Creative Writing

Learn how to tell your own story while studying the world’s best-known and most-loved authors. As a creative writing major, you will learn the elements of craft and practice writing in multiple genres, including fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and drama. We also offer a variety of specialized courses in screenwriting, young adult literature, slam poetry, flash fiction, and more! 

We Prepare You for Employment
Creative writing is one of the fastest growing majors on college campuses. The Association of Writers and Writing Programs reports a significant spike in the number of creative writing programs—a 260% increase in just five years. As a creative writing major at Mount Mary, you will be a part of a nurturing community of writers who will help you develop your unique writing voice and style. You will also learn the art of vivid storytelling that captures the attention of potential customers and establishes a clear brand – an essential skill for any business or organization. Whether you major in creative writing alone or add coursework in writing for new media or graphic design, creative writers are in high demand in the workplace.

View a sample program plan to see what courses you'll take in our Creative Writing concentration.

Literature

Do you love to read, analyze and discuss books? As an English literature major, you'll develop critical interpretation skills and will study key works in American, British and world literature. You'll also gain a solid understanding of linguistics and rhetoric, providing you with the language and communication skills you need to succeed in any field. 

When you study literature, you learn to love words and appreciate their beauty and power. By encountering the imaginary, you build your own ability to imagine what could be. Literature students develop skills in holding multiple perspectives at once, making them valuable and creative problem solvers who can connect with people of all backgrounds. A major in literature will equip you with the most-needed and sought-after job skills: strong writing, insightful analysis, creative problem solving and positive collaboration.

Courses in this concentration cover British literature, American literature, Shakespeare and world literature.

View a sample program plan to see what courses you'll take in our Literature concentration. 

Journalism and Digital Humanities

In today’s rapidly evolving new media environment, professional writers need to know how to develop and maintain content for print, websites, social media and mobile technologies.

The Writing for New Media undergraduate concentration offers a 48-credit major as well as a minor. With this concentration, you’ll learn how to develop and manage blogs and social media campaigns, research and write effectively for multiple media, and implement new technologies in the workplace.

Technology Requirements

Students who take new media courses participate in an iPad loaner program, so you can use iPads for classroom collaboration and to develop special projects such as videos, podcasts and interactive presentations.

View a sample program plan to see what courses you'll take in our Journalism and Digital Humanities concentration. 

Jennifer Kontny, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English and Director of Composition
Phone: (414) 930-3665
Email: kontnyj@mtmary.edu
Expertise: Composition theory, new media, research methodologies and writing program administration

Paula Reiter, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English
Phone: (414) 930-3412
Email: reiterp@mtmary.edu
Expertise: 19th century British fiction, narrative techniques, novel writing, linguistics

Wendy Weaver, Ph.D. 
Associate Professor of English 
Phone: (414) 930-3505 
Email: weaverw@mtmary.edu 
Expertise: Christianity & literature, active learning pedagogy, memoir, creative non-fiction, poetry, American literature, British literature 

Willa Swift Black, Ph.D.  
Assistant Professor of English  
Phone: 414-930-3319 
Email: blackw@mtmary.edu

Mary Beth Duffey, Ph.D.
Adjunct Instructor
Phone: (414) 930-3164
Email: duffeym@mtmary.edu
Expertise: Composition, film as literature, literature and healing professions, women writers, study abroad in Ireland and Guatemala

Ann Angel, M.F.A.
Professor Emerita
Phone: (414) 930-3109
Email: angela@mtmary.edu
Expertise: Creative fiction, nonfiction writing, writing for children and young adults

Lisa Beranek Terasa, Ph.D.
Adjunct Instructor
Phone: (414) 930-3479
Email: terasal@mtmary.edu
Expertise: Composition, literature, popular culture, food and literature

David Harden, Ph.D.
Adjunct Instructor
Phone: (414) 930-3210
Email: hardend@mtmary.edu

Erin Mihor, M.A.
Adjunct Instructor
Phone: (414) 930-3673
Email: mihore@mtmary.edu

Aneela Nasir, M.A.
Adjunct Instructor
Email: nasiran@mtmary.edu