Creative Writing Major

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

• 4-year plan for Freshmen - Creative Writing (pdf)
• 4-year plan for Transfers - Creative Writing (pdf)

Enrollment in the Creative Writing major or minor depends on your ACT score. A score of 22 or higher in reading is required. You also must submit a portfolio of your writing. This portfolio also completes the requirements to apply for the Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship.

If you have questions about the creative writing program, please call the department chair, Dr. Randy Smith, at 601-968-8996. You also can email questions to Dr. Smith at rsmith@belhaven.edu.

If you have questions about the scholarship or the application process, contact the Office of Admission at 1-800-960-5940 or admission@belhaven.edu.

If you don’t meet the admission criteria, you may apply for provisional admission. If you’re approved for such an admission status, you enter the program on academic probation, and your status will be reviewed after two semesters.

Review Portfolio Requirements

The Angie Thomas Writer’s Scholarship — named in honor of 2011 BFA alumna Angie Thomas, the bestselling author of The Hate U Give, On the Come Up, and Concrete Rose — was established in the fall of 2019. The award provides one freshman creative writing student with a four-year, full-ride scholarship (including tuition, room, and board). Other applicants may receive smaller awards and the designation of Angie Thomas Scholars.

To qualify, you must be accepted for admission, submit your high school GPA and test scores, complete your FAFSA and submit the portfolio requirements.

For scholarship questions, talk with your admission officer or contact the Office of Admission at 601-968-5940 or admission@belhaven.edu.

Apply for the Angie Thomas Writer’s Scholarship

We are excited that you are interested in pursuing your desire to major in creative writing at Belhaven University. At Belhaven, we place a very high value in providing the highest quality fine arts programs.

The foundation of your financial aid award will be your academic scholarship, which is determined by your GPA and ACT score.  After your portfolio review, you may be eligible for additional aid based on your performance level and family financial need.

Here are the specific steps you need to follow:

1. Apply to Belhaven so that we can begin the process for you to be accepted to the University.
2. Submit/report your high school GPA and either your ACT, SAT, or CLT test scores. Based on this information, we will offer you an academic scholarship that recognizes your academic achievement.
3. Plan a campus visit to have your portfolio reviewed with one of our creative writing professors. Your portfolio will be taken into consideration as we complete your final scholarship award package.
4. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA (available January 1). The FAFSA will let us know what amount of federal assistance OR Belhaven need based assistance you would be eligible to receive. No matter what you think your family might qualify for from the federal government, we STRONGLY encourage you to complete the FAFSA as Belhaven's grants are typically more generous than the government might indicate you could receive.
5. After we have all your information (academic record, portfolio, and FAFSA) you will receive a comprehensive financial aid package that is influenced by all three of these areas.
6. Please contact the admission office at 1-800-960-5940 or admission@belhaven.edu to learn more or to meet with an admission counselor.

Each year, we visit multiple writing conferences and festivals, allowing you to meet and network with professional writers and other students. These events are also an opportunity for you to learn about the latest developments — and career options — in writing and publishing.

We invite two writers to join our faculty as visiting mentors and teachers every year. They help guide your work and your writing philosophy, encouraging you to grow in your craft and creativity.

The Brogue, our journal of fine arts, is published annually by the Creative Writing Department. You can submit original work and serve on the editorial staff.

Practice your craft in writing workshops in short fiction, long fiction, speculative fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, writing for children and young adults, scriptwriting, screenwriting, and playwriting.

As you develop your skills and understand your calling, you may want to do extended work in a particular genre—fantasy, literary nonfiction, children’s literature, long poems, or more. Look for the Special Topics Workshop.

What is the special topic? It varies each time we offer the workshop, so check with your advisor. And, come prepared to write, to share your work, and to contribute—no auditing allowed.

As a skilled communicator, you have many career options. Part of the Belhaven BFA in Creative Writing involves taking courses in one or more applied areas: business, communications, education, graphic design, or film.

Follow your calling and develop the career to match at Belhaven.