About Us

The Program
We're a relatively young program, full of energetic students and committed professors. We see a strong community of writers as a logical bridge to a fulfilling, successful writing life.

We've grown substantially over the past few years, attracting students not just from the hotbed of Chicago, but from all over the country. We've got all kinds of literary fiction writers, creative non-fiction writers, and poets; just check out our student section.

We’ve developed a studio/academic curriculum that won't just help you develop your craft, but also help you survive in today's cut-throat writing and publishing market. You'll get first-hand advice from published professors, as well as visiting authors who stop by to speak, answer questions, or lead a guest workshop.

Best of all, you'll learn through experience. You might be an editor for Oyez Review, our award-winning literary magazine. You might be a graduate assistant, helping coordinate the program and publicize events. Or you might choose a teaching internship, if you're interested in teaching creative writing after graduation.

Whatever path you choose, at Roosevelt and after, you'll be a part of our tight-knit group of talented, diverse writers, armed with knowledge and experience you can only get from living and writing in one of the world's hottest cultural epicenters.

Location
We're located in the heart of downtown Chicago, just blocks away from Sears Tower, the Chicago Theatre, and the Art Institute. The fabled Auditorium building, built by Chicago legends Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler, serves as Roosevelt's downtown campus. Perched on Michigan Avenue and surrounded by suspended El tracks, we couldn't be more immersed in Chicago's hustle and bustle.

The Untouchables was filmed in our front lobby. Keanu Reeves and Christopher Plummer used our tenth-floor library for scenes in The Lake House. Last summer, Johnny Depp and Michael Mann remade Roosevelt into the Steuben Club for their upcoming film Public Enemies, using some Roosevelt staff as extras.

The Auditorium Theater, which occupies the southern part of our building, plays home to off-Broadway shows like Grease, Spamalot, and Mamma Mia! as well as special events like An Evening with David Sedaris and the Smashing Pumpkins.

More Information
For admissions, financial, and other information, see our official program site. Also, feel free to explore the links at the top right-hand part of this page (just beneath the header) for specific details about our students, faculty, alumni, courses, and events.