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Tuition and financial aid.

As a nonprofit university, your success is our only mission. That means we’re committed to keeping our costs low, and to providing ways for you to reduce your overall tuition cost – so your education can be even more affordable.

As part of our commitment to affordability, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation:

• $320/credit for undergraduate degrees
• $627/credit for graduate degrees
• No undergraduate or graduate application fee

Whether you’re interested in an undergraduate or graduate degree, our Student Financial Services team is ready to help you understand how to cut down costs and explore all opportunities for financial aid.

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Online student experience.

Southern New Hampshire University is a leader in online education. Our online programs are developed by industry leaders who have relevant, real-world experience and professionals in online learning. Each program is designed to deliver applicable course outcomes that can help prepare you to succeed in the workplace.

Save time and money earning your degree at SNHU

Transferring credits.

Got college credits you worked hard to earn and hope to transfer? The majority of our online students are transfers, and we stop at nothing to give you the credit you deserve. That’s why we offer generous transfer credit policies where students can transfer up to 45 credits toward an associate degree and up to 90 credits toward a bachelor’s degree.

• Free Transfer Credit Evaluation – We’ll perform an official credit evaluation free of charge to help you determine which credits will transfer.
• Transfer Credits From Community Colleges – SNHU partners with community colleges and specialized schools around the country.
• Military Education Credits – Through partnerships, specialized pathways and dedicated support, we can help you turn military education into college credit.
• Get Credit for Work/Life Experience – Graduate faster and for less when you earn credit for what you already know.

Expanding the boundaries of higher education since 1932

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 170,000 online students, making it one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. Since its founding in 1932, the University has transformed from a school of accounting and secretarial science into an institution offering over 200 degree programs ranging from business, education, liberal arts, social sciences and STEM.

Here are just a few of our accolades:

• Named 2020 Most Innovative University in the North and one of the nation’s “Best Regional Universities” by U.S. News & World Report.
• Awarded the 21st Century Distance Learning Award for Excellence in Online Technology by The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
• Named “Great College to Work For” by the Chronicle of Higher Education every year since its inception
• One of Fast Company’s 50 Most Innovative Companies (2012)

What our students are saying about SNHU

“When I saw my books on a bestseller list for the for the first time, it was unbelievable.”

“Earning a degree as a mother means my children have something to be proud of and they can look at me and say my mom finished school and look at her now. She’s amazing!”

“Being with an organization that’s working to better the world, it made a big difference to also go to a nonprofit university that had the same mindset.”

“My parents immigrated to the United States to provide me with a good education…It feels good to see myself where I am today because of them.”

“My degree in Southern New Hamsphire University helped me to grow my organization to greater self-sustainability…”

Accreditations and Accolades

Southern New Hampshire University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). All Programs offered by SNHU are encompassed by this regional accreditation.

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Campus-Based Undergraduate Major English (BA)

Learn the written word with a ba in english.

Turn your passion for reading and writing into a career. Gain the communication and research skills needed in the workplace today. Learn to think critically and write effectively. Welcome to SNHU's Bachelor of Arts in English .

Classes in this major are generally small. The literature courses, for example, average about 20 students and the writing courses about 15 students, allowing professors to keep the classes engaging, lively and highly interactive. You won't ever find yourself sitting in a huge auditorium, trying to be heard or struggling to follow along with a lecture. In fact, some of the most unique learning opportunities might take place outside the classroom.

Because of SNHU's ideal location in the heart of New England, the birthplace of American literature, professors often build in visits to historic literary sites, such as Walden Pond, to add depth to the subject matter.

In this program, you’ll learn:

• Effective written and oral communication skills. You'll learn how to develop, craft and present ideas and stories that can help you convince, persuade and educate an audience.
• Ability to think critically and creatively. You'll discover how to uncover and dissect various viewpoints in order to create new concepts and stories.
• Broad knowledge of literary classics. You'll gain a unique perspective and understanding of the world by reading, evaluating and discussing literature that has influenced society.
• Proficiency in research strategies. You'll learn proven techniques for pinpointing and analyzing information that helps you build support for your ideas and opinions.

See Yourself Succeed as an English Major

While people often think that a BA in English prepares students only to be teachers or writers, that's not the case at all. Our undergraduate English program is designed to help give you a broad skill set that translates seamlessly into virtually any field.

As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission – to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of majoring in English at SNHU include:

• Supportive community. Join the SNHU campus community of students who are closely connected with faculty and staff dedicated to your success.
• Affordability. It’s our mission to make higher education more accessible. That’s why, SNHU is one of the most affordable private, nonprofit universities in New Hampshire.
• Accessible faculty. Learn from highly credentialed faculty members who are experts in their fields and interact with you in the classroom, dining hall, fitness center and anywhere else you need them.
• Opportunity. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni and strong connections with employers for internship and career opportunities.
• Campus experience. Enjoy more than 50 student clubs, champion Division II athletics and fun events on our 300-acre campus in Manchester, N.H.

Concentration Options

Because of the strong emphasis on writing, research and critical analysis, the English program opens up a world of options after graduation beyond teaching. Many English majors go on to become corporate communications executives, advertising and public relations specialists, consultants, historians and more. Although some of these career paths may require additional degrees or training, a degree in English from SNHU can provide a strong foundation of knowledge upon which to build.

Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected a median annual wage of $51,000 for those with an English degree as of 2019. 1 Of course, this annual wage is subject to change depending on the field, degree level, additional concentrations and your credentials.

The English BA includes an extensive overview of American and British literature and a sampling of world literature. You will also be required to take courses in literary theory, the English language and Shakespeare. Optional courses include Pop Fiction, World Mythology and writing workshops in poetry, fiction and drama. In addition to the major, you have the option of adding on a concentration in literature or professional writing.

SNHU's bachelor's in English program includes:

• Core literary studies courses covering topics such as Shakespeare, literary theory, language studies and genre studies
• British and American literature courses
• Courses in multi-ethnic literature, world literature and the Black literary tradition
• Project-based digital literature and digital writing courses
• The option to complete a senior thesis or an internship
• Electives in subjects such as detective fiction, banned books and gender studies
• General education humanities courses

General Education Program

SNHU's required general education program, known as The Commons , aims to guide you toward success in not only your academic career, but your personal and professional life too.

Throughout the curriculum, you'll gain some of the most in-demand skills in today's workplace, including:

• Research and information analysis
• Diverse audience communication
• Critical thinking and ethical problem solving
• Leadership, emotional intelligence and collaboration

This expertise will prove practical, transferable and invaluable as you grow in your career and contribute positively to society.

Beyond foundational skill development, the general education program also provides the benefit of allowing you to explore a wide range of fields outside of your intended major.

Campus Undergraduate Costs

Our Manchester campus aims to keep tuition and related costs low for our students so that you can pursue your degree and your goals.

University Accreditation

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1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the Internet, at: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/field-of-degree/english/english-field-of-degree.htm (viewed April 5, 2021). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

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Creative Writing and English, BA

Southern New Hampshire University, United States

• Study options for Creative Writing and English
• About Creative Writing and English
• Entry requirements for Creative Writing and English

Courses you may be interested in at other institutions

Other courses at southern new hampshire university, study options for this course, about creative writing and english, ba - at southern new hampshire university.

Unleash your creativity with Southern New Hampshire University's Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and English.

This undergraduate creative writing major prepares you for a career in creative writing, publishing, journalism, communications, the law and many other professions, as well as graduate programs such as the University's low-residency Master of Fine Arts in Fiction and Nonfiction Writing.

Creative writing courses begin during freshman year, unlike many other undergraduate writing programs. Undergraduate students can choose between a traditional four-year program and an accelerated three-year plan. Three-year plan graduates who enroll in the Master of Fine Arts program can earn their bachelor's and master's degrees in five years.

Entry requirements

For international admission requirements, please visit https://www.snhu.edu/student-experience/international-experience/international-admission-requirements

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Foundation and Pathway Courses at other institutions

If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course then consider one of these courses from another institution:

NCA Online Exam Prep

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Southern New Hampshire University BA in Creative Writing

Creative Writing is a concentration offered under the writing studies major at Southern New Hampshire University. We’ve gathered data and other essential information about the bachelor’s degree program in creative writing, such as diversity of students, how many students graduated in recent times, and more.

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

• Undergraduate Cost
• Online Learning
• Student Diversity

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.

How Much Does a Bachelor’s in Creative Writing from SNHU Cost?

Snhu undergraduate tuition and fees.

In 2019-2020, the average part-time undergraduate tuition at SNHU was $320 per credit hour for both in-state and out-of-state students. Information about average full-time undergraduate tuition and fees is shown in the table below.

Learn more about SNHU tuition and fees.

Does SNHU Offer an Online BA in Creative Writing?

If you’re interested in online learning, you’re in luck. SNHU does offer online classes in its creative writing bachelor’s degree program. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the SNHU Online Learning page.

SNHU Bachelor’s Student Diversity for Creative Writing

Male-to-female ratio.

Women made up around 73.3% of the creative writing students who took home a bachelor’s degree in 2019-2020. This is about the same as the countrywide number of 72.8%.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

Of those graduates who received a bachelor’s degree in creative writing at SNHU in 2019-2020, 21.3% were racial-ethnic minorities*. This is lower than the nationwide number of 26%.

*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 .

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Southern New Hampshire University Online MA in English and Creative Writing

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offers an online MA in English and Creative Writing program that gives students the choice of a general path or one of four concentrations: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenwriting. Students will learn how form, language, and literacy integrate into the voice and style of writing, delve into their own creative process, and study cultural contexts and historical traditions of classic and contemporary writing.

The MA in English and Creative Writing program helps writing students develop a professional identity of confidence in media platforms and presentations. Additionally, students learn to use technology in writing and promoting their work. Throughout the program, students develop writing goals and find their own voice and style of writing. The curriculum allows for unique combinations of courses befitting each student’s style and career aspirations.

The SNHU MA in English and Creative Writing program comprises 36 credits and can be completed in as few as 15 months by taking two courses per 10-week session, or students can complete the program at their own pace. Graduate online programs at SNHU begin five times per year in 10-week increments, landing in September/October, December, February/March, May, and July/August, depending on the year.

The program requires no campus visits. Online courses are delivered asynchronously for maximum flexibility, and students can log in at their convenience to complete coursework. Southern New Hampshire University makes online learning systematic by posting all requirements for the upcoming week on the dashboard. Course components may include readings, quizzes, presentations, writing samples, and original written works of publishable quality.

Graduates of the SNHU online MA in English and Creative Writing may go on to careers in journalism, publishing, proofreading and editing, technical writing, screenwriting, public relations, marketing, writing in various genres, or freelance writing.

Courses for the online MA in English and Creative Writing include Studying the Craft; Story and Concept; Graduate Studies in English Language; English and Creative Writing Capstone; and Graduate Studies in Literary Theory. Students also take either Seminar in Writing Instruction or Online Teaching Experience, six credits from upper-level literature classes, and two of the following: Screenwriting Fundamentals; Poetry Fundamentals; Fiction Fundamentals; Nonfiction Fundamentals; Fiction and Film; Studies in Place and Setting; Genres: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Other Popular Fiction; Contemporary Writers and Publishing; and The Editor.

Those following a general English and Creative Writing path also take two of the following: Screenwriting Fundamentals; Poetry Fundamentals; Fiction Fundamentals; Non-Fiction Fundamentals; or Internship (which includes 150 internship hours).

Fiction concentration courses include Fiction Fundamentals, Genres: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Other Popular Fiction; Fiction Thesis Writing, and Fiction Thesis Completion.

Nonfiction concentration courses include Non-Fiction Fundamentals, Non-Fiction Thesis Writing, and Non-Fiction Thesis Completion.

Poetry concentration courses include Poetry Fundamentals, Poetry Thesis Writing, and Poetry Thesis Completion.

Screenwriting concentration courses include Screenwriting Fundamentals, Screenwriting Thesis Writing, and Screenwriting Thesis Completion. For all concentrations, the Fundamentals course listed takes the place of English and Creative Writing Capstone in the major.

Southern New Hampshire University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Southern New Hampshire University

Online ma in english and creative writing.

• Students can choose a general path or concentrations in fiction, non-fiction, poetry and screenwriting
• The curriculum includes a course on the English language covering topics such as the history of English, etymology, phonology, syntax, semantics, dialects, and more
• One course on teaching or writing instruction is required

To Learn More About SNHU's Online MA in English and Creative Writing - visit degrees.snhu.edu

Online MA in English And Creative Writing - Fiction

• Graduate students go beyond the basics of storytelling to an exploration of genres, audiences, and their creative voice
• At the end of the program, fiction students create their own manuscript, applying their creative voice to their work
• Graduates can apply learned skills to writing novels and other works, or to scriptwriting, marketing, and freelance work

Online MA in English And Creative Writing - Nonfiction

• Students gain the tools needed to create factual works based on research and human experiences
• The curriculum includes information on broadcasting, publishing, and professional production
• The curriculum offers the flexibility to tailor the degree toward each student's career goals

Online MA in English And Creative Writing - Poetry

• Poetry students use their imaginations to create poetic imagery that is vivid, moving, and inspiring
• Students learn to appreciate how poetry affects thinking, communication, and understanding of the world around them
• Poets may work for nonprofits, journals, bookstores, and magazines, or publish their own poetry

Online MA in English And Creative Writing - Screenwriting

• Students delve into the world of film and video, including a focus on story structure, creative writing, theme, action, dialogue, character development, and visuals
• The curriculum focuses on visual storytelling to create an immersive experience
• By the end of the program, students will have developed their own screenplay

Penmen Review

Redemption at Jefferson High

Flower Girls

Writing at SNHU

About the penmen review.

The Penmen Review is Southern New Hampshire University’s online journal for creative writers, featuring  resource articles ,  spotlight interviews  and  writing in all genres , selected by our editorial board from submitted work.

The Penmen Review accepts submissions four times a year, and new submission cycles begin on the first day of January, April, July and October. Simultaneous submissions are accepted and writers retain all rights to their work. There are no submission fees for writers for submissions nor are fees paid.   Meet the editorial board .

SNHU’s annual  Fall Fiction Contest  gives writers an opportunity to win up to $3,000 in SNHU scholarships, have their short stories featured in The Penmen Review and more.

Nearly 700 short stories were submitted in the 2023 contest. The finalists possessed varied writing backgrounds, educational and professional goals, but they all produced work that stood out and resonated with others.

Here are the results:

• First Place: “I found a genie in a bottle of Glenlivet 12 year” by Tayler Kastros
• Second Place: “Dark Water” by Gabe Converse
• Third Place: “Sleeping Beauty” by RE Bunch
• Fourth Place: “Beasts” by Ness Wheeler
• Fifth Place: “Rat-a-Tat” by M.W. Bodily

SNHU hosts writing-related events year-round, too, in the form of author readings, Q&As and discussions. Access recordings from Word for Word , SNHU’s online literary series, and catch up on the online MFA program’s Wireside Chats .

You can also listen to the creative writing episodes in Passion and Practicality: A Liberal Arts Podcast.

Visit the Southern New Hampshire University website for more information about online creative writing programs:

• Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing
• Master of Arts in Creative Writing
• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Find out what faculty from these programs  recommend reading this summer .

Creative Writing Major (B.A.)

The creative writing major offers students the opportunity to learn the art and craft of poetry and fiction from faculty members who are widely published authors. Seeking a balance between literary scholarship and literary practice, the course of study aims to help students create their own works based on an understanding of the literary tradition. Creative writing majors will complete 36 credits, including Introduction to Literary Studies, 12 credits of creative writing workshops, and four survey courses selected from designated areas. They will also be expected to choose a concentration in either poetry or fiction for their advanced writing classes. Creative writing majors will be prepared for careers in writing, editing, teaching, public relations, law and media. They will also be prepared for master’s degree programs, Master of Fine Arts programs, and doctoral programs in creative writing.

Double Major: English and Creative Writing

Students interested in a double major in English and Creative Writing should contact the English Department Chairperson for additional information about a combined program of study. The double major is 60 credits.

English Departmental Honors

English majors and creative writing majors may qualify for departmental honors by fulfilling the following criteria:

• maintain a 3.33 GPA in the major.
• take an additional 6 credits in advanced electives, for a total of 42 credits, to complete the English major with honors.
• receive a Pass with honors on the English Major Assessment Portfolio.
• senior thesis (from ENGL 5011 Senior Seminar for Literature  or ENGL 5012 Senior Sem - Creative Writing ) must be included in the Assessment Portfolio (in addition to the two revised papers, see below). Writing majors must include an additional elective paper.

English Major Portfolio Assessment

English majors and creative writing majors should begin keeping an assessment portfolio as soon as they declare their major. The assessment portfolio is to be submitted in the final semester. Portfolios are reviewed by a rotating committee of Department of English faculty. The grading system is pass/fail and appears on the student’s transcript. Pass with honor is reserved for English Departmental Honors students. The assessment portfolio will be submitted through Blackboard. The assessment portfolio should include:

• two research papers reflecting the student’s best work in the English major from two of the advanced elective categories;
• a written self-assessment (criteria can be found in the English Majors Blackboard course); and
• the senior seminar paper if graduating with English Honors.

Writing majors graduating with English Honors must include an additional elective paper.

Major Requirements

To declare a creative writing major, students must have a 2.5 minimum GPA in ENGL 1201 Core English I and ENGL 1202 Core English II , or gain permission of the chair of the Department of English. Core English I and II are prerequisites for all advanced English courses.

Note: ENGL 2103 American Literature I - ENGL 2104 American Literature II can be used toward the Humanities requirement of the College of Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum as well as the requirements of the creative writing major.

Link to College Core requirement .

Both required; also count for the six-credit sequence in the A&S Humanities core.

Students who take Introduction to Creative Writing may count that as a writing elective.

Taking an English department version of the university Core III (Engaging the World) requirement will count as a literature elective as well as toward the University Core. A list of these courses can be found in the Writing Majors Blackboard course.

Currently, the Creative Writing Senior Seminar is offered only in the spring semester.

Successful completion of a Department of English version of CORE 3XXX: Engaging the World will count as a literature elective as well as toward the University Core. A list of these courses can be found in the Writing Majors Blackboard course.

Poetry Concentration

This course may be taken a second time for credit.

Fiction Concentration

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