Columbia University School of the Arts: Shaping the Future of Creative Writing in New York City
- For The Writers | Official
- Dec 14, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 27, 2024
Columbia University's School of the Arts offers a distinguished Creative Writing Program with both undergraduate and graduate tracks, each designed to cultivate literary talent through rigorous coursework and access to New York City's vibrant literary scene.
The School of the Arts is renowned for its highly regarded Writing MFA Program, distinguished by its rigorous approach to creative writing and its faculty of acclaimed writers and editors who are deeply committed to teaching and mentoring emerging literary talent. Students can specialize in Fiction, Nonfiction, or Poetry, with an additional option to pursue a joint course of study in Literary Translation. The School also offers an undergraduate major in Creative Writing, culminating in a Bachelor of Arts degree awarded by Columbia College or the School of General Studies.
The program’s workshops, seminars, lectures, and master classes are thoughtfully designed by writers for writers, creating an immersive environment where student work is actively discussed, and literature is examined from a practitioner’s perspective. Columbia’s exceptional academic resources—including its world-class faculty, extensive libraries, archives, and scholarly centers—are integral to the writing experience. In addition, students benefit from unparalleled access to New York City’s dynamic publishing industry and vibrant cultural landscape.
The School of the Arts fosters an interdisciplinary setting where students explore a wide range of artistic and literary ideas, equipping them with the skills and experiences needed to thrive as creators and thought leaders in the literary world.
Undergraduate Program
The School of the Arts is fully committed to undergraduate education and offers courses that lead to the BA (Bachelor of Arts) degree in Creative Writing, Film and Media Studies, and Visual Arts awarded by Barnard College, Columbia College and the School of General Studies. If you are interested in studying the arts as an undergraduate at Columbia, please follow the links to the right for application information. All undergraduate applications are taken through Barnard College, Columbia College, and the School of General Studies.
Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing, available through Columbia College and the School of General Studies.
Curriculum: Combines intensive writing workshops in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry with seminars that study literature from a writer’s perspective. To review the most current curriculum data for the undergraduate program, please visit the School of Art's Writing Graduate Courses & Requirements page.
Course Requirements: To review the course requirements for the undergraduate program, please visit the University Course Requirements Resource Guide, which includes the full coursebook for undergraduate studies by year, requirements for graduation, and independent study and internship details.
Faculty: Includes acclaimed writers and editors dedicated to mentoring emerging authors. For a complete and current faculty list for the School of the Arts graduate programs, please visit their Faculty List.
Enrollment Data: In the 2021-2022 academic year, 50 bachelor's degrees in writing were conferred, marking a 35% increase from the previous year.
Admissions: For upcoming enrollment details, please visit their Undergraduate Admissions page. To apply, please review the School of the Arts Writing Application Requirements and Admission Requirements.
Graduate Program (MFA in Writing)
The Writing MFA Program at Columbia University’s School of the Arts is designed for writers, by writers. Its workshops, master classes, seminars, and lectures focus on developing student work while examining literature through a practitioner’s lens, rather than from a purely scholarly or theoretical perspective. The program leverages Columbia University’s exceptional resources, including its esteemed faculty, extensive libraries, archives, scholarly centers, and diverse student body. Additionally, the School of the Arts’ Film, Theatre, and Visual Arts programs provide enriching interdisciplinary opportunities that broaden students’ creative perspectives.
Students have access to 28 departments within the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, offering courses that complement and expand their development as writers. A key feature of the program is the opportunity to edit, manage, and publish Columbia: A Journal of Literature and Art, gaining invaluable experience in the publishing process.
Located in the heart of New York City, the program draws on the city’s unparalleled cultural and literary resources. As the nation’s publishing and arts epicenter, New York provides students with unique opportunities to connect with editors, publishers, literary agents, and other industry professionals who frequently participate in classes, panels, and informal discussions.
Students gain real-world experience through internships at prestigious publications such as The New Yorker, The Paris Review, and Parnassus, as well as with esteemed literary presses and organizations like Archipelago Press, PEN America, and Poets & Writers. Additionally, students may work as research assistants to celebrated authors and mentors such as Alan Burdick, William Finnegan, Tim Weiner, and Brenda Wineapple, enhancing their literary education through direct mentorship and collaboration.
Degrees Offered: Master of Fine Arts with concentrations in Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Literary Translation. Please note this program is offered for full-residency students only.
Curriculum: Features a combination of writing workshops, master classes, and seminars, all designed to deepen students' artistic practice. To review the most current curriculum data for the graduate program, please visit the School of Art's Writing Graduate Courses & Requirements page.
Course Requirements: To review the course requirements for the undergraduate program, please visit the University Course Requirements Resource Guide, which includes the full coursebook for graduate studies by year, requirements for graduation, and independent study and internship details.
Faculty: Comprises distinguished authors and literary professionals who provide personalized guidance. For a complete and current faculty list for the School of the Arts graduate programs, please visit their Faculty List.
Enrollment Data: In 2022, 97 students earned their master's degrees in writing, positioning Columbia among the top institutions for writing master's degree candidates nationwide.
Admissions: For upcoming enrollment details, please visit their Graduate Admissions page. To apply, please review the School of the Arts Writing Application Requirements and Admission Requirements.
Notable Aspects
Location: Situated in New York City, Columbia University’s Creative Writing Program provides students with unparalleled access to the nation’s literary capital. The city’s vibrant cultural environment enriches the educational experience through proximity to renowned literary institutions, publishing houses, and iconic cultural landmarks. Students can attend readings at The Strand Bookstore, literary festivals such as the Brooklyn Book Festival, and events hosted by the Poetry Society of America. The city’s world-class libraries, including the New York Public Library and Columbia’s Butler Library, offer extensive research collections, while local literary hubs like the 92nd Street Y provide opportunities to engage with celebrated authors and thought leaders.
Alumni: The Creative Writing Program at Columbia University has produced a legacy of distinguished writers whose works have left a lasting impact on literature. J.D. Salinger, author of The Catcher in the Rye, is among its notable alumni, celebrated for shaping modern American literature. Federico García Lorca, an acclaimed Spanish poet and playwright, enriched world literature with works like Blood Wedding and The House of Bernarda Alba. Carson McCullers, famed for her novel The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, explored themes of loneliness and identity with timeless relevance. Other esteemed graduates include Paul Beatty, winner of the Man Booker Prize for The Sellout, and Jhumpa Lahiri, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Interpreter of Maladies, exemplifying the program’s ongoing influence in shaping global literary culture.
Columbia's Creative Writing Program is recognized for its rigorous approach to literary instruction and its commitment to fostering the development of its students' unique voices within a supportive community. By combining intensive workshops, master classes, and seminars with the vast cultural and professional resources of New York City, the program equips writers with the skills, insight, and industry connections necessary for lasting literary careers. Its distinguished faculty, composed of award-winning authors and experienced editors, provides personalized mentorship, ensuring that each student’s artistic potential is fully realized. With a legacy of producing critically acclaimed authors and a curriculum that balances creative exploration with professional preparedness, Columbia's Creative Writing Program remains a leading force in shaping the future of contemporary literature.
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