The Creative Spark OpenCourseWare: A Free Undergraduate Creative Writing Course by MIT

Published Apr 20, 2009

RSS Feed

What drives writers, artists, scientists and inventors to create? 'The Creative Spark' is a free OpenCourseWare from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that uses student work to explore the creative process. This material may be helpful to students seeking a Bachelor of Arts in English.

The Creative Spark: Course Specifics

Degree Level Free Audio Video Downloads
Undergraduate Yes No No Yes

Lectures/Notes Study Materials Tests/Quizzes
No Yes No

The Creative Spark: Course Description

This OpenCourseWare presents a selection of essays written by past students of an MIT course on creativity originally taught by Professor Karen Boiko. The first set of essays has students writing about their personal experiences and struggles with creativity. This is followed by a series of essays examining films about creative people, such as The Hours and A Beautiful Mind. For the final set of papers, students wrote about their interpretations of the creative process. The course also offers tips for essay writing, including a style guide for citing sources in humanities papers. This material can be a benefit to students working on a Bachelor of Arts in English.

This course includes student essays, a list of readings and essay guides. To get started reading about the creative mind, visit the creative process course page.

Featured School Choices:

  • Grand Canyon University

    Grand Canyon University responds quickly to information requests through this site.

    Suggested programs:
    • B.A. in Communications
    • B.A. in Professional Writing for New Media
    • Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an Emphasis in Interpersonal Communication and Human Relationships
    • BA in Digital Film - Screenwriting
    More information about Grand Canyon University
  • Purdue Global

    Purdue Global responds quickly to information requests through this site.

    Suggested programs:
    • BS in Communication - Business Fundamentals
    • BS in Communication - Digital Communication
    More information about Purdue Global
  • Colorado Christian University

    Colorado Christian University responds quickly to information requests through this site.

    Suggested programs:
    • Creative Writing, B.A.
    • Communication Studies, B.A.
  • Full Sail University

    Full Sail University responds quickly to information requests through this site.

    Suggested programs:
    • Creative Writing Bachelors - Campus
    • Media Communications Bachelors - Campus
    • Creative Writing Bachelors - Online
    • Media Communications Bachelors - Online
    More information about Full Sail University
  • University of Maryland Global Campus logo

    University of Maryland Global Campus

    University of Maryland Global Campus responds quickly to information requests through this site.

  • UMass Global

    UMass Global responds quickly to information requests through this site.

    Suggested programs:
    • BA in Communications & Media