Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

We often find meaning in life through stories. Stories of gods and goddesses, war, struggle, love, adventure, romance, victory and defeat are such a rich part of our human experience that we sometimes forget it all begins with the written word.

At Spalding, we understand how powerful a person’s voice can be. We understand how writing can inspire and shape the world, how it can influence and drive creativity, and how it makes us want to learn and create. This is why the Creative Writing Program at Spalding places an emphasis on collaboration, feedback, community, and an exploration of craft through workshops and classes designed to not only provide writers with strong writing skills but to also make those writers part of a larger community as they pursue careers in writing.

At Spalding you can pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing allowing you to tailor your studies to your specific interests and focus on genres, writing styles, and literature you are passionate about. At the same time, we provide a foundation of skills to help you move toward a career in the field of writing or continue studying writing at the graduate level.

Raptor Lit

The BFA’s online Raptor Lit Magazine gives students the opportunity to work as editors for an online publication while also providing a home to showcase student work and experiences.

Community

The undergraduate creative writing community at Spalding is a close-knit group of writers intent on learning and mastering their craft. The writing community shares work and engage in campus life events that include:

• the annual Celebration of Student Writing,
• various writing contests,
• author visits,
• writers in residence,
• the Spalding School of Professional and Creative Writing’s residencies (as mentioned below),
• writing workshops,
• and salon-style reading sessions.

SCPW Residencies

Twice a year, in the fall and spring, Spalding’s School of Professional and Creative Writing (SCPW) holds one-week residencies in which 30+ nationally recognized and published writers from a variety of disciplines attend the university. The BFA program at Spalding works alongside the SCPW to provide undergraduate students with the experience of meeting these authors and attending lectures and participating in various residency activities. During these residencies, BFA students have the opportunity to meet SCPW graduates from across the country and see first-hand what a top-ranked graduate program in writing has to offer.

Call Spalding Home

Spalding University is the home for students who want to earn a degree while engaging and serving the community. We put compassion into action every day with our mission-driven focus. We volunteer, teach, advocate, organize and give. Our students are active in the community, using their Spalding education to make the world better. We are a diverse community with a core commitment to inclusion, and we value our students, faculty, and staff from all walks of life. Begin your college journey with us and follow your passions.

An Inclusive Community

At Spalding, we are an inclusive community of people who are fundamentally different from one another. We humbly accept each other for who we are. We represent a cross-section of society. We have the most racially diverse student body of Kentucky’s private colleges. Thirty-one percent of students self-identify as people of color.

We are a community of learners made up of artists, veterans, activists, parents, religious leaders, LGBTQIA community members, and athletes. We are all of these people and more. We have different abilities, ideals, cultures, backgrounds, goals, and passions. We cultivate a supportive space for all of our students to learn and grow.

Since 1814, we have been serving our communities in the tradition of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth with a spirit of inclusiveness and compassion.

Join our tradition. Let us welcome you home.

Small Campus, Big City

Spalding University is a small campus located in the heart of the energetic city of Louisville, Kentucky. One of many institutions and organizations that make giving back a way of life, Spalding University is an active leader in the SoBro neighborhood. Spalding’s campus is surrounded by beautiful historic mansions and tree-lined streets to the south and the banks of the Ohio River to the north. Our city is recognized as one of America’s most livable cities. In fact, it’s been named a top city for new college grads by SmartAsset, which may explain why over 70 percent of our alums choose to live in Louisville.

Spalding & Louisville

Spalding University is a microcosm of the city in which we live. With a diverse community and a focus on compassion, Spalding reflects the racial, economic, cultural, and LGTBQIA diversity of the city that surrounds us. Students engage the Louisville community through internships and fieldwork, local outreach and volunteer service work, as well as countless partnerships with community businesses and organizations.

Live in the Center of It All

Boasting a thriving arts scene amidst renowned parks and natural surroundings, Louisville is also one of the best dining and cultural destinations in the Midwest. Our city offers more than 1,000 local restaurants and was named a Top 10 Food City by National Geographic. If it’s entertainment, arts, or shopping that you’re looking for, we have The Kentucky Derby Festival, Forecastle Music Festival, Gonzofest, World Fest, Nulu district, the historic Highlands, and more. Louisville is home to more than 120 park systems, including Waterfront Park. All this and so much more make Louisville a popular cultural destination. Travelers come to Louisville to experience art, outdoor adventure, the trendy food scene, and entertainment of all kinds. Hop in the car or bus, and you are within a half-day’s drive to Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Nashville, Asheville, and other exciting destinations.

Our Mission is Serving Others

Our mission is our driving force. It’s more than something you will find in our history or charter. We live it. We share it. We take pride in it. You’ll learn it from your first day on campus and engage with it every day in and out of the classroom. And when you graduate, you will take it with you into the world.