No matter your academic background, the ability to tell a good story across a variety of formats is essential. In the Digital Storytelling minor program, you will learn journalistic and documentary approaches to storytelling, information-gathering skills such as interviewing and research, and production of audio and visual media.
You can discuss what you are most passionate about by creating digital content such as videos, podcasts and feature stories. With the school-wide emphasis on social justice, Carlow University encourages stories that shine light on marginalized groups and individuals.
This minor is open to any major. A minimum of 18 credits is required.
You can build on your creative skills and refine your writing technique with Carlow’s Creative Writing major. You will explore the works of great writers while deepening your relationship with these texts through critical examination.
You can workshop creative pieces with peers as well as working writers, and develop your ability to understand creative concepts like context, image and voice.
You can gain experience in editing, graphic design and other practical skills by working with “The Critical Point,” Carlow’s journal of visual and literary arts. Opportunities such as the Madwomen in the Attic writing workshops and annual anthology and the Red Dog Reading Series can help you hone public reading, critique and editing skills.
Bachelor of Arts
On campus, some online
Oakland
Up to 90 credits
In introductory and special topics courses, you will study poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction, and learn how to critique work in a workshop setting. You can study sound, rhythm and line in poetry studies; learn the essentials of a good story while studying fiction; and focus on narration, description and dialogue if your interest is creative nonfiction.
Other courses include world literature and language.
Fast track your way to a master’s by taking graduate courses as an undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.
With a background in creative writing, challenging and rewarding career opportunities abound, such as becoming a copywriter, working in publishing or advertising, or freelance as an editor or writer.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate for technical writers is slated to grow 7% over the next 10 years, largely driven by the expansion of scientific and technical products, as well as a need for web-based product support.
Malcolm Randall, a junior creative writing major and forward on the basketball team at Carlow University, fulfilled that goal in the fall of 2021. On Oct. 16, his first novel, titled “Sheriff Sebastian Part 1: The Boy,” was published and available for sale on Amazon.
▸ Watch his story on WTAE-Pittsburgh
anytime
Fall, Spring & Summer
Creative writing major KJ Miller ’21 said Carlow’s program is unique because of the connections students make. “Each professor in the program creates a knowledgeable and familiar environment, so that you are always learning how to perfect your craft as well as be comfortable sharing your own work. You gain mentorship on a new level – not only do they want to advise you, but they want to see you succeed while giving you all of the tools you need to do so.”
3 keys to mastering storytelling in marketing communications Tell a good story—one that somehow defines your values—the essence of who you are, and why others should care—and you’ll capture the hearts and loyalty of customers…
Technology has transformed the way we interact. The communications field, in particular, has been greatly impacted by changes in digital media and technology.
Fuel the future you with the latest trends, tips and news around your future aspirations.
New posts weekly!
If you are interested in this major, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
You will develop your creative and critical thinking skills and learn how to tell a good story with a minor in Creative Writing from Carlow University. You can adapt your learning experience to fit your academic and professional interests and cultivate your writer’s voice in workshop settings.
You will learn practical skills, such as editing and graphic design, that translate well to a variety of fields where clear communication is essential. You can focus on poetry, creative nonfiction or fiction and develop an understanding of story, narrative structure and the elements of language. You will explore great literary works and deepen your relationship with these texts through discussion and critical examination.
This minor is open to any major, requires 18 credits and can be designed to suit your academic needs.
As an English major, you will build an understanding of British, American and world literature, significant writers, and writing strategies. You can also focus on areas of interest through electives that can lead to a minor or double major.
You will develop effective communication, critical reading and thinking skills and learn advanced analytical research methods, preparing for a variety of professions that rely on those skills such as law, teaching and professional writing.
You can gain publication and presentation experience through Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society, as well as editorial experience with “The Critical Point,” Carlow’s journal of visual and literary arts, and the Carlow University newspaper.
Bachelor of Art
On campus, some online
Oakland
Up to 90 credits
The English major curriculum focuses on timeless literary works and writers who address today’s major issues. Course options include Peace/Justice Themes in American Literature, Shakespeare in the 21st Century, Literature in Translation, Myths and Monsters, and Visions of Social Change. Other courses cover genres such as the American novel, Romantic or Early Modern women writers, and contemporary issues in poetry, drama and prose by modern British authors. A Writing for Social Media internship is also available.
English and Liberal Studies double major Caitlin McDonough ’21 is grateful for the attention students receive from faculty in the English program. “I experienced the timelessness of literature through new perspectives, and I learned how to grow and market my writing skills for an increasingly online world.”
Fast track your way to a master’s by taking graduate courses as an undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.
Employers seek candidates with critical and creative thinking skills; this provides English majors unique opportunities beyond their field of study, including public relations and social media management. Many English graduates use their writing skills in business or nonprofit settings.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate for public relations specialists is expected to increase 7% over the next 10 years.
anytime
Fall, Spring & Summer
English major Madeline Longmore ’22 said Carlow has exceeded her expectations since the moment she enrolled. “The small community has allowed me to be seen as a person instead of another number in a large lecture hall. The English literature program has exposed me to a wide range of artists and historical perspectives. The English professors have made diversity and intersectionality a basis for all their curriculum. I have learned more than literature; I have experienced bodies of work that connect our past to our present.”
If you are interested in this major, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
You can develop communication and creative skills and work with American, British and world literature with an English minor from Carlow University. You will develop critical thinking and analytical skills highly sought by employers, and refine your writing skills.
You can adapt your learning experience to suit your academic and professional goals. Possible professions include law, teaching and professional writing.
You will be encouraged to engage with literature that intrigues you, including crime fiction, literature in translation and environmental justice literature.
This minor is open to any major. A minimum of 18 credits in English is required.
You can give yourself a competitive edge in the job market with a Marketing minor from Carlow University. In this program, you will learn how to understand consumer behavior and how people think, and how to apply marketing theory to consumer practice. You will gain hands-on experience in writing and research with an emphasis on creativity.
The Marketing minor is particularly beneficial to students who plan to plan to pursue positions in the areas of copywriting, advertising, market analysis, public relations, and social media management.
The Marketing minor is open to any major. Since there are many facets to marketing, the minor is designed to give you the basics in marketing principles, business management and media relations. You will choose two electives from communications and business.
You can give yourself a competitive edge in the job market with a Modern Languages minor from Carlow University. You will take six semesters of a foreign language. Credits earned while studying abroad or during enrollment at Carlow University, earned at another college or university, or earned through study at a Pennsylvania Council of Higher Education institution are accepted.
Join a community of writers from all walks of life on an immersive and personalized educational journey. Our faculty and mentors have uniquely designed a low-residency, personalized program geared toward helping you discover and reach your full writing potential in fiction, creative nonfiction or poetry.
An integral part of the program are four, 11-day residencies, in Pittsburgh and Dublin, Ireland, that create an opportunity for you to engage and interface with fellow students, staff, mentors, and visiting renowned writers.
You will work one-on-one with American and Irish Mentors. With their expert guidance and your skill, you will become the writer you were meant to be.
36 credits
$1,192/credit
As few as 5 semesters
On campus, some online
You will work one-on-one with mentors both virtually and in person as you explore writing genres and engage in four, 11-day residencies in Pittsburgh and Dublin, Ireland. The residencies include workshops, masterclasses, and mentor conferences as well as opportunities to engage with visiting writers and alumni.
In a required practicum, you will work on a writing and reading plan and submit work for critique, review, and collaborative feedback. By the end of the program, you will produce a publishable body of work.
Choose the creative writing area that best fits your career goals and personal aspirations. Each specialization provides you with the opportunity to hone the writing and storytelling skills for that area.
Fiction
Develop your author’s voice and explore your creativity as you learn to write with a fiction focus. Choose from historical fiction, flash fiction, and young adult fiction.
Creative Nonfiction
Explore memoirs, personal essays, short narrative work, and lyric essays as you find the voice and structure that best suits your story.
Poetry
Understand the theories and treatment skills needed to work with a Explore your creativity, refine your voice, collaborate with other students and work with acclaimed and published poets to develop a publishable body of work.
GEORGIA HERTZ '23
“Writing - like any artform - can be a lonely path to tread, but it doesn't have to be done in isolation. Never have I felt such warmth and compassion from a group of writers as I have from my peers and mentors at Carlow University, both in Pittsburgh and in Dublin. We all delight in our growth as writers and we celebrate each other's successes with love, as if they were our own.”
PHILIP BORDER '22
“Every member of the poetry, fiction and CNF programs all feel like extended family members to me. They are always checking up on me to see what's new with my writing and to keep up on all of my forthcoming publications."
View or download our latest e-newsletter [pdf].
Award-winning American and Irish writers mentor students in Carlow’s low-residency MFA in Creative Writing Program with residencies in Pittsburgh and Dublin. Our MFA mentors are dedicated teachers and writers whose work has been recognized in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Within an inclusive, supportive community, our mentors are committed to helping each student achieve their full writing potential.
Scholarship funds are available to current MFA students. Scholarships are awarded in spring and fall. Applications are evaluated by the program director and the scholarship committee. If you are interested in being considered for available scholarship funds, please send a letter of interest to Tess Barry, MFA Program Director, at tbbarry@carlow.edu. The letter should include a brief personal statement (250-500 words).
There are two graduate assistantships available each semester. Applications for graduate assistantships are evaluated by the program director and MFA staff.
If you are interested in being considered for a GA or TA position, email calls for those positions will be posted to all enrolled students in the spring of each year.
anytime
Spring & Summer
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
Experienced, published faculty will guide you on your writing journey in this program. You can explore memoirs, personal essays, short narrative work and lyric essays. A mentor will guide you to find the voice and structure that best suits your story.
You can take your writing skills to the next level and explore your creativity within a supportive literary community.
36 credits
$1,124/credit
As few as 5 semesters
On campus, some online
Carlow’s MFA in creative nonfiction program includes four 11-day residencies in Pittsburgh and Dublin, Ireland, that feature workshops, master classes and mentor conferences. Practicum work will be on a writing and reading plan designed with your mentor; you will submit work for critique, review and collaborative feedback.
By the end of the program, you will create a book-length work of publishable creative nonfiction. Seminars, lectures and readings in all genres are also available.
With the writing and creating thinking skills gained from this program, you will be well equipped to become a writing lecturer or published author or write for magazines and other publications.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate for editors is slated to decrease 7% over the next 10 years, though many supplement their income with freelance work.
Award-winning American and Irish writers mentor students in Carlow’s low-residency MFA in Creative Writing Program with residencies in Pittsburgh and Dublin. Our MFA mentors are dedicated teachers and writers whose work has been recognized in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Within an inclusive, supportive community, our mentors are committed to helping each student achieve their full writing potential.
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
anytime
Spring & Summer
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success.
Creative writing graduate student Georgia Hertz ’23 loved the community she found at Carlow. “Writing – like any artform – can be a lonely path to tread, but it doesn’t have to be done in isolation. Never have I felt such warmth and compassion from a group of writers as I have from my peers and mentors at Carlow University, both in Pittsburgh and in Dublin. We all delight in our growth as writers and we celebrate each other’s successes with love, as if they were our own.”
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
You can begin the journey toward becoming a published poet with a MFA in Poetry from Carlow University. You will explore your creativity, refine your voice, collaborate with other students and work with acclaimed and published poets.
36 credits
$1,124/credit
As few as 5 semesters
On campus, some online
Carlow’s MFA in Poetry program includes four 11-day residencies in Pittsburgh and Dublin, Ireland, that feature workshops, master classes, seminars, lectures and readings. Practicum work will be on a writing and reading plan designed with your mentor; you will submit work for critique, review and collaborative feedback. By the end of the program, you will create a book-length manuscript of publishable poetry.
“The experience has sharpened my perspective, not just in the written expression but also in my perspective on life and the realization of the power of my voice to function as a transformative force for change.”
— Sheila Carter-Jones, MFA ’22
With your master’s in Poetry, you will be well equipped to work as a creative writing professor or become a published poet.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate for poets is slated to decline 2% over the next 10 years, but many poets go on to publish their work in literary magazines and other outlets.
Award-winning American and Irish writers mentor students in Carlow’s low-residency MFA in Creative Writing Program with residencies in Pittsburgh and Dublin. Our MFA mentors are dedicated teachers and writers whose work has been recognized in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Within an inclusive, supportive community, our mentors are committed to helping each student achieve their full writing potential.
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
anytime
Spring & Summer
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success.
Creative writing graduate student Phillip Border ’22 said he’s amazed by the program’s ability to maintain such a strong sense of community despite many challenges. “Every member of the poetry, fiction and CNF programs all feel like extended family members to me. They are always checking up on me to see what’s new with my writing and to keep up on all of my forthcoming publications.
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.