Creative Writing Major and Minor
The ability to write well is a highly valued specialization. Students enrolled in Seaver College's creative writing degree program find careers writing and editing in publishing companies and magazines, corporations, government agencies, and the creative arts. For three decades creative writing has been an integral part of the literary arts community at Pepperdine University. Today our creative writing program is at the center of a large and active community on campus and Pepperdine is proudly one of a few select universities that offer the Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing.
Creative Writing Major (36-38 Units)
Our creative writing major is designed for students desiring careers as professional writers. During our sequential course of study, students develop their talents in fiction, poetry, and writing for screen and television. In addition, our students sharpen their verbal and critical skills and develop a professional attitude about their writing.
Creative Writing Minor (20 Units Required)
Interested students can also choose to minor in creative writing. A minor in creative writing offers students experience in the craft and analysis of writing, providing a strong foundation for professional and artistic lives in the literary arts.
What Humanities Division Grads Are Doing
Data collected from the 2022 class within six months of graduation.
Employed Full-Time or Part-Time
Admitted to Graduate School
Total Settled Graduates
Why Pepperdine
Pepperdine Seaver College is consistently recognized among the top-ranked universities in California and the United States. We are a Christian university where students grow in knowledge and character. As a liberal arts institution, we focus on providing rich opportunities for intellectual and spiritual exploration for students with a diverse community.
Located in Malibu, CA
13:1 Student-to-Faculty Ratio
80% of Students Participate in an International Program
120,000 + Alumni Network
Student Opportunities
Experiential Learning
Our campus's proximity to Los Angeles offers a unique and impressive combination of opportunities for our majors, including internships at major talent agencies, major movie production studios, national television shows, and a variety of independent and commercial publishers. In addition to these outside opportunities, Pepperdine offers its creative writing students the chance to work on four University publications: Expressionists, our student-run literary magazine; The Graphic, our award-winning campus newspaper; Currents Magazine, featuring student articles about campus and Malibu.
Visiting Writers
Each year our students meet and talk with nationally known writers who offer experience and insight. Visiting writers have included:
- Maya Angelou
- Robert Bly
- Carlos Fuentes
- Dana Gioia
- Jorie Graham
- Donald Hall
- Maxine Hong Kingston
- W. S. Merwin
- Kathleen Norris
- Kay Ryan
- Luci Shaw
- W.D. Snodgrass
- Christian Wiman
- Tobias Wolff
Visiting Screen and Television Writers
With the development of our MFA in Writing for Screen and Television, we have brought celebrated screenwriters, directors, and actors to speak and teach courses at Pepperdine. These industry professionals have included:
- Robert Altman: A Prairie Home Companion, Gosford Park
- Garry Marshall: Princess Diaries, Happy Days
- Dean Batali: That 70s Show
- Tom Shadyac: Bruce Almighty, Evan Almighty, Ace Ventura
- Amy Ephron: A Little Princess
- Chuck Slocum: Writers Guild of America West
- Morgan Freeman: Dark Knight, Million Dollar Baby
- Dick Van Dyke: Dick Van Dyke Show, Diagnosis Murder
- Patricia Heaton: Everybody Loves Raymond
- Randall Wallace: Braveheart, Man in the Iron Mask
- Lester Holt: NBC Nightly News, Today Show
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Contact Us
Humanities & Teacher Education Division
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263
Office: CAC 300
Stella Erbes
Divisional Dean & Professor of Education
Genny Moore
Office Manager
Lee Jackson
Administrative Assistant