u of m creative writing

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Creative Writing & Literature Major

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Effective Fall 2023

Not open to those electing the minor in Writing or the minor in Creative Writing.

1813 East Quadrangle

(734) 763-0032

https://myadvising.lsa.umich.edu/appointments/offices/RC

Students meet with the creative writing major advisor when declaring, making course substitutions, discussing transfer/study abroad credit evaluations, preparing for internships, completing major release forms, and discussing information on graduate school study and career paths.  

Although students may pursue study in multiple genres, most specialize in one of the following genres:

• Fiction / Creative Nonfiction
• Digital Storytelling

Advising appointments can be made here ; or by calling RC Academic Services at 763-0032.

Grade Policies

Creative writing majors must earn a grade of at least C- in all courses taken to satisfy the requirements of the major.

Prerequisites

Students intending to declare the major should have completed or be enrolled in a Residential College introductory creative writing course (RCHUMS 220, RCHUMS 221, RCHUMS 325, or an approved equivalent). The prerequisite taken should align with the student's chosen track, although this is not required. 

Requirements

The major is structured into three genre tracks. Students may elect a multi-genre track in consultation with their principal writing instructors and the major advisor. Information regarding each track is detailed below.         

1) Fiction / Creative Nonfiction Track

Students complete a minimum of four creative writing courses, at least three of which must be at the 300-level or above and at least three of which must be taken in the Residential College (RC). A usual track is an introductory course (Narration) and three upper-level courses. Students may count one non-RC creative writing course towards the four course writing requirement.

Creative Writing Course Requirement

Students may elect any combination of the seminars and tutorials from the following list:

• RCHUMS 220: Narration (Intro to Fiction Writing)
• RCHUMS 325, 326, 425, 426: Creative Writing Tutorial ( permission of instructor is required )
• RCHUMS 320: Advanced Narration (Advanced Fiction Writing)
• Other departmental offerings listed under RCHUMS 334 or RCCORE 334

Literature Requirement

Students complete five literature courses at the 300-level or above. One literature course must focus on literature written prior to 1600. The pre-1600 requirement may focus on non-Western or Western literature; if a Western literature course is elected, the content must pre-date the Shakespearean era. 

Students are encouraged to take literature courses in the RC Arts and Ideas Program, the Department of English, or the Department of Comparative Literature. Students majoring in a second language may count one upper-level literature course in that language, either taken at UM-Ann Arbor or through study abroad (with advisor approval). All literature courses counted toward the Creative Writing and Literature Major must be at least three (3) credits.

 Courses that have been used to meet the literature requirement include:

• RCHUMS courses listed in the Arts and Ideas in the Humanities major
• ENGLISH 328: Writing and the Environment
• ENGLISH 350: Literature in English to 1660
• ENGLISH 379: Literature in Afro-American Culture
• Other English Department courses with a literature focus
• CLCIV 385: Greek Mythology (for pre-1600 requirement)  
• MEMS 386: Medieval Literature, History and Culture 

2) Poetry Track

Students complete a minimum of four creative writing courses, at least three of which must be at the 300-level or above and at least three of which must be taken in the Residential College (RC). A usual track is an introductory course (Writing Poetry) and three upper-level courses. Students may count one non-RC creative writing course towards the writing requirement.

Students may elect any combination of seminars and tutorials from the following:

• RCHUMS 221: Writing Poetry
• RCHUMS 321: Advanced Poetry Writing
• RCHUMS 334: Special Topics in the Humanities (Workshop with Incarcerated Poets and Artists)

Students complete five literature courses at the 300-level or above. One literature course must focus on literature written prior to 1600. The pre-1600 requirement may focus on non-Western or Western literature; if a Western literature course is elected, the content must pre-date the Shakespearean era. 

Students are encouraged to take literature courses in the RC Arts and Ideas Program, the Department of English or the Department of Comparative Literature. Students majoring in a second language may count one upper-level literature course in that language, either taken at UM-Ann Arbor or through study abroad (with advisor approval). All literature courses counted toward the Creative Writing and Literature Major must be at least three (3) credits.

Courses that have been used to meet the literature requirement include:

• ENGLISH 340: Studies in Poetry
• ENGLISH 440: Modern Poetry
• ENGLISH 442: Studies in Poetry
• Literature courses listed above within the Fiction/Creative Nonfiction track

3) Digital Storytelling Track

The digital storytelling track studies the way stories interact with technology and the effect of digital media on writing and the creative process. Students electing this track pair writing practice with the study of the theory, ethics, and history of digital media.

Creative Writing Course Requirement 

Students completing this requirement must elect two courses in Creative Writing Practice and two courses in Digital Writing Skills. The two Creative Writing Practice courses can only include one 200-level course. Students must elect a minimum of two Residential College (RC) creative writing courses that focus on writing fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry.   

Introductory Courses (may elect one to count towards major):

Upper-level Courses:

• RCHUMS 320: Advanced Narration
• RCHUMS 334: Special Topics in the Humanities (Memoir: Writing from Within)

Digital Writing / Skills Course Requirement

Students must choose a minimum of two digital storytelling / writing courses at the 300-level or above that focus on digital media and/or electronic literature writing and practice.

Courses that have been used to meet the requirement in the past include:

• ENGLISH 420: Tech and the Humanities/Electronic Literature
• RCCORE 334: Digital Storytelling
• RCHUMS 325, 326, 425, 426: Creative Writing Tutorial with a focus on writing for, and/or creating electronic literature or digital media content ( permission of instructor is required )

Digital Studies Theory Requirement

Students must elect a minimum of two digital studies theory courses at the 300-level or above that focus on the theory of digital culture and/or the digital humanities.

• AMCULT 358: Topics in Digital Studies
• AMCULT 360: Radical Digital Media
• FTVM 368: Topics in Digital Media Studies
• ENGLISH 405: Theories of Writing

Students must elect three literature courses at the 300-level or above. Literature courses should not focus on digital studies but should offer complementary skills and additional context in the art and craft of literature. One literature course must focus on literature written prior to 1600. The pre-1600 requirement may focus on non-Western or Western literature; if a Western literature course is elected, the content must pre-date the Shakespearean era. 

Constraints

Coursework noted as independent study (IND) may not be used to meet requirements, including RCCORE 209, RCCORE 309, and RCCORE 409. Although students are encouraged to complete internships in a publishing or writing related field, any credit earned may not be used to meet requirements of the major. 

Distribution Policy

No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the RC Creative Writing subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.

A student whose overall academic record meets the eligibility criteria for honors and whose creative work models originality and the promise of mastery in their chosen genre may apply to complete an honors thesis. Honors theses are typically 75-100 pages of polished fiction or creative nonfiction, or a collection of 25 or more poems. The student and their faculty advisor will determine the exact length and content of the final thesis.

To be eligible to apply for honors, a student must demonstrate exceptional skill in the art and craft of prose, poetry, or creative nonfiction. The student must have completed a minimum of two Residential College creative writing classes, although honors students typically complete three or more by the start of their thesis sequence. The student also must hold a GPA of at least 3.4 overall.

Students who meet the above criteria are eligible to apply for the honors thesis project in the Winter term of their junior year, typically by late March. To apply, students should submit:

•  A writing sample (10 pages of prose or 5 poems) that represents the student’s best, most polished work;
•  A brief statement (1-2 pages) describing the honors project;
• The name of a faculty member they wish to request as their thesis advisor.

The Honors Committee, consisting of faculty in the Creative Writing program, will judge the student’s work on its quality, originality, and promise of mastery in their chosen genre. The Committee reviews all honors applications after the submission deadline. Students are notified of the Committee’s decision by early April. If the planned project is accepted for honors, the Committee will assign a faculty thesis advisor to the student.

Honors theses require a two-semester commitment. Students enroll in RCCORE 490 for the Fall term and RCHUMS 426 for the Winter term. Satisfactory progress in RCCORE 490 earns a Y grade, indicating that the thesis work will continue into the next semester. At the end of the second term, the Y grade converts to the grade earned in RCHUMS 426. Exceptions to the two-semester requirement are rare but may be discussed with the thesis advisor.

When the honors thesis project is complete (typically the last week of March or the first week of April of the senior year), the student’s honors thesis advisor and one other member of the Residential College’s Creative Writing faculty will determine if the project qualifies for honors and (if so) what level of honors the student receives. Honors thesis students also participate in a public reading with fellow honors students at the end of the Winter term.

Creative Writing and Literature (Major) (Winter 2020 - Summer 2023)

Effective Winter 2020

(734) 647-2745

www.lsa.umich.edu/rc

The Residential College (RC) is a four-year undergraduate liberal arts program with about 900 students and 60 faculty, situated within LSA. All RC advisors are RC faculty members and are available to meet with students to discuss RC and LSA requirements, possible majors, graduation requirements, etc. The RC Board on Academic Standing considers petitions submitted by RC students relating to requirements, deadlines, and academic circumstances. Appointments with academic advisors can be scheduled by calling the RC Academic Services Office at (734) 647-2745 or by stopping by the offices at 1813 East Quadrangle.

Students wishing to pursue a sustained practice in creative writing take a combination of writing courses in a selected genre and literature courses, distributed as follows:

• A minimum of four creative writing classes, three at the upper level (300 and above), mixing seminars (RCHUMS 220, 221, 222, 242, 320, 321, 322) and tutorials (RCHUMS 325, 326, 425, 426)
• A minimum of five upper level (300 and above) literature courses at least one of which must be ancient (RCHUMS 309, CLCIV 390, ENGLISH 401) or medieval (RCHUMS 310, ENGLISH 370) literature.

No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement.

Creative Writing and Literature (Major) (Winter 2013 - Fall 2019)

Effective Winter 2013

134 Tyler (East Quadrangle)

The Residential College (RC) is a four-year undergraduate liberal arts program with about 900 students and 60 faculty, situated within LSA. All RC advisors are RC faculty members and are available to meet with students to discuss RC and LSA requirements, possible majors, graduation requirements, etc. The RC Board on Academic Standing considers petitions submitted by RC students relating to requirements, deadlines, and academic circumstances. Appointments with academic advisors can be scheduled by calling the RC Academic Services Office at (734) 763-0032, or by stopping by the offices at 134 Tyler.

Creative Writing and Literature Major (through Fall 2012)

May be elected as a departmental major 

effective through Fall 2012

Not open to those electing the minor in Writing or the minor in Creative Writing (effective Fall 2011)

The Residential College's Creative Writing and Literature Major combines the sustained, disciplined practice of writing with the serious study of literature. The main goal of the program is to help students develop their creative abilities through a continuous, interrelated cycle of writing, rewriting, and literary analysis. Creative writing courses are taught as workshops and tutorials in which students work individually with faculty members. Students are required to take courses in literature in order to understand better the art of writing.

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The Department of English offers the Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing for students committed to pursuing the writing life. This three-year degree provides advanced graduate-level coursework in writing, language, literature, as well as studies in a related field.

Workshops in poetry, fiction, and literary nonfiction are at the heart of the creative writing program, while courses in the Reading as Writers and Topics in Advanced Writing series enable writers to explore a variety of issues relating to contemporary themes in American and world literature. The program encourages experimentation across genres, fostering the discovery of new and varied forms for a developing voice.

Our program is committed to the goal of improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of departmental operations. Diversity, here, includes but is not limited to: race, indigeneity, gender identity, sexual orientation, caste, religion, cultural/educational background, (dis)ability, nationality, and socioeconomic status.

Please view our  graduate handbook  for more information.

Requirements for the MFA Degree

The MFA thesis, completed in the spring of your third year in the program, is a book-length manuscript suitable for publication. The minimum length for prose is 120 pages and the minimum length for poetry is 50 pages. (Some students, in consultation with their advisors, have completed multi-genre theses.) Feel free to consult the bound MFA theses on the bookshelf in the Assistant Director's office in 112 Pillsbury.

Class of 2024: Your thesis is due to your committee on Monday, April 22, 2024. Please work out specific arrangements (e.g. time, format) with your committee.

The MFA booklist will consist of 20 books of your choice, books that have been particularly influential or useful to you in the composition of your work. The list must include at least one book from each genre. The booklist should be assembled during your first and second years in the program. Strive for a balanced list, keeping classic as well as contemporary works in mind. Please keep your thesis advisor updated on your progress assembling the booklist.

Class of 2024: Your booklist is due to your committee on Monday, April 29, 2024.

During the fall of your third year, in the context of the thesis seminar, you'll devise a topic for your MFA essay (see below). During early spring of your third year, you'll consult with your thesis advisors about the MFA essay. In April of your third year, one week after the due date for the MFA thesis, you must give the completed essay, along with the booklist, to your thesis director and second reader, in preparation for your defense. Note: no changes to the thesis or other materials may be made between the date when you hand them in and the defense. Commentary and feedback on the MFA essay will take place within the context of the defense.

What should the MFA essay look like? This is a literary essay, personally voiced and intellectually rigorous. It is 2,500–3,500 words long (10–15 pages, double-spaced). It should focus on a specific topic (e.g. structure in experimental fiction; trauma and memoir; urban settings in contemporary poetry) as evidenced in your booklist and in your own work. You do not need to admire all of the works on your list; nor are you expected to discuss all twenty selections from your booklist in your essay. The essay is not a "hoop" through which you must jump, it can serve as both a preface to your thesis and as a way of reflecting on your own writing process and on the place of your own work within a larger tradition.

Class of 2024: your booklist and essay are due to your committee on Monday, April 29, 2024.

Thesis defense

The MFA defense will take place in May. Students who are deemed not ready to defend will be discouraged from doing so. At the defense, you will read briefly from and discuss your creative work (for about 30 minutes) and then field questions from audience members (30 minutes) about your thesis. The first portion of your defense is open unless otherwise requested. The second portion of your defense (60 minutes) will consist of you and your committee members only; this portion is closed to the public. Your committee will ask questions about the thesis, booklist and essay. After a brief private discussion with each other, your committee members may either sign off on the thesis as is, or ask for revisions to the thesis–or the essay.

MFA Thesis Defenses will take place May 6-10, 2024.

The Thesis is due April 22, 2024. The MFA essay and booklist are due April 29, 2024.

Thesis advising

At least two faculty members of your choice will work with you as advisors on your final manuscript.

• In some circumstances, you may be able to petition by letter to the Director of the Creative Writing Program to have an affiliate faculty member serve as your second reader. Approval will rest on your previous coursework experience with the instructor and whether funds are available to pay them for the additional work.
• If you choose to have two co-advisors , one of the two must be a member of the creative writing faculty; the other may be a faculty member of any department. You will divide your four thesis credits (and the workload) between your co-advisors; often, this means you will work with one advisor in the fall semester (for two credits), and the other advisor in the spring (for two credits).

It is your responsibility to seek out faculty who you think will be the most supportive of you as a writer, regardless of department.

Note: Mentorship is a mutual endeavor. Make use of faculty office hours to introduce yourself to potential advisors.

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Creative Writing at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Go directly to any of the following sections:

• Available Degrees
• Student Demographics
• Related Majors

Creative Writing Degrees Available at U-M

• Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing
• Master’s Degree in Creative Writing

U-M Creative Writing Rankings

The bachelor's program at U-M was ranked #34 on College Factual's Best Schools for creative writing list . It is also ranked #1 in Michigan .

Popularity of Creative Writing at U-M

During the 2020-2021 academic year, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor handed out 24 bachelor's degrees in creative writing. This is a decrease of 33% over the previous year when 36 degrees were handed out.

In 2021, 22 students received their master’s degree in creative writing from U-M. This makes it the #29 most popular school for creative writing master’s degree candidates in the country.

U-M Creative Writing Students

Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the creative writing majors at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

U-M Creative Writing Bachelor’s Program

In the 2020-2021 academic year, 24 students earned a bachelor's degree in creative writing from U-M. About 63% of these graduates were women and the other 38% were men.

The majority of bachelor's degree recipients in this major at U-M are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 58% of students fell into this category.

The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor with a bachelor's in creative writing.

U-M Creative Writing Master’s Program

In the 2020-2021 academic year, 22 students earned a master's degree in creative writing from U-M. About 64% of these graduates were women and the other 36% were men.

The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor with a master's in creative writing.

Majors Similar to Creative Writing

View All Creative Writing Related Majors >

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Creative Writing Program

The University of Washington English Department's Creative Writing Program offers a BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and a two-year Master of Fine Arts  degrees in Poetry and Prose. 

Founded in 1947 by Theodore Roethke, the Creative Writing Program's tradition of transformative workshops continues with our current faculty:  David Bosworth , Nikki David Crouse ,  Rae Paris ,  David Shields,  and  Maya Sonenberg  (Prose), and  Linda Bierds (part-time) ,  Andrew Feld ,  Richard Kenney,  and  Pimone Triplett  (Poetry).  They include among their many honors fellowships from the MacArthur Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as prizes such as the Flannery O’Connor Award in Short Fiction and the McCarthy Prize. The list of our alumni publications represents a significant chapter in the history of American literature. 

The MFA Program remains purposely small, admitting only ten students per year. The relatively small size of our program (20 students at most at any given time) allows for close associations to develop among students and faculty. The first year is devoted to participation in workshops and literary seminars, and the second year allows for concentrated work on a creative manuscript and critical essay under the supervision of two creative writing faculty members. 

The BA in English with a Creative Writing Concentration prepares students not only to be more effective communicators and artists, but also creative problem solvers and more nuanced critical thinkers. By situating small, student-oriented writing workshops alongside literary models, Creative Writing classes enhance the broader study of literature and critical theory, helping students gain a greater understanding of the social and cultural forces informing their work. A student completing the program is more able to situate themselves in a larger aesthetic and social context and make more meaningful, informed decisions about their own artistic practice. In addition, through the intense practice of creative writing, students are able to see the world more clearly, in a more nuanced and meaningful manner, and apply these skills to a wide variety of work and life situations.

Director:  Nikki David Crouse

Program Coordinator: Shannon Mitchell 

Graduate Program Advisor: Tim Cosgrove

Undergraduate Program Advising: Humanities Academic Services

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University of Minnesota Morris

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Creative Writing

Creative writing minor for non-english majors.

When you minor in creative writing as a non-English major, you’ll take several classes focusing on different styles of creative writing, along with other types of writing, like sports, environmental, and essay writing. You’ll also look at literature from the perspective of a writer, taking into consideration how authors build plot, create characters, design their world, and use language in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. As a creative writing minor, you’ll participate in a public reading of your own work.

Small classes will allow you to create connections with other students and faculty. You will read your classmates’ work and learn how to provide and receive feedback. You’ll receive individual attention from published faculty members who will closely analyze your work to help you improve your written and oral communication skills. You’ll also have the opportunity to interact with visiting writers.

The creative writing program is extremely flexible and is easy to pair with any major.

Degree Requirements

Graduate in four years.

• Minor Requirements

Student Learning Outcomes

By completing a minor in creative writing, you will be able to

• demonstrate a basic knowledge of critical approaches and practices of literary study;
• demonstrate a basic knowledge of literary history;
• analyze both primary and secondary texts;
• use writing skills and processes to achieve specific goals; and
• demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the expository and creative uses of the English language.

General Education Requirements

The University of Minnesota and its faculty are committed to providing an education that invites you to investigate the world from new perspectives, learn new ways of thinking, and grow as an active citizen and lifelong learner. The University’s general education requirements are designed to be integrated throughout your four-year undergraduate experience. These courses provide you an opportunity to explore fields outside your major and complement your major curriculum with a multidisciplinary perspective.

• Learn more about UMN Morris General Education Requirements
• World Language Placement Exam
• Math Placement Exam

Put your credits to work for you at UMN Morris, where you’ll earn a degree from a highly ranked public liberal arts university. 

Learn more about how we transfer credits

Careers & Graduate School

Graduate school.

UMN Morris students interested in creative writing have gone on to graduate school or additional schooling for creative writing.

• University of Colorado Boulder
• Southern New Hampshire University
• Hamline University
• Arcadia University
• Arizona State University
• University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Cost of Attendance

The University of Minnesota Morris is a national public liberal arts college committed to making a high-quality education available to students from across the country. Expenses for housing, meals, books and supplies, transportation, loan fees, and personal expenditures can vary.

Scholarships are a type of financial aid awarded to you and are often based on specific criteria, such as your major, GPA, or financial need.

Explore available scholarships

Research & Engagement

As a UMN Morris student, you’ll have access to programs that make research opportunities possible. Students in the English discipline have presented their work nationally and even in Dublin, Ireland.

English faculty members can help you with obtaining funding so that you can take advantage of opportunities to develop and present your creative works and research projects. 

As a UMN Morris student, you’re strongly encouraged to take part in academic opportunities outside the classroom. Partnering with other students or faculty on a literature or writing-related project allows you to put into practice what you are learning as an undergraduate.

UMN Morris English students and faculty are among the most active on campus. With ample opportunities for students, you may be able to

• edit or contribute to campus publications;
• give a public reading;
• join Floating World, the campus creative writing club;
• participate in a community-outreach program;
• assist other students at the Writing Center;
• serve as a research assistant to a faculty member; or
• volunteer at the Prairie Gate Literary Festival .

Opportunities for Students

Undergraduate research symposium.

The Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS) offers students an opportunity to present research plus scholarly and creative work. Types of presentations include posters, oral presentations, and short or abbreviated theatrical, dance, or musical performances.

• Creative Activity

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) provides University of Minnesota undergraduates from every college, major, and discipline, the opportunity to partner with a faculty member on research or creative projects.

Morris Academic Partnership

The University of Minnesota Morris offers the Morris Academic Partnership (MAP) program, in which faculty select academically talented, qualified second-year and third-year students to assist them in scholarly and creative projects. Selected MAP students undertake assignments intended to enhance their intellectual competence and increase their interest in graduate or professional study.

• Morris Academic Partnership (MAP)

Quick Facts

Admissions University of Minnesota Morris Welcome Center 600 E Fourth Street Morris, MN 56267 888-866-3382 [email protected]

• Anishinaabe Summer Language Immersion

Creative Writing

A fully funded M.F.A. program that combines creative and scholarly work, undergraduate teaching, and professionalization opportunities.

Quick Links

• Enrolling in Undergraduate Intermediate Workshops
• Creative Writing Minor
• Writers Here and Now Event Series
• Jiménez-Porter Writers' House
• Stanley Plumly Lecture Series

The M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing is nationally ranked and our graduates are the recipients of many distinguished awards and fellowships.

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Our Faculty

Lillian-yvonne bertram.

Associate Professor, English Director, MFA Program in Creative Writing, English

Professor, English

3103 Tawes Hall College Park MD, 20742

Gabrielle Lucille Fuentes

Associate Professor, English

3120 Tawes Hall College Park MD, 20742

Emily Mitchell

3122 Tawes Hall College Park MD, 20742

Rion Amilcar Scott

3234 Tawes Hall College Park MD, 20742

Joshua Weiner

3113 Tawes Hall College Park MD, 20742

Program Coordinator

Lindsay bernal.

Academic Coordinator, MFA Program in Creative Writing, English MFA Program in Creative Writing, English

2116E Tawes Hall College Park MD, 20742

Emeritus Faculty

Michael collier.

Emeritus Professor, English

Former Faculty

Elizabeth arnold.

3101 Tawes Hall College Park MD, 20742

Program Requirements

The Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing offers concentrations in fiction and poetry and requires a creative thesis. The course requirements include both writing workshops and literature courses.  

Course Requirements

• Four writing workshops in your concentration (poetry or fiction: English 688 or ENGL 689, respectively).
• Four graduate (600- or 700-level) literature courses.
• At least one semester of Studies in Narrative Form (English 789), if your concentration is fiction, or Studies in Poetic Form (English 788), if your concentration is poetry.
• NOTE: Forms courses are repeatable and can be taken outside of your concentration for elective credit.
• One graduate-level (600-level or above) course outside the English Department, or one 400-level English course elective within the English Department.

Beginning in the second year, MFA students register for English 799 (thesis research) under the direction of a member of the creative writing faculty, write as a thesis a book-length manuscript of fiction or poetry.

Mentoring Credit

All MFA students are required to complete one credit of pedagogical or professional mentoring each semester: either ENGL878 or ENGL898.

A Letter from the M.F.A. Program Faculty

Dear Prospective Students,

Our MFA program is committed to social justice and antiracism. Our workshop process decenters whiteness and amplifies BIPOC voices, as we aim to create a space of equity for writing and collaboration and encourage extending creative practice into the world.  What is the writing that is happening now, that is looking to the future and creating a viable community?  The answer starts in the work of your imagination, your dedication to the craft, and your sense that this matters beyond the act of writing. Our commitment is to you. 

Each fall, we welcome three poets and three fiction writers into the MFA Program, a studio-based fine arts program devoted to the development and mentoring of the next generation of poets and fiction writers. 

Our attention is to your original writing and to you, the writer; our aim is to help you become the writer you envision for yourself.  As fully funded writers, selected by the program faculty from an applicant pool of over 200, you’ll spend two to three years taking workshops, literature courses, and creative forms courses, meeting one-on-one with our faculty, and gaining valuable experience teaching undergraduate workshops, academic writing, and literature courses.

Our varied individual teaching philosophies share the conviction that the hard work of drafting and revising original stories and poems is grounded in reading and studying exemplary works.  Literary history, innovative poetic and narrative form, and the experience of the writer all come into play through the shaping hand of art.

During the second and third years of the program, MFA students develop a thesis (a book-length collection of poetry or short fiction, a novel, or a hybrid project) under the direction of the MFA faculty. Students have the opportunity to work closely with each program faculty member in the genre of concentration during their time at UMD.

Completion of the thesis culminates in the occasion of a thesis defense with several faculty members, and a celebratory public reading, at which each student is introduced by their faculty mentor.

The MFA core curriculum includes practica in teaching creative writing (in the first semester) and finishing the thesis (in the last semester), plus a set of professionalization courses to prepare you for a career in creative writing.  Our program emphasizes one-on-one mentoring and personal attention to your development as a writer in the world. 

The Writers Here & Now reading series, co-sponsored and -curated by the Jiménez-Porter Writers’ House (UMD’s undergraduate residential college devoted to creative writing), brings writers of national and international prominence to the University of Maryland each year, both to read and meet with students in the graduate and undergraduate workshops. Recent visiting writers include Leslie Nneka Arimah, Jennifer Chang, Jos Charles,  Alexander Chee, Jennine Capó Crucet, Natalie Diaz, Danielle Evans, Ross Gay, Louise Glück, Kaitlyn Greenidge, Terrance Hayes, Mitchell S. Jackson, John Keene, Yiyun Li, Claudia Rankine, Cristina Rivera Garza, Evie Shockley, Ocean Vuong, and Javier Zamora.  We also invite program alumni to read in the series and visit with the MFAs.

Our program faculty and alumni include recipients of the following awards and honors: ●    Agnes Lynch Starrett Prize ●    Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship ●    Guggenheim Fellowship ●    Italo Calvino Prize ●    National Book Award ●    National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship ●    NAACP Image Award ●    National Jewish Book Award ●    National Poetry Series competition ●    New York Public Library Young Lions Prize ●    Rome Prize ●    Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Award ●    Whiting Writers’ Award

They have received Stegner, Hodder, Radcliffe Institute, and Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center fellowships, and their work has been featured in the following publications: ●    The Atlantic ●    Best American Poetry ●    Harvard Review ●    Los Angeles Review of Books ●    The Nation ●    The New Republic ●    The New Yorker ●    New York Review of Books ●    New York Times ●    Paris Review ●    Poetry ●    Threepenny Review ●    Washington Post ●    Yale Review

Our alumni have started their own literary journals online and in print: ●    The Account ●    Asian American Literary Review ●    AzonaL ●    B O D Y ●    Leavings ●    Oversound ●    Smartish Pace

They have continued their formal studies in doctoral programs at Florida State University, the University of Houston, the University of Illinois–Chicago, the University of Missouri, the University of Utah, and other top programs. And they have taught in universities, colleges, and high schools around the country and abroad, serving communities and fostering the literary arts.

We thank you for your interest in our program.  We urge you to review the department website to get a further sense of whether or not the MFA at Maryland is right for you.  And we wish you the very best in your writing.

M.F.A. Application Instructions

Submit the complete application and all supporting materials by December 14, 2023 —for the Fall 2024 term. (We do not accept applications for the Spring term.) Please note that the system will close promptly at midnight, so you will be unable to edit your application past 11:59pm on December 14, 2023. 

University of Maryland's Graduate Application Process

The University of Maryland’s Graduate School accepts applications through its application system . Before completing the application, applicants are asked to check the Admissions Requirements site for specific instructions.

As required by the Graduate School, all application materials are to be submitted electronically:

• Graduate Application
• Non-refundable application fee ($75) for each program to which an applicant applies.
• Unofficial transcripts of your entire college/university record (undergraduate and graduate), including records of any advanced work done at another institution. Electronic copies of these unofficial transcripts must be uploaded along with your online application. Official transcripts will be required after an applicant is admitted to the program.
• Three Letters of Recommendation . In your online application, please complete the information requested for your recommenders and ask them to submit their letters electronically. The strongest letters of recommendation are written by individuals who are familiar with your fiction or poetry and can speak about you as a writer.
• Statement of Purpose . The statement, which should not exceed 1000 words, should address your creative interests, relevant aspects of your educational experience, and your reasons for applying to our program.
• A single Creative Writing Sample in the genre in which you are applying: for fiction, 15 pages (double-spaced); for poetry, 10-15 pages (single-spaced). To ensure that your application package is processed accurately, you must specify your genre (fiction OR poetry) in the online application.

Note: We DO NOT require--or recommend--that applicants to the MFA Program in Creative Writing submit GRE scores.

The electronic submission of application materials helps expedite the review of an application. Completed applications are reviewed by a faculty admissions committee in each genre. The recommendations of the poetry and fiction committees are submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School, who will make the final admission decision. Students seeking to complete graduate work at the University of Maryland for degree purposes must be formally admitted to the Graduate School by the Dean.

Information for International Graduate Students

The University of Maryland is dedicated to maintaining a vibrant international graduate student community. The Office of International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS) is a valuable resource of information and assistance for prospective and current international students.  International applicants are encouraged to explore the services they offer, and contact them with related questions.

The University of Maryland Graduate School offers admission to international students based on academic information; it is not a guarantee of attendance.  Admitted international students will then receive instructions about obtaining the appropriate visa to study at the University of Maryland which will require submission of additional documents.  Please see the Graduate Admissions Process for International Applicants for more information.

Applicants are encouraged to direct any technical issues and questions related to the admissions process to the Graduate School ([email protected]; 301-405-3644)

Prospective M.F.A. Student FAQs

If, after reading this list, you still have unanswered questions, please contact us.

• Where do I apply on-line? You can apply now via the Graduate School's website .  
• When is the application deadline?  December 14, 2023 at 11:59 pm (EST)
• Does your program admit students for the Spring semester? No.
• What is the most important part of the application? The creative writing sample is the single most important element of a successful application to the MFA Program in Creative Writing. Of course, the Creative Writing faculty look closely at all of the other materials in the application file.
• Is it possible to meet with the Creative Writing faculty and/or staff to discuss the admissions process? Unfortunately, the faculty and/or staff do not have the time to meet with prospective applicants. We do, however, strongly encourage applicants who have been accepted into the program to visit during the spring semester to meet with faculty, staff, and current students and attend a graduate-level course.
• When are admissions decisions made? Admissions decisions are made in March.
• Should the fiction writing sample be one piece or several pieces? The fiction writing sample can be either a novel excerpt, a short story, or several short stories, as long as the writing sample does not exceed 15 double-spaced pages.
• Can I submit creative work in more than one genre and/or apply in more than one genre? No. All MFA applicants must apply within one genre (fiction or poetry) and submit work only within that chosen genre.
• Does Maryland offer an MFA in Creative Nonfiction? No. However, a workshop in Creative Nonfiction is offered occasionally, and MFA students are welcome to take it as an elective.
• Does the program offer a low-residency option? No.
• What kind of financial award packages does the program offer? Each year, the program accepts 6 applicants (3 fiction writers and 3 poets), who are fully funded by Teaching Assistantships for up to three years of graduate study. Our financial award packages include a stipend of about $25,000 per academic year and 60 credit hours of tuition remission (10 credit hours of tuition remission per semester) over three years of study. MFA students do not teach during their first year in the program. They teach two classes during their second year and four classes during the optional third year of study.
• How do I put myself in the running for funding? No separate application is required. Please see the question above.
• When are decisions made about program-awarded aid (fellowships and teaching assistantships) ?  In March. We fully fund all 6 applicants who we've accepted. Our offer letter details the program-awarded financial package.
• Where can I find information on tuition and fees? Student Financial Services and Cashiering provides a chart of tuition and fees for Graduate Students by credit hour and residency classification (resident and non-resident).
• Do MFA students ever attend the program part-time? No. Since our MFA students are fully funded  they must remain enrolled on a full-time basis (taking at least 6 credits per semester).
• What time do the MFA students take classes? Most graduate English classes are offered once a week, Monday-Thursday, either from 3:30-6pm or from 6:30-9pm. Fiction and poetry workshops are on Wednesdays from 3:30-6pm. Students must be enrolled continuously—unless they petition the Graduate School for a medical leave of absence or for a waiver of continuous registration and such petitions are approved.
• Does your program accept letters of recommendation via Interfolio? The Graduate School does not accept letters of recommendation via Interfolio. However, if Interfolio is your only option to submit your letters of recommendation, then please arrange for Interfolio to send your dossier electronically to the MFA Program Coordinator, Lindsay Bernal: [email protected] . (Lindsay will confirm the receipt of the dossier.) Please note that this alternative is a work-around: though the MFA faculty reviewers will be given access to your Interfolio dossier, your letters will continue to appear as missing from your online application.
• Does your program require applicants to submit GRE scores? No.
• Does your program waive the application fee? The Graduate School, not the Program, processes all application fee waiver requests. For more information about application fee waivers, including the eligibility guidelines, please visit the Graduate School’s website .

Featured Alumni

Poet shara mccallum mfa ’96 named 2023 guggenheim fellow.

The fellowship will support McCallum’s upcoming project, a collection of poems in response to Jamaican visual art.

Elizabeth Acevedo Has Written Her First Novel for Adults–and It’s Full of Magic

Creative Writing M.F.A. alum is profiled in TIME on her newest novel, Family Lore .

Jewish Folklore Goes Queer in Alum’s New Novel

The mystical and mundane meet in story inspired by Temim Fruchter's Eastern European family matriarchs.

Professor Lillian-Yvonne Bertram and Hoa Nguyen ’91 Receive Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grants to Artists

Accepting submissions: sadat poetry and music for justice and peace competitions, umd creative writing at awp 2024, poetry nfts are having a moment, lillian-yvonne bertram to read from 'negative money', kathryn maris on wave house by elizabeth arnold, umd english launches new stanley plumly lecture series in creative writing, professor joshua weiner shortlisted for 2023 national translation award in poetry, upcoming events.

University of Missouri

College of arts and science, creative writing program, about the creative writing program.

The philosophy of the Creative Writing Program at MU is that imagination stimulates progress, and in our classes, we inspire and challenge our students to imagine inner landscapes of their own. By using sound and symbol to build new worlds and characters, to evoke images and tell stories, students who study Creative Writing learn to elevate language to an artform.

The University of Missouri’s Creative Writing Program is known for its commitment to literary study as an essential component of literary production. The department offers the B.A. with a Creative Writing depth of study, an Undergraduate Minor in Creative Writing, as well as the M.A. and Ph.D. in English with a concentration in creative writing.

Professor William Peden founded MU’s Creative Writing program in 1946, with the vision of combining creative writing and serious literary scholarship. His mission continues today. Our M.A. program has been in existence since the 1970s, and the Ph.D. with an emphasis in creative writing was established in 1988.

The minor in Creative Writing is ideal for students who want to use the narrative, lyrical, and research tools involved in literary work in order to enrich and enhance their primary field, whether that primary field is Psychology, Journalism, History, or any other subject in Arts & Science and beyond.

The Creative Writing minor consists of 15 credit hours of coursework. For Creative Writing courses, it must include at least 3 credit hours at the 1000 level (1500, 1510, 1520, 1530) in any genre, 3 credit hours at the 2000 level (2510, 2520, 2530) in any genre, and 3 credit hours at the 4000 level (4510, 4520, 4530) in any genre. In addition to these requirements, students must take 6 credits of electives in any 3000- or 4000-level English courses. A grade of C- or above must be earned in all minor coursework and a minimum GPA of 2.0 achieved in the minor. A minimum of 9 credit hours must be completed in MU coursework. Students who declare a major in English cannot simultaneously minor in Creative Writing.

For more information, visit the English Minor .

The B.A. in English with a Creative Writing “depth of study” offers students the opportunity to practice a literary art form (fiction, poetry, and/or creative nonfiction) with the guidance of published writers. Students work to develop technical skills specific to each genre and enter into aesthetic conversations with the literary community.  

In addition to the core requirements of the major, Creative Writing specialists are expected to take 9 credits of workshop (usually in one genre) to fulfill their “depth of study” requirement.

For more information, visit the Undergraduate Program .

Although there are benefits for students who simply want to take courses at the undergraduate level, it is sustained practice and discipline in craft that leads to the development of habits, skills, and reflexes that are necessary to create successful literary art. The Ph.D. in English with a Creative Writing emphasis is conceived of as an opportunity to specialize for individuals whose relationship to their craft is lifelong. This means honoring the individual goals and aesthetics of the student writer, and enabling them to succeed on their terms.

The University of Missouri offers a Ph.D. in English with a Creative Writing emphasis. Students may specialize in Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, or any combination of the genres. It is a fully-funded program designed to be completed over a five-year period, and there are three stages to the process which, for Creative Writing graduate students, often looks like the following:

• Coursework (2 years)
• Preparation for Comprehensive Examination (1-2 years)
• Dissertation Writing (1-2 years)*

* Progress through the Ph.D. for Creative Writers often varies from the Ph.D. Sample Timeline, because Creative Writing students often need two full years to complete their Comprehensive Exam reading, and because Creative Writing students often develop their dissertation over the course of the entire five-year period.

• Our incoming Ph.D. students enter the program with Master’s Degrees (either an MFA in Creative Writing or an MA in a related field), and usually pursue the Doctorate in order to give them (1) the time to write, (2) the formal training to excel in their field, and/or (3) the qualifications to teach at institutions of higher education or to work in a non-academic field.
• We believe that poetry, fiction, and nonfiction are mutually informing genres, and therefore our Ph.D. students are expected to take courses in more than one area.
• During the course of the five-year program, our Ph.D. students have multiple opportunities to teach Creative Writing within their primary genre(s), and often in other genre(s) as well.
• Because Ph.D. students in Creative Writing often enter the program with strong publication records, developed voices, and goals for their own writing, the role of the faculty is to help students articulate and fulfill the goals that they already possess as mature literary artists.

For full program details, visit the Graduate Program .

Creative Writing Awards, Prizes and Scholarships

View awards, prizes and scholarships for Creative Writing undergraduate and graduate students.

Program Opportunities 

The English Department offers several internships opportunities. Interns can work at The Missouri Review, Persea Books and Wigleaf. 

Learn more about the internship opportunities here . 

Students can become involved in the English Department through English at MU, Creative Writing Club, EPIC (literary magazine) and the Linguistics Student Organization.

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Creative Writing Master's

Want more info.

We're so glad you're interested in UNT! Let us know if you'd like more information and we'll get you everything you need.

Why Earn a Creative Writing Master's?

The M.A. program in Creative Writing offers training in the writing of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Each master's student in Creative Writing divides coursework evenly between workshop and literature classes, leading to the writing of an original thesis submitted in fulfillment of the degree plan.

You'll have the opportunity both to work closely with the creative writing and literature faculties and to explore ways in which knowledge of literary traditions develops craft. The concentration in creative writing requires you to take workshops in fiction, poetry and/or creative nonfiction alongside a range of literature courses.

Many recent M.A. students have gone on to further study in elite M.F.A. or Ph.D. programs, including the Ph.D. Program at Stanford and the M.F.A. program at the University of Houston.

• Construct persuasive, evidence-based arguments
• Communicate findings clearly and concisely
• Understand historical and cultural perspectives
• Evaluate critically sources and narratives
• Prepare oral and written presentations

Creative Writing Master's Highlights

What can you do with a creative writing master's.

Students pursue the degree in order to become better writers, able to create prose and poetry that draw on a full range of the craft. On a more practical level, MFA students become better writers, which prepares them for a variety of careers: an array of jobs in technical and digital fields, marketing, public relations, journalism, arts administration, and editing.

Creative Writing Master's Courses You Could Take

Learn More About UNT

Explore more options.

English Master's

English Creative Writing Ph.D.

It’s easy to apply online. Join us and discover why we’re the choice of nearly 47,000 students.

The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anisininew, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. More

Faculty of Arts

University of manitoba.

University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, R3T 2N2

Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture

The Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture (CCWOC) at the University of Manitoba is a hub for creativity and a place to learn about and celebrate the transformative potential of creative writing and storytelling. CCWOC provides support for established and emerging storytellers and writers within and beyond the university community, aiming to empower people from diverse backgrounds to develop skills and create stories.

• Writer/Storyteller in Residence Program

Fellowships

Community and outreach.

Congratulations to the 2023 Manitoba Book Award Winners

Congratulations to Méira Cook  [PhD/98] on winning the Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction for her book The Full Catastrophe . Méira is not only a UM alum but also, a poet, novelist, editor, teacher, literary critic, and Winnipegger. In 2011, she served as a CCWOC Writer-In-Residence offering workshops and one-on-one consultations to aspiring writers.

CCWOC is a proud sponsor of the Manitowapow Award , presented to Indigenous writers or oral performers who demonstrate excellence in writing, storytelling or spoken word and who also actively support Indigenous verbal arts in Manitoba. Congratulations to the 2023 winners: William Dumas, David A. Robertson and Joshua Whitehead . 

Writer/Storyteller-in-Residence Program

The Writer/Storyteller-in-Residence program brings together established and emerging writers and storytellers, offering workshops, one-on-one consultations and public events. The program, which has been running for over 15 years, is open to UM students, staff and alumni as well as to the wider community.

Miguel Antonio Chávez – Winter 2024 Writer-in-Residence

Miguel Antonio Chávez is a writer, lecturer, translator, and screenwriter from Guayaquil, Ecuador. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing in Spanish (NYU) and is a PhD candidate in Hispanic Studies (Western University). Chávez was a finalist for the 2007 Juan Rulfo Prize (Radio France Internationale) with the short story “La puta madre patria” [The Whore Motherland],  a winner of the 2016-2017 Competitive Funds (Ministry of Culture of Ecuador) in the literary creation category, and was chosen by FIL Guadalajara as one of “The 25 best kept literary secrets in Latin America”.

Welcome event

CCWOC welcomes Miguel Antonio Chávez to the University of Manitoba at an in-person event. Chávez will talk about his experience both as a writer in the Spanish-speaking world and as an educator, particularly his involvement in the Tales of Freedom project where he conducted a creative writing workshop in a penitentiary. Student writer Hanako Teranishi will also read at the event.

Thursday, January 25, 2024 Lunch: 12:30 p.m. Readings and talk: 1:10 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Room 108 St. John's College 

Register for a writer's workshop - english or spanish.

Chávez is hosting a workshop for aspiring writers. The workshop will be offered in English and then in Spanish.

Register for a workshop

Know yourself, know your story (3 sessions) Wednesdays - January 31, February 7, February 14 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Often we don’t look for that great idea to write a fictional story; that idea looks for us instead. And many times when we find that idea, we don't know how to shape it. What can we do? This workshop will help you to, on the one hand, listen to your creative instinct, and to know how to listen to your characters and find their voices, and, on the other, to apply the writing techniques your story needs so that it takes a life of its own. By better understanding your own skills as a storyteller you will both develop your style and face other creative challenges that may lie ahead.

Who is the workshop for? Ideally (but not exclusively) unpublished fiction writers who are interested in developing a specific genre of creative writing. Although the short story genre will be preferred, plays, novellas, and creative nonfiction are also welcome.

Is any experience required? It’s highly recommended that you have a rough idea of a short story you would like to develop.

What will the sessions look like? We will have three 90-minute on-site sessions, followed by assignments to work on at home. Each session will generally have four components:

• Sharing and discussion of motivations to write, and understanding your writing skills;
• Comprehensive reading of printed materials (reflections on the craft of writing by various authors) provided at the workshop;
• Writing exercises (searching for a narrative voice, spatial and temporal setting, character development, story structure, etc.);
• Group critical reading and constructive feedback for participants’ works-in-progress.

Conócete a ti mismo, conoce tu historia Los miércoles  5:00 – 6:30 de la tarde 28 de febrero, 6 de marzo, 13 de marzo

Muchas veces no buscamos esa gran idea para escribir una historia de ficción, sino que esa idea nos busca a nosotros. Y muchas veces cuando encontramos esa idea, no sabemos qué forma darle. ¿Qué hacer? Este taller te ayudará, por un lado, a escuchar a tu instinto creativo, a saber escuchar a tus personajes y encontrarles su voz; y, por el otro, a desarrollar las técnicas de escritura que tu historia necesita para que cobre vida propia. Conociendo mejor tus propias habilidades como narrador/a, podrás empezar no sólo a desarrollar tu estilo, sino también a enfrentar los demás desafíos creativos que tendrás por delante.

¿Quién lo puede tomar? Preferiblemente (pero no exclusivamente) escritores/as de ficción inéditos/as que estén interesados/as en desarrollar un género específico de escritura creativa. Aunque el cuento tendrá prioridad, también serán bienvenidos el texto dramatúrgico, la novela corta y la no ficción creativa.

¿Se requiere alguna experiencia? No. Sin embargo, es muy recomendable que tengas en mente un borrador de la idea que te gustaría desarrollar.

¿Cómo serán las sesiones? Tendremos tres sesiones presenciales de 90 minutos, seguidas de tareas de escritura para la casa. Cada sesión tendrá generalmente cuatro componentes:

• Discusión de movitaciones para escribir y comprensión de tus habilidades de escritura.
• Lectura comprensiva de materiales impresos (reflexiones de escritores varios sobre el oficio de escribir) proporcionados en el taller.
• Ejercicios de escritura (búsqueda de la voz narrativa, ambientación espacial y temporal, desarrollo de personajes, estructura de la historia, etc.)
• Lectura crítica grupal y feedback constructivo de los trabajos de los participantes.

Book an individual writer consultation

Chávez is available by appointment to writers of all levels from January 15 to April 15, 2024.

Office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in room 254 St. John's College. If you would like to arrange an appointment outside office hours, please email your request.

To consult with Chávez, students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the public are encouraged to contact him by email to arrange a free meeting.

Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture welcomes Miguel Antonio Chávez

Hispanic writer and workshop leader latest Writer-In-Residence

Past writers/storytellers-in-residence.

Poet and text-based arttist

Peter Jaeger - Fall 2023

Atikamekw filmmaker

Janine Windolph - Winter 2023

Canadian poet

Jacob Scheier - Fall 2022

Nature enthusiast

Ariel Gordon - Winter 2022

See more past Writers/Storytellers-in-Residence

Apply to our Writer/Storyteller-in-Residence Program (currently seeking Fall 2024 & Winter 2025 applicants)

Writer-in-residence.

Applications are currently being accepted for the Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 residencies until October 16, 2023.

A professional writer and/or storyteller is sought for the position of Writer/Storyteller-in-Residence at UM’s Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture. The three-month residencies, taking place in the fall or winter, require the successful candidate to spend approximately 16 hours per week providing mentorship and practical artistic advice to developing writers and storytellers at UM, give a limited number of readings and/or performances on campus and lead an informal non-credit workshop. The remaining time is devoted to the writer or storyteller’s own artistic projects. The successful candidate will receive a salary of $15,000.00 CAD (subject to all mandatory deductions) plus rent-free accommodation and transportation to and from Winnipeg. 

CCWOC is an interdisciplinary Centre with a mandate to promote the creation and the study of the verbal arts, both oral and written. Located at the University of Manitoba in the city of Winnipeg, the Centre sponsors readings, lectures, master classes and creative community projects that explore the connections between oral and written culture.

Winnipeg is renowned for its vibrant arts community and its multicultural citizenry, including the largest urban population of Indigenous people in North America. The centre builds upon these local cultural strengths as a basis for its creative and critical work.

Applications should include a cover letter summarizing the applicant’s qualifications for the position and describing the artistic and mentoring work they would undertake during the residency. Applications must also include:

• A CV or resume of career achievements (publications, performances, awards, residencies)
• A writing sample of no more than 20 pages (double-spaced and typed in a standard 12-point font)
• Two letters of reference discussing the applicant’s skills as an artist and a mentor
• Storytellers are encouraged to submit links to their performance videos

Candidates of all nationalities are encouraged to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian applicants. Full proficiency in English is required and publications or performance credits in English would be an asset. The Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture is committed to principles of employment equity.

Please submit your application to [email protected] . Attachments must be in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Hard copies of materials will not be accepted.

Diversity and immigration statement The University of Manitoba is committed to the principles of equity, diversity & inclusion and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at the University and the larger community including Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities). All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] or 204-474-7195 . Please note this contact information is for accommodation reasons only.

FIPPA Statement Application materials, including letters of reference, will be handled in accordance with the protection of privacy provision of The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (Manitoba). Please note that curriculum vitae may be provided to participating members of the search process.

Dr. Jocelyn Thorpe

Dr. Jocelyn Thorpe is an associate professor in the Women's and Gender Studies Program and the Department of History, in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Manitoba. She studies histories and legacies of colonialism and environmental injustice, as well as the creative ways that people work toward a more just world. She has been the Director of the Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture since 2021. 

Steering Committee

Dr. Warren Cariou English, Theatre, Film & Media

Dr. Alison Calder English, Theatre, Film & Media

Dr. Adele Perry History

Dr. Nancy Kang Women's and Gender Studies

C. D. Howe Memorial Fellowships in Creative Writing and Oral Culture

With contributions from the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative, the C.D. Howe Foundation has established a fund at UM in support of the Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture. Two fellowships, valued at approximately $10,000.00 each, will be offered to successful candidates (the amount is based on the average of the last five years and is subject to change).

Deadline for applications is June 1, 2023.

Eligibility

We offer fellowships to graduate students who:

• Are enrolled full-time in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, in a master's or doctoral degree program
• Have achieved a minimum degree grade point average of 3.5 (or equivalent) based on the last 60 credit hours of study
• Are conducting thesis research in creative writing (producing an original work of literature) or on the critical study of oral cultures
• Students with lived experience of Indigenous and other oral cultures are particularly encouraged to apply.

Application requirements

Candidates are asked to submit an application consisting of:

• A description of their proposed or ongoing research (maximum 500 words)
• A current academic transcript
• Two letters of reference from professors at a post-secondary institution.

Candidates will be assessed as follows: record of academic achievement (30 per cent), plan of research (40 per cent), letters of reference (30 per cent).

The award is not automatically renewable but previous recipients may apply. Recipients may hold the C.D. Howe Memorial Foundation Fellowships in Creative Writing and Oral Culture concurrently with other awards, consistent with the policies of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Please send your application or any questions to Mary Elliott, Coordinator at [email protected] . Deadline for applications is June 1, 2023.

Current recipients

Natalie LoVetri, Masters' student in English, Theatre, Film & Media LoVetri holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design (BEnvD) and a BA in English with a minor in Philosophy from UM. Her interests encompass both creative writing and literary analysis, particularly modernist fiction, narrative poetry, short stories and fragments. Her creative thesis explores the psychological impacts of mental illness, instability and traumatic loss in the context of familial relationships. Her work delves into ideas of identity, personal narrative and social constructions of the self. In addition to her academic pursuits, LoVetri works as a writing tutor with the Academic Learning Centre. She is a mother, marathoner, creative writer and painter.

Sehar Mushtaq, Ph.D. student in Peace and Conflict Studies Mushtaq's research explores Indigenous processes of peacemaking and peacebuilding amongst the Kalash people of Pakistan. Through her research, she analyzes oral laws and codes that govern and guide behaviours concerning the expression and resolution of conflicts in the Kalash community.

Past recipients

2021-2022 Natalie LoVetri, Masters' student in English, Theatre, Film & Media Sehar Mushtaq, Ph.D. student in Peace and Conflict Studies

2020-2021 Antony Zang, Masters' student in English, Theatre, Film & Media Sehar Mushtaq, Ph.D. student in Peace and Conflict Studies

2019-2020 Micheline Hughes, Ph.D. student in Native Studies Virginia Page Jahne, Masters' students in English, Theatre, Film & Media

2018-2019 Michelle Lietz, Ph.D. student in English literature Dominique Reynolds, Masters' student in French

2017-2018 Melanie Braith, Ph.D. student in English Nick Kosmenko, Ph.D. student in Applied Health Sciences

2016-2017 Micheline Hughes, Ph.D. student in Native Studies Allison Penner, Masters' student in History

2015-2016 Damien Lee, Masters' student in Native Studies Susie Fisher, Masters' student in History

2014-2015 Kirsty Cameron, Masters' student in English Micheal Minor, Ph.D. student in English, Film & Theatre

2013-2014 Lydia Schoeppner, Ph.D. student in Peace and Conflict Studies Daniel Guezen, Masters' student in French, Spanish and Italian

2012-2013 Ryan Duplassie, Ph.D. student in Native Studies Agnieszka (Agnes) Pawlowska, Ph.D. student in Native Studies

2011-2012 Alon D. Weinberg, Masters' student in Native Studies

2010-2011 Sean Braun, Masters' student in English, Film & Theatre Daria Patrie, Masters' student in English, Film & Theatre

2009-2010 Gordon Blackburde, Masters' student in Native Studies Susan Rich, Masters' student in English

Manitoba Book Awards 

The Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture is proud to support Manitoba writers as the sponsor of the Manitowapow Award through the Manitoba Book Awards . 

The award is presented every two years to two Indigenous writers or oral performers who demonstrate excellence in writing, storytelling or spoken word and who also actively support Indigenous verbal arts in Manitoba. 

• View eligibility requirements and entry deadlines.  
• View past winners

CCWOC gratefully accepts donations from individuals, corporations and other organizations which help support its vision, goals and objectives. Donors will receive a receipt for income tax purposes.

In the "Direct my gift to" field, choose "Enter a fund name". In the "Enter a fund name" field, type "Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture".

Donate to CCWOC

For more information on making a donation to CCWOC, please contact [email protected]

Dr. Jocelyn Thorpe Director [email protected]

Mary Elliott Coordinator [email protected]

The Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB Canada

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Center for Writers

The Creative Writing Program

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The Center for Writers offers both MA and PhD degree paths where creative writing students study alongside literary scholars and take courses from literature and creative writing faculty at the forefront of their fields. What sets this program apart from others is the spirited and collaborative relationship between faculty from different creative and literary backgrounds and the graduate students with whom they work. Students specialize in their chosen genre of fiction or poetry, but also gain expertise in particular fields of literary studies based on theme and historical period. We offer a robust and immersive graduate experience which involves taking coursework and teaching undergraduate students, as well as participating in the myriad facets of our program culture including public readings, social gatherings, professionalization workshops, and fundraisers. We also offer at least one summer graduate course, intersession courses in January or May, and an exciting British Studies program every summer.  

The MA degree in Creative Writing is a two year program that mostly consists of creative writing workshops and electives, along with at least three courses in literature and theory. Students in the MA program must write and complete an original creative thesis which they defend in the last semester of their tenure. The PhD degree is a three year program, with competitive funding for a fourth year if available. PhD students enroll in workshops, creative writing electives, and theory and literature courses, enjoying a rigorous but balanced path to completion. PhD students take a qualifying exam at the end of their first year and a written comprehensive exam when they have completed coursework. These exams are designed to underscore the students’ breadth of knowledge and give them the opportunity to read deeply in their chosen fields. The PhD student writes and defends an original dissertation at the end of their degree, working with a committee of creative writing and literature faculty.

Great writing is made from good writing. We hope to celebrate what you do well, and at the same time open space in front of you, as best we can, so that what you’ve done becomes what you could do. 

Recent Graduate Course Offerings

347 Liberal Arts Building (LAB) 118 College Dr. #5144 Hattiesburg, MS 39406

Hattiesburg Campus

 Email adam.clayFREEMississippi

 Phone 601.266.5211

Creative Writing (CRWR)

Graduate Degree Program College: Arts and Humanities

The MFA in Creative Writing provides a professional course of study for graduate students seeking to perfect their ability to compose poems, stories, and novels. While primarily affording students intensive studio or practical work within their chosen genre, the MFA in Creative Writing requires that students incorporate such work with a traditional study of literature. The goal of the MFA in Creative Writing is to provide an atmosphere in which students can both hone their skills as writers and gain a theoretical and historical understanding of their craft.

The Department of English also offers graduate study leading to the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in English Language and Literature . Please visit the English Language and Literature listing for more information.

Financial Assistance

Each year, the program accepts 8 applicants (4 fiction writers and 4 poets), who are fully funded by Teaching Assistantships, and, this current admissions cycle, we were able to enhance all 8 Teaching Assistantships with additional fellowship support. Our aid packages are typically 2-year agreements. As Teaching Assistants, our MFA students teach one class during their first year (in the spring semester) and three classes during their second year. Although a great deal of this teaching is Academic Writing (English 101), our MFA students are guaranteed at least one chance to teach an undergraduate creative writing workshop or to serve as a teaching assistant in an undergraduate literature course.

Lindsay Bernal Academic Coordinator Creative Writing Program Department of English 2116E Tawes Hall 7751 Alumni Drive Universtiy of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 Telephone: 301.405.3820 Email:   [email protected]   Joshua Weiner Director Creative Writing Program Department of English 3103 Tawes Hall 7751 Alumni Drive University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 Telephone: 301.405.3789 Email:   [email protected]

Website:  http://www.english.umd.edu/academics/creativewriting

Courses:   ENGL

Relationships: English Language and Literature (ENGL)

General Requirements

• Statement of Purpose
• Transcript(s)
• TOEFL/IELTS/PTE ( international graduate students )

Program-Specific Requirements

• Letters of Recommendation (3)
• CV/Resume (optional)
• Writing Sample

In addition to fulfilling Graduate School requirements, applicants to the M.F.A. degree program should present a 3.0 GPA. Admission is for the Fall semester only. All application materials must be submitted electronically. 

Application Deadlines

Resources and links:.

Program Website:  http://www.english.umd.edu/academics/creativewriting Application Process:  gradschool.umd.edu/admissions

• Creative Writing, Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)

Resources for research in the College Park and Washington, D.C. area are unsurpassed. The university’s libraries hold over 2,000,000 volumes. In addition to the outstanding holdings of the Library of Congress, the area also offers the specialized resources of the Folger Shakespeare Library, Dumbarton Oaks, the National Archives, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Center for the Study of the Visual Arts. The university recently partnered with the Phillips Collection to create the University of Maryland Center for Art and Knowledge, a dynamic collaboration that includes new curriculum, experimental and community-focused education programs, a new Phillips Collection gallery and an open storage facility in College Park.

UMCP is a member of the Consortium of Institutions in the Washington area, which permits graduate students at College Park to enroll in courses at other universities for graduate credit at UMCP. Graduate students in English also may take courses for graduate credit at the Folger Institute of Renaissance and Eighteenth-Century Studies, which runs a series of seminars by distinguished scholars each year.

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M.F.A. in Creative Writing

Get an m.f.a. in creative writing.

Our creative writing M.F.A. allows students to focus on creative writing in a specific genre while also studying a broad and diverse range of literatures in English. This degree is not a studio degree. It offers students preparation for the following areas:

• Creative publication
• Expert teaching in creative writing and literature
• Leadership in communication for business, education, and arts organizations
• Advanced studies in literature and creative writing in a doctoral program.

Admission to our creative writing program is extremely competitive, with up to 20 new students across the two genres selected each year from the hundreds of applications received from around the world. The curriculum for M.F.A. students emphasizes creative writing and literary study.

The city of Houston offers a vibrant, multi-cultural backdrop for studying creative writing at the University of Houston. With a dynamic visual and performing arts scene, the Houston metropolitan area supplies a wealth of aesthetic materials. 

Overview of Admissions Requirements

Minimum requirements for admission.

• B.A. degree
• 3.0 GPA in undergraduate studies 

Application Deadline

Applications to the M.F.A. in Creative Writing program are due January 15.

For more admissions information, visit the How to Apply web page for our M.F.A. in Creative Writing.

History of the Creative Writing Program

Over the years many more internationally acclaimed writers have made the Program their home, including Mary Gaitskill, Richard Howard, Howard Moss, Linda Gregg, Adam Zagajewski, Daniel Stern, David Wojahn, Edward Hirsch, Alan Hollinghurst, Mark Strand, David Wagoner, Philip Levine, Charles Wright, Claudia Rankine, Kimiko Hahn, Mark Doty and Ruben Martinez.

Current faculty includes Erin Belieu, Robert Boswell, Audrey Colombe, Chitra Divakaruni, Nick Flynn, francine j. harris, Antonya Nelson, Alex Parsons, Kevin Prufer, Brenda Peynado, Martha Serpas, Roberto Tejada, and Peter Turchi.

Quick Links

Program Breakdown & Degree Requirements

Financial Aid

How to Apply

Inprint Student Writing Awards

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This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.

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© 2024 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer Information current as of April 11, 2024

18 Credit Hours Required

Minor requirements (6 hours):.

Beyond ENGL 101 and 210, or UHON 110, students earning a minor in Creative Writing must complete the following:

• ENGL 242 - American Literature II (C) [SGR #4, HSDC]
• ENGL 283 - Introduction to Creative Writing (C) [SGR #1, HSDC]

One of the following (3 hours):

• ENGL 221 - British Literature I (C) [SGR #4, HSDC]
• ENGL 222 - British Literature II (C) [SGR #4, HSDC]
• ENGL 241 - American Literature I (C) [SGR #4, HSDC]

Three of the following (9 hours):

• ENGL 475 - Creative Writing: Non-Fiction (C)
• ENGL 476 - Creative Writing: Fiction (C)
• ENGL 478 - Creative Writing: Poetry (C)
• ENGL 482 - Creative Writing II (C)
• ENGL 483 - Advanced Creative Writing (C)

Students majoring in English may not minor in Creative Writing.