Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Toronto, Canada
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
About: The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at OCAD University uses cross-disciplinary studio practice to develop your voice and refine craft. You’ll explore literary culture and art practices, producing spoken, written, visual and experimental texts across genres. You’ll join journals, workshops, performances, readings, publication fair. The programme ends with a body of work for publication or exhibition to launch your career.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can work in professional writing, journalism, artistic practice, publishing, editing, copywriting, content development, communications, arts administration. OCAD U supports co-ops, summer internships, gallery exhibitions and freelance opportunities to build experience and a professional community.
Creative Writing
In this cross-disciplinary and collaborative program, you will develop your individual voice and refine your writing craft while exploring multiple art and design practices. You will explore living literary culture and art practices, delving into the craft, production, and performance of spoken, written, visual, and experimental texts across and beyond established genres.
This program fosters bold, creative expression, encouraging ‘attitude’ in both writing and performance, as well as through other media. You will be part of a nurturing and supporting literary community that encourages the exploration of written, performance and visual expression. You will participate in online and print journals, symposia, workshops, public performances, field trips and local readings, a publication fair, reading series and more.
By the end of your degree, you’ll complete a body of work for publication or exhibition to launch your career.
What You’ll Do in the Program
First Year
In the first year, you will take art or design studio courses based on your interest as well as:
- Art history
- English class of your choice
- Introduction to History and Practice of Creative Writing
- Research, Reading, and Editing for Creative Writers
- Writing in Community
Second Year
In the second and third year, you will take art, design, social science and humanities courses based on your interest as well as mandatory creative writing courses in:
- Into to four genres (poetry/spoken word, nonfiction, fiction and drama)
- Independent publications
- Dub and spoken word
- Research and editing
Third Year
In the third year, you will have options to take classes in art and design that interest you but you’ll focus more on creative writing. Classes include:
- Poetry and Spoken Word
- Non-fiction
- Short Fiction
- Studies in Canadian Literature
- Indigenous Literature
- Editorial Publications
Fourth Year
- In the fourth year, all students will also have the opportunity to do an independent thesis project and showcase your work at OCAD U’s Graduate Exhibition, the biggest free art and design exhibition in Toronto with over 40,000 visitors.
This program combines written, performance and visual expression. You’ll participate in:
- An online and print journal
- Symposia, workshops
- Showcasing and public performances
- A book, zine, and publications fair
- Field trips to local readings, conferences, and festivals
- A digital and analog writing lab and access to the sound studio
- A reading series featuring established, emerging and student writers
- Mentorships, as both mentees and later as mentors
- University slam team
- A nurturing and supportive emerging literary community
- Mentorship by faculty
This program is for both new and emerging writers. You’ll become part of a nurturing and supportive literary community. By the end of your degree, you’ll complete a body of work aimed at publication or exhibition to launch your career.
At the end of this four-year program, you will earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Jobs You Can Get
Graduates of this program can work in:
- Professional writing
- Journalism
- Artistic practice
- Performance art
Co-ops/Internships
OCAD U offers so much more than co-ops because creative careers take many forms. Our approach is specialized and individual to every student’s needs and goals. You will be able to take advantage of:
- Short experiential learning placements from among hundreds of organizations
- Creative in-class projects with real-world industry partners
- Exclusive summer internships
- Gallery exhibitions of your work
- Freelance creative opportunities
- Jobs after graduation
OCAD University’s dedicated support services will help you build a professional community, valuable experience and skills necessary for a meaningful career.