Master of Humanities

Creative Writing

Develop your craft, explore different genres and create polished work in a program designed for writers who want to grow and pursue publication.

typed script on white paper
Format Online
Tuition $635 per credit hour
Credits 30 credits
Duration 18 months
Term Length 7 or 14 weeks

Find Your Voice in Creative Writing

Build Your Skills Across Multiple Genres

Study fiction, screenwriting and publishing while refining your writing style through workshops and creative assignments.

Prepare for Writing, Publishing and Related Careers

Strengthen your ability to write, revise and communicate effectively across publishing, editing, journalism and related fields.

Shape a Portfolio for Publication or Further Study

Sharpen your writing through feedback, revision and capstone work that supports future academic or professional goals.

MH Creative Writing
Program Requirements

Everything you need to know about the program, curriculum structure and degree completion requirements.

Program Highlights

The Master of Humanities in Creative Writing is designed to improve your writing skills and help you work towards publication. It will also prepare you to lead creative writing workshops or other teaching opportunities open for creative writers. You will learn how theory turns into practice by participating in writing workshops with instructors and other students. In addition to improving your writing skills, our students enjoy creative assignments that build critical thinking and analysis skills in all courses.

As a graduate of the program, you will be prepared to inspire others and continue your creative endeavors as you seek publishing opportunities. Our faculty will guide you through courses and help you reach your potential.

Tiffin University’s MH in Creative Writing was designed for anyone who enjoys writing and seeks to publish their work and anyone who wants to share that knowledge and love of writing with others.

  • All faculty within the program hold a terminal degree (M.F.A. or Ph.D.) in the field.
  • Class sizes are small, allowing professors to provide timely, productive feedback and interactions with students.
  • A graduate advisor is specific to the program and will work one-on-one with you to determine your individualized pathway to graduation.
  • The program prepares you for writing and publishing your own work or for further graduate study.
  • 100% online, with a combination of 7-week courses
  • Students have options to begin their program at three different times throughout the year (January, May, and August).
  • As a full-time student, you can complete your program in less than two years.

Preparing You for the Real World

Each instructor within the Master of Humanities program brings experience in their field of study. They bring this real-world knowledge to their teaching, to the building of our curriculum as subject matter experts and to their interactions with students on a daily basis.

As part of our professional program, you’ll learn career-ready skills that will prepare you for a job within the field of Creative Writing. Courses are relevant, and all content is focused on practical skills. You’ll apply your knowledge as you engage in creative assignments, working both individually and in group discussions and projects.

The program will prepare you to be an effective communicator in the field, as well as an accomplished creative writer in a variety of genres who can share their knowledge effectively with others. If you enjoy writing, then the MH in Creative Writing is for you.

Active, Experiential Learning

Within the Creative Writing program, you’ll actively engage through discussions with your peers and instructors. Each week, you’ll engage with classmates and complete a creative writing assignment. You’ll apply your learning as you participate in writing workshops and discuss ideas with others.

Within the program, you’ll continuously work on your communication and problem-solving skills as you take part in weekly discussions and assignments. These assignments, focused on writing in multiple genres, will require you to critically think about how texts are created and how ideas are communicated.

You’ll participate in a capstone project that allows you to create more texts and/or revise work you’ve already completed. By the end of the capstone project, you will have a polished writing sample that you can use for future graduate applications and/or seek to publish.

Format & Sample Courses

FORMAT

Online – Offered in 7-week courses, starting in January, May and August

SAMPLE COURSES

Marketing for Publication (ENG652) – This course will focus on how students can market their own work in the world of publishing. There are many different options for writers to publish their work, and each option requires a different marketing strategy. Therefore, students will build on what they learn from the Business of Publishing class to decide on appropriate marketing and networking strategies for their particular strengths.

Creative Writing: The Novel (Parts 1 and 2) (ENG542 and ENG642) – This course is the a two-part sequence. The focus of both course will be on writing an original novel or a good portion of a novel over the course of the two classes, using the creative writing workshop tradition, with the advantage of being online. Students will write and criticize each other’s work with suggestions for improvement.

Creative Writing: Screenwriting (ENG545) – This course develops skills in the art and craft of telling stories through film, e.g., screenwriting. Through writing tightly focused exercises, scenes, and a script for short a film, students will learn correct screenplay format, develop a “feel” for screenwriting style, enhance their powers of description, their skills in writing dialogue and action, and in constructing scenes and plot. The overarching emphasis of the course is on learning how to translate mental moving images (the film that the writer sees in his or her head and all it encompasses or evokes), to words on the page in a way that those words create approximately the same (or at least very similar) moving images in the reader’s mind.

Business of Publication (ENG654) – This course will discuss options for publishing students’ work. Approaches to the market will be discussed, including networking, approaching publishers and agents, trends in publishing, and alternative areas and modes of publishing. Students will also explore different types of publishing such as book publishers, magazine publishing, vanity presses, self-publishing, etc.

Concentrations

Career Opportunities

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of writers and authors is projected to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030. The median annual wage for writers and authors was $67,120 in May 2020.

careers

The online Masters in Humanities in Creative Writing program prepares you for positions related to:

  • Community College & CCP Education – English & Creative Writing
  • Authoring
  • Editing
  • Freelance Writing
  • Journalism
  • Publication Assistance
  • Public Relations/Advertising
  • Technical Writing

MH Creative Writing FAQ

what is creative writing?

Creative writing is any form of writing that exists outside of journalism, business writing or academic writing. Creative writing expresses an author’s unique voice, writing style, thoughts and ideas in an imaginative and engaging manner.

what is a master’s in creative writing?

A master’s in creative writing helps students improve writing skills and reach writing goals. In this program, students work in writing workshops with fellow students and instructors who themselves have published texts. Students will learn to write in different genres and explore their writing voice as they develop a portfolio working toward their capstone project.

what can i do with a degree in creative writing?

With a degree in creative writing, you will be qualified for a variety of career opportunities, including community college and CCP Education – English and Creative Writing, authoring, editing, freelance writing, journalism, publication assistance, public relations and advertising, technical writing and more.

80 %

of students receive financial aid

96.9 %

of TU graduate alumni have a career outcome within 6 months of graduation

“The courses are very interactive, giving students many opportunities to get to know their professors and classmates. While the courses are not in person or live, I have had excellent conversations with my professors and peers.”

Robert Wofford
Master of Humanities Student