University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Writing BA
Johnstown, USA
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 27,134 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* full-time, two terms | for out-of-state residents
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
Write Your Future
Authors Made Here
If you have a creative drive and an eye for communication, our Writing program will help you turn those passions into a career. The demand for content generation and both creative and professional writers has never been higher.
Offering degree programs in both Professional and Creative Writing, the Writing program at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown will prepare you with real-world skills for in-demand positions in diverse fields from marketing director to editor to content producer.
Great writing is a product of passion and creativity. Our passion to help you succeed is what drives us. Let UPJ's Writing major help discover what drives you.
Why Major in Writing at UPJ?
If you're an aspiring writer looking for a creative, rewarding, fulfilling career, UPJ's Writing major would love to help you fulfill those dreams. You'll learn from our dedicated faculty everything from content generation to writing theory, gathering invaluable experience toward your future career along the way.
- Learn directly from expert faculty in classrooms in an intimate, diverse, and personal environment.
- Have a classroom experience that prioritizes student thinking, creativity, and excellence.
- Have direct access to published writers to speak about your ideas and potential career paths.
- Network with like-minded peers and working, established professional communicators.
- Gain industry-specific technical skills.
- Gain access to writing internships that expose you to new professional skills and environments.
Pitt-Johnstown Financial Aid
Scholarship eligibility for incoming first-year or new students to Pitt-Johnstown will be assessed by the Admissions Office upon acceptance.
Process For Continuing Students
Each year, the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown’s Financial Aid Office awards numerous Gift and Endowed (G&E) scholarships, made available to deserving students through the generosity of many individuals, clubs, organizations, industries, businesses, and foundations.
The selection of scholarship recipients is based on specific criteria defined by the donor. A student’s academic performance and financial need may also be considered when deciding upon qualified candidates. Most G&E scholarships are geared toward continuing students; Pitt-Johnstown may require students to complete a scholarship application for consideration.
Completing the scholarship application does not guarantee selection, however, by completing the application, students are automatically considered for each scholarship that Pitt-Johnstown offers as well as several outside scholarships.
General Requirements
For consideration, students must:
- be enrolled for at least 6 credits in a degree-seeking program at Pitt-Johnstown.
- have successfully completed 12 credits as a degree-seeking student at Pitt-Johnstown.
- have earned a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 1 to be considered for need-based scholarships.
- be registered for the upcoming fall term by May 15.
- comply with Pitt-Johnstown's satisfactory academic progress standards for financial aid.
- not be in default on an educational loan or not owe repayment on a federal grant.
- not have earned a Bachelor’s Degree.
Scholarship Exclusions/Adjustments
Limited G&E funds are available to full scholarship recipients. Scholarship awards may be adjusted if Financial Aid determines a student is the recipient of a full tuition scholarship or tuition remission.
Any student who receives a scholarship and/or grant awards that total more than Pitt-Johnstown’s annual cost of attendance, as defined by the Financial Aid Office, will have one or more awards reduced or cancelled.
The Financial Aid Office awards G&E scholarships based upon the information available at the time of the award, including intended major or cumulative GPA, as well as any other possible variables. In the event that this information is inaccurate or changes, the Financial Aid Office has the right to reduce, change, or cancel the award.
A. Program Emphasis in Creative Writing
Each student who selects Writing-Creative Writing as a major must complete the following requirements:
I. Required Writing Courses (27 credits)
Students must satisy the following requirements.
Core Requirements (9 credits):
- ENGWRT 0050 - Intro to Creative Writing
- ENGWRT 0053 - Intro to Professional Writing
- ENGWRT 1130 - Grammar, Usage, And Style
Exploring Genres (9 credits):
Students must select three courses from the following:
- ENGWRT 0500 - Creative Nonfiction Writing
- ENGWRT 0521 - Fiction Writing
- ENGWRT 0531 - Poetry Writing
- ENGWRT 0541 - Playwriting
- ENGWRT 0561 - Writing for Social Change
Creative Writing in the Digital Age (3 credits):
Students must select one course from the following:
- ENGWRT 0570 - Digital Poetry
- ENGWRT 1011 - Digital Storytelling
- ENGWRT 1140 - Digital Magazine Production
Advanced Genre Work (3 credits)
Students must select one course from the following:
- ENGWRT 1000 - Creative Nonfiction Workshop
- ENGWRT 1021 - Fiction Workshop
- ENGWRT 1031 - Poetry Workshop
- Required Capstone (3 credits)
- ENGWRT 1700 - Advanced Seminar In Writing
II. Required English Literature Courses (9 credits):
- ENGLIT 0055 - British Literature 1
- ENGLIT 0056 - British Literature 2
- ENGLIT 0575 - American Literature 2
III. Required English Literature Elective Courses (6 credits)
Students must select two additional English Literature courses.
IV. Foreign Language or Literature in Translation Courses (6-9 credits)
Students must complete two courses of a language sequence or 9 credits of Literature in Translation courses.
V. Required Humanities Courses (9 credits)
Students must complete one Music or Fine Arts course, one Communication or Theatre course, and one Philosophy course.
B. Program Emphasis in Professional Writing
Each student who selects Writing-Professional Writing as a major must complete the following requirements:
I. Required Writing Courses (27 credits)
Students must satisfy the following requirements.
Core Requirements (9 credits)
- ENGWRT 0050 - Intro to Creative Writing
- ENGWRT 0053 - Intro to Professional Writing
- ENGWRT 1130 - Grammar, Usage, And Style
Digital Writing (12 Credits)
Students must complete all the following courses:
- ENGLIT 0355 - Digital Humanities
- ENGWRT 0511 - Writing for Digital Media
- ENGWRT 1011 - Digital Storytelling
- ENGWRT 1140 - Digital Magazine Production
Workplace Writing (9 credits)
Select three courses from the following:
- COMMRC 1211 - Public Relations 1
- COMMRC 1212 - Public Relations 2
- ENGWRT 0500 - Creative Nonfiction Writing
- ENGWRT 0501 - Business Writing
- ENGWRT 0551 - Science and Nature Writing
- ENGWRT 1192 - Technical Writing
- ENGWRT 1950 - Professional Writing Internship
- JOURNL 1134 - Feature Writing
Required Capstone (3 credits)
- ENGWRT 1700 - Advanced Seminar In Writing
II. Required English Literature Courses (6 credits)
- ENGLIT 0056 - British Literature 2
- ENGLIT 0575 - American Literature 2
III. Required English Literature Elective Courses (3 credits)
Students must select any one additional English Literature course.
IV. Required Content Area Courses (12 credits)
Complete 12 credits from one of the approved Writing Related Areas in consultation with your advisor.
A relevant minor may be substituted for the related area.
V. Foreign Language or Literature in Translation Courses (6-9 credits)
Students must complete two courses of a language sequence or 9 credits of Literature in Translation courses.
VI. Required Humanities Courses (9 credits)
Students must complete one Music or Fine Arts course, one Communication or Theatre course, and one Philosophy Course.
Your Future, Revealed
Careers in writing are incredibly diverse and always in demand. With a degree in Writing, you can find employment as:
- Content Author
- Ghostwriter
- Editor or Proofreader
- Reviewer
- Writing Coach or Consultant
- Advertising and Marketing Agent
- Instructor
- Columnist
- Technical Writer
- Article, Travel, or Grant Author
- Public Relations Officer
Add to Your Degree with a Minor
Want to maximize your employment flexibility? UPJ offers a huge selection of minors to pair with your Writing degree. Some of the most popular choices include:
- Communication
- English Literature
- Business
- Marketing
- Foreign Languages