Language Requirement: None
Academic Standing by Program Start: Sophomore or above
Location: Europe, Spain
GPA: 2.5

Program Overview

Immerse yourself in the rich culture and vibrant literary traditions of Spain with the Creative Writing in Oviedo program! Drawing on the long tradition of American writers and artists finding inspiration abroad, this program will transport a traditional creative writing fiction workshop and seminar to the Asturias region of Spain. You will become better acquainted with the internal workings of storytelling and the vast array of tools available to you as a writer of fiction. You will look closely at language, sentences, narrative voice, point of view, character, detail and structure in the workshop course, and will pay particular attention to the role of setting, through a series of place-based writing exercises, inspired by the sights of Asturias. Through a combination of workshops, seminar discussions, writing assignments, and field trips, this program will offer writers the kind of special inspiration and insight that only travel can provide. 

Located in the historic city of Oviedo, this program offers aspiring writers the unique opportunity to refine their craft while exploring the scenic landscapes and rich cultural heritage of northern Spain.  This program fosters creativity and growth in a supportive, dynamic environment. This program will fulfill two of the six courses needed for the UO Creative Writing Minor. 

Dates and Deadlines

 
TermYearDeadlineArrival DateDeparture Date
Summer  20253/15/20256/30/20257/26/2025

Acceptance is based on a holistic review of your application.  This includes a review of your GPA, transcripts (including courses taken and in-progress), and the short statement.

This program is less than 90 days. Students with a US passport will be traveling to Italy under the Schengen Visa waiver program and do not require a travel visa for this program, and GEO is unable to assist U.S. citizens in obtaining a visa. If you are not a U.S. Citizen: Notify your GEO Advisor. Students who are not U.S. citizens should contact the Italian consulate in their country of residence about visa requirements, no matter the duration of the program of study.

Faculty-Led Scholarship Opportunity

Applicants to this program are eligible for program-specific scholarship funds. Award recipients are chosen based on academic merit, financial need, and overall quality of their essay. Individual awards range from $500-$1,500. To be considered, apply to the GEO General Scholarship by the advertised deadline for the term you will be abroad. Students who apply will automatically be considered for all available funding within the General Scholarship, including this program's scholarship funds.

Discount for Pell Recipients

To expand access to study abroad, GEO is offering a $500 discount for this program to UO students who currently have the Pell Grant as part of their federal financial aid (FAFSA).

Academic Details

Prerequisites: students must have completed one from CRWR 240, CRWR 244, CRWR 245 with a grade of B– or better prior to the program start. Exceptions to the pre-requisites will be considered, particularly for students from other universities.

Students who enroll on this program will take the following courses:

  • Study abroad seminar: Literature for Creative Writers (4 credits)
  • Study abroad creative writing workshop: Intermediate/Advanced Fiction Writing in Oviedo (4 credits)

Course Equivalencies

UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.

Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.

Faculty and Staff

This program is taught by Assistant Professor Karen Thompson Walker and faculty co-director Casey Walker.

Karen Thompson Walker is a New York Times bestselling author of two novels, The Dreamers, which was a New York Times Editor’s Choice pick and a finalist for the Ken Kesey Award for Fiction, and The Age of Miracles, which was a finalist for the Barnes & Noble Discover Award, an Indies Choice Award, and a Goodreads Choice Award and named one of the best books of the year by Financial Times, Publishers Weekly, People, O., The Oprah Magazine, and Amazon. Her work has been translated into 27 languages, and both of her books are in development for television. Her TED Talk about fear and the imagination has been viewed more than 2 million times. She is an assistant professor of creative writing at the University of Oregon. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Portland, Oregon.

Casey Walker holds a PhD in English Literature from Princeton University and an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. He is the author of the novel Last Days in Shanghai and has widely published short fiction, essays, and criticism in The New York Times, El País, The Believer, Boston Review, The Common, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, among others. He was born and raised in a small town on the California-Mexico border, and is currently at work on a novel set in those borderlands. He lives in Portland, Oregon. 

Housing Description

Students will be housed in single rooms in the Aller Residence Hall, which is located near the Campus del Cristo, where you will have your classes.

Your room: The residence was built in 2021. The rooms are all individual and have a 105x200 cm single bed, a desk equipped with reading lamp and chair as well as closet space and a full bathroom. It also has a small fridge and a kitchenette. The rooms are cleaned weekly. Linens and towels are provided and changed once a week as well.  There is wireless WIFI. You will also have access to the common areas: gym, TV room, kitchen, laundry room, etc.