BA in Liberal Studies, Creative Writing
Develop your craft in an engaged community of writers.
Our creative writing program focuses not just on the mastery of creative writing, but on critical reading and thinking skills that foster a more exemplary understanding of language. Pairing this skill-based education with social justice and community engagement training produces a well-rounded degree that prepares adult learners for a meaningful, rewarding, and creative career. Expand your skills in written and verbal communications, broaden your understanding of social and ethical issues, and solve the problems that leaders in your profession encounter every day. Our Creative Writing concentration encourages students to explore literary expression in order to achieve greater proficiency in their own craft. AULA’s Creative Writing concentration is distinguished by its emphasis on the ethical import of language and story, attention to the socio-political context within which work is produced, and the role of the writer in society.
Creative Writing is offered as a major or minor area of concentration of the BA in Liberal Studies degree at Antioch University's Los Angeles Campus.
Program Overview
Students in our Creative Writing Concentration develop their craft in multiple genres, including fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and screenwriting. Through interdisciplinary study of literature, students make connections between their own writing and diverse literary traditions and social contexts. Students can earn credit for prior writing experience, as editors of the BA Program’s online Literary Journal Two Hawks Quarterly, and as writing mentors with AULA community partners such as WriteGirl, POPS the Club, and 826LA. Our faculty of accomplished writers give students close attention, preparing them for future publication, graduate study in Creative Writing, and/or assimilation of their writing into other disciplines and careers. In the final quarter of their undergraduate degree, qualified students may apply to Fast Track into Antioch’s renowned low-residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, potentially saving significant time and tuition expenses.
Additional Information
In addition to the general degree requirements outlined on the BA in Liberal Studies page, students must successfully complete a minimum of 20 credits (Minor) or 40 credits (Major) for the Creative Writing Concentration. These credits can be transferred or earned at Antioch. A minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter credits must be completed with Antioch University. If the student has not fulfilled these credit requirements, the Area of Concentration will be designated as Liberal Studies.
The core curriculum serves as a guide to students in the concentration for establishing a strong foundation in the history, theory, and practice of creative writing. The faculty strongly recommends that Creative Writing students take as many of the core courses as possible during their enrollment.
Core Courses
- The Art of Fiction
- The Art of Poetry
- Journeys in Creative Nonfiction
- Advanced Multi-Genre Workshop in Creative Writing
- Issues in Contemporary Literature
- The Art of Screenwriting
- Literary Communities of Los Angeles
- Two Hawks Quarterly Internship
Electives
- Psychology of Women through Literature and Film
- From Book to Screen: Strategies for Moving from Written to Visual Texts
- Writing Memoirs: Turning Towards Home
- Works in Progress: Poetry Discussion Group
- Writing as Seeing: Understanding the Poetic Self
- Addiction in Literature and Film
- Poetry and Memory
- Blackness and Identity in Nonfiction
Fast Track to Graduate Programs
Antioch offers “Fast Track” options into two of our graduate programs. Once accepted, undergraduate students complete their remaining bachelor’s degree credits by taking first-term graduate courses. Credits earned in Fast Track apply toward both the student’s bachelor’s and master’s degrees, saving significant time and money in the process. Prior to applying for the graduate program, undergraduate students must consult with their Academic Advisors to determine their eligibility to become a Fast Track candidate and gain approval from the Undergraduate Studies Chair. Our Fast Track option is available for the following graduate programs: Master of Arts in Psychology (MAP), and Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA).
Undergraduate New Student Orientation
New Student Orientation is scheduled every term. It’s a chance for students to visit the campus, meet faculty, register for classes, and get started on their educational journey. Upon acceptance into the program, students receive specific information for the New Student Orientation designed for them. To RSVP for an orientation, admitted students should email: [email protected] or call 310.578.1080 x.3210.
Faculty Spotlights
Caley O’Dwyer, MFA, MA, MFT
Affiliate Faculty
Michael Anthony-Nalepa, LMFT
Adjunct Faculty
Rosa Garza-Mourino, MA
Adjunct Faculty
B. J. Bullert, PhD
Professor Emerita
Admissions
Admissions deadlines - Undergraduate Studies
| Quarter | Final Application | Start Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March 15 | March 31 |
| Summer | June 15 | July 1 |
| Fall | September 15 | September 30 |
| Winter | December 15 | January 2 |
How to Apply
Complete and submit the Online Application.
- Complete and submit the Admissions Essay.
- Submit the Application Fee of $50. Note: Contact Admissions to request a fee waiver at admissions [email protected].
- Request official transcripts from every accredited institution from which you have received academic credit. You must provide evidence that you have successfully completed 36 quarter credits (24-semester credits) or more of college-level learning.
- All materials are submitted to the Admissions Office. All application materials submitted become part of an applicant’s file and cannot be returned.
For students interested in receiving federal and state financial aid, high school graduation or an equivalency such as a GED is required. Students can also fulfill this requirement by completing six credit hours or equivalent course work toward a degree or certificate or by receiving a passing score on an exam, demonstrating an ability to benefit from higher education. Students seeking governmental financial assistance may be asked to provide proof of high school completion or equivalency, as well as transcripts from previous college-level work. Official transcripts should be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to: Office of Admissions Antioch University Los Angeles 400 Corporate Pointe Culver City, CA 90230 All application materials submitted become part of an applicant’s file and cannot be returned.
Cost & Aid
| Per quarter credit | $535 |
| View the Cost of Attendance Components | |
Please note: Additional fees for all Antioch University Los Angeles programs may include (but are not necessarily limited to) charges for materials, late registration, enrollment maintenance, parking, graduation, transcripts, tuition payment plan, late payments, late registration, and returned checks.
Financial Aid
A majority of AULA students finance their education through some form of financial aid. You may not be sure which federal, state, public, and private aid packages – such as loans, scholarships, and grants—are right for you. Our staff is here to help you, so you can focus on what’s most important: beginning your academic program at AULA. Returning to school is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be a stressful one.
Community College Scholars Program
A special scholarship exists for undergraduate students transferring from a community college with whom AULA has an articulation agreement. If granted a Community College Scholarship, students receive 3 credits worth of free tuition in the first term, and 3 credits in the second term, a savings of $4,000. You are eligible for this scholarship if you have earned a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and at least 24 transferable semester credits at a qualifying community college.
Transfer Credits and Prior Learning
Transfer Credits
Prospective students with at least 36 quarter credits (equivalent to 24 semester credits) of college credits from an accredited institution can apply to complete their degree in one of Antioch’s Bachelor’s degrees. Our undergraduate programs accept a maximum of 120 quarter credits/80 semester credit lower-division credits that can be transferred toward your degree program. Antioch will accept 135 quarter credits (90 semester credits) of lower-division and upper-division learning that can be transferred toward your degree. The formal evaluation of previously earned transfer credits starts during the admission process. For more information regarding the specifics of transfer credits, please talk with your admissions counselor.
*Note: See specific articulation agreements for any exceptions to these parameters
Prior Learning Credits
Undergraduate students can earn up to 45 university quarter credits (30 semester credits) for demonstrating college-level learning gained outside of school, such as through work experience, professional training, military training, or personal experience. Demonstration of prior learning involves showing evidence of the student’s knowledge of the topic and situating that knowledge within an academic context. Earning academic credit for prior learning activities may accelerate a student’s time to degree completion and significantly reduce tuition costs. Antioch offers a workshop and course to support students interested in earning credit through prior learning.
Free Unofficial Transcript Evaluation
Want to know how long it’ll take to finish your degree at Antioch? Upload your unofficial transcripts for a free evaluation, and our advisors will contact you. No strings attached.
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