Creative Writing and Writing Studies Bachelor of Arts

Drake University places students in Des Moines, a city with connections to the arts, business, politics, and food. The campus offers an open environment for students who want to begin with a clear academic interest or take time to discover a direction. Hands-on experiences, leadership opportunities, and support designed to help students gain their footing are part of the Drake experience.

Academic options span more than 150 programs across seven colleges and schools. Faculty help students connect classroom learning with research, internships, and other practical experiences. Personalized mentorship is central to the student experience, with faculty available to support students as they work toward their goals. Global perspectives are integrated into campus life through learning alongside students from around the world and opportunities on campus and across the globe.

Community service is also part of learning at Drake. Students, faculty, and staff contribute more than 230,000 hours each year through volunteer work, outreach, and pro-bono service in the Des Moines community. International students can expect a setting that links academic study with local engagement and global perspectives, while the city provides access to cultural, civic, business, and culinary experiences beyond campus.

This Bachelor of Arts program establishes a habit of lifelong learning, emphasizing the relationship between reading, writing, and critical thinking. Students learn to read and write texts across various modes and genres imaginatively, critically, analytically, and interpretively. The program encourages interdisciplinary study and involves activities such as discussions, collaborative projects, presentations, independent study, internships, and service learning.

The Bachelor of Arts degree requires 36 credit hours, distributed across core writing seminars, literature and culture courses, advanced writing workshops, and study of language and writing theory. Students select specific courses within these categories to fulfill requirements.

Graduates pursue careers in professional writing, editing, advertising, publishing, education, management, computers, public relations, and public service, or continue to graduate studies in fields like English, law, or medicine.

The programme totals about 36 credit hours. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 64% of applicants.