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

I. Admission Requirements

Students seeking an M.F.A. in Creative Writing must fulfill the following requirements before being formally admitted to the program:

A. Apply for admission to the Jackson College of Graduate Studies & Research, Room 404, NUC.

B. M.F.A. Creative Writing Application Packet

Submit to the Jackson College of Graduate Studies & Research:

  1. A 1- to 2-page statement describing your reading habits, naming a selection of significant texts you have read recently, and explaining how those texts have influenced your understanding of literary art and your goals as a writer.
  2. A writing sample consisting of approximately 25 pages of a single project.
  3. Three letters of recommendation that speak to your academic and creative potential and your ability to undertake graduate study in Creative Writing.
C. Application Deadlinees

The M.F.A. Application Packet must be submitted by:

Semester Application Deadline
Fall March 15
Spring August 1
D. Prerequisites

  1. No student will be admitted to this program who does not meet the program admission standards of 2.75 GPA overall, or 2.75 in the last 60 hours attempted.
  2. No student will be admitted to this program who has not completed 18 undergraduate hours of English language and literature above the 1000-level, with a minimum overall GPA of 3.00 in these English courses.
  3. Candidates who do not meet these requirements will be admitted to the Jackson College of Graduate Studies & Research as non-degree-seeking students. Such candidates may take additional coursework or retake courses in order to obtain the required minimum GPAs and may then reapply for admission to the M.F.A. program in Creative Writing.
E. Acceptance into the M.F.A. Creative Writing Program

The Jackson College of Graduate Studies & Research and the Creative Writing Faculty of the Department of English will determine the acceptance status of each candidate.

M.F.A. in Creative Writing
60 hours Total
Craft Courses 18 hours
Two of the following six course sequences:
CSDY 5123 Short Story Writing I
CSDY 5133 Short Story Writing II
CSDY 5143 Short Story Writing III

CSDY 5323 Novel Writing I
CSDY 5333 Novel Writing II
CSDY 5343 Novel Writing III

CSDY 5453 Creative Nonfiction I
CSDY 5463 Creative Nonfiction II
CSDY 5473 Creative Nonfiction II

CSDY 5543 Poetry Writing I
CSDY 5553 Poetry Writing II
CSDY 5563 Poetry Writing III

CSDY 5613 Playwriting I
CSDY 5623 Playwriting II
CSDY 5633 Playwriting III

CSDY 5643 Screenwriting I
CSDY 5653 Screenwriting II
CSDY 5663 Screenwriting III


Career Strategy Courses 6 hours
CSDY 5113 Pub Pro: Editing and Marketing
CSDY 5900 Practicum in CSDY


Reading Courses 15 Hours
5 5000-level ENG courses (with Program Advisor Approval)


General Electives (with Program Advisor Approval) 9 Hours


Thesis in Creative Writing 12 Hours
CSDY 5990 Thesis in CSDY