening and interpreting
• Attention to detail

Related Links

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Department of English

Telephone 512-471-4991

Office Location CAL 226

Your major does not always determine your career path. Many graduates pursue careers outside their field, depending on their interests and experiences.

It’s not just your major that matters! Make yourself marketable by gaining a variety of experiences in college. Read a few inspiring stories by professionals whose experiences led to great careers.

Contact a Texas Career Engagement career counselor today to find out how you can turn your major into a career.

PLAN OF STUDY

The MFA program requires a total of 48 hours of coursework, typically fulfilled through 16 three-credit courses, which students take across three years (six semesters, three courses per semester). Our students take several different kinds of courses and seminars to fulfill the course requirements. Writing workshops are the most important part of your coursework and are meant to provide a supportive and challenging environment in which you receive and provide constructive criticism. Our students also take Literature for Writers/Studies seminars offered by NWP faculty and visiting writers. Covering a wide range of topics, these seminars involve significant critical reading, writing, and analysis from a practitioner’s point of view.

In addition to the MFA programs’ workshops and seminars, students find a wide variety of graduate literature courses available through the Department of English. NWP students regularly enroll in non-creative writing graduate courses, and while Ph.D. students typically make up the majority of students in these classes, students will also find other writers as well as students from other departments (Comparative Literature, Art History, Anthropology, American Studies, etc.) in these courses. According to their particular interests and research, NWP students also take courses (mostly graduate, but occasionally undergraduate) in other departments university-wide.

Each student earning an MFA is required to complete a master’s thesis, a significant collection of polished creative work representative of your time in the program. For some students, it will be a book-length manuscript (novel, story, or poetry collection); for others, it will be a substantive body of work not yet in manuscript form. Decisions about the nature of your thesis will be made in consultation with your thesis advisor. Although students may decide to take organized coursework every semester, students in their final year of the program typically enroll in thesis hours, which provide dedicated time for students to prepare their theses. 

The New Writers Project discourages its students from switching genres or degree programs, since this may lead to additional coursework and/or extended enrollment. We expect our students to submit their Thesis in the genre (fiction or poetry) they specified in their applications. Students who wish to change genres before or during their study need the approval of two members of the creative writing faculty and the director of the New Writers Project. 

All students in the New Writers Project receive three years of full funding through a combination of teaching assistantships (TA), assistant instructorships (AI), and fellowship support. The complete package includes full tuition remission, health insurance, and a salary or fellowship stipend. In addition to providing funding, these appointments offer invaluable opportunities for our students to gain creative and professional development.

During the first two years of the program, students serve as teaching assistants for survey courses in American, British, and World Literature in the Department of English . During their final year, the funding package is as follows: for one semester, students TA or AI in a Creative Writing course; for the other semester, students receive a full fellowship equivalent to one semester of TA salary. The fellowship comes with no responsibilities other than to concentrate on the thesis.

The 9-month TA stipend for the 2022-2023 academic year is $19,570. The 9-month AI stipend for for the 2022-2023 academic year is $21,630. UT provides all eligible Academic Graduate Student employees with 100% premium support for AcademicBlue SHIP , the student health insurance plan. You can learn more about UT Academic Graduate Student Employee insurance options here.

In recent years, we have been able to award all NWP students $4,000 of total summer funding through the generous support of the Crawley Research Grant program and through the Department of English. While this funding is renewed annually, we anticipate its continuation. UT alumnus John Crawley created the grant as his way of giving back to the creative writing program that influenced his student life and future career.

In order to remain in the MFA program and to maintain their funding package, students must be making adequate progress toward their degree. This includes maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA; fulfilling core requirements in a timely fashion; and adhering to the university’s codes of conduct, academic integrity, and compliance and ethics guides, including not behaving in a manner that impedes, interferes with, or disrupts any University teaching, research, administrative, learning, or other authorized activity. Failure to meet any of these standards may result in non-renewal of funding or termination from the program.

Renewed on a semester-by-semester basis, financial support via fellowship and employment as a TA/AI is contingent upon making adequate progress toward the degree and upon fulfilling the TA/AI responsibilities to the satisfaction of supervising faculty and the Graduate Advisor. Additionally, TA/AI appointments require students to maintain full-time graduate student status.

Each year, several contests and awards are available to our students:

Keene Prize for Literature

Available to all currently enrolled UT students, this annual prize in creative writing accepts submissions in fiction, poetry, drama, and nonfiction prose. The winner receives $50,000, and three runners-up divide another $50,000. Established through an estate gift from UT graduate E.L. Keene, the Keene Prize stands as the most generous student-writing award in the country.

Michael Adams Thesis Prize

The Michael Adams Prize, selected by distinguished external judges, gives yearly awards to one fiction and one poetry thesis. The award typically comes with a $1,000 to $2,000 prize.

Andrew Julius Gutow Academy of American Poets Prize

As one of the Academy of American Poets University and College Poetry Prizes, the Andrew Julius Gutow Academy of American Poets Prize recognizes the achievement of an undergraduate and a graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin. Each winner will receive $100 and a one-year membership to the Academy of American Poets. Winners 23 years old or younger will also be considered for the Academy’s Aliki Perroti and Seth Frank Most Promising Young Poet Award. The winner of the Aliki Perroti and Seth Frank Most Promising Young Poet Award will receive $1000.

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BAT CITY REVIEW

Students in the New Writers Project can gain editing experience with  Bat City Review , the UT literary journal run entirely by UT graduate students. The English Department offers a graduate course titled "Practicum in Editing", which serves as an introduction to editing and managing a  literary journal.

Issue 18 of Bat City Review is available now .

Past  Bat City Review  contributors include Tomaž Šalamun, Dara Wier, James Tate, Patricia Lockwood, Noelle Kocot, Zachary Schomburg, Matthew Zapruder, Mary Jo Bang, Maurice Manning, Colm Tóibín, Stephen Dunn, Aimee Bender, George Saunders, H.L. Hix, Dorianne Laux, Terrance Hayes, Ron Savage, Denise Duhamel, Marilyn Hacker, Ben Lerner, C.K. Williams, Thylias Moss, Craig Arnold, G.C. Waldrep, Shane McCrae, James Gendron, Donald Revell, Terese Svoboda, Khaled Mattawa, Tracy K. Smith, and Anthony Doerr.