brown university creative writing

• Skip to Content
• Bulletin Home
• Institution Home

Brown University

• Bulletin Home
• The College
• Undergraduate Concentrations
• Literary Arts
• 2024-25 Course Announcement Bulletin
• 2024-25 University Bulletin
• Courses @ Brown
• Your Concentration(s)
• General Regulations
• Academic Calendar
• Curricular Programs
• Undergraduate Certificates
• The Graduate School
• The Division of Biology and Medicine
• The School of Engineering
• The School of Public Health
• School of Professional Studies
• Departments, Centers, Programs and Institutes
• University Courses
• Independent Study Plans
• Financial Information
• University Libraries
• Summary of Enrollment &​ Degrees
• Written Contractual Agreements
• The Brown Alumni Association
• Bulletin Archive

Brown’s Department in Literary Arts provides a home for innovative writers of fiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, literary translation, digital/cross-disciplonary and mixed media.  The concentration allows student writers to develop their skills in one or more genres while deepening their understanding of the craft of writing. Many courses in this concentration require a writing sample; students should consult a concentration advisor or the concentration website for strategies on getting into the appropriate course(s).

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree with concentration in Literary Arts will be expected to complete the following course work:

1. At least four writing workshops from among the following series: LITR 0100A , LITR 0100B , LITR 0110A , LITR 0110B , LITR 0110D , LITR 0110E , LITR 011oH the various courses under LITR 0210, LITR 0310/0311, LITR 0610, LITR 1010, LITR 1110, LITR 1150/1151/1152 and LITR 1410 . At least two genres must be covered within the four workshops taken. An independent study in literary arts ( LITR 1310  and LITR 1510) may count toward the workshop requirement. Other writing-intensive courses may also count, at the discretion of the advisor.

2. Six elective reading and research in literary arts courses, which must include:

• a course in literary theory or the history of literary criticism
• a course that primarily covers readings and research in literary arts created before 1800
• a course that primarily covers readings and research in literary arts created before 1900
• a course that primarily covers readings and research in literary arts created after 1900

These courses, selected in consultation with a concentration advisor, may come from (but are not limited to) the following departments: Africana Studies, American Civilization, Classics, Comparative Literature, East Asian Studies, Egyptology, French Studies, German Studies, Hispanic Studies, Italian Studies, Judaic Studies, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures in English, Middle East Studies, Modern Culture and Media, Music, Portuguese and Brazilian Studies, Slavic Studies, South Asian Studies, Theatre, Speech and Dance, Visual Arts. With approval from the concentration advisor, courses covering pre-20th century time periods may be distributed in a variant manner, so long as they cover two distinct literary time periods that precede the 20th century

3. Among the ten required courses, at least four must be at the 1000-level or above. At least six classes (workshops and reading/research courses) that shall count toward the concentration must be taken at Brown through the Literary Arts Department; up to one of the six LITR courses may be a course taken in another department but cross-listed by Literary Arts. No more than two of the ten required courses for the concentration may also count toward fulfilling a second concentration.

4.  During the senior year, all students must take at least one course within the Literary Arts course offerings (courses with LITR designation by the Registrar, or courses approved by the concentration advisor).

Honors in Creative Writing: Course requirements are the same as those for the regular concentration (four workshops, six elective literature-reading courses), with the following changes and additions: honors candidates must include two 1000-level workshops or independent studies among their courses; and complete a thesis. Students in their seventh semester who are enrolled in or have completed at least one 1000-level workshop (or independent study) may submit honors applications to the Literary Arts Department from the first day of the fall semester to 25 September; and from 1 through 25 February in the spring. Interested students should obtain information from the office of the Literary Arts Department.

Honors in Literary Arts Production: Course requirements are the same as those for the regular concentration (four workshop, six literature-reading courses), with the following changes and additions: honors candidates must include two 1000-level workshops, production courses or related independent studies among their courses; and complete a production capstone project. Students in their seventh semester who are enrolled in or have completed at least one 1000-level workshop, production course or independent study, may submit honors applications to the Literary Arts Department from the first day of the fall semester to 25 September; and from 1 through 25 February in the spring. Interested students should obtain information form the Literary Arts Department.

Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA Phone: 401-863-1000 Maps & Directions / Contact Us © 2024-25 Brown University

• A to Z Index
• Registrar's Office
• Admission Office
• Graduate School
• Alpert Medical School
• Dean of the College

Print this page.

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

Literary Arts

John Cayley

Colin Channer

Thalia Field

Karan Mahajan

Sawako Nakayasu

Matthew Shenoda

Eleni Sikelianos

Jacinda Townsend

Visiting and other faculty.

Laura Colella

Carolina Ebeid

Maria Maggenti

Francesca Mari

Gale Nelson

Affiliated faculty, ada smailbegovic, rosmarie waldrop.

• Twitter Facebook Pinterest
• Virtual Tour
• Applications
• Entering Class Stats
• Accreditation
• Faculty Composition
• Distance Learning
• International
• Tuition And Fees
• Room And Board
• Financial Aid
• Graduation & Retention
• Return On Investment

Brown University PhD in Creative Writing

Creative Writing is a concentration offered under the writing studies major at Brown University. We’ve pulled together some essential information you should know about the doctor’s degree program in creative writing, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, and more.

If there’s something special you’re looking for, you can use one of the links below to find it:

• Graduate Cost
• Online Learning

Featured Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

BA in Creative Writing & English

Develop your creativity and gain practical skills with a creative writing degree program –featuring 100% online classes – through a bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.

MFA in Creative Writing - Online

Embrace your passion for storytelling and learn the professional writing skills you'll need to succeed with our online MFA in Creative Writing. Write your novel or short story collection while earning a certificate in the Online Teaching of Writing or Professional Writing, with no residency requirement.

MA in English & Creative Writing

Refine your writing skills and take a step toward furthering your career with this online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.

How Much Does a Doctorate in Creative Writing from Brown Cost?

Brown graduate tuition and fees.

In 2019-2020, the average part-time graduate tuition at Brown was $1,851 per credit hour for both in-state and out-of-state students. The following table shows the average full-time tuition and fees for graduate student.

Related Programs

Learn about other programs related to <nil> that might interest you.

Low-Residency MFA in Fiction and Nonfiction

Harness your passion for storytelling with SNHU's Mountainview Low-Residency MFA in Fiction and Nonfiction. In this small, two-year creative writing program, students work one-on-one with our distinguished faculty remotely for most of the semester but convene for weeklong intensive residencies in June and January. At residencies, students critique each other's work face-to-face, meet with major authors, agents and editors and learn how to teach at the college level.

Does Brown Offer an Online PhD in Creative Writing?

Online degrees for the Brown creative writing doctor’s degree program are not available at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the Brown Online Learning page.

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online

More about our data sources and methodologies .

Popular Reports

Compare your school options.

Summer@Brown

Explore new paths and connect with different ways of thinking, seeing and doing.

If you could take a class in any subject, what would it be? No matter your answer, chances are you’ll find it at Summer@Brown. Choose from more than 300 non-credit courses reflecting the wide range of Brown University’s Open Curriculum that will challenge you with new perspectives on how you work, learn and live.

At a Glance

With so many students from different locations, backgrounds and interests, studying at Summer@Brown you'll join a community of peers who bring broad and deep perspectives to living and learning together. 

Outside of class, you’ll participate in workshops, activities and events—scheduled from morning to night—that inform, engage and entertain. Along the way, you’ll make new friends from around the world and learn to live independently and responsibly: skills that will prepare you well for life in college and long after. 

Summer@Brown provides the opportunity to embrace the challenge of college-level academics without the pressure of formal grades and credit, in classes taught by instructors just as interested in your learning as you are, alongside students just as engaged as you.

What to Study?

Course-based research experiences [cres], biological and natural sciences, business, economics and legal studies, engineering and technology, language in context: english, spanish, italian, american sign language, literature, writing and communications, medical and health sciences, physical sciences and math, political science, philosophy and history, psychology and social sciences, visual, creative and performing arts.

VIEW ALL COURSES

Program Snapshot

Students completing grades 9 to 12, ages 14 to 18 by June 16, 2024

Choose from over 300 courses in multiple 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-week on-campus and 5 week hybrid (2 weeks online and 3 weeks on campus) sessions

Sunday, June 23 to Friday, July 26, 2024

Brown University campus in Providence, Rhode Island

• Join a community of young scholars all engaged in the serious fun of learning.
• Explore the breadth and depth of Brown’s undergraduate curriculum and emphasis on student-centered learning.
• Experience the satisfying challenges of college-level academics. 
• Immerse yourself in subjects you choose. 
• Engage in courses that allow you to conduct independent research.
• Concentrate on learning without the pressure of formal grades.
• All students who successfully complete their course will receive a Certificate of Completion . Students who successfully complete a 2-week or longer course will receive a Course Performance Report .

Learn more about how to apply and program dates and costs.

Taking part in Summer@Brown on Brown University’s campus in the heart of Providence, RI allows you to experience what college life and learning is like on an Ivy League campus. You have the opportunity to engage in first-year undergraduate study at Brown immersed in Brown’s student-centered approach to learning.

A Typical Day

You will be in class for three hours daily, five days a week—along with about three additional hours of out-of-class work individually or with your classmates each day. Expect to be challenged and to engage with your instructor and fellow students through reciprocal inquiries, actively joining class discussions and group work as well as individual study. When and where you study is up to you. Summer@Brown provides you with the freedom and responsibility to determine when and how you will complete your out-of-class work while still engaging in Student Life activities, workshops and events taking place throughout each day. The program does not set your schedule, allowing students to begin to learn how best to manage their time in ways that will prepare you for your first year in college. No matter when your class meets—morning, early or late afternoon—you’ll have the opportunity to engage with students taking other courses through a variety of activities that help you grow as a student and as a person. See Life on the Brown Campus for more information.

Program Directors

Yolanda Davis

Abbey Aevazelis

Karen Haberstroh

Kisa Takesue

Jane Winograd

Rosario Navarro

Katie Stewart