creative writing courses mississauga

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Creative Writing

St. George Campus, Faculty of Arts & Science

Program Information

Degree(s): Honours Bachelor of Arts

Program(s): Creative Writing (Minor)

OUAC Admission Code: TAH

Academic Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma Six 4U/M courses, including:

• English (ENG4U)

Find equivalent requirements for Canadian high school systems , US high school system , International Baccalaureate , British-Patterned Education , French-Patterned Education , CAPE , and other international high school systems .

Mississauga Campus

OUAC Admission Code: TMH (Humanities)

Scarborough Campus

Program(s): Creative Writing (Major, Minor)

OUAC Admission Code: TUD (Social Sciences & Humanities)

Creative Writing

Online option, online full-time programs.

Online full-time programs are offered as either Daytime, or a combination of Evenings and Saturdays. Check your program Dates and Times to see what the program commitment will be.

Find out more about Full-Time Online programs

Humber is proud to have the highest graduate employment and employer satisfaction rate of the GTA colleges based on Colleges Ontario’s key performance indicators for college graduates in 2022-2023.

Program Overview

Humber’s Creative Writing graduate certificate program helps you improve your writing from the comfort of home. You’ll work one-on-one with a professional writer-mentor to improve your draft book-length project, learning how to develop plot, character, dialogue, style and more through feedback on your own manuscript.

Humber is noted for its exceptional creative writing mentors including authors of world stature. Past mentors include Martin Amis, Peter Carey, Miriam Toews, David Mitchell, Esi Edugyan, Nino Ricci, Margaret Atwood, Lawrence Hill, Anne Michaels, Edward Albee, Ha Jin and Alistair MacLeod. Recent international authors have included Jenny Offill, Nell Freudenberger and Samantha Harvey.  

We've recently added a playwright and a screenplay writer to our list of available mentors –   giving you the opportunity to complete a large body of work which may be all or parts of a full-length novel, memoir, feature-length screenplay or multi-character play; or a collection of poetry, short fiction or creative nonfiction essays.  

This is a project-based program in which you meet the learning outcomes by working through your own manuscript.  As well, you will attend weekly online classes synchronously or asynchronously to discuss craft, readings and the writing process to support your development.  

At Humber, courses are delivered in a variety of formats:

In-Person - An in-person course is delivered fully on campus.

Online Asynchronous (A) - An online asynchronous course has no fixed class schedule and allows students to engage with the course at different times according to their needs. Faculty provide modules, which are completed independently by the students according to established deadlines.

Online Synchronous (S) - An online synchronous course is delivered fully online and requires faculty and students to participate in real-time according to a fixed schedule. Classes are scheduled for a specific day and time.

Hybrid - A hybrid course is a combination of in-person and online classes and follows a set schedule. Students must be available to attend in-person classes at scheduled times during the semester.

The chart below outlines the delivery options available for each course in this program, by campus. For some academic terms, there may be more than one delivery option available. You’ll be able to select your preferred options when building your course schedule during open enrolment. Preferences for course delivery will be considered on a first come, first served basis. Some Humber programs are also delivered fully online, where all courses are delivered online.

International students: the impact of studying from outside of Canada on Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility differs significantly based on when you start your program. Please review the PGWP eligibility before choosing your program and course delivery.

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) at Humber

Work-integrated learning.

Work-integrated learning opportunities prepare you for your future career. You will apply what you’ve learned in class and in real-world environments through a wide range of academic, community and industry partnerships. These work-integrated learning opportunities may include field experiences, professional practicums and co-operative education.

Field Experience

A field experience offers students an opportunity to engage in intensive experiences related to their field of study or career goals to build their skills, knowledge and abilities. Field experiences may be paid or unpaid.

Professional Practicum

Programs requiring a professional practicum offer practice-based experience or work hours for a professional license or certification. Students work under the direct supervision of an experienced professional. Placements are unpaid.

Co-operative Education

Students in co-op programs gain experience through paid work terms in their field of study that become progressively more complex as their skill level increases.

Optional Co-operative Education

Students in co-op programs gain experience through paid work terms in their field of study that become progressively more complex as their skill level increases. The co-op portion of this program is optional.

If you would like to learn more about work-integrated learning at Humber, visit WIL AT HUMBER

The Humber Advantage

• FACULTY BY TERM
• INFO SESSION
• SHORT STORY CONTEST
• SUMMER WORKSHOP
• MA IN CREATIVE WRITING
• SCHOLARSHIPS

Watch the "Power Up Your Credential!" Info Session to learn more about the Creative Writing program.

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions section or read more on How to Apply .

Toronto Star Short Story Contest

Submit your short story online at: The Star Website

Deadline for submissions: February 28, 2024, 5:00 p.m. ET

An esteemed panel of judges will select the three winners from a first round of finalists as determined by Humber School for Writers faculty. The winners will be celebrated and their stories published in the Toronto Star and at The Star Website .

First Prize: $5,000 Plus tuition for one of two great programs at the Humber School for Writers: The Creative Writing Graduate Certificate or the Summer Workshop in Creative Writing.

Second Prize: $2,000

Third Prize: $1,000

Since 1992, the School for Writers has offered an immersive, focused workshop to jump start your creative writing. Mornings are spent in classes with one of Humber’s esteemed writing advisors, and afternoons are devoted to craft and industry talks by faculty, publishing experts and special guests. Whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced writer, there’s something for you in this six-day workshop!

Workshop Rebate

The Creative Writing by Correspondence Program is a complement to the Humber Summer Workshop in Creative Writing, the two together comprising a flexible and affordable alternative to a standard low-residency MFA.

Students who complete the Graduate Certificate are eligible for a rebate for the Summer Workshop, and vice versa. The rebate is valid for three academic years.

“Humber School for Writers was one of my first experiences with writing workshops. I was amazed by how my work jumped to a new level in such a short period of time due to the generosity, experience, and intelligence of my peers and mentors. I said I’d do it again, and I did! Two summers in a row.”

-  Madhur Anand,  Author , A New Index for Predicting Catastrophes

Graduates Offered Advanced Standing in University of Gloucestershire Distance MA in Creative Writing

Humber Creative Writing by Correspondence graduates can work towards a master’s degree from the comfort of their own homes! Thanks to a new arrangement, graduates are eligible for advanced standing in the highly regarded University of Gloucestershire (U.K.) distance MA Creative Writing program. Furthermore, this pathway may lead to a PhD for those who qualify.

Scholarship Support for Aspiring Authors

All scholarships are available to Canadian residents only, and Appel scholarships are available to Ontario residents only. Scholarship applications become available in August and December. Information on how to apply can be found at the link below.

If you are awarded a scholarship, payment will come some weeks after the program begins. You must make payment up front and be reimbursed later.

September 2024 Faculty

Madhur Anand

Madhur Anand's debut book of prose This Red Line Goes Straight to Your Heart (2020, Strange Light/M&S) won the Governor General's Literary Award for Nonfiction.

Dennis Bock

Dennis Bock is a Canadian novelist and short story writer. His newest novel, The Good German , was published in September 2020 and has been lauded by Margaret Atwood as "a cunning, twisted, compelling tale of deeply unexpected consequences."

Danila Botha

Danila Botha is the critically acclaimed author of two short story collections, Got No Secrets, and For All the Men (and Some of the Women) I've Known, which was a finalist for the Trillium Book Award, The Vine Awards and The ReLit Award.

Trevor Cole

An editor and writer for more than 30 years, Trevor Cole has won nine National Magazine Awards, including three gold medals.

Antonio Michael Downing

Antonio Michael Downing grew up in southern Trinidad, Northern Ontario, Brooklyn, and Kitchener. He is an author, musician and speaker based in Toronto.

Marina Endicott

Trilby Kent

Trilby Kent was born in Toronto, Ontario, and grew up in cities on both sides of the Atlantic. After completing degrees at Oxford University and The London School of Economics, she trained as a maps specialist in the rare books department at Bonhams and pursued journalistic work that took her from Belgium to the Philippines.

Joseph Kertes

Joseph Kertes founded Humber College's creative writing and comedy programs and was the recipient of numerous awards for teaching and innovation.

Judy I. Lin

Judy I. Lin, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of the Book of Tea duology ( A Magic Steeped in Poison and A Venom Dark and Sweet ), was born in Taiwan and immigrated to Canada with her family at a young age.

Evan Morgan

Evan Morgan is a Toronto based writer/director with a background in feature-length and short films.

Alison Pick

Alison Pick is most recently the author of the novel STRANGERS WITH THE SAME DREAM (September 2017).

Richard Scarsbrook

Richard Scarsbrook is the award-winning author of ten books: the novels  Cheeseburger Subversive , Featherless Bipeds , The Monkeyface Chronicles , Nothing Man and The Purple Zero , The Indifference League ,  Rockets Versus Gravity , and  The Troupers , the short story collection  Destiny’s Telescope , and the poetry books  Six Weeks  and  Apocalypse One Hundred .

Shyam Selvadurai

Shyam Selvadurai's first novel  Funny Boy , won the W.H. Smith/ Books in Canada First Novel Award and the Lambda Literary Award in the US. He is the author of  Cinnamon Gardens  and  Swimming in the Monsoon Sea , and the editor of an anthology,  Story-wallah! A Celebration of South Asian Fiction .

Richard Scrimger

Richard Scrimger has written adult novels, opinion pieces, and screenplays, but is best known for his quirky children’s books. There are a couple dozen of those. He’s won an award or two, been shortlisted for lots more, and given writing workshops around the world.

Sarah Sheard

Sarah Sheard, novelist, editor, and multidisciplinary artist, has published numerous personal essays, reviews, short fiction and four literary novels ( Almost Japanese, The Swing Era, The Hypnotist, Krank: Love in the New Dark Times ).

Craig Shreve

Craig Shreve is a fiction author from North Buxton, Ontario. He is a former student in the Humber Creative Writing program (2008).

Antanas Sileika

Antanas Sileika particularly enjoys working with students on humour, historical fiction, and stories set in East and Central Europe. Sileika’s latest memoir is called The Death of Tony , and the one before that was called "dead-on funny" by Miriam Toews.

Cordelia Strube

Cordelia Strube is an accomplished playwright and the author of 11 critically acclaimed novels including Alex & Zee, Teaching Pigs to Sing and Lemon.

katherena vermette

katherena vermette (she/her/hers) is a Red River Métis (Michif) writer from Treaty 1 territory, the heart of the Métis Nation, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Sam Wiebe is the author of the Wakeland novels, one of the most authentic and acclaimed detective series in Canada, including Invisible Dead, Cut You Down, Hell and Gone , and the latest, Sunset and Jericho .

January 2024 Faculty

David Bergen

David Bergen is the author of eight novels and two collections of short stories. His work has been nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award, the Impac Dublin Literary Award, and a Pushcart Prize.

Giles Blunt

Giles Blunt grew up in North Bay, Ontario, a small city similar to the Algonquin Bay of the John Cardinal novels. After studying English literature at the University of Toronto, he moved to New York City, where he lived for the next twenty years, before moving back to Toronto in 2002.

Karen Connelly

Author of twelve books of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, Karen Connelly is a writer, educator and therapist in private practice.

Beverley Cooper

Beverley Cooper is an award-winning playwright, dramaturge and teacher. She has written for TV, film and extensively for CBC radio drama, twice being nominated for Writers’ Guild of Canada Awards.

Elisabeth de Mariaffi

Elisabeth de Mariaffi is the critically acclaimed author of four books: most recently, The Retreat (2021), is a snowbound thriller about a dancer who must separate truth from lies in order to survive a deadly storm at a remote mountain arts retreat.

Adam Foulds

Adam Foulds has been the recipient of a number of literary awards, including the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year, the Costa Poetry Prize, the Somerset Maugham Award, the South Bank Show Prize for Literature, the E. M. Forster Award, the Encore Award, and the European Union Prize for Literature.

Camilla Gibb

Camilla Gibb is the author of four novels— Mouthing the Words, The Petty Details of So-and-so's Life, Sweetness in the Belly  and  The Beauty of Humanity Movement— and has been the recipient of the Trillium Book Award, the City of Toronto Book Award and the CBC Canadian Literary Award and has been short listed for the Scotiabank Giller Prize. 

Ashley Little

Ashley Little has written three novels for young adults and two novels for adults. Her work has won the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize and the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize, been a finalist for the ReLit Award, The City of Vancouver Book Award, and more.

Carrie Mac writes stories that she wants to read. Her latest book is the literary novel Last Winter (Random House, 2023). She has also authored contemporary novels for teens, speculative YA, literary short fiction, and creative non-fiction.

Colin McAdam

Colin McAdam is the author of four internationally acclaimed novels, which have been nominated for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize, the Governor General's Literary Award, and the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, among others.

Pamela Mordecai

Pamela Mordecai’s debut novel, Red Jacket , was shortlisted for the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Award (2015). She has published seven collections of poetry, five children’s books, and a collection of short fiction, Pink Icing , recently released as an audiobook in ECW's Bespeak Editions.

Donna Morrissey

Donna Morrissey has published six award-winning and nationally best-selling novels through Penguin Canada. She has received awards in Canada, the U.S. and England and her novel, Sylvanus Now was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize.

Waubgeshig Rice

Waubgeshig Rice is an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation on Georgian Bay. He has written three fiction titles, and his short stories and essays have been published in numerous anthologies.

Dianne Warren

Dianne Warren is a fiction writer from western Canada. She is the author of six books of fiction, including the novel Cool Water , which won the Governor General’s Award for Fiction in 2010.

January 2025 Faculty

Lana Button

Lana Button is the award-winning author of more than a dozen books for children. Lana’s books have been translated into 5 different languages and have received the Crystal Kite Award, the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Award and the IBBY Outstanding Book for Young Children.

Sidura Ludwig

Sidura Ludwig is an award-winning author of books for adults and children. Her short-story collection You Are Not What We Expected (House of Anansi, 2020) won the Vine Literary Award for Fiction and was shortlisted for the Danuta Gleed Award.

Carrie Mac writes stories that she wants to read. Her latest book is the best-selling literary novel Last Winter (Random House, 2023). She has also authored contemporary novels for teens, speculative YA, literary short fiction, and creative non-fiction.

Pamela Mordecai’s debut novel, Red Jacket , was shortlisted for the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Award (2015).

Alexandra Shimo

Alexandra Shimo has been mentoring writers since 2015. A former editor with Maclean’s, she is the co-author of the bestselling memoir  Up Ghost River: A Chief’s Journey Through the Turbulent Waters of Native History , and author of the memoir  Invisible North: The Search for Answers on A Troubled Reserve .

Expert Faculty

• FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS

David Bezmozgis

David Bezmozgis is an award-winning writer and filmmaker. He is the author of the story collections  Immigrant City  and  Natasha and Other Stories  and the novels  The Betrayers  and  The Free World . David’s stories have appeared in numerous publications including  The New Yorker ,  Harper's ,  Zoetrope All-Story , and The Walrus . His books have been nominated for the Scotiabank/Giller Prize, The Governor General's Literary Award, the Trillium Book Award, and won the Amazon.ca First Novel Award and the National Jewish Book Award. ‹ In the summer of 2010, David was included in  The New Yorker's  20 Under 40 issue, celebrating the twenty most promising fiction writers under the age of forty. ‹ A graduate of the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, David's first feature film,  Victoria Day , premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009. His second feature was an adaptation of his story "Natasha."

David is a professor and the creative director of the Humber School for Writers where he also hosts the writing podcast  Love & Defiance .

Alissa York

Your career.

The main goal of the program is to improve your writing, and publication is a possibility for some. Graduates of this program may use their writing and editing skills in a wide variety of careers and professions in addition to writing books. Some of our graduates write for the web, newspapers, magazines, television   and other media.  

More than 300 Humber School for Writers alumni have published books. Dr. Vincent Lam, who won the 2006 Scotiabank Giller Prize for his literary debut, Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures , is just one of our distinguished former students. Other alumni have been on the bestseller lists in Canada: Suzanne Desrochers for  Bride of New France , Cathy Marie Buchanan for  The Painted Girls,  Shari Lapena for  The Couple Next Door , and Eva Stachniak for  The Chosen Maiden .  

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Program Availability

Humber is a publicly-funded institution and does not have a public-private partnership. International students graduating from Humber or Humber’s International Graduate School (IGS) are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit .

International Students in Canada who apply for September 2024 start could be eligible for an automatic scholarship*. Apply now

Please note the new International Admissions Process and Provincial Attestation Letters. Read the update

International Students Out of Canada can Apply through Humber International

Recruitment Events

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Program Delivery Types

Block-based: Students select a pre-set weekly schedule of courses that best meets their needs. Block-Based schedules may include in-person, hybrid and online courses.

Course-based: Students create their own schedule of courses from among in-person, hybrid and online options.

Condensed Week - Courses requiring students to come to campus are scheduled over 2-3 days per week. Online courses are scheduled on other days.

Online - Courses are scheduled only online and may be delivered asynchronously, where students study independently or synchronously, where students attend the online class on a specified time and day.

Twilight - In-person, online synchronous and hybrid courses are generally scheduled after 3:00pm.

Twilight-Online: Online synchronous courses are generally scheduled after 3:00 pm.

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Wed, May 10, 2023

The Industrial Design program was invited to return and participate in the BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products) International Design Competition!

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Fri, March 24, 2023

Driven by innovation, Toronto-based Umbra has become a global leader in product design, known for pushing boundaries in its approach to original design.

Annual By The Lake Book Club Scholarship Awarded to Emerging B.C. - Based Writer

Mon, February 27, 2023

Layla Reeves, a Vancouver Island writer and student in Humber's Creative Writing Graduate Certificate program, is the 2022 recipient of a $1,500 scholarship.

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Wed, February 01, 2023

Prof. George Paravantes (FMCA) and Dr. Dennis L. Kappen (FAST) proudly unveiled the results of the 2022 ARROW HMI - Humber Industrial Design competition.

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Our Interior Design students headed downtown to visit Toronto’s newest athletic fashion store and its unique design.

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Wed, June 01, 2022

The Bachelor of Industrial Design program Class of 2022 impressed industry professionals at the in-person Thesis Show themed “Perfectly Imperfect.”

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Admissions Questions

General enquiries.

Call 416-675-3111 or email [email protected] . If you have already applied, be sure to check your application status on myhumber.ca .

Domestic Applicants Enquiries

Domestic applicants can book a one-on-one advising appointment with an admissions representative.

International Applicants Enquiries

Contact the International Centre for information about full-time programs (including the International Graduate School), how to apply and to follow up on your submitted application.

Program-Specific Questions

Speak to the Program Co-ordinator about the course curriculum, projects and career options.

Alissa York, program co-ordinator 416.675.6622 ext. 3448 [email protected]

Campus Information

Book a campus tour to take a closer look at what it's like to be a student at Humber.

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How To Become An Apprentice

Becoming an apprentice.

Find an employer willing to sponsor you as an apprentice.

Contact the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development to register as an apprentice.

Work with your employer approximately one year before attending Humber.

View Instructions  

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)

If you’re in high school – grade 11 or 12 – you can earn co-op education credits through work placements in some skilled trades.

Visit OYAP  

How to Apply

Domestic students.

Applications to Humber are made through ontariocolleges.ca . Be sure to submit your application by the equal consideration deadline of February 1. You may apply after February 1, however, post-February 1 applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis depending on the availability of the space in the program.

To check program availability refer to the Campus/Availability listing on Humber’s program pages, search by availability , or ontariocolleges.ca .

To see where you are in the admissions process, visit the Admissions Road Map .

International Students

If you’re an international student, you can apply directly to Humber via our International Centre .

Need Advice?

Program advising appointments.

Get help narrowing down your program options or book a one-on-one pre-enrolment advising appointment with one of our Recruitment Officers.

Transfer & Pathway Advising

Book a virtual appointment with a Student Mobility Advisor learn more about getting Transfer Credit(s) for previous post-secondary experience, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), and Pathways options.

Admission Requirements

Admission selection is based on the academic criteria indicated. Meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

Admission selection is based on the following five requirements:

To be eligible for admission, you must possess the following:

• A bachelor’s degree, diploma or advanced diploma

Mature Applicants

Diplomas and certificates.

An applicant is considered a mature applicant if they have not completed secondary school or other postsecondary school, and will be 19 or older as of the first day of classes. Humber will invite you for testing to demonstrate that you meet all listed course requirements.

An applicant is considered a mature applicant if they have not completed secondary school or attended postsecondary studies, and will be 21 or older as of the first day of classes. Mature applicants for degree programs will be required to meet course requirements at the U/M level or equivalent.

College Transfer Applicants

An applicant is considered a college transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a college-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or college courses and grades to determine program eligibility.

An applicant is considered a college transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a college-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or college courses and grades to determine program eligibility. Applicants must have an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) of 65 per cent in the program. Applicants are required to disclose and provide academic transcripts for all course work completed at the postsecondary level.

University Transfer Applicants

An applicant is considered a university transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a university-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or university courses and grades to determine program eligibility.

An applicant is considered a university transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a university-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or university courses and grades to determine program eligibility. Applicants are required to disclose and provide academic transcripts for all course work completed at the postsecondary level.

Cover Letter

Please submit a cover letter describing the single book-length project you intend to work on in the program, your writing experience, and any relevant life experience. The letter should be no more than two pages, double-spaced in 12-point font. Please include your name and email address, and submit as MS Word or PDF.

Writing Sample

Please submit a sample of your writing that is no more than 15 pages in length. Ideally, the writing sample should be taken from the project you intend to work on in the program. If this is not possible, please submit a sample in the same form/genre (e.g., fiction if you intend to work on a novel). The manuscript must be prepared according to professional standards: double-spaced, 12-point font, with name, title and page number on each page. Please submit as MS Word or PDF.

Submission Instructions

English Language Proficiency

All applicants whose first language is not English must meet Humber’s English Language Proficiency Policy .

International Credit Evaluation

Canadian citizens or permanent residents with international education are required to provide a credential evaluation. Note, for international High school education course by course evaluations, ICAS must be used. For international post-secondary education, a WES evaluation must be provided. In situations where you expect to apply for transfer credit, it is recommended that a course by course WES evaluation is completed.

International Academic Equivalency

Admission equivalencies for Humber depend on your country of study. Please enter your location or choose detect my location to see the requirements for your country below.

Applying with an International Baccalaureate (IB)

Post-Admission Requirements

Once you have been accepted, and have confirmed your offer, you may need to complete a further set of requirements related to your program (Post-Admission Requirements).

Equipment & Device Requirements

Fees & financial aid.

The 2024/2025 fee for two semesters is:

• domestic: $3,895.50
• international: $18,833.08

Fees are subject to change.

Fees by Semester

Domestic Fees by Semester

International fees by semester.

*Plus Mandatory Health Insurance fee once per academic year: Fall start - $420 Winter start - $280 Summer start - $140

Financial Aid, Scholarships and Bursaries

Understand the costs associated with coming to Humber and explore resources available from first year to your final year on Student Fees and Financial Resources .

Scholarships

Humber scholarships.

Find out more about scholarships and bursaries that you may be eligible for, visit Student Scholarships . International students can visit International Student Scholarships .

Humber Bursaries

Bursaries are available for Certificate, Diploma and Degree programs primarily based on financial need, visit Humber Bursaries.

External Awards, Bursaries & Scholarships

Find out more information about external scholarships and bursaries, visit External Awards.

Indigenous Student Awards, Bursaries & Scholarships

Humber offers a variety of bursaries and scholarships for Indigenous students, visit Indigenous Student Awards.

Explore Opportunities through Humber Pathways

Humber Pathways include:

• Opportunities to build on your college education and complete your diploma or degree at Humber.
• Degree and graduate study opportunities at other institutions in Ontario, Canada and abroad.

Additional information will be made available to students from their program before the beginning of the Winter term. Courses with in-person requirements will likely also have online components. The delivery mode of some courses is still being determined. Humber may need to change plans for in-person learning, subject to government and public health directives and/or additional health and safety considerations.

You can find a complete list of programs with downloads including program and course details at Current Student Resources  

Students in programs marked as online/in-person will have a combination of those two types of delivery. Additional information will be made available to students from their program in the first week of June. Courses with in-person requirements will likely also have online components. The delivery mode of some courses is still being determined. Humber may need to change plans for in-person learning, subject to government and public health directives and/or additional health and safety considerations.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:

Reflect on editorial feedback to determine core strengths and weaknesses of one’s own work.

Self-evaluate written work focusing on key elements of creative writing such as character, dialogue, plot, theme, setting, imagery and structure/form.

Apply techniques and strategies acquired through editorial feedback, self-evaluation, reading and self-directed learning to revise and improve one’s own writing.

Employ conventions of grammar, punctuation, spelling and other aspects of technical style within the context of narrative/poetic traditions to write in a clear and professional manner.

Revise and improve elements of literary style such as detail, diction, syntax, active voice, rhythm and tone to sustain reader engagement at the level of the sentence/line.

Manage point of view and associated issues of narrative/poetic voice such as the sociocultural identity and reliability of the narrator/speaker to create a consistent, convincing reading experience.

Employ a variety of research methods to support authentic, convincing writing in narrative/poetic forms.

Explore techniques and strategies used in published works to assess for application to one’s own writing.

Identify prevailing genres, forms and submission requirements present in the publishing industry and literary community to discover professional options for writers.

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Creative Writing

About this program.

Have you longed to explore your creative potential?

Embrace the unknown and start your journey here. As part of one of the largest Creative Writing programs in Canada, you can learn the essentials of excellent writing and put them into practice. Whether you aspire to write a novel or short story, explore poetry, pen a script or screenplay, or explore other writing styles, we have the courses you need to improve your skills.

Class sizes and writers workshops are kept small to ensure you receive the individual attention you need to help your writing thrive, whether you take your class in-class or online. 

Courses in the genres listed below can be applied to the Certificate in Creative Writing

• Creative Non-Fiction
• Escritura Creativa en Español
• Literary Fiction
• Multi-genre
• Poetry and Songwriting
• Popular Fiction
• Stage and Screenwriting
• U of T Summer Writing School
• Writing for Children

Course Spotlight

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Professional Writing & Communication (PWC)

Professional Writing and Communication (PWC) is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program that combines the scholarly rigour of the liberal arts with hands-on professional industry training. PWC provides students with a theoretical foundation in narrative and rhetoric and practical expertise in a range of written and visual expressions and modalities.  PWC treats communication as interdisciplinary and socially situated. 

Contents  

• Course sneak peek 
• Skills developed in PWC
• Prospective careers
• Program plan
• Contact 

The PWC curriculum grows out of research grounded in anthropology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, linguistics and literature. Students examine the way written and oral communication works in professional, academic, artistic, personal and public settings. 

The program's curriculum emphasizes the multicultural, multi-modal and team-oriented character of a professional writing practice that  corresponds to technological and cultural shifts of our contemporary world . Seminars and workshop-style classes give PWC students experience with cross-cultural communications and research-based writing in six different streams:

• Science & Communication
• Technical & Digital Writing & Editing
• Creative Non-Fiction
• Financial Writing
• Narrative & Critical Writing
• Professional Practice

PWC students learn to: 

• Identify the subtle distinctions and complex variations that affect communication including the language and grammatical structures that affect meaning
• Select and creatively use appropriate new media technologies/modalities for communicating
• Recognize the positionality and importance of their own written voice
• Identify effective narrative and/or rhetorical strategies for specific communities and contexts
• Apply core principles and theories of narrative and rhetoric to communication practices, including writing and presentations
• Produce high-production value narrative documentary media stories
• Analyze and critique stories and arguments that deny or disguise subjectivity
• Review, evaluate, and select authoritative and credible information sources
• Apply knowledge of language and dynamic prose to solve communication problems and effectively engage the reader(s)/listener(s)
• Critically read, edit, and assess professional writing and editing practices across a range of discourses and diverse fields
• Promote and maintain ethical practices and integrity in all forms of communication
• Identify career paths and/or further studies within professional writing and communications  

Program of Study (POSt)  

• Major Program ERMAJ1302 Professional Writing and Communication (Arts)
• Minor Program ERMIN1302 Professional Writing and Communication (Arts)

Course sneak peek  

Discover the building blocks of an editor’s skills in WRI365Y5 Editing: Principles and Practice . You will learn the principles of editing and the editorial process as it applies to many forms of media.

Take  WRI420H5 Making a Book  to learn about the process of publishing your own book. You will learn the principles, procedures and practices in book publishing and by the end of the course, you will be a published author! 

PWC faculty members help students organize and participate in publishing and reading events within the university, including Mindwaves , the official journal of the PWC program; book launches for PWC course collections or student publications; and evening readings of student work. Faculty also help students get involved in the writing, publishing, journalism and broadcast world. 

View the Academic Calendar for a full listing of ICCIT courses and their descriptions. 

Skills developed in PWC  

• Communication : communicate clearly and effectively for a broad range of purposes and audiences including technical copy, business writing, marketing copy, speeches, proposals and presentations, as well as present persuasive arguments.
• Technical : textual analysis and interpretation, as well as editing.
• Research : gather and evaluate information, sources, ideas and research; conduct intense primary and secondary research; and conduct and clearly explain research results.
• Organization & time management : organize ideas, information, materials, and people, learn to become deadline oriented.

Prospective careers 

The career you choose will depend on your experience and interests. Visit the Career Centre to explore your career options. 

• Careers for graduates: Communications specialist; Technical writer; Editorial assistant; Science writer; Script writer; Sports editor; Promotion specialist; Media relations officer; Technical writer; Speech writer; Author; Social media community manager; Medical writer; Creative writer, Public relations; Web copy analyst; Advertising, Government; Not-for-profit sector, Journalist; Copywriter.
• Workplaces: Entertainment; Computer and IT; Communications; Medical/Healthcare; Research; Travel; Environment; Customer experience; Biotechnology; Advertising; Policy.

Program plan  

Make the most of your time at UTM and the many opportunities available for PWC students by exploring the PWC Program Plan . 

The Program Plan was developed in collaboration with the Career Centre and ICCIT. 

Admisisons 

• All program areas require an Ontario Secondary School Diploma, or equivalent, with six Grade 12 U/M courses, or equivalent, including English. The admission average is calculated with English plus the next best five courses. The approximate average required for admission is mid- to high-70s.
• Visit the PWC Admissions page to learn more about studying at UTM, the admission process and requirements.
• All ICCIT programs (CCIT, DEM, PWC and TCS) are considered “Type 3” and limited enrolment.
• When choosing a program of study (subject POSt), all students, including transfer students, must meet the PWC Major or Minor program-entry requirements as outlined in the Academic Calendar .
• For more information on choosing programs, how to apply for subject POSt and timelines, visit the  Office of the Registrar’s Program Selection webpage .

  Contact 

• Connect with Truc Tran (she/her), ICCIT Undergraduate Program Coordinator via email at [email protected]

• Arts & Culture

What to expect from a career as a professional Writer

Many of us enjoy or have a passion for writing but don’t realize that it’s possible to make a career from our talents. Communication careers are booming and writers are needed for a variety of mediums from the web to advertising to television and more. Writing programs at Ontario colleges can help students polish their writing techniques and learn new forms and methods of writing that can help them in any number of careers in the industry.

If you’ve got a passion for the written word and want to develop your writing skills as part of your career path, here’s what you need to know.

Writing Courses

There are many different writing programs offered by Ontario’s colleges, so course material will vary depending on the program you choose. Examples include:

• Creative Writing.   Whether you’re an aspiring novelist, poet or essayist, specializing in fiction or non-fiction, creative writing programs are for you. Courses on narrative style and plot and character development can help you find your own voice and style, while courses on freelance writing, editing and the business skills all writers need can help you get your work published.
• Technical Writing.   Technical writing is very different than creative writing, requiring strong analytic skills and the ability to convey visual and technical information clearly and concisely through the written word. Students will learn to design technical documents and produce online documentation, while also learning fundamental writing and editing techniques.
• Copywriting.   Copywriting is another form of creative writing, but one that has a direct goal –   advertising   and selling. Copywriters must learn to convey a message with their words that inspires desired behavior. Often, copywriters will work closely with   graphic designers , and therefore must learn layout and basic design skills for their content.
• Scriptwriting.   Scriptwriting programs will give students the writing skills they need to work in television, theatre, film, new media and a variety of other venues. Students will learn to visualize the end result of their work and will learn the business end of writing, from marketing and promotion to copyright laws and grant application.

General Writing Program Requirements

Ontario college writing programs are often offered as graduate certificate programs, which means completion of a degree or diploma program in a related field is generally required. For diploma programs, an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent is required, which includes a grade 12 English credit.

In both types of programs, a writing sample may also be required.

Writing Jobs and Salaries

Jobs in the writing field can take you nearly anywhere, from marketing departments to   television  and broadcasting studios to manufacturer and corporate headquarters. Many writers also work independently, as freelance writers or in attempts to have themselves published.

Because of the broad range of job opportunities, salaries are difficult to predict. Technical writers, freelance writers and copywriters can expect starting salaries anywhere from $30,000 to $55,000 per year, depending on the position and their level of experience. For novelists, salary can only be dictated by the success of their book sales and their contract with a publisher.

Ontario Colleges Offering Writing Programs

Use the left-column navigation to refine your search by College, Program Availability, Program Start Date and more, or see the table below for a complete list of writing programs at Ontario colleges.

More Information

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• Writers Guild of Canada

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Whether you're a practicing poet or an up-and-coming screenwriter, creative writing at UTSC offers you the freedom to develop your craft in a practical way. You'll be able to learn from award-winning authors, discover opportunities for publishing, and focus on building your own writing practice.

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Honours bachelor of creative writing and publishing, applying to sheridan.

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If you’re a Canadian student, you’ll apply to Sheridan through ontariocolleges.ca.

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If you’re an international student, you’ll apply to Sheridan through our International Admissions team.

Sheridan students and recent graduates

If you've recently been enrolled in a Sheridan program (Fall 2021 or later), you can apply directly to Sheridan through our internal application process on myStudentCentre . (Under Academics, select "Apply to a new program" to get started.)

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Canadian students*, applications open.

Early October

Online applications open in early October for Sheridan programs starting the following academic year.

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To receive equal consideration for Sheridan programs beginning in the Fall term, you'll need to apply by February 1. If a program isn't full, you may still apply after this date; however, you are encouraged to apply before February 1, particularly for programs that are in high demand.

First offers are sent

Sheridan may begin to make admission decisions by this date for programs beginning in September the following year.  For programs requiring additional assessment (portfolios, auditions, résumés, etc.), Sheridan begins to make admission decisions later in March.

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If you've received an offer of admission from Sheridan, you’ll need to confirm your acceptance by May 1. For offers issued after this date, you'll be directed to refer to the accept confirmation date noted at ontariocolleges.ca

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Three months prior to the start of the term. Refer to your tuition invoice for details.

A tuition deposit is payable by this due date to hold your place in your chosen Sheridan program. If fees are not paid by this date, you risk losing your spot in the program.

“Your instructors are great! Activities are relevant, engaging and well paced. Thank you for doing this!” - Delia

“i want to thank you,and all the centauri staff for doing such a wonderful job. my daughter is loving digital art” - edna, “i would recommend centauri to any family looking for a fun, creative, and affirming arts experience for their child.” - pat.

Centauri Arts Academy

Weekly classes in acting, film, creative writing & fine art. english tutoring and arts workshops for schools. in bloor west village, toronto and on-line..

Welcome to the Centauri Arts Academy! We offer classes and workshops in Creative Writing , Fine Art , Digital Art , Acting , Film Making and English tutoring for children, teenagers and adults – virtual, and at our bright and lovely studio in Bloor West Village , West Toronto.

After-School Programs for Children and Teenagers in Creative Writing, Acting, Fine Art and Film If you love  creative writing ,  acting ,  fine art, digital art or  film , we have classes for you, wherever you live! Choose from in-person classes or online arts courses, evenings and weekends.

English Tutoring: Reading and Writing Skills for Children and Teenagers Are you looking to improve your English skills, so you can do better in school? We offer a unique literature enrichment and English tutoring program for middle and high school students.  Click here to find out more!

Looking for Creative Writing Classes and Creative Writing Retreats for Adults? Click here!

Acting Classes for Children and Teenagers

Audition skills, monologues, scene study, improvisation, devised theatre and more. Get creative and have fun!

Creative Writing Classes for Children and Teenagers

Our Creative Writing Workshops are for everyone! Whether you love writing poetry, novels, short stories, fantasy or science fiction, join us for writing prompts and techniques.

Fine Art Classes for Children and Teenagers

Choose from a Digital Art Class, Graphic Design Course and a Fine Art Course (drawing, sculpture and painting). Select virtual art classes, or join us in our studio.

Film Classes for Children and Teenagers

Make a movie in our Film Production Class! Learn – or review – the basics of film-making as you try story-boarding, directing, camera operation, audio, lighting and production design.

English Tutoring for Middle & High School Students

Writing skills, reading skills, essay writing, creative writing and more. English tutoring in small classes, in-studio and virtual.

Creative Writing Classes & Retreats For Adult Writers

Our Creative Writing Workshops and Creative Writing Retreats are suited to writers of poetry, short fiction, long fiction, memoir, self help books and more. Join us for Creative Writing Retreats in the UK, Mexico and Costa Rica!

Summer Arts Programs and Camps

Join us for an exciting array of arts camps this summer: creative writing, fine art, animation camps, film-making, digital art, photography, acting camps and more! Most of our arts camps take place in our studio in Bloor West Village but we also offer virtual summer programs, too!

Arts Clubs in Schools SHSM ‘Arts and Culture’ Training Programs

Film Production, Music, Fine Art, Digital Art, Cartooning, Creative Writing, Acting, Screenwriting and more – available virtually and in-person, in Toronto, Mississauga, Durham, Peel Region and beyond.

WHY CENTAURI?

We have 29 years’ experience offering top notch arts courses for children and teens, taught by some of the most talented and experienced arts instructors you will find anywhere. Our guiding philosophy: when you combine creativity and technique with a focus on community and inspiration , the outcome is a learning and growing experience unlike any other.

Musical Theatre Song

Ages 11-17, In our Bloor West Village Studio: Saturday 1.00pm - 2.30pm Semester 1 (15 weeks) starting Saturday 21 September Semester 2 (15 weeks) begins late January Join us for a feel-good celebration of song! Each week, we’ll choose a different musical or music genre as we sing our way through some of the most popular music out there. You’ll learn techniques to improve your vocal skills, and we’ll include an element of acting and dance, but this program is all about the JOY of SONG! Everyone is welcome – experienced vocalists and complete beginners, people who like [...]

The Joy of Words: An Adult Writing Salon

Ages 18+, In our Bloor West Village Studio: Saturdays, 9.30am-11.00pm 8 weeks, starting Saturday 21 September Leave the cares of the world behind and reconnect with your creative self! There’s something in this writing workshop for everyone – seasoned writers hoping to rediscover the joy of writing, curious beginners and anyone who feels they have a story to tell. We’ll gather over morning coffee to write, laugh and share. Each week we will meander through 2-3 creative writing prompts, mining our lives for story and exploring everything from poetry to memoir, fantasy to flash fiction, open letters to [...]

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Email: [email protected]

CalArts offers a variety of unique programs at the undergraduate and graduate level within its six world-renowned Schools—Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music and Theater.

Undergraduate core courses are the foundation of BFA studies at CalArts, providing a strong general education and opportunities to deepen every student's artistic practice.

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Explore is your first stop if you are considering applying to CalArts. Here you can find information about your program(s) of interest, events the Institute is hosting or attending, a virtual campus map, and much more. Your journey to CalArts starts here.

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CalArts is located in Santa Clarita, Calif., 30 miles north of Los Angeles. Explore the local area and community.

Offering innovative continuing education arts courses designed to meet the needs of both emerging artists and lifelong learners.

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2-Year Program

The CalArts MFA Creative Writing is unique in the field for the way it combines a dedication to experimental practice and a resolutely non-genre tracking curriculum . These commitments are intertwined: unlike in many MFA programs our students are free to pursue their imaginative and experimental impulses into whatever genre their work takes them—including into hybrid genre forms of their own. This is all in keeping to CalArts’s foundational commitment to experiment and interdisciplinarity. Students who come to our program regularly engage in substantial projects in multiple genres across their coursework and beyond. In other words, each student designs their own path through our curriculum, engaging with what questions of genre and practice inform their work as it develops. All this gives special import to the work each student does with their mentor during their time in our program. Students meet with their mentors multiple times each semester to discuss their plan of study, their creative work, and larger questions related to a life in writing and to connections between writing, other art forms, and intellectual endeavors. Our commitment to the mentor relationship is foundational  to the pedagogy of CalArts.

While our program is non-tracking we do offer four optional emphases that help guide our students through our curriculum and the course offerings of other schools and programs in the Institute. We call these emphases our Concentrations . These non-required Concentrations are Image + Text , Writing and Performativity , Writing and its Publics and Documentary Strategies . Image + Text traces the relationship of the written word and the visual image, including the cinematic, the static image, and the materiality of language. Writing and Performativity offers students an array of courses focused on the creative and critical practices of performative writing. Writing and Its Publics deals with the public face of writing, be it publishing, community-based work, or writing for various art audiences, while Documentary Strategies takes on a wide array of artistic engagements with documentation, witnessing, and archives of all kinds. Students whose work and interests closely engage one of these four areas can formalize that engagement by declaring an official Concentration, which may be advantageous in their professional lives after the MFA.

In the Creative Writing Program, our core courses attend closely to questions of form and aesthetics, as well as to the historical and critical contexts of literary work. Most classes combine workshopping of student-generated work with discussion of assigned texts. While not all classes are offered every year, over the two-year program all students will take a wide selection, honing their individual visions and practices while experimenting with new forms and subjects. Writing students also benefit from being able to take courses for elective credit in the MA Program in Aesthetics and Politics, as well as other MFA/upper-level BFA courses throughout the Institute.

Full Curriculum

Detailed curriculum and academic requirements can be found in the online course catalog.

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Interdisciplinary Opportunities

In addition to CalArts' rich and diverse community and naturally collaborative atmosphere, the Institute provides several programs of study that can be pursued concurrently with a student's chosen metier.

The Center for Integrated Media concentration is designed specifically for MFA students whose creative use of technology—in particular digital media—goes beyond their primary areas of study.

Home • Programs • Creative Writing • MFA

School of Critical Studies

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Santa Clara University

The jesuit university in silicon valley.

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Majoring in English

Students majoring in English bring their skills in and passion for writing and interpretation to a wide variety of professional careers – in journalism or the arts, as teachers or professional/technical writers, in marketing or research, or in graduate or professional school (in law, medicine, film/television, and business). See Why English? for updates on some of our graduates. The Career Center  can provide majors with additional information regarding careers.

Our majors value the training our courses provide in analytical thinking, rhetoric, and persuasion. They find literature a way to enter empathetically into the lives and experiences of others. Their studies prepare them for social and civil service, sometimes after spending time in such popular forms of community service as the Peace Corps or the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.  

Many of our majors see creative writing  as an opportunity for self-exploration and vibrant expression, leading to careers in the media, arts, education, and public relations. Many of our graduates go on to seek an M.A., M.F.A., or Ph.D.

English majors take courses in writing, literature, and critical theory. They explore a broad range of approaches to literature, culture, new media, and film, including feminist criticism, critical race theory, postcolonialism, cultural studies, and queer theory.

Students have the opportunity to study traditional British and American texts as well as contemporary media and multicultural literature from around the world.

Minoring in  Creative Writing

The Creative Writing Program offers students a coherent course of study in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The creative writing minor is firmly grounded within the liberal arts tradition, integrating courses in poetry, fiction, screenwriting, and creative nonfiction writing within their broader literary and cultural context.

Introductory courses familiarize students with the practice and theory of creative writing. Advanced courses offer a workshop setting in which students write and critique one another’s work. Electives focus on particular genres of creative writing, such as Lifewriting, Fantasy and Science Fiction, and Screenwriting. All creative writing courses incorporate some study of literature as well as close attention to students’ own creative writing.

Minoring in  Professional Writing

The Professional Writing program provides students with real-world experiences in digital and print environments that prepare students for a wide range of professional opportunities in industry, nonprofit, and public sectors.

With the PW program, students can add additional value to their degrees through courses in the minor, internships and professional development opportunities.

To declare or change a major, minor, or emphasis, fill out the SCU Registrar's  Program Petition form.

Dr. Aparajita Nanda

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Julia Voss, Department Chair Jessica Gopp , Academic Department Manager Phone: 408-554-4142

Location: The Department of English is located in Saint Joseph's Hall 209.

Requirements for the Minor (12 credits)

A. introductory course (3 credits).

Grade of B- or better required.

• ENGL 20500 - Introduction To Creative Writing Credits: 3.00

B. Writing Courses (9 credits)

• ENGL 31600 - Craft Of Fiction From A Writer’s Perspective Credits: 3.00
• ENGL 31700 - Craft Of Poetry From A Writer’s Perspective Credits: 3.00
• ENGL 40700 - Intermediate Poetry Writing Credits: 3.00
• ENGL 40900 - Intermediate Fiction Writing Credits: 3.00
• ENGL 50700 - Advanced Poetry Writing Credits: 3.00
• ENGL 50900 - Advanced Fiction Writing Credits: 3.00
• ENGL 58900 - Directed Writing Credits: 1.00 to 3.00
• 50% of credits for CLA minors must come from Purdue University.
• All Creative Writing courses except 20500, 31600, 31700 may be repeated once for credit.
• The courses must be taken in order, the 40000 level taken before the 50000 level in any given genre.

College of Liberal Arts Pass/No Pass Option Policy

• P/NP cannot be used to satisfy Liberal Arts Core, Liberal Arts major, minor, or certificate requirements.

The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student. The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.