MFA Program

Primary Genres

FICTION: Students read and write within traditional and nontraditional novel and short story forms and develop their own unique approach to story. Novelists pursue a novel-writing track, and short story writers assemble a story collection while both hone their knowledge of fictional craft and the particular demands of their chosen form. Students complete a 45-credit course sequence and a book-length thesis of fiction in a novel, story collection, or novella and stories format.

CREATIVE NONFICTION: Students read and write within traditional and nontraditional forms of the lyric essay, memoir, biography and literary journalism, while honing knowledge of their craft and the particular demands of their chosen form. We recognize and encourage hybrid forms that utilize lyrical and non-narrative techniques to achieve the author’s goals. Students complete a 45-credit course sequence and a book-length thesis of creative nonfiction work.

Secondary Genres

We believe in the benefits of writing across genres, so we ask students to take two courses in a secondary genre (fiction writers take creative nonfiction and creative nonfiction writers take fiction) to gain a larger aesthetic perspective and broaden their knowledge of craft. Plus, students choose an elective workshop from poetry writing or scriptwriting to add to their repertoire of creative writing forms and techniques.

Admission requirements and speciality areas information.