Writing: Online Degree Programs & Study Resource

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Books
Articles and Databases
Online Journals
Research Tools
Resources

Degree Information

General Information
Degree Study Options
Advanced Degrees
Master of Fine Arts
Choosing a Degree
Career Opportunities
Earning Potential
Getting Your Degree Online
Getting Your Degree Offline

General Information About Writing Degree Programs

Many undergraduate writing programs fall under the rubric of another subject, generally English literature, although some may offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. At the master's and doctoral levels, there are fine arts degrees that focus specifically on writing.

Writing Degree Study Options

Students who are not ready to pursue a bachelor’s degree will find that there are junior college programs that offer an Associate of Arts in Creative Writing. This degree can also be earned online. For undergraduates, they may earn a Bachelor of Arts in English or English literature with a creative writing concentration. Other universities or colleges may offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Writing or Creative Writing. Students can move on to an M.F.A. in Journalism, Creative Writing, Technical Writing or Professional Writing. Doctoral degrees in writing are also possible.

Advanced Writing Degrees

Students who intend to pursue a career in creative writing do not need a master’s degree, but they may find one useful for honing their writing skills and getting needed feedback and criticism from professors and peers. Those who intend to teach creative writing will benefit from a graduate degree, but will also need publication credits. Those looking for work in fields like journalism or technical writing will usually need a graduate degree for the job they want.

Master Of Fine Arts In Creative Writing

Students pursuing an MFA in creative writing will read the authors of classic literature to learn their styles and how one can emulate them. They will write extensively and receive feedback in lectures and peer review sessions. While no one can teach talent, the MFA in creative writing provides the student with the skills he or she needs to make use of his or her natural gifts.
Master of Arts or Master of Fine Arts in Professional or Technical Writing

B.A.s or B.F.A.s in writing may find that pursuing an M.A. or M.F.A. in professional or technical writing is a more practical approach. These degrees teach the finer points of grant writing, writing white papers, writing press releases and other types of writing that major corporations value. Writers with this degree can go on to careers in advertising, authoring of technical manuals and fundraising for major charities.

Choosing A Degree In Writing

Writing can be a tricky major choice for many students. Students without writing talent may be frustrated by the discipline, while those with writing talent may feel that they do not need instruction. However, both types of students can benefit from writing courses, and all students can certainly learn to be better writers through college-level writing instruction. Those who really feel that their future career is in the writing arena should definitely pursue a writing, English or journalism degree.

Career Opportunities In Writing

There are many fields that require writers, however some of them find a large number of people competing for a small number of positions. Screenwriters, novelists and other creative writing positions may be scarce, as is the case with positions such as newspaper or television reporter. Technical writing and copywriting jobs tend to be more plentiful and provide the writer with a better chance at securing gainful employment.

Earning Potential For Writing Careers

Successful screenwriters and novelists can make well into the six and seven figures. However, these jobs are extremely difficult for people to find success. The median salary for technical writers tends to fall between around $40,000 and $70,000 per year.

Getting Your Writing Degree Online

A writing degree is a great choice for continuing education students getting back into the academic world and a great choice for an online degree. Writing and reading assignments can be done on the student’s own time and professors can be contacted remotely with questions. This allows students to complete the degree at their own pace and according to their own schedule, and the writing degree may even be completed considerably sooner than the comparable offline degree. Those pursuing online writer's degrees should take the time to research the online program to make sure it is accredited and the best fit for that particular student.

Getting Your Writing Degree Offline

At a traditional liberal arts college or university, students can matriculate with a major in English or English literature with a concentration in creative writing. There may also be a B.F.A in creative writing available. At the graduate level, they can pursue master's degrees in fields like English, journalism or technical writing. Attending a top traditional university is an opportunity many students, especially those fresh out of high school, do not wish to pass up. In addition to getting a quality education, students pursuing writing degrees at a brick-and-mortar university can make friends and connections that will stay with them throughout their entire writing career.

A career in writing can mean many things. A professional writer can be a novelist, a journalist, a traditional advertising copywriter or a hip, modern SEO copywriter. Professional writers can be technical writers, reworking complex jargon into easily digestible pieces for employees, screenwriters, using their skills in the entertainment industry or even editors, making sure other writers produce crisp, readable work.

Books On Writing

The best way to improve one’s writing is to read every book one can get his or her hands on. When learning the discipline of writing, a very important book to have on the shelf is “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk and E.B. White. This instructive text on proper writing style is considered invaluable to many writers today. Those planning a career in journalism or most other kinds of professional writing will also want a copy of “The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law” by Norm Goldstein, one of the accepted standards on proper grammar, punctuation and sentence structure.

Articles On Writing

A great source of articles on the field of writing can be found at Article City (ArticleCity.com/articles.writing/). Some of the more recent articles that can be found at this site include “How to Write Articles Quickly,” “Can You Really Make Six Figures as a Freelance Writer?” “Write and Grow Rich” and “How to Use the Flesch Grade Level Readability Formula to Write For Your Audience.”

Online Literary Journals And Magazines

The journals that will be most helpful for effective writing are literary journals and magazines. These journals and magazines do not necessarily provide tips on writing, but they contain examples of quality writing and students can analyze this writing and use the principles they observe in their own work. Some popular literary journals and magazines include the American Literary Review, the American Poetry Review, Brick, The Writer’s Chronicle, Poets and Writers, The Colorado Review, Creative Nonfiction and Fiction International.

Other Writing Research Tools

A resource that those studying writing will want to look into is the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (Awpwriter.org). This site helps interested students identify the best writing programs, has links to writing centers and conferences and links to writing contests and careers among its many features for writers.

Writing Resources

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Writing: Study Resource & Degree Program Information

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