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Course Outline

Year One  Residency I  MFA 6210  Workshop I  3 credits
  Residency I MFA 6100
 Art & Faith 3 credits
  Quarter I
 MFA 6410  Tutorial I 6 credits
  Quarter 2  MFA 6420  Tutorial II 6 credits
  Residency II  MFA 6220  Workshop II 3 credits
  Residency II MFA 6310 Craft I  3 credits
  Quarter 3 MFA 6430 Tutorial III  6 credits
         
Year Two Residency 3 MFA 6230 Workshop III 3 credits
  Residency 3 MFA 6320 Craft II 3 credits 
  Quarter 4 MFA 6440 Tutorial IV 6 credits
  Quarter 5 MFA 6450 Tutorial V 6 credits 
  Residency 4  MFA 6240 Workshop IV 3 credits 
  Residency 4  MFA 6330 Craft III 3 credits 
  Quarter 6 MFA 6460 Final MS Tutorial 6 credits 
         
Year Three Residency 5 MFA 6250 Workshop V 3 credits 
  Residency 5  MFA 6500 MS & Reading 1 credits 

Degree Requirements

  • Each student will choose a specialization in one of three genres — fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry — and complete a thesis under the direction of a faculty mentor. Note: It is possible to study two genres in our program, but only after completing the MFA in a single genre. We have two options for POST-MFA study. We only accept new applicants to our program in a single genre.
  • Students will work toward completion of a final creative project in fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry. Fiction and creative nonfiction manuscripts will be a minimum of 100 pages in length, and poetry manuscripts will be a minimum of 40 pages in length.
  • In close consultation with his or her faculty mentor, the student will formulate a course of reading that will be encourage strenuous engagement in two areas: classic works from the literary tradition and contemporary works that may serve as models and inspiration for the student’s immediate creative challenges. Special emphasis will be placed on gaining a deeper understanding of the classic works in the student’s chosen genre. By the end of the two-year program, students will have read a minimum of 60 books.
  • Each quarter the student will complete a short critical paper (approximately 7 pages) on a subject relevant to the chosen course of study. In the sixth and final quarter of the program, the student will complete a longer, 20-page critical paper, which may be an expanded development of one or more of the student’s shorter papers.
  • The residencies involve an intensive daily schedule of workshops, craft classes, lectures, and readings. Students are expected to be active participants in each of these scheduled events.
  • Recommendation for the degree can be made only after the successful completion of at least six quarters of work and five residencies (64 graduate credit hours).
  • Recommendations for the award of the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing are made upon approval of the faculty.
  • The final residency includes a public reading of the student’s work.

Financial Aid