At a glance: Creative Writing

Did you know? The Creative Writing Department provides hands-on editing and production experience working on Polaris, the ONU journal of literature and the arts; emedia, the English Department online publication; and other department and University publications.

Creative writing, one of the five majors offered in the Department of English, combines liberal-arts studies with a focus on creative expression (fiction, poetry, plays and screenplays) to enable students to develop their creative and intellectual capabilities to prepare for a variety of professional employment opportunities. Besides encouraging students to sharpen their abilities within their choice of genres, the major is designed to develop critical thinking and communication, organization, interpersonal, computer and research skills in a context of multicultural awareness. The program includes academic courses with literary models to stimulate writing, workshops, individual mentoring and advice on publishing venues. It also promotes diversity in student course selection, not only within the department but also in other disciplines, ensuring flexibility in academic study and career preparation as a complement to conceiving and completing creative works. Visit the English Department's web site.

Distinctive features

A diverse and qualified faculty who bring their research and writing expertise to the classroom
Advanced seminar classes and writing workshops with intense faculty mentoring
Weekly meetings of two Ohio Northern University creative writers groups, one for screenwriting, one for fiction and poetry
Assistance and experience submitting creative work to journals and Web sites
Specialized orientation program the first quarter of freshman year
Emphasis on career development, starting in the first year
Original student research or literary work as a capstone project Senior Seminar
Enrichment program that encourages attendance at campus cultural events
Faculty-student trip for conferences and special events
Study-abroad options
Visiting writings sponsored by the department, in conjunction with the Cultural and Special Events Committee, including authors Michael Martone, John Updike, Joyce Carol Oates, Edward Albee, Nikkie Giovanni, Ursula Hegi, Jimmy Santiago Baca, Albert Goldbarth, Tom C. Hunley, and Elizabeth Kolbert
Membership in Sigma Tau Delta, an award-winning national English honor society

Facilities

English department classes and faculty offices are in Dukes Memorial, one of the historic front-campus buildings. The department has a variety of instructional rooms, including two state-of-the-art computer classrooms, four rooms equipped with SMART Boards, a mobile laptop lab, two seminar rooms with a departmental reading area and a reference library.

Student organizations

Sigma Tau Delta — One of the nation’s top chapters, this active group organizes local philanthropy projects related to literacy (such as tutoring in local schools), creates a spirit of collegiality in the department through faculty-student activities, and annually sends students to the national conference, where many students have had their creative works or academic projects selected for presentation.

Secondary Education Society — A new chapter recognized by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), this group was formed by dedicated LAE majors to focus on issues in the profession that have bearing on their future careers as teachers. They regularly attend the national NCTE or College English Association of Ohio conferences.

Professional placement

Graduates find jobs as teachers, reporters, freelance writers, ad managers and writers for public relations firms, lobbyists, editors, librarians, sports reporters and sports public relations personnel, wedding and special event planners and insurance underwriters.

Graduate schools

ONU English majors are accepted to graduate programs across the country in journalism, professional writing, literature, library science, creative writing and law. These graduate schools include: Florida Gulf Coast University,Kent State University, The Ohio State University, University of Dayton, University of Memphis, University of Tennessee, University of Virginia, West Virginia University.

Career opportunities

English majors are generally desired by employers because they are articulate, write well, are perceptive readers, can research effectively and work well with others to collaborate on publications and projects.