Wednesday, September 27, 2000

WILMINGTON, NC -- The University of North Carolina at Wilmington received approval to establish a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Creative Writing by the UNC Board of Governors.

"We are extremely pleased to have our major in place," said Mark Cox, chair of UNCW's Creative Writing Department. "The program will provide an intensive apprenticeship in writing, informed by the close study of literature, to serious, aspiring writers, among a community of accomplished professional writers."

Cox explained that the BFA degree program bridges the humanities and fine arts disciplines.

"It is designed to offer creative writing students an exciting, sound liberal arts education. The degree requirements are based in a belief that writers and artists need to be grounded in the socio-cultural, historical and intellectual contexts of the tradition in which they work. We want to offer students an atmosphere in which they can prepare themselves professionally, while being encouraged to ask the important questions about who they are and how they will choose to live their individual lives."

The degree will prepare students seeking careers as professional writers or in other literary professions, such as editing or publishing. The degree also prepares graduates to pursue a master's degree in creative writing or graduate study in other professional programs. UNC Wilmington is one of two state institutions to offer a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing.

Students interested in earning a major in creative writing and enrolling in the BFA program must submit a portfolio for review by faculty prior to acceptance. The creative writing major will consist of 51 credit hours of course work, at least 18 of which must be in writing workshop courses in two genres. Students must also complete 15 hours of courses in literature from the Departments of English, Foreign Languages and Literatures or Creative Writing. At least nine hours of literature course work must be at the 300 or 400 level, and at least one literature course should be in literature before 1800; at least one must be in literature after 1800. To meet graduation requirements for the degree, a student must complete a total of 124 credit hours. The program will be offered starting fall 2001. A minor in creative writing is also available.

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For more information, contact Mark Cox at 910/962-7063.