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Master’s Concentration

Professional Creative Nonfiction Writing: Master’s Degree

Capture the attention of your audience with creative nonfiction writing that sparks interest and inspires action. From personal essay to memoir, literary journalism to travel writing, find your voice and tell your story. You’ll progress toward mastering the fundamentals of narrative nonfiction that connects with an audience while discovering and cultivating behavior to sustain your creative efforts.

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Top-ranked, career-focused education in a flexible format.

At a Glance

Classes Begin
January 6

Term Length
10 Weeks

Master's Degree
Tuition
$40,032

Format
Asynchronous and Hybrid Online

Admission
No GRE or GMAT

Duration
As few as 18 months

Top-Ranked University

U.S. News & World Report Rankings

Brian Cicero

Talk to an Enrollment Manager

Skills You’ll Learn

Identify and analyze key elements of creative nonfiction writing

Define your audiences and write in ways that move and entertain them

Assess your own writing and learn how to enhance its strengths and eliminate its weaknesses

Curriculum

Master of Arts in Professional Creative Writing with a concentration in Professional Creative Nonfiction Writing requires completion of 48 credit hours (12 courses).

5

Core Courses

4

Concentration Courses

3

Elective Courses

Core Courses

Learn the scope of activity, historical development, and future direction of the industry. These courses provide a foundation that you'll draw on throughout your concentration and elective courses. The capstone serves as the culminating academic experience in which you'll explore a problem of practice in your field of study.

PWRI 4500 The Writing Life: Concepts, Practices, and Professionalism
PWRI 4510 Literary Genres for Writers
PWRI 4520 The Writers Workshop
PWRI 4917 Market Research for Writers
PWRI 4001 Portfolio Foundations
PWRI 4901 Professional Creative Writing Capstone Project
OR  
PWRI 4920 Portfolio Capstone

 

 

Concentration Courses

Focus on a specific professional area within the larger industry sector and master the skills needed to excel in that area.

PWRI 4100 Masterworks: Creative Nonfiction
PWRI 4110 Writing Creative Nonfiction: Foundational Concepts, Skills, and Practice
PWRI 4120 Writing the Personal Essay
PWRI 4130 Writing the Memoir
Elective Courses

Elective courses may be chosen from among non-core and concentration courses in the academic program, and you may also select courses in other University College graduate programs. Your academic advisor will help you select electives that align with your career and personal goals.

Featured Instructors

Sample Schedule

Plan out your schedule and determine your preferred timeline for completing your master's degree—finish in as few as 18 months or take up to five years.

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Interested in a graduate certificate?

Explore our four and six course graduate certificates in Professional Creative Nonfiction Writing.

Take a Course Before You Apply

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We know how important it is to get started when you’re ready and that’s why you can enroll in a course before you officially apply.

Career Outcomes

Predicted outcomes for graduates of Professional Creative Nonfiction Writing

Nonfiction writing is on the rise and consumers are even willing to spend more on nonfiction titles, according to a Smashwords survey. According to Publishers Weekly, adult nonfiction had the largest gains in sales compared to other genres.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment for writers and authors is projected to grow 9% through 2030. Writers and authors who adjust their work for online content and social media may have an advantage.


Job Titles

Writer
Editor
Critic
Literary Journalist
Historical Writer
Teacher
Blogger
Copywriter
 

 

 

 

Writer and Author Salary: National Average

$61,820

(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Get Ahead with Career Services

 

One-on-one career coaching and mock interviews

 

Job database dedicated to DU students and alumni

 

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Hear from Our Students

Theme: Job Satisfaction

Professional Creative Writing

“The writing assignments at that level really helped elevate my writing. It made me more keenly aware of the editing process as well as some more practical purposes.” —Bobby LeFebre, graduate.

Flexible Online Classes

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We understand the demands of balancing work, friends and family, and school can be challenging. That's why at University College, you can complete your program entirely online. Our online learning platform makes it easy to work anywhere at any time.

Online Experience5

Accreditation

 


Higher Learning Commission

University College programs maintain the highest level of accreditation offered by The Higher Learning Commission, one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the federal government. The University of Denver and all of its academic programs are regionally accredited by this commission, and regional accreditation is the highest standard for universities in the United States.

Take the Next Step

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