Online BA in English
Develop Your Unique Writing Style in SMSU’s Online BA in English
Online
2—4 Years
41 Credit Hours (Major)
$305 per Credit
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Complete this form to receive information about coursework, admissions, tuition, and more.
Expand Your Knowledge with an Online Degree in Creative Writing or Literature
Grow your writing and communication skills and prepare for a successful career with the online Bachelor of Arts in English from Southwest Minnesota State University. Choose an emphasis in creative writing or literature, and finish your degree in as little as two years. This 100 percent online program allows you to grow your network and collaborate with professional writers while learning in a flexible format. Our community, including experienced and accessible faculty, will support you on your path to publication.
This BA in English program is also offered on campus.
Program Details
- Two emphasis areas
- Scholarships available
- Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- Transfer credits accepted
- Portfolio creation
Choose Your BA in English Online Emphasis
You’ll pick an emphasis in creative writing or literature to align your studies with your personal and professional interests.
2—4 Years | 15 Credit Hours
Work closely with our faculty of published writers in workshops and literature courses to strengthen your writing abilities.
Courses Highlights
- ENG 301: Poetry Workshop
- ENG 302: Fiction Workshop
- ENG 488: Techniques in Craft
2—4 Years | 15 Credit Hours
Broaden your communication skills and general cultural and aesthetic awareness through a range of American, British, and world history classes.
Courses Highlights
- LIT 250: Critical Approaches to Literature
- LIT 320: British Literature Survey: Beginnings to Present
- LIT 355: Native American Literature
Network and Grow in SMSU’s BA in English Program
120 Total Credits
15 Courses
In the online BA in English program, you will learn about the publication process and complete a capstone project that includes an independent literature study or a writing project. Our courses blend tried-and-true writing techniques with new concepts to create an expansive, modern degree. All students graduate with a portfolio to highlight their skills to employers.
Course Highlights
- ENG 303: Screenwriting Workshop
- LIT 306: Craft and Theory: Prose and Poetry
- ENG 365: Modern Grammar
- LIT 375: Women’s Literature
Apply to SMSU’s BA in English Program
Start Date May 21, 2024 Summer Term 2024
Start your application process with the support of the SMSU team. During the application process, our enrollment counselors will answer questions and help you meet application deadlines for the online creative writing bachelor’s degree.
| Online Application Form | Apply Now |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $20 waivable fee* |
| Official Transcripts | Send official high school transcripts. Transfer students must send transcripts from each institution attended |
| Minimum GPA | 2.5 minimum, 3.0 recommended |
International Students
Additional information and requirements may be necessary for international students. Please contact our enrollment team to learn more.
It’s always the right time to invest in your education with SMSU. Contact an enrollment counselor by calling 1-800-201-2944 to get started today.
Admissions DetailsTuition and Aid for the SMSU Bachelor of Arts in English
Calculate your cost for attending SMSU Use our tuition calculator to help you estimate your total tuition costs.
Investing in your education is the first step toward creating a successful future for yourself. Whether applying for a college degree for the first time or picking back up where you left off in your education, Southwest Minnesota State University’s tuition and aid packages can assist you. Take advantage of available scholarships, competitive tuition, and transfer credits when paying for your creative writing degree.
| Cost per Credit Hour | $305 |
|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours | 120 |
| Total Estimated Cost** | $36,600 |
| Other Costs | The estimated tuition cost does not include factors such as textbooks, supplies, or additional fees and expenses |
Military Benefits
SMSU proudly welcomes active military and veteran students. We accept the GI Bill™ and VA education benefits. Learn more by contacting an enrollment counselor or by visiting our military benefits page.
Financial Aid Options & Support
Southwest Minnesota State University offers a variety of solutions to help you invest in your education. SMSU offers in-state tuition rates to all students, along with a variety of financial services, including military benefits, financial aid opportunities, and scholarships for qualifying applicants.
Take your next step in financing your education by completing your FAFSA today. Use SMSU’s school code: 002375
Tuition Details
Take the Next Step in Your Creative Writing Career
Graduates of the online BA in English program pursue a wide range of work, including freelance, corporate, non-profit, and government writing jobs, as well as creative writing endeavors. You’ll graduate with a portfolio that prepares you for your career as a writer and helps you on your path to publication or leadership.
Jobs for BA in English Graduates
Freelance Content Writer $56,810 per year1
Writer or Author $91,560 per year2
Program Outcomes
Our strong community of writers support and encourage each other on their path to publication or writing jobs at various organizations. When you graduate, you’ll have the skills you need to move forward in your career and a completed portfolio to share with employers.
What You’ll Learn
- Create stories tailored to their interests
- Go through the process of publication
- Network with the right people to succeed in this industry
Meet Our Faculty
SMSU employs a faculty of experts who are top-skilled in their fields. Our educators are fully committed to providing each student with personalized and thoughtful instruction to help you succeed academically and professionally.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Judy Wilson
In addition to being a professor, fiction writer, and Director of the Creative Writing Program, Judy Wilson is founder and executive editor of Yellow Medicine Review: A Journal of Indigenous Literature, Art & Thought.
Her short stories have appeared in numerous literary journals including South Dakota Review, Mississippi Review, Antietam Review, The Atlantic Monthly’s Atlantic Unbound, Reed Magazine, Oregon Literary Review, Carve Magazine, Front Porch Journal, Texas Review and others. Her collection, Trespass and other stories, was published in 2011.
She has received a number of awards for her fiction including the Southern Literary Festival Award for Best Short Fiction, the Joan Johnson Writing Award, the Henfield Foundation’s Transatlantic Review Award, and the Truman Capote Fellowship. Originally from Virginia, she received her Ph.D. from The University of Southern Mississippi.
She teaches in the Creative Writing Program, her forte being fiction. She also teaches a variety of literature classes such as Women’s Literature, Sexuality and Gender in Literature, Short Story, Authors, as well as the occasional Techniques in Craft class, composition courses, and other classes.
Learn Online with Southwest Minnesota State University
Whether you’re enrolling in a degree program for the first time or completing a degree you previously started, learning online with SMSU provides the flexibility you need to be successful. Our online programs offer the same rigorous curriculum delivered on campus, plus the convenience of studying on your schedule from the location of your choice.
Discover SMSU OnlineSources and Disclaimers
- Salary.com, Freelance Content Writer, at https://www.salary.com/research/salary/recruiting/freelance-content-writer-salary (visited September 14, 2023).
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Writers and Authors, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/writers-and-authors.htm (visited September 14, 2023).
*Contact our enrollment team for more details!
**Tuition costs and fees will vary based on semesters of enrollment and number of transfer credits accepted. Contact our enrollment team to learn more.