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Western Michigan University

Michigan, united states.

The MFA in Creative Writing is a program for students who wish to become professional writers of poetry, fiction, drama, or nonfiction, and qualifies them to teach the craft at the college or university level.

The program requires 42 s/hrs of courses in writing workshops, literature, and literary theory, and an MFA project of 6 s/hrs. Workshops (12-18 s/hrs) provide for much independent work, individual instruction, and practical experience in criticism and rewriting, as well as the challenge and inspiration of working with and for one's peers. The successful MFA candidate should develop research and critical skills and a sound background in literature. Therefore, candidates take forms courses in poetry, fiction, drama, or nonfiction; 6-8 s/hrs in literature; and courses in various cognate fields. Capping the program is the MFA Project (6 s/hrs), an original book-length work of fiction, poetry, drama, or nonfiction, including a public reading or performance to be approved by the candidate's advisory committee.

WMU's PhD program is designed to meet the needs of future scholars and writers, particularly those who intend to teach at undergraduate institutions. The program requires all candidates to have broad knowledge of English and American literature, acquaintance with nontraditional literature, practical and/or theoretical background in the teaching of English (including the teaching of creative writing), and a specialization in a single area (which can be creative writing). Candidates entering with an MA are credited with 30 to 36 s/hrs depending on their degrees; those entering with an MFA may be credited with as many as 45 s/hrs in some circumstances.

In order to enrich their creative process, writers are encouraged to work in more than one genre, and the content of MFA projects and dissertations frequently reflects this approach. Whatever their specialization, all candidates will receive essential experience in research, teaching, and writing in the profession, and will develop the breadth required of teachers in relatively small English departments.

WMU hosts the Third Coast Writers' Conference in the spring with participating writers from all over the Midwest and nationally known writers serving as workshop faculty, panelists, and featured readers. Under the general guidance of the writing faculty, graduate (and, occasionally, undergraduate) students serve as the editorial and production staff of Third Coast, WMU's national literary journal. Graduate students may also have the opportunity to pro-vide editorial and other assistance in the production of books in Western's award-winning New Issues Poetry and Prose Series, under the general editorship of writing faculty member and series founder Herbert Scott. Students may compete, in separate categories for graduates and undergraduates, for annual departmental awards in fiction, poetry, playwriting, and nonfiction; they are also eligible for other departmental awards that recognize general achievement in academics and/or creative writing. Playwriting students are also eligible to compete for production at area theaters.

Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, a mid-sized, diverse, traditionally liberal city with a lively arts scene, a vital downtown, and strong music and theatrical venues. Within and around the city are numerous lakes and parks, and the unique beaches of Lake Michigan's eastern coast are an hour's drive through farmland, vineyards, and apple orchards.

Contact Information

1903 Western Michigan Avenue Kalamazoo Michigan, United States 49008-5331 Phone: (269) 387-2571 Email: [email protected] http://wmich.edu/english/creativewriting/

Bachelor of Arts in English/Literature +

The English major with Creative Writing emphasis aims at giving students intensive practice in writing and criticism in various genres in a workshop format; for general writing careers or for prospective candidates for the MFA in Creative Writing.

A minimum of 34 s/hrs are required: 14 s/hrs of coursework in creative writing from among the following: ENGL 266 Writing Fiction & Poetry (prerequisite for all creative writing courses); Advanced Fiction Writing; Advanced Poetry Writing; Playwriting; and Creative Writing Workshop (poetry, fiction, drama, or nonfiction). Literature and language requirements include: ENGL 110 Literary Interpretation (prerequisite for all courses); British Literature I or II and American Literature I or II; Studies in Verse, Studies in the Novel, or Studies in Drama; and an English language.

Minor / Concentration in Creative Writing +

Master of fine arts in creative writing +, graduate program director.

WMU hosts the Third Coast Writers' Conference in the spring with participating writers from all over the Midwest and nationally known writers serving as workshop faculty, panelists, and featured readers. Under the general guidance of the writing faculty, graduate (and, occasionally, undergraduate) students serve as the editorial and production staff of Third Coast, WMU's national literary journal. Graduate students may also have the opportunity to pro-vide editorial and other assistance in the production of books in Western's award-winning New Issues Poetry and Prose Series, under the general editorship of writing faculty member and series founder Herbert Scott. Students may compete, in separate categories for graduates and undergraduates, for annual departmental awards in fiction, poetry, playwriting, and nonfic?tion; they are also eligible for other departmental awards that recognize general achievement in academics and/or creative writing. Playwriting students are also eligible to compete for production at area theaters.

PhD in Creative Writing +

Steve feffer.

The Wizards of Quiz, Ain't Got No Home, The House I Call Love

http://www.wmich.edu/english/facultyandstaff/profiles/feffer.html

Richard Katrovas

Green Dragons, Snug Harbor, The Public Mirror

http://www.wmich.edu/english/facultyandstaff/profiles/katrovas.html

Thisbe Nissen

http://www.wmich.edu/english/facultyandstaff/profiles/nissen.html

Twice There Was a Country

Publications & Presses +

Third Coast

New Issues Press

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Western Michigan University PhD in Creative Writing

Creative Writing is a concentration offered under the writing studies major at Western Michigan University. Here, you’ll find out more about the major doctor’s degree program in creative writing, including such details as the number of graduates, diversity of students, and more.

If there’s something special you’re looking for, you can use one of the links below to find it:

• Graduate Cost
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Featured Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

BA in Creative Writing & English

Develop your creativity and gain practical skills with a creative writing degree program –featuring 100% online classes – through a bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.

MFA in Creative Writing - Online

Embrace your passion for storytelling and learn the professional writing skills you'll need to succeed with our online MFA in Creative Writing. Write your novel or short story collection while earning a certificate in the Online Teaching of Writing or Professional Writing, with no residency requirement.

MA in English & Creative Writing

Refine your writing skills and take a step toward furthering your career with this online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.

How Much Does a Doctorate in Creative Writing from WMU Cost?

Wmu graduate tuition and fees.

During the 2019-2020 academic year, part-time graduate students at WMU paid an average of $1,268 per credit hour if they came to the school from out-of-state. In-state students paid a discounted rate of $682 per credit hour. The following table shows the average full-time tuition and fees for graduate student.

Related Programs

Learn about other programs related to <nil> that might interest you.

Low-Residency MFA in Fiction and Nonfiction

Harness your passion for storytelling with SNHU's Mountainview Low-Residency MFA in Fiction and Nonfiction. In this small, two-year creative writing program, students work one-on-one with our distinguished faculty remotely for most of the semester but convene for weeklong intensive residencies in June and January. At residencies, students critique each other's work face-to-face, meet with major authors, agents and editors and learn how to teach at the college level.

Does WMU Offer an Online PhD in Creative Writing?

WMU does not offer an online option for its creative writing doctor’s degree program at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the WMU Online Learning page.

WMU Doctorate Student Diversity for Creative Writing

Male-to-female ratio.

Of the students who received their doctor’s degree in creative writing in 2019-2020, 40.0% of them were women. This is less than the nationwide number of 53.8%.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

Racial-ethnic minority graduates* made up 20.0% of the creative writing doctor’s degrees at WMU in 2019-2020. This is higher than the nationwide number of 15%.

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online

More about our data sources and methodologies .

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Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

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Find publishers ready to read your work now with our Open Reading Periods page, a continually updated resource listing all the literary magazines and small presses currently open for submissions.

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Our series of subject-based handbooks (PDF format; $4.99 each) provide information and advice from authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers. Now available: The Poets & Writers Guide to Publicity and Promotion, The Poets & Writers Guide to the Book Deal, The Poets & Writers Guide to Literary Agents, The Poets & Writers Guide to MFA Programs, and The Poets & Writers Guide to Writing Contests.

Find a home for your work by consulting our searchable databases of writing contests, literary magazines, small presses, literary agents, and more.

Poets & Writers lists readings, workshops, and other literary events held in cities across the country. Whether you are an author on book tour or the curator of a reading series, the Literary Events Calendar can help you find your audience.

Get the Word Out is a new publicity incubator for debut fiction writers and poets.

Research newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications that consistently publish book reviews using the Review Outlets database, which includes information about publishing schedules, submission guidelines, fees, and more.

Well over ten thousand poets and writers maintain listings in this essential resource for writers interested in connecting with their peers, as well as editors, agents, and reading series coordinators looking for authors. Apply today to join the growing community of writers who stay in touch and informed using the Poets & Writers Directory.

Let the world know about your work by posting your events on our literary events calendar, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

Find a writers group to join or create your own with Poets & Writers Groups. Everything you need to connect, communicate, and collaborate with other poets and writers—all in one place.

Find information about more than two hundred full- and low-residency programs in creative writing in our MFA Programs database, which includes details about deadlines, funding, class size, core faculty, and more. Also included is information about more than fifty MA and PhD programs.

Whether you are looking to meet up with fellow writers, agents, and editors, or trying to find the perfect environment to fuel your writing practice, the Conferences & Residencies is the essential resource for information about well over three hundred writing conferences, writers residencies, and literary festivals around the world.

Discover historical sites, independent bookstores, literary archives, writing centers, and writers spaces in cities across the country using the Literary Places database—the best starting point for any literary journey, whether it’s for research or inspiration.

Search for jobs in education, publishing, the arts, and more within our free, frequently updated job listings for writers and poets.

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Western Michigan University

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MFA Program

Poetry: Alen Hamza, Richard Katrovas Fiction: Richard Katrovas, Thisbe Nissen Playwriting: Steve Feffer

The program offers full funding. Most students receive a three-year teaching assistantship, which includes a full tuition waiver and an annual stipend.

Third Coast

The program offers degrees in playwriting. The program also offers the Gwen Frostic Reading Series and Gwen Frostic Creative Writing Awards, the student-run literary magazine Third Coast , and opportunities to collaborate with the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center and local theater organizations.

Bonnie Jo Campbell, Lisa Fishman, Hedy Habra, Cara Beth Heath, David Dodd Lee, Lisa Lenzo, Dan Mancilla

• Graduate School
• KALAMAZOO, MI
• Rating 4.44 out of 5   52 reviews

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• MOUNT PLEASANT, MI
• Rating 4.56 out of 5   48 reviews
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• Rating 4.46 out of 5   52 reviews
• YPSILANTI, MI
• Rating 4.49 out of 5   70 reviews
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• Rating 4.71 out of 5   17 reviews

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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Powerful Ideas. Proven Results.

College of Letters & Science English

Creative writing.

The QWERTY keyboard was created in Milwaukee, and so was one of the first graduate programs to grant both the MA and PhD with concentrations in Creative Writing. The former happened downtown, the latter right here on the UWM campus.

Our program is unique; you will hone your craft as you receive a broad-based education that will inform and enhance your artistic vision

While our students generally focus on a particular genre, many of them experiment in multiple genres, seeking to borrow tools from other forms that prove useful to their primary work. Some students have even successfully incorporated multiple genres in their culminating projects.

We admit 10 to 15 new students per year, and we generally have between 40 and 50 graduate-level Creative Writing students in our program. Of these students, approximately one-fourth are working at the MA level and three-fourths are working at the PhD level.

For more information on the Creative Writing Program at UW-Milwaukee, tour the links at left.

Join us: Apply!

Contact person, professor liam callanan [email protected] curtin hall 593, creative writing core faculty.

Creative Writing Supporting Faculty

1. Required Entry-level Course (4 hours)

• ENGL 1100 - Literary Interpretation Credits: 4 hours

2. Required Writing Courses (14 hours)

• ENGL 2660 - Writing Fiction and Poetry Credits: 4 hours

Plus six (6) hours of credit from the following courses

Any of these courses may be repeated one time for credit.

• ENGL 3660 - Advanced Fiction Writing Credits: 3 hours
• ENGL 3670 - Advanced Poetry Writing Credits: 3 hours
• ENGL 3680 - Playwriting Credits: 3 hours
• ENGL 3700 - Writing Creative Non-Fiction Credits: 3 hours

Four (4) hours of credit from the following courses:

Each of these courses may be repeated one time for credit. The same course may not be taken twice concurrently.

• ENGL 5660 - Creative Writing Workshop - Fiction Credits: 4 hours
• ENGL 5670 - Creative Writing Workshop - Poetry Credits: 4 hours
• ENGL 5680 - Creative Writing Workshop - Playwriting Credits: 4 hours
• ENGL 5700 - Creative Writing Workshop - Creative Non-fiction Credits: 4 hours

3. Literature and English Language Courses (13 to 14 hours)

A. two of the following courses:.

• ENGL 3200 - American Literature I Credits: 3 hours
• ENGL 3210 - American Literature II Credits: 3 hours
• ENGL 3300 - British Literature I Credits: 3 hours
• ENGL 3310 - British Literature II Credits: 3 hours

B. One of the following courses:

• ENGL 4400 - Studies in Verse Credits: 4 hours
• ENGL 4420 - Studies in Drama Credits: 4 hours
• ENGL 4440 - Studies in the Novel Credits: 4 hours

C. One Additional Course

4. electives.

At least one additional English Department course at the 2000, 3000, 4000, or 5000 levels to complete the major. The following courses cannot be used for this purpose: ENGL 3070, 3080, 3110, or 4800.

5. Foreign Language Requirement

Minimum of two semesters of a modern or classical foreign language at the college level with a grade of “C” or better, or two years of the same language in high school level with grade of “B” or better in the second semester of the second year. One year at the high school level coupled with the second semester of the same language at the college level is also satisfactory.

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing The Write Stuff for Writers

Credit Hours

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100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Grow Your Writing Passion into a Career with Liberty’s Online MFA in Creative Writing

Many people write creatively, but few hone their skills to develop their writing craft to its highest form. Even fewer learn the other skills it takes to become a successful writer, such as the steps needed to get a book published and into the hands of readers. Liberty’s 100% online Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing can help you develop your writing passion into a career so you can set your works free to impact culture and the world.

Employers in every industry need professionals who have strong writing skills, so you can be confident that your ability to write effectively can also help set you apart in your current career. With in-demand writing expertise and the ability to customize your degree with electives in literature or writing practice, Liberty’s online MFA in Creative Writing can help you achieve your professional writing goals.

Our online MFA in Creative Writing is designed to help you build on your writing skills with specific workshops dedicated to the craft of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, or screenwriting. With a work-in-progress approach to writing practice and mentorship from our faculty of experienced writers and scholars, you can learn the specific skills you need to make your writing stand out.

Ranked in the Top 10% of Niche.com’s Best Online Schools in America

• What Sets Us Apart?
• Private Nonprofit University
• 600+ Online Degrees
• No Standardized Testing for Admission
• Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
• Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Why Choose Liberty’s MFA in Creative Writing?

Our online MFA in Creative Writing is mainly offered in an 8-week course format, and our tuition rate for graduate programs hasn’t increased in 9 years. Through our program, you can study the writing process and develop your creative skills through workshops with experienced writing professionals. With our flexible format, you can grow in your creative writing while continuing to do what is important to you.

As a terminal degree, the online MFA in Creative Writing can also help you pursue opportunities to teach writing at the K-12 or college level. You will gain comprehensive and in-depth exposure to writing, literature, publishing, and many other professional writing skills that you can pass on to students. Partner with the Liberty family and learn under faculty who have spent years in the field you love. Your career in professional writing starts here.

What Will You Study in Our MFA in Creative Writing?

The MFA in Creative Writing program is designed to help you become an excellent creative writer across the genres of creative fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, and poetry. You can learn how to produce aesthetically and culturally engaged creative works while gaining professional knowledge and practice. You will also study foundational contemporary literature so that you have a background in studying important works to draw on for your writing.

To help you in your professional writing, you will also study many essential skills in editing, layout, and the business of publishing so that you can best position yourself for success in the market. Through your creative writing courses and workshops, you can develop your craft so that you will be ready for your thesis project.

Here are a few examples of the skills Liberty’s MFA in Creative Writing can help you master:

• Marketing your projects and pursuing new writing opportunities
• Organizing writing and adapting it to different types of writing
• Tailoring writing to specific audiences and markets
• Understanding what makes art effective, compelling, and impactful
• Writing compelling stories that engage readers

Potential Career Opportunities

• Book and magazine writer
• Business communications specialist
• Creative writing instructor
• Publications editor
• Screenwriter
• Website copy editor and writer
• Writing manager

Featured Courses

• ENGL 600 – Editing, Layout, and Publishing
• ENGL 601 – Writing as Cultural Engagement
• ENGL 603 – Literary Theory and Practice
• WRIT 610 – Writing Fiction

Degree Information

• This program falls under the College of Arts and Sciences .
• View the Graduate Arts and Sciences Course Guides (login required).
• Download and review the Graduate Manual for MFA .

Degree Completion Plan (PDF)

Not sure what to choose?

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

• Tuition & Aid

Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.

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Admission Information for the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)

Admission requirements.

• A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required) .
• Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form .
• Creative Writing Sample – A creative writing sample of one creative writing work of at least 2,500 words or a culmination of creative writing samples totaling 2,500 words.*
• Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy .

*A sample of one or more poems totaling a minimum of 750 words may also be submitted. Song lyrics are not accepted at this time as writing samples.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

• Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
• Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
• Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
• If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application .
• Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.

Dual Enrollment

Please see the Online Dual Enrollment page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.

Transcript Policies

Unofficial college transcript policy.

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

• Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
• Cumulative GPA
• A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
• Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to [email protected] .

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Admissions Office Contact Information

(800) 424-9596

(888) 301-3577

Email for Questions

[email protected]

Email for Documents

[email protected]

Liberty University Online Admissions Verification

1971 University Blvd.

Lynchburg, VA 24515

Ready to Apply?

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

• Active Duty
• Reserve/National Guard
• Veterans/Retirees
• Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
• Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

• Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
• Additional discount for veterans who service in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course) *
• 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Not applicable to certificates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an mfa in creative writing.

A Master of Fine Arts degree, or MFA, is a terminal degree in an artistic craft that demonstrates that you have achieved the highest level of training and skill in your discipline. Like a doctorate, an MFA often allows you to teach courses at the graduate level while also providing many opportunities for scholarship and leadership in education. If you want to grow your creative writing skills to become the best writer you can be, then the Master of Fine Arts can help you get there.

How will students work towards developing their writing skills?

With creative writing workshops and a thesis project, you will receive support and guidance to help you become the best writer you can be.

How long will it take to complete the MFA in Creative Writing?

You can complete the MFA in Creative Writing in just 48 credit hours!

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

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