Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts University of California, Riverside

Overview

The Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts programme at the University of California, Riverside offers a comprehensive environment for aspiring authors and dramatists. This multidisciplinary degree integrates expertise from the Department of Creative Writing and the Department of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production.

Students engage in a rigorous curriculum designed to refine their creative voice across various literary and performance mediums. The academic structure encourages cross-genre exploration, allowing writers to apply techniques from screenwriting to prose or poetic lyricism to dramatic dialogue.

Why Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts at the University of California, Riverside?

The institution provides a unique collaborative atmosphere where students benefit from the guidance of world-renowned faculty members. This professional mentorship is a cornerstone of the experience, ensuring that every writer receives high-level feedback on their creative output and technical development.

A distinctive feature of this programme is the extensive funding opportunities available to students, which support their focus on craft without undue financial pressure. The university also fosters a vibrant literary community through events like Writers Week and the Santa Ana River Review.

Facilities and resources at the university are tailored to the needs of modern writers, including access to the Yefe Nof Residency at Lake Arrowhead. These partnerships and dedicated spaces provide the necessary solitude and inspiration for completing significant creative manuscripts and performance pieces.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: USD 1170 per module
• National fee: USD 1170 per module
• Local fee: USD 1170 per module

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum is built around intensive workshops and supplemental seminars that broaden the student's intellectual and creative horizons. Modules may include:

• Fiction
• Poetry
• Nonfiction
• Screenwriting
• Playwriting
• Comparative Literature
• Foreign Languages
• English
• Hispanic Studies
• Media and Cultural Studies

The programme culminates in a final project, which serves as a master's thesis or manuscript. This substantial work showcases the student's cultivated talents in their chosen primary genre, resulting in a professional-grade collection or script ready for the industry.

Careers with Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts

Graduates of this programme are prepared for diverse professional paths within the global creative industries. The skills developed during the degree are highly applicable to roles in publishing, film production, television writing, and theatre arts management.

Many alumni find success as published authors of novels, poetry collections, and memoirs. Others transition into careers as professional screenwriters or playwrights, seeing their work produced for the stage and screen by leading production companies and international arts organisations.

The interdisciplinary nature of the training also equips graduates for roles in media, cultural criticism, and academia. By mastering multiple forms of storytelling, students leave the university with a versatile portfolio that appeals to employers in the arts and communication sectors.