Creative Writing Certificate

• About the Certificate

  Community-based writers who wish to learn from highly qualified mentors and to workshop their manuscripts in a nurturing and instructive environment may wish to apply for the Certificate in Creative Writing Program.

  The MAPW Certificate in Creative Writing Program offers qualified candidates an opportunity to study in five genres of creative writing at the graduate level without pursuing a graduate degree.  Twelve academic credits (four courses) in creative writing are required to earn the certificate.  Up to nine credits may be applied to the MAPW degree, if the student wishes to pursue the master’s degree.  A student may repeat the certificate program beyond the 12 hours for another certificate. 

  Courses are offered in fiction writing, creative nonfiction, playwriting, screen & TV writing, and poetry writing.* Candidates may focus on one genre or study in several, or all.  Go to the Graduate Course Catalog to learn more about the program and to view course offerings.

  The courses are typically face-to-face workshops, offered at 6:30 PM in the Fall and Spring semesters on the Kennesaw Campus.  Online classes are offered from time to time.

  Candidates apply through the online KSU Graduate College application portal and must meet the same requirements as degree candidates. No GRE score or support area are required. For more information about admissions, go to here.

  *Directed studies, internships and capstone courses are not offered to Certificate candidates.

• Program of Study

  Students should select at least one (1) workshop-based course.

  Workshop-Based Courses

  • PRWR 6410 Feature Writing
  • PRWR 6455 The Genres of Creative Writing
  • PRWR 6460 Fiction Writing I
  • PRWR 6470 Poetry Writing I
  • PRWR 6480 Playwriting I
  • PRWR 6520 Creative Nonfiction Writing I
  • PRWR 7460 Fiction Writing II
  • PRWR 7470 Poetry Writing II
  • PRWR 7480 Playwriting II
  • PRWR 7520 Creative Nonfiction Writing II
  • STVW 6490 Screenwriting I
  • STVW 6495 TV Writing: Half-Hour
  • STVW 6496 TV Writing: One-Hour
  • STVW 7490 Screenwriting II
  • STVW 7495 TV Writing II
  • STVW 7496 TV Writers Room

  Non Workshop-Based Courses

  • PRWR 6100 Readings for Writers
  • PRWR 6440 Professional and Academic Editing
  • PRWR 6760 World Englishes
  • PRWR 6800 Careers in Professional Writing
  • PRWR 6810 Publishing in the 21st Century
  • PRWR 7600 MAPW Practical Internship
  • PRWR 7810 Research Methods for Writers
  • PRWR 7900 Special Topics

  Note: Courses are on rotation and not offered every semester.

  *Directed studies, internships and capstone courses are not offered to certificate candidates.

• Completing the Certificate

  The final steps in wrapping up the certificate are to:

  1. Petition to graduate the semester you are completing the certificate.
  2. Respond to a brief set of exit questions.
  3. To compile a brief portfolio while in the program. 

  The portfolio should include the following elements: 

  • A 10-page double-spaced sample which will serve as a portfolio of your best creative writing work completed while in the program.

  These materials must be emailed to the certificate coordinator by the last day of class of your graduating semester. 

• Contact

  Garrard Conley, MFA
  Assistant Professor of English; Coordinator of the Creative Writing Certificate
  Email: gconley3@kennesaw.edu 

Certificate Faculty

See here for MAPW Faculty Profiles

• Dr. Erin Bahl

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6440 Professional and Academic Editing
• Dr. Regina Bradley

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6100 Readings for Writers
• Garrard Conley, MFA

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6455 The Genres of Creative Writing
  • PRWR 6520 Creative Nonfiction Writing I
  • PRWR 7520 Creative Nonfiction Writing II
• Dr. Elizabeth Giddens

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6410 Feature Writing
  • PRWR 6440 Professional and Academic Editing
  • PRWR 7810 Research Methods for Writers
• Jeffrey Greene, MFA

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6460 Fiction Writing I
  • PRWR 7600 MAPW Practical Internship
  • PRWR 7900 Special Topics
• Dr. Letizia Guglielmo

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 7900 Special Topics
• Dr. M. Todd Harper

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6100 Readings for Writers 
• Dr. Keaton Lamle

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6410 Feature Writing
  • PRWR 7900 Special Topics
• Dr. Jeanne Law

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 7810 Research Methods for Writers
• Albert Lee, MFA

  Certificate Course(s) taught:

  • STVW 6490 Screenwriting I
  • STVW 7490 Screenwriting II
• Dr. Aaron Levy

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6455 The Genres of Creative Writing
  • PRWR 6460 Fiction Writing I
  • PRWR 6480 Playwriting I
  • PRWR 7480 Playwriting II
  • PRWR 7900 Special Topics
  • STVW 7490 Screenwriting II
• Dr. Victoria Lagrange

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 7900 Special Topics
• Dr. Laura McGrath

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6440 Professional and Academic Editing
  • PRWR 7810 Research Methods for Writers
• Dr. Kurt Milberger

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6800 Careers in Professional Writing
  • PRWR 6810 Publishing in the 21st Century
• Mitchell Olson, MFA

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 7900 Special Topics
  • STVW 6490 Screenwriting I
  • STVW 7490 Screenwriting II
  • STVW 6495 TV Writing: Half-Hour
  • STVW 6496 TV Writing: One-Hour
  • STVW 7496 TV Writers Room
• Dr. Christopher Palmer

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6760 World Englishes
• Dr. Andrew Plattner

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6460 Fiction Writing I
  • PRWR 7460 Fiction Writing II
• Dr. Amanda Pratt

  Certificate course(s) taught: 

  • PRWR 6520 Creative Nonfiction Writing I
• Jenny Sadre-Orafai, MFA

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6470 Poetry Writing I
  • PRWR 7470 Poetry Writing II
• Dr. Lara Smith-Sitton

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6800 Careers in Professional Writing
  • PRWR 7900 Special Topics
• Melanie Sumner, MFA

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6100 Readings for Writers
  • PRWR 6410 Feature Writing
  • PRWR 6455 The Genres of Creative Writing
  • PRWR 6460 Fiction Writing I
  • PRWR 6520 Creative Nonfiction Writing I
  • PRWR 7460 Fiction Writing II
• Anna Weinstein, MFA

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 7900 Special Topics
  • STVW 6490 Screenwriting I
  • STVW 6496 TV Writing: One-Hour
  • STVW 7490 Screenwriting II
  • STVW 7495 TV Writing II
• Dr. Ralph Wilson

  Certificate course(s) taught:

  • PRWR 6470 Poetry Writing I
  • PRWR 6800 Careers in Professional Writing
  • PRWR 7470 Poetry Writing II