Roosevelt’s close-knit community of writers allows you the time and attention to develop your craft and challenge your artistic boundaries. Prepare for your life as a writer in Chicago’s thriving literary community.
Location:
Chicago
Start Term:
Fall
Program Type:
Master's
MFA graduates have opportunities wherever compelling writing and strong critical thinking are needed. Our graduates have gone on to become authors, both full-time and part-time, and they also work in education, publishing, journalism, marketing, advertising and arts administration.
Office of Graduate Admission
What Differentiates Us
GAIN LITERARY JOURNAL EXPERIENCE
Students edit and produce the literary journal Oyez Review, which publishes the work of writers from all over the world.
INTERNSHIPS & MENTORING
Our connections provide ample opportunities for internships, mentoring and being in close proximity to working writers.
LEARN FROM WORKING AUTHORS
The faculty, published authors themselves, draw on their extensive networks to bring in writers to read their work and teach graduate workshops, including Gina Frangello, Tim Kinsella, Bayo Ojikutu and Suzanne Scanlon.
Expectations & Requirements
Standards
MFA students complete a book-length manuscript of publishable quality and receive intensive faculty mentorship and support throughout the process. Students develop a specialty and sub-specialty in fiction and nonfiction (or vice versa) and work in any prose tradition, including the novel and long-form nonfiction. While all our students are distinguished by the quality of their writing and their dedication to craft, some of them arrive on campus knowing exactly what they plan to work on, while others take advantage of the room to explore. Our curriculum allows students to thrive in either approach.
Sample Courses
- Fiction Workshop
- Creative Non Fiction Workshop
- Screen Writing
More Opportunities
Internship course options in literary magazine, small press publishing, in the community, teaching literature, teaching creative writing, teaching English composition.
Faculty
Testimonials
One of the great things about our MFA program is its size. In a classroom, we can sit down and occupy that place of not knowing and cultivate our curiosity.
Learn more about Kyle's book and the creative writing program.
Kyle Beachy
Associate Professor of Creative Writing,
The MFA program in creative writing gave me a community of writers, instruction from teachers who were leading creative lives, and the time I needed to figure out what kind of writer I was. At Roosevelt, I developed the discipline necessary to write a novel and also the ability to be my own best editor.
Lori Rader
2009
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Admission Info
- Applications can be completed entirely online.
- Official or unofficial transcripts from all previously attended colleges/universities within the United States.
- Letter of Intent outlining your personal and professional goals, why you are interested in this program, and how it will help you achieve your goals
- Writing sample (20 pages) demonstrating your talents within a chosen specialty:
- Fiction – submit at least three different pieces of fiction (short stories, novella, or a novel excerpt)
- Creative nonfiction – submit at least three pieces of creative nonfiction (personal essays, memoir excerpts, a chapter from a biography, or other work in progress)
- Two letters of recommendation
- $40 Application Fee
To contact an admissions counselor click here.