AACC’s Creative Writing degree is the program for you!
In the Creative Writing program you’ll study with our experienced faculty of professional poets and prose writers and explore your boundless imagination while sharpening your critical and verbal skills. In addition to expanding your talents in writing fiction, poetry, movie scripts, plays and creative nonfiction, you’ll develop a professional attitude about your writing. In the program's capstone course, you’ll work with one of our professors to build a portfolio of creative work ready to submit to literary journals or to advanced academic writing programs. Those who complete this degree are well prepared for advanced undergraduate study in creative writing, English and related fields.
We invite you to join our literary community!
The English department is proud to offer the Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Creative Writing. As an additional transfer option, AACC has the unique Transfer Studies degree. Both degrees will prepare you to transfer to a four-year institution. Whichever path you choose, we strongly encourage you to meet with an advisor to structure your AACC studies to meet your specific transfer goals.
This two-year program allows you to develop as a reader and a writer and to hone your talent in writing fiction, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting and nonfiction. As a creative writing major, you’ll study with faculty who are practicing poets and prose writers, explore the resources of your imagination, sharpen your critical and verbal skills, and develop a professional attitude about your writing. Start by taking our Introduction to Creative Writing (ENG-200) course, which also fulfills AACC’s arts and humanities' general education requirement. Your creative writing degree will culminate in a portfolio of polished work that you can use to apply to advanced programs in creative writing or submit to publishers as you begin your career.
The Transfer Studies, A.A. allows you to explore different subjects or concentrate on a specific course plan that will best meet your in-state (and even some out-of-state) transfer goals. This option is particularly good if you are undecided in your ultimate career direction, not sure where you'd like to eventually transfer or just looking to complete general education requirements while "testing the waters" of a particular major. No matter what brings you to Transfer Studies, the result is a well-rounded associate degree preparing you for further studies and successful career.
Amaranth is AACC’s student-run journal for the creative arts. Published every April, Amaranth showcases student writing and visual art from the college community and its alumni. Taking on the role of editor-in-chief, managing editor, publicity manger or staff member gives students the opportunity to develop job-related skills in a creative field. Students run staff meetings and advertise the journal while soliciting submissions, working within a budget and coordinating with a print shop to produce a volume worthy of the creative work contained within its pages. Staff members can also earn college credit while working on the journal. Amaranth has been recognized with numerous awards, including the College Media Association’s Pinnacle Award, the Community College Humanities Association’s Literary Magazine Contest and the prestigious Pacemaker Award from the Associated Collegiate Press.
Coffeehouse is a monthly open mic event hosted by the staff of Amaranth where participants are invited to read their poems and stories, present and discuss visual art or short films, or perform music, monologues, comedy sketches or dance.
Coffeehouse is a great opportunity for students to get to know each other and share their creative talents, for prospective students to get a glimpse of AACC's creative community and for alumni to see old friends and catch up.
Every April, the final Coffeehouse of the year is a release party for the latest edition of Amaranth. Magazine contributors read and discuss their pieces, awards are presented, and family, friends and faculty are invited to support and celebrate the amazing creative work produced by our students.
Due to current concerns with COVID-19, Coffeehouse events are virtual until further notice.
Writers Reading at AACC hosts an array of writers including poets, fiction writers, essayists, songwriters, memoirists, playwrights, journalists and screenplay writers. Guest writers read from their work and engage in discussion with the audience about things such as their creative process, the arc of their careers and advice for beginning writers.
Writers Reading events are sponsored by the School of Liberal Arts and are free to students, faculty, staff and members of the community.
The Creative Writing program actively promotes the writing of its students. All enrolled students are eligible to submit their writing to college awards for potential cash prizes and inclusion in Amaranth. Our program is also affiliated with the League for Innovation, which hosts a Student Literary Competition. Students who win our local League for Innovation competition at AACC are sent forward to compete at the league level for cash prizes and international recognition in the League for Innovation journal.
The Crosby Marketing Scholars Program creates greater opportunities for underrepresented students from diverse backgrounds to pursue degrees and future careers in advertising and public relations. You could receive up to two years of tuition, fees, book and supplies.
If Creative Writing sounds appealing, but you’d like to compare it to other offerings, see if one of these is a better fit.
Garrett Brown helps students at AACC develop their artistic voice by teaching courses in creative writing, composition, poetry and writing for the stage and screen. “To me, the arts teach us how to hone our experience of life and appreciate the world around us,” he said.
Learn more about Garrett