Creative Writing Certificate

The creative writing courses at WashU Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS) are open to all learners with writing skills comparable to those typically learned in English Composition (CAPS-ECOMP 1110 and CAPS-ECOMP 2030). CAPS offers a 16-unit Certificate in Creative Writing for those who want to explore in depth and achieve significant ability in the art of writing fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry.

Instructors in this program are experienced professional writers, most of whom are associated with the WashU Graduate Writing Program and the Department of English. All of the craft courses are taught using the workshop model, with open discussion and detailed, constructive criticism of each student's writing.

Learners are able to complete this certificate online. However, course availability may vary depending on the semester.

Certificate in Creative Writing

Learners may specialize in fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry. Each student will take the 3-unit foundational course “Writing Across the Genres” (CAPS-ECOMP 1300) in their first term in the program and, in successive terms, four 3-credit, advanced-level (3000 or higher) courses, including two courses devoted to mastering the craft of writing in the chosen specialty genre, one course primarily in reading and analysis of the literature in that genre, and one course in a second genre.

The learner's final course in the program will be taken for 4 credits rather than the usual 3, and it will include a 1-credit meta-commentary assignment. This assignment requires them to step back from the particular course and describe (in 1500 words) what they have learned about the differences between and similarities among the genres investigated and how these have affected their choice of genre. Learners should look at the strategies they have chosen in their writing and explain why they chose them for a particular purpose. The goals of this assignment are for students to demonstrate the skills that they have learned during the course of their certificate studies, to think about those skills apply to the genres they have examined, and to show how these skills govern their approach to creative writing.

Sample courses include the following:

This program is offered either mostly or fully online. Students entering the U.S. on an F-1 or J-1 Visa must enroll in a program full time. F-1 students are only permitted to enroll in one online course per semester and J-1 students may only enroll in non-credit online courses that do not count toward their degree program. The School of Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS) cannot guarantee face-to-face enrollment options each semester of full time enrollment, therefore cannot issue an I-20 or DS 2019 to F-1 and J-1 students for this program. If you are an F-1 or J-1 student and wish to enroll in a CAPS program while here on a Visa, please contact our recruitment team to discuss your options for face-to-face program enrollment. F-1 and J-1 students should not enroll in online courses or programs without first consulting the university’s Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS).