Important note: New students are no longer able to apply to this program.
Quarter Packets
Packet deadlines will vary depending on your mentor's arrangements.
Students will submit 3 packets per academic quarter to their faculty mentor, generally 3 weeks apart. Each packet should include a cover letter, creative writing or revisions, and annotations. The third packet of the quarter should additionally include a critical paper.
Cover Letter |
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1-2 pages.
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Creative Writing |
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Prose 10-30 double-spaced pages.
Poetry 5-10 double-spaced pages. |
Annotations |
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2 double-spaced pages. 2-4 annotations are due in each packet, with a minimum of 10 submitted per quarter. Over the course of the program, students must read and annotate 60 titles approved by their faculty mentor. |
Critical Paper |
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7-8 double-spaced pages. The critical paper may be included in any packet of the quarter but must be turned in by the end of the third packet.
Note: no critical paper will be required in the final quarter.
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Graduating Work
The fifth quarter is the last quarter a student will produce new creative work. A student’s final quarter is devoted to their creative thesis. Graduating students must submit all of the work listed below to the director and assistant director before their final residency.
Final Critical Essay |
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15-20 double-spaced pages. Due in the 1st packet of the penultimate quarter. This packet will not include any new or revised creative work. |
Creative Thesis |
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Prose minimum of 100 double-spaced pages.
Poetry minimum of 40 double-spaced pages.
1st draft due the 1st packet of the final tutorial quarter.
2nd draft due in the 2nd packet of the final tutorial quarter.
Final draft due the 3rd packet of the final tutorial quarter.
Students will have the opportunity to purchase copies of their hardcover, bound thesis after their final residency. There will also be a copy for archives at the SPU library. |
Annotation List |
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A compiled list of the books read and annotated during the program. Due with the final draft of the thesis. |
The following resources may be useful to you during your time in the MFA program: