Combined BA/MPS in Creative Writing and Publishing
The combined BA/MPS in Creative Writing and Publishing connects the study of literature and craft with the art, science, and business of publishing. The program joins two of GW’s distinctive curricular offerings — the BA in English and Creative Writing in the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences and the MPS in Publishing in the College of Professional Studies — so that motivated students can earn both degrees in five years rather than the traditional six.
Graduates of the BA/MPS program leave prepared for meaningful creative work and professional careers at publishing houses, scholarly journals, independent presses, literary magazines and other organizations that rely on effective communication and publishing activities.
Questions about the combined BA/MPS program? Contact the cwdirector
gwu [dot] edu (director of the Creative Writing Program) or the jwwemail [dot] gwu [dot] edu (director of the MPS Program in Publishing).
cwdirectorgwu [dot] edu (Contact the Program Director)
Program at a Glance
Undergraduate Curriculum
As undergraduates, students create original literary texts, taking coursework in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and/or playwriting. Students complete two graduate courses as part of the undergraduate program.
Graduate Curriculum
Students then learn how publications reach and engage audiences, with graduate courses in editing and acquisitions, marketing and publicity, copyright and licensing, production and the business of publishing.
Unique Opportunities
Rich academic and extracurricular activities include reading series, partnerships with D.C. literary organizations, award-winning student-led publications and GW University Press — a teaching press managed by students.
Program Admissions
English and Creative Writing majors must apply for the combined degree program by no later than the end of the first semester of their junior year, though earlier application is encouraged. Applications will be evaluated by the Admissions Committee for the MPS Program in Publishing, and students will be notified of the committee’s decision on a rolling basis.
To be admitted, undergraduate applicants must have a minimum 3.3 GPA in the required courses for the English and Creative Writing major. Applicants must also submit the materials required for admission to the MPS Program in Publishing, including two letters of recommendation (academic or professional).
The BA and MPS degrees are awarded sequentially. Students complete the requirements for the BA in English and Creative Writing before continuing into the +1 graduate year of the MPS in Publishing.
Course Requirements
GW's Department of English in Columbian College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Professional Studies offer a dual bachelor of arts with a major in creative writing and English and master of professional studies in the field of publishing degree. The dual program allows students to take 6 credits in graduate-level courses from the master's degree during their undergraduate program. The credits are counted toward both degrees, thereby decreasing the number of credits normally required for the master's. All requirements for both degrees must be fulfilled.
Students interested in the dual program should consult with the director of the creative writing program no later than the first semester of their junior year.
Credit sharing
Students in the dual program take two graduate courses from the MPS program during their undergraduate program. These courses replace two 3-credit, 3000-level creative writing courses in the BA program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate requirements taken during the undergraduate program: | ||
| Book and Journal Publishing | ||
| Copyright Law in Publishing | ||
| Undergraduate requirement waived: | ||
Two selected creative writing courses taken at the 3000-level. | ||