12 PhD programmes in Creative Writing in North America

Are you interested in writing and the teaching of writing? Digital composing and remix? Intercultural rhetorics? The rhetoric of queer identity? Professional writing? Writing and civic action? Writing center work? Do you want to explore rhetoric across several of these areas—or develop your own area? Then take a good long look at the Composition and Rhetoric graduate program at Miami University.

Consistently ranked among the top writing programs in the country, Florida State University’s Creative Writing Program has an internationally recognized reputation of excellence. 

A rigorous program from University of Kansas that combines creative writing and literary studies, the Ph.D. in Creative Writing prepares graduates for both scholarly and creative publication and teaching. With faculty guidance, students admitted to the Ph.D. program may tailor their programs to their goals and interests.

The Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication program offered by University of Memphis prepares students to teach and conduct research in the areas of composition, rhetoric, technical communication, and writing program administration.  

The Texts and Technology program at the University of Central Florida supports engagement with digital practices in dialectical, rhetorical, procedural, and critical-cultural fields.

Students admitted to Writing and Rhetoric Studies program at University of Utah enter an exciting environment of intellectual pursuit, where the exchange of ideas is vibrant. 

Doctoral students in English Composition at the University of Pittsburgh engage in innovative research and teaching while supported by faculty with an interdisciplinary emphasis to writing, pedagogy, and media.

A PhD in English with an emphasis in Rhetoric and Writing at The University of New Mexico offers both academic and hands-on experience, with many opportunities to contribute to one of the most dynamic writing programs in the United States.

The Ph.D. program in English - Creative Writing at Georgia State University offers graduate students the opportunity to work closely with our award-winning faculty while living and writing in Atlanta, an international city with a vibrant literary culture.

The PhD program in Rhetoric and Composition at University of Texas El Paso focuses largely on place-based cultural and digital rhetorics and community-based work.  

As one of the top creative writing doctoral programs in the country, we offer motivated poetry and fiction writers the chance to refine their creative work while building a portfolio of literary criticism and scholarly writing. We offer a English and Literary Arts - Creative Writing degree at the University of Denver.

The Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literature curriculum at University of Houston  is comprised of professional development courses, creative writing workshops, courses in a graduate curricular specialization, and electives courses.