pacific university mfa creative writing

Introduction

Pacific’s Master of Fine Arts in Writing program celebrates writing as an art that has the potential to make a difference in the world. With an emphasis on the creative process, award-winning writers work closely with students to support and inspire evolving craft and voice.

The low-residency format allows students to earn a graduate degree over the course of two years through five intensive residencies, coupled with guided study during four semesters. Students earn 15 credits each semester and apply those 15 credits toward the minimum of 60 required for successful completion of the program. A student may earn an MFA in Writing in fiction, nonfiction or poetry.

Each semester begins with a 10-day residency. One is held in January at the Oregon Coast and the other is held in June on the Pacific University campus in Forest Grove. Residencies include workshops, lectures, panels, classes and readings, featuring writers who act as faculty members for the program and visiting writers and publishing professionals who participate only during the residency.

At the residencies, students are paired with a writer who serves as an advisor for the independent study that follows. Student and advisor meet in conferences to develop a study plan for the subsequent guided study when the student will devote 20-25 hours each week to writing and reading.

The MFA program offers a high level of craft and conversation, upheld by the good humor and care of a community of individuals who share a passion for art. We believe in inspiration but also in revision. We believe there is no one way to write and no right way to write. Above all, we believe in quality and originality in any guise. We know that the writer’s life is a full and complex one, and the MFA program welcomes students who have full-time jobs and other obligations.

Faculty Advisors

The writers who teach as part of the faculty for the MFA program are outstanding for both their level of national or regional literary achievement and for their teaching records and abilities. They are hired as independent contractors to instruct and advise MFA students. While writers are not regular Pacific employees, they are bound by all federal and state laws as well as many Pacific University and all MFA policies. In this catalog and in other MFA materials, these writers are referred to as “faculty.”

Most faculty who serve as advisors for students teach and run workshops during the residency that precedes the semester, though the program reserves the right to assign non-residency faculty as advisors in some circumstances. During the residency, faculty members give readings, deliver lectures, conduct classes and serve on panels. Some of the visiting writers and publishing professionals also participate actively in residency events but do not serve as advisors in the following semester.

Admission: Master of Fine Arts in Writing

Eligibility/Prerequisites

The MFA program seeks students who have demonstrated talent, commitment to the writing process, an openness to critique, and a dedication to individual voice and vision.

Applicants to the MFA program should hold an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution. Exceptions may be made to this requirement contingent upon the understanding that students must complete their undergraduate degree before enrolling in the MFA thesis semester. All exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may be granted in special circumstances such as when the applicant is close to completing an undergraduate degree, has a strong writing record with published works, and shows maturity of purpose and work habit.

Admission is based primarily on the quality and promise exhibited in the application manuscript and personal essay. Applicants should address their ability to participate productively and supportively in a writing community and to sustain commitment through extended independent work periods during the guided study.

Application Process The Master of Fine Arts in Writing program accepts new students twice a year for semesters beginning with the January and June residencies; students may enter the program at either time.

For priority consideration, submit all application materials by August 15 for the semester beginning in January or March 1 for the semester beginning in June. Applications received after these dates will be considered as space allows and may be processed for the following semester.

For information on what materials to submit, see the MFA Application Procedure & Forms page: http://www.pacificu.edu/as/mfa/admissions/applicationprocedure.cfm .

Non-degree-seeking students of the Residency Writers Conference (residency only) may apply for admission to the full program through the second week of the semester. In this situation, matriculation into the program would typically begin with the current semester. Since the application for Residency Writers Conference requires half the elements of an application for the full MFA program – creative sample, critical sample, personal essay – the student’s matriculation would be considered conditional upon the receipt of two letters of reference, transcripts, and a new Intent to Enroll form showing enrollment in the full program.

Transfer of Credits Petitions for transfer of credits from another Master of Fine Arts creative writing program will be considered by the Admissions Board. In no instance will more than 15 semester credits transfer. No other credit waivers or transfers of any other credits will be allowed. Transfer of one semester’s credit elsewhere does not guarantee that the student will finish the Pacific MFA in three additional semesters. The time it takes to finish the program depends on the student’s ability to successfully complete both the critical essay and the creative manuscript.

Policies: Master of Fine Arts in Writing

Assessment Assessment occurs at midterm and semester end. For both assessments, the student and advisor each write a narrative analysis addressing the following:

• The student’s semester performance and progress toward completion of the program
• The number and merit of the student-advisor exchanges, as well as the effectiveness of assignments
• Expectations and tentative plans for the coming semester as discussed with the advisor

The midterm assessments are advisory only, used by the MFA program for counseling purposes when necessary, and do not become part of the student’s permanent record. In addition, students are invited to contact the MFA director during the semester if they have concerns about their work and exchanges, especially if they anticipate problems meeting a due date. In most cases, minor adjustments to due dates can be arranged in conversation between the student and advisor..

Assessments completed by the student and advisor at the end of the semester become part of the student’s official record and the narrative transcript is used to assign credit (the MFA program does not use grades). Students receive a hard copy letter of credit/no credit and a copy of their narrative transcript prior to the next residency.

Award of Semester Credit Semester credit is granted only in 15-hour units and requires documentation by way of the semester study plan, residency review, midterm and final semester assessments, semester bibliography, analytical and creative work, and a log of exchanges. These semester assignments require a minimum time commitment of 20-25 hours of study per week. After the faculty advisor has evaluated the student’s semester work and has recommended credit in the Narrative Transcript, the MFA program reviews the student’s semester portfolio. If all is in order, the program awards credit. Prior to the next residency, the student is advised of the award of credit in a letter from the director. Comments and counsel for the student regarding the upcoming semester may be included.

Students who attend only a portion of the residency or who participate in the residency but fail to complete all semester work will receive no credit.

Students who complete semester requirements but whose analytical or creative work does not meet program expectations may be granted credit even though the work falls short of the criteria for the granting of the degree. Decisions about the awarding of credit are made between the final due date for receipt of semester project evaluations and the next residency, as are decisions regarding whether or not a student will continue on in the program.

A student whose analytical or creative work does not demonstrate the competency to advance to the next semester may enroll in up to one extra semester or take a leave of absence to develop the necessary skills. If the revised manuscripts from this additional semester of work are not successful, as determined by the Admissions Board, the student will be dismissed from the program.

Due Dates and Extensions Students are responsible for turning in required work by the assigned due dates and recording their exchanges with their advisors in a log. All semester work must be satisfactorily completed by the end of the semester to receive credit. Students who fail to meet due dates with their advisors or the MFA office and who fail to make other arrangements for completing work lose their right to further exchanges and to credit for that semester. In such cases, students may be required to take an additional semester to complete the unfinished work and earn the required credit toward the degree.

In exceptional circumstances, a student may petition the MFA Academic Board for an extension of due dates to earn semester credit. For details, see below under Incomplete Grade .

Academic Standing, Probation and Dismissal

Students receive ongoing assessment throughout the residency and the guided study. While most excel in the program, those students who find they are unable to complete their work or who have other academic concerns should contact the MFA director or their advisor immediately to discuss a plan of action. This might include a Petition for Exception to MFA Policy, an accommodation arranged through the Office of Accessibility and Accommodation Services, or other options.   A student who fails to complete the degree requirements as outlined in the MFA Handbook or whose work does not demonstrate graduate-level competency is not permitted to progress in the curriculum. Student status and attending action plans are identified and described below.

Acceptable and In Good Standing The student demonstrates all of the following:

• Satisfactory progress in completing assignments and meeting deadlines
• Satisfactory progress in the development of analytical and creative writing skills
• Adherence to University and MFA rules or procedures
• Appropriate professional/ethical conduct and attitudes

Notice of Concern A student may receive a “notice of concern” if an advisor, faculty or staff member expresses concerns about the student’s performance in any of the areas defined above. A notice of concern is designed to bring the student’s attention to an issue (e.g., failing academic performance; missed deadlines; inadequate or problematic communication with MFA advisors, faculty members, and/or program staff) so that the student may address and improve the performance in the area of concern and thus avoid receiving an academic warning or losing their acceptable academic standing. The MFA director sends a notice of concern to a student via email and/or the letter of credit. This notice may include an action plan for remediation.  Students who receive two notices of concern within a semester and do not improve their performance will receive an academic warning.

Academic Warning and Suspension A student who receives an official academic warning is no longer a student in good standing and must address the issue(s) to the satisfaction of the advisor, staff member, and/or director within two weeks of receiving notification. The academic warning includes a plan of action for any one of the following:

• Failure to meet deadlines and/or failure to contact advisor or MFA staff within three days of missed deadlines
• Incomplete work
• Insufficient progress in analytical or creative writing skills
• Failure to comply with University or MFA program rules or procedures and/or unprofessional/unethical behavior

A student who does not address the issue(s) within two weeks of receiving the academic warning, or who receives additional notices of concern or academic warnings for other issues, will be suspended from the program for the rest of the semester and receive no credit.

Academic Probation

A student who receives an academic warning and/or who is suspended from the MFA program will be placed on academic probation and will be given one semester to regain good academic standing. A student on probation must have an approved plan for addressing one or more of the following:

• Repeated failure to meet deadlines and/or failure to contact advisor or MFA staff within three days of missed deadlines
• Failure to meet the terms of an action plan designed as the result of an academic warning
• Lack of compliance with University or MFA program rules or procedures and/or unprofessional/unethical conduct at a level of greater magnitude than that considered to warrant a warning

A second semester of unacceptable performance will result in academic dismissal from the program.

Dismissal A student may be dismissed from the program for any one of the following:

• Failure to meet deadlines and/or failure to contact advisor or MFA staff within three days of missed deadlines for more than one semester
• Incomplete work for more than one semester
• Insufficient progress in analytical or creative writing skills for more than one semester
• Academic probation for more than one semester at any time in the program
• Failure to meet the terms of an action plan designed as the result of an academic probation
• Flagrant or intentional violations of the University or MFA program rules and procedures and/or inappropriate, unprofessional/unethical or illegal conduct

Students who have been dismissed may reapply to the program after a period of absence, depending on the circumstances of dismissal. Decisions on student status are determined by members of the MFA faculty and/or Admissions Board. Students may appeal status decisions within 10 days of notification of the original action to the MFA Board of Directors, which includes the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Accreditation and Awarding of the Degree Pacific University and the Master of Fine Arts in Writing program are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The Master of Fine Arts degree is granted by the Pacific University President and the Board of Trustees upon recommendation of the Academic Board of the MFA in Writing program and the approval of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Auditing Students Alumni, current students, and applicants accepted into the MFA program may choose the option to audit an MFA semester at the discretion of the program and as space allows. Students who request this option typically attend a residency and adapt their semester study plan to focus entirely on their creative manuscript, although faculty will encourage students to include some readings in their semester work. While auditing students enroll in, pay for, and participate in MFA residencies and guided study, they are not required to complete assignments or turn in a portfolio at the end of the semester. Students must declare the audit option before the end of the add-drop period; once the audit option has been declared the course cannot revert back to the graded option.

Students who audit receive no credits and this is reflected on a transcript as ‘AU’ instead of a grade. Course auditing is not applied toward degree requirements even if the student returns to the program in the future as a degree-seeking student.

Non-Degree-Seeking Students Alumni, current students, and applicants accepted into the MFA program may choose the option to study as non-degree-seeking students at the discretion of the program and as space allows.

Earning Credit As a Non-Degree Seeking Student Non-degree seeking students may earn 15 credits for each full semester (residency and guided study). These students must complete all academic requirements as outlined in the MFA Handbook and Pacific catalog. While the non-degree seeking student may earn credit, it does not apply to the MFA degree until the student is enrolled as a matriculated, degree-seeking student. Students switching from non-degree seeking to degree seeking must have approval from the Admissions Board.

Transfer Credit Request for transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. No more than 15 credits can be transferred.

Credit Load Students must register for 15 credits for each semester. Part-time enrollment is not allowed.

Honors The MFA program does not award graduation honors.

Grading System All courses are graded Pass/No Pass.

Add/Drop/Withdrawal Schedule Students may add or drop through the second week of the semester. After this time and through the 65% mark of the semester (approximately three months into the semester), students may withdraw and receive a W grade on the transcript. After this point, students not completing the course will earn a No Pass grade.

Readmission Policy/Process Students who leave the program before earning the degree may be able to apply for readmission if their situations have changed. See the Program Director for more information.

Time Limits to Complete Degree It is generally expected that all degree requirements will be completed within three years, although exceptions can be granted by the Program Director.

Incomplete Grade In exceptional circumstances, a student may petition the MFA Academic Board for an extension of due dates to earn semester credit. In this case, the student would need to complete the Student Petition for Exception to MFA Policy/Incomplete Grade and submit it to the program director, who will offer a recommendation to the MFA Board. The MFA Board will review the petition and either approve or deny it. Students may petition to earn credit only when a portion of semester coursework has been completed satisfactorily and health or other emergency reasons prevent the student from finishing all requirements by the established due dates. The petition should detail the circumstances that led to the request as well as dates and plans for completing the semester work. The advisor and the student should agree upon a timeline for the completion of all work, with the following limitations:

• Fall semester Incompletes must be completed by the following April 15 to earn credit.
• Spring semester Incompletes must be completed by the following November 15 to earn credit.

If the agreed-upon course work is not completed in the period allotted and an extension has not been granted, no credit will be given for the semester. Please note that extensions on due dates may incur additional fees, jeopardize credit, or delay decisions about advancement toward the degree.

Tuition: Master of Fine Arts in Writing

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Discussions about the writing craft.

My experience applying to 15 of the best Creative Writing MFA programs in the United States / a note for anyone who might be thinking about applying to Creative Writing MFA's.

In late 2019 I applied to around 15 of the best Creative Writing MFA's in the United States. All of these programs have less than a 3% acceptance rate--the most competitive among them less than 1% (yes, they received over 1000 applicants and accepted less than 10). There are plenty of Creative Writing MFA's that have much higher acceptance rates, but most of them aren't fully funded.

Why did I apply? Because I felt that I was reaching a point that I couldn't improve further on my own. Because I've submitted stories to hundreds of magazines (and been accepted at a few, but rejected from 98%). Because I write and read every day, religiously, and have done so for over a decade. Because the job market is rough and I believe that having further education will help me pursue jobs that I want, in the fields I'm looking in, based on extensive research. (Note: thousands of people have Creative Writing MFA's--this is something that can SUPPORT my resume, not hold it up on its own). (2nd Note: The school your MFA comes from does matter in certain communities, such as academia and publishing, so while there are thousands of people in the job pool with CW MFA's, there are NOT thousands with CW MFA's from Cornell).

But most importantly, I applied because at 25, with a wife and a young kid, I’m realizing that my desire to write, read, and publish – that my desire to work with letters professionally – is never going to go away. And right now I’m at a spot where I can responsibly pursue my passion. All of that is important.

The dust has basically settled now and I have a handful of acceptances, a few waitlists, and a slew of rejections (3a/2w/8 r/2pending ). The cost to apply to all these programs was around $1000 out of my pocket (a little more, actually, but I ALREADY feel confident this cost was more than worth it to me--more on that later).

Now that it's "over" and I have my decisions to make, I thought I'd share some of what I learned and some other general thoughts for any writers that might have completed an undergrad and be in a spot, now, where they might be thinking about further education or how they might be able to pursue writing further. I think there’s a general list of writers that look at MFA’s and it looks something like this:

You just completed an undergrad in English or Writing and don’t know what to do. You apply to MFA’s and almost definitely get rejected in mass (take a look at the average age in these programs, there are almost no 22/23 year old’s). I would consider this a bad reason to apply, but you will definitely learn some useful things (such as, you’re not quite ready yet). Or perhaps you’ll be one of the very few young students directly out of undergrad that get accepted. It happens. It means you’re damn good.

You want to get into publishing (whether as an author, or as staff at a publishing house / a good literary magazine). This is a slightly better reason than reason #1, as many programs have a strong focus on internships, establishing relationships, and communicating knowledge about publishing.

You write and read every day. You’ve done so for years. You submit to magazines, journals, and publishing houses. You’ve queried an agent before. You have dozens of short stories sitting around your house (or sitting around your hard drive). You’ve written a few novels. You just can’t seem to figure out how to keep improving. You’re afraid of stagnating. You earnestly want to improve.

You read about it on reddit and considered, why the hell not. (Not a ton worse than #1). It’s no surprise to you that #2 and #3 describe me more than #1 and #4. I think you should consider which of these describe YOU if you’re also considering an MFA.

There's no doubt that you can write without a cohort of peers and mentors surrounding you. There's no doubt that if you don't have the motivation to write and read all on your own that you probably won't get much out of an MFA program. There's no doubt that many great authors never formally studied writing or even went to college.

But what if you are writing and reading religiously on your own--what if you are working hard on your own, absorbing classes on YouTube, reading books like "Dreyer's English" and King's "On Writing" -- what if you are actively pursuing publications, submitting to magazines, writing short stories and working on your 2nd or 3rd novel in earnest.... and you just can't seem to progress as quickly as you want? Or what if you want to get into publishing / editing / staff at a lit mag or journal / into the highly competitive world of college teaching (or even high school teaching) and can't seem to compete with the market?

Perhaps an MFA, where you study with other individuals who you can relate to, and underneath published and intelligent professors and doctors of writing / literature that understand what you're trying to do (because they've all done it successfully) could be a decent choice.

I'll add now that part of the criticism I see regularly is that "it's not worth going into debt for a degree." I have two responses to that:

Only you can decide what level of debt you're willing to bring on yourself to further your dreams, goals, and aspirations. That's a highly subjective decision that shouldn't be made lightly. But there are things like Income based repayment for a reason.

Dozens of programs across the country allow you to do all this without taking on a single penny of debt -- in fact, some students come out of the program with more money than they went into it with.

Sometimes this can be absolutely true. Make sure that you don’t do something you’ll later regret. Study how student loans work if you’re considering them VERY CAREFULLY. Consider how you’ll pay them back if you do decide to take them out. This isn’t something to think about later.

I see a lot of hate for advanced degrees on Reddit, especially in the writing community. I think some of that might be because the average reddit user doesn't understand that in many cases these degrees are not only free, but actually pay you (as much as $30,000 / year on top of the free tuition which is normally around another $30,000+ / year in fees waived). Is the money free? Almost definitely not - they expect you to work around 20 hours a week teaching classes on campus.

But that's a good thing. A GREAT thing in fact. Because you're going to learn a shit load if you teach a writing class (yes, even a comp class to freshmen is going to teach you a ton about writing). And because it gives you extremely relevant work experience to list on a resume no matter what your career path is in the future.

So what if you are interested in pursuing a Creative Writing MFA?

The first thing you'll want to do is consider what your very strongest pieces of writing are and how you'd put them together in a portfolio. I list this at the top because if you don't have highly polished and competitive pieces of writing RIGHT NOW, you aren't going to magically acquire them in a few short months. This is the most important thing, bar none. Most programs ask for between 20 and 30 pages of content. That's between 1 and 2 short stories (or novel excerpts--although novel excerpts are not recommended). If you don't have strong writing that you're absolutely certain is high quality, you need to get it first. How do you get it if you don't have it? By writing and reading every day and investing a ton of time and effort. Also, peer groups and workshops.

The second thing you'll want to do is research programs. I recommend fully funded (or at LEAST partially funded) programs exclusively. But you might have reasons to look at smaller colleges, and those colleges might be more valuable to you depending on the staff / location / other details. For example, Emerson College is only partially funded but has one of the few programs in the world that is openly accepting of science fiction, fantasy, and horror while also EMPLOYING professors that actively write and publish in the genre fiction field. If you are exclusively interested in science fiction, I imagine you'd get more out of a workshop with Katie Williams (who wrote Tell the Machine Goodnight) than a workshop with professors that strictly write literary fiction.

The third thing you'll want to do is make sure you can feasibly accept offers if you do get into the program. Do you have a few thousand dollars (or could you, 6, 9, or 12 months from now) to move across the Country? Will you have any support or help if not? This is important. You don't want to waste money applying to something you can't actually do if you manage to get accepted.

The fourth thing you'll want to do is prepare yourself for rejection. The first 6 schools that showed movement during the application season all rejected me, and it hurt. I was arrogantly not expecting it, and it was sobering to realize many, many programs did not think I was among the most talented writers to apply. It was GOOD that this happened, in hindsight. Perhaps (definitely) my head was too big. I'm glad I got rejected from many of these schools. I deserved it. My portfolio could have been stronger. It should have been. The fact that I can look back now, just 5 months later, and SEE how it could have been stronger, means the process was worth the time and $1000 to me already.

At the bottom of this is my realization that we have a lot of people on r/writing that aren’t sure how to get better but earnestly want to. This is ONE way to get better (and there’s some real advice along the path that will transform the way you look at writing and consider what it means to be a writer, because if you’re in the group of people that can feasibly be accepted into these programs, it means you’ve done a lot of work to get there).

I have a lot more to say. I’m happy to engage with anyone who has questions or concerns about any of the information I shared here. Like I said in the title, this is my experience. It’s not universal. YMMV.

MFA in Creative Writing

Admissions - MFA in Creative Writing

The 2023-2024 Graduate Admissions Application is now OPEN! https://grad.ucdavis.edu/apply  

The deadline to apply to our program is January 5, 2024

Graduate Studies'  Applications Page  covers most campus-level admissions questions, but feel free to contact our graduate program staff for more details and specific guidance. Applications are reviewed once all supporting materials have been received. For more information about your application status, please check online or contact our graduate program staff.

Application Requirements:

• Writing sample
• Statement of Purpose
• Personal History & Diversity Statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• TOEFL or IELTS scores, if applicable
• Copies of transcripts
• Application Fee (2023-2024 cycle): $135 for U.S. and $155 for international applicants
• Admissions Requirements and Eligibility  as set by UC Davis Graduate Studies
• Writing sample in your preferred genre 

Either ten to twelve poems or up to thirty pages (double-spaced) of prose. Hybrid-form work must not exceed thirty pages.

To apply for admission to our Creative Writing MFA program, you are encouraged to include, as a writing sample, your very best creative writing.  Typically, two—or at the most three—genres exist in a graduate Creative Writing program: Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction.  At UCD, we think of genre as a useful thing to consider… but we do not think of the various genres—however many you would like to list—as necessarily unmixable modes.    

For us, the value of a piece of writing is better gauged directly—by what it says to its readers, and by what that saying does to those readers—rather than by its successful or unsuccessful identification with one or another of the historically certified genres.  This is not to say that we don't believe in genre, or in the usefulness of plumbing each purported genre's history; it is to say, rather, or  to notice…  that the border between one genre and another is not so much a Great Wall as a small fence.

• Please highlight your academic preparation and motivation; interests, specialization and career goals; and fit for pursuing graduate study at UC Davis.
• Personal History and Diversity Statement

The University of California Davis, a public institution, is committed to supporting the diversity of the graduate student body and promoting equal opportunity in higher education. This commitment furthers the educational mission to serve the increasingly diverse population and educational needs of California and the nation. Both the Vice Provost of Graduate Education/Dean of Graduate Studies and the University of California affirm that diversity is critical to promoting lively intellectual exchange and the variety of ideas and perspectives essential to advancing higher education and research. Our graduate students contribute to the global pool of future scholars and academic leaders, thus high value is placed on achieving a diverse graduate student body to support the University of California’s academic excellence. We invite you to include in this statement how you may contribute to the diversification of graduate education and the UC Davis community.

The purpose of this essay is to get to know you as an individual and potential graduate student. Please describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. You may include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, community service, outreach activities, residency and citizenship, first-generation college status, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual, or cultural diversity within a campus community and your chosen field; or how you might serve educationally underrepresented and underserved segments of society with your graduate education.  

This essay should complement but not duplicate the content in the Statement of Purpose. Your Personal History and Diversity Statement must be entered directly into a text box in the application, and has a 4,000 character limit including spaces.

• Three letters of recommendations
• Letters should be from professors or other persons situated to speak about your potential for graduate Creative Writing study. You might also think of potential letter-writers in terms of their ability to speak to your participation in a dedicated community.
• Applicants must submit TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo scores unless they have earned or will be earning a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from either a regionally accredited or foreign college/university which provides instruction solely in English. See the  English Language Requirement  section for details. 
• Transcripts
• Transcripts are required from each post-secondary institution you have attended.   Copies or unofficial transcripts are allowed. If admitted, you’ll be required to send official transcripts for every institution listed on your application.
• Application fee
• The application fee is set by the UC Davis Office of Graduate Studies. The application fee for the 2023-2024 cycle is $135 for domestic students and $155 for international students, payable online. Waivers of this fee are only available to participants in  one of several graduate preparatory programs .  The MFA program has no ability to grant application fee waivers. 

Application FAQs :  https://grad.ucdavis.edu/admissions-process-overview

We aim for a class of 10 to 12 writers, hoping for a balance between genres. The writing sample is the most important part of your application; the committee is looking for high quality work in the applicant’s genre of choice.  All students in the MFA program at UC Davis take at least one workshop outside their primary genre, so you need not apply to a second genre in order to have access to it as a student.

The committee makes admissions and financial aid decisions simultaneously.  We offer a limited number of first-year funding packages; all second year students have access to full funding.

For the Fall 2021 cohort, we received 137 applications, admitted 16 (13 initial applicants and 3 waitlisted applicants), and 11 of those students will be joining us in the Fall.

• Funding your MFA

At UC Davis, we offer you the ability to fund your MFA. In fact, all students admitted to the program are guaranteed full funding in the second year of study, when students serve as teachers of Introduction to Creative Writing (English 5) and receive, in exchange, tuition and health insurance remission as well as a monthly stipend (second year students who come to Davis from out of state are expected to establish residency during their first year). We have a more limited amount of resources – teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and out of state tuition wavers – allocated to us for first year students, but in recent years, we’ve had excellent luck funding our accepted first years. We help students who do not receive English department funding help themselves by posting job announcements from other departments during the spring and summer leading up to their arrival. We are proud to say that over the course of the last twenty years, nearly every incoming student has wound up with at least partial funding (including a tuition waiver and health insurance coverage) by the time classes begin in the fall.

We have other resources for students, too – like the Miller Fund, which supports attendance for our writers at any single writer’s workshop or conference. Students have used these funds to attend well-known conferences like AWP, Writing By Writers, and the Tin House Conference. The Davis Humanities Institute offers a fellowship that first year students can apply for to fund their writing projects. Admitted students are also considered for University-wide fellowships

For additional information, please contact:

Sarah Yunus [email protected] Department of English Graduate Program Coordinator for the MFA Program in Creative Writing (530) 752-2281

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Syracuse University
2024-2025 Graduate Course Catalog Mona Awad, Chanelle Benz, Jonathan Dee, Matt Grzecki, Sarah Harwell, Brooks Haxton, Mary Karr, Christopher Kennedy, George Saunders, Bruce Smith, Dana Spiotta The MFA program in Creative Writing at Syracuse has long been regarded as one of the best in the country. Each year six students are admitted in poetry and six in fiction to work closely in small workshops with an accomplished group of writers. Coursework includes a strong emphasis on the study of literature. Six semesters are usually needed to complete the M.F.A. Applicants must upload a sample of fiction or poetry with their online application through CollegeNet no later than December 15, as well as complete the online graduate application for graduate study.  Admission is based primarily on the writing sample, but also upon the academic record. Thus, letters of recommendation should address not only the student’s creative work, but also his or her general preparedness for advanced graduate study. Likewise, in their personal statements on the application for graduate study, students should state their reasons for pursuing an M.F.A. in creative writing as well as describe their own backgrounds as writers. Submit online Graduate Application via ApplyWeb by DECEMBER 15th.  FICTION APPLICANTS: UPLOAD your 20 page maximum writing sample with your CollegeNet application by DECEMBER 15. POETRY APPLICANTS: UPLOAD your 10-12 POEMS with CollegeNet application by December 15 . Do NOT mail in your poetry writing sample. Candidates must complete 48 credits of coursework, which includes 9 credits of workshop, a minimum of 9 credits in forms courses, a 3-credit second-year essay seminar, 12 to 15 credits in other English department courses, 6 to 9 credits of electives outside the department, and 6 credits for the preparation of the thesis (a collection of poems or stories or a novel). For more information about our graduate programs, visit our department web site at english.syr.edu . Student Learning Outcomes 1. Writing, editing and revision in student’s primary literary genre, leading to a creative manuscript of publishable quality 2. Reading in ways that contribute to a student’s writing 3. Analyzing and writing with care about literary texts 4. Responding thoughtfully and critically to work by other MFA students 5. Demonstrate writerly discipline by accepting criticism from professionals and rewriting accordingly, writing regularly, and developing a life-long reading list 6. Place their own work in the context of a broad range of issues and activities associated with a literary writer and the communities in which the writer lives and works 7. Teach composition and research writing to undergraduates and conduct one-on-one tutoring sessions in a Writing Center MFA Graduate Awards First year MFAs come in on a Creative Writing Fellowship award which carries no teaching duties. The award comes with a stipend and a 24 credit hour tuition scholarship. Second and third year students are funded by teaching assistantships. Teaching assistantships include a 24 credit hour tuition scholarship and a stipend of $20,000. Second year TAs will have full responsibility for teaching/consulting in the department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition. They are expected to attend regular staff meetings and workshops and participate in a mentoring group. There is a review of each teaching assistant’s performance as a teacher. Third year students will teach in the English Department, courses to be determined on an as needed basis.   Catalog --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> -->  BGSU  Bowling Green, Ohio 43403-0001   Toggle High Contrast It is the responsibility of each person within the university community to take action when an issue or concern arises.     Bowling Green State University       Jun 12, 2024   2024-2025 Graduate Catalog     2024-2025 Graduate Catalog | E-mail:  [email protected] The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at BGSU is widely recognized as one of the country’s most prestigious. For more than fifty years, graduates of BGSU’s Program in Creative Writing have contributed to contemporary literary culture and published hundreds of books. The MFA in Creative Writing program gives a comprehensive and rigorous education in the professional writing, editing, and marketing of poetry and fiction. Artistic development, craft knowledge, and professional presentation are guiding principles.  Learning Outcomes Upon completion of the MFA degree, students in the Creative Writing with a specialization in Fiction or Poetry program are expected to be able to: Develop individual, original approaches to writing fiction and/or poetry Produce a book-length thesis comparable in quality to the published work of contemporary poets and fiction writers Develop an understanding of their work’s place within the context of contemporary literature  Collaboratively assess literary work for publication  Apply craft knowledge to produce and distribute a literary journal through relevant technologies  Develop pedagogical skills sufficient to design and teach courses at the college level  Admission Requirements Application deadline is January 15 for Fall Semester.  Since application reviews may begin immediately after the deadline, we recommend submitting your application and providing all required documents before the deadline. Documents required: Applicants below 3.00 GPA must submit a GRE score unless they have already completed a master’s degree.  Enter your GPA and GPA Scale with your undergraduate degree under the Academic History tab. Three Letters of Recommendation Statement of Purpose (1-2 pages) A fiction or poetry sample (20 - 30 double-spaced pages of fiction, or 10 - 15 pages of poetry with poems single- or double-spaced) An academic or professional writing sample (8 - 15 pages, double-spaced) Please do not submit screenplays, children’s stories, fantasy, or science fiction. International applicants are required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTEA). Successful completion of ELS 112 will also be accepted for this requirement.  Additionally, Duolingo test scores will be accepted for applications through Summer 2025. Applicants of the Graduate College who have completed a previous degree (associate, bachelor’s master’s or doctorate) from a U.S. college/university or are from a country (click  here  for a complete list) in which instruction was delivered in English (and attended the university for at least two years) are exempt from providing these test scores. Please review the Creative Writing MFA program’s Application page at  http://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/english/creative-writing/apply-online.html  for detailed information about application materials. Application Requirements Admissions Categories and Grade Point Average Requirements International Application Information Degree Requirements Curriculum requirements, required courses (24 credits). ENGL 6320 taken during the summer semester may not be used to satisfy workshop requirements. ENG 6320 - Graduate Writers Workshop (12 hours) ENG 6310 - Technique of Fiction ENG 6330 - Creative Writing and Desktop Publishing ENG 6370 - Pedagogy of Creative Writing ENG 7820 - Topics in English Studies Electives (6 credits) Select 2 courses Culminating Experience (6 credits) ENG 6990 - Thesis Research Minimum Total Credits (36 credits) Additional requirements. Minimum of 3 credits of 6990 required for Plan I master’s students.  Maximum of 6 credits may be applied toward degree requirements.  Minimum 3.0 graduate cumulative grade point average Minimum of 18 credits must be at the 6000-level or higher Minimum of  24 credits must be earned at BGSU All requirements must be completed within six years from the end of the earliest course used to fulfill degree requirements. 459 IMAGES Master of Fine Arts in Writing (MFA) MFA in Writing Faculty Master of Fine Arts in Writing (MFA) Master of Fine Arts in Writing (MFA) The Long Shout MFA Creative Writing VIDEO Vivo V30e happy customer #reelkrofeelkro @Theaggarwaltelecom @VivoIndiaOfficial Red Alert 2 online MFA in Creative Writing: Michael Heiss Is an MFA in Creative Writing Right for You? City, University of London: What's different between MA Creative Writing and MFA Creative Writing? Chapman University MFA 2024 FALL Cinematography Reel COMMENTS Master of Fine Arts in Writing (MFA) An exceptional low-residency writing program in the Pacific Northwest. Pacific University's Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Writing program celebrates writing as an art that has the potential to make a difference in the world. Our MFA in Writing program offers a high level of craft and conversation, upheld by the good humor and care of a ... Master of Fine Arts in Writing Introduction. Pacific's Master of Fine Arts in Writing program celebrates writing as an art that has the potential to make a difference in the world. With an emphasis on the creative process, award-winning writers work closely with students to support and inspire evolving craft and voice. In the belief that writers can and must lead full and ... Program: Writing, MFA A student may earn an MFA in Writing in fiction, nonfiction or poetry. Each semester begins with a 10-day residency. One is held in January at the Oregon Coast and the other is held in June on the Pacific University campus in Forest Grove. Residencies include workshops, lectures, panels, classes and readings, featuring writers who act as ... Pacific University Keya Mitra Associate Professor & Creative Writing Program Director 2043 College Way MFA Creative Writing Forest Grove Oregon, United States 97116 Email: ... Scott Korb Director, Master of Fine Arts in Writing 530 NW 12th Avenue Pacific University Master of Fine Arts in Writing Portland Oregon, United States 97209 Email: ... MFA In Writing Program Presents Summer Readings Series The series of public readings, celebrating the art and the beauty of writing, features 20 Pacific MFA faculty members presenting across the genres of poetry, fiction and nonfiction. Readings start nightly, June 21 through June 27, at 7:30 p.m. in McCready Hall in the Taylor-Meade Performing Arts Center on Pacific's Forest Grove Campus. MFA in Creative Writing Resources Welcome to the MFA in Creative Writing program! This is a significant pursuit, and the SPU Library is here for you all along the way. Even though you are in a low-residency program, you have the same library access as our on-campus graduate students. On this guide, your MFA Librarian, Liz Gruchala-Gilbert, presents strategies for finding ... Creative Writing A completed thesis is composed of three parts: creative work (100 to 200 pages for fiction or literary nonfiction, and 48 to 64 pages of poetry); a research-focused craft essay (20-40 pages); annotated bibliography (between 40 and 70 books). Students will enroll in thesis credits for the spring semester prior to their third and final summer ... MFA in Creative Writing Scott Cairns, Director. Mailing Address: 3307 3rd Ave West, Suite 109, Seattle WA 98119. Location: Marston Hall (2nd Floor) 206-281-2727. [email protected]. Report an Accessibility Issue. SPU's MFA in Creative Writing offers a holistic, transformative experience. Explore your sense of vocation at Seattle Pacific University. Learn more. Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, M.F.A Low-Residency MFA Format and Program Delivery. The Master of Fine Arts is a 36-credit program of individualized, mentor-directed studies with three summer terms, each inclusive of a low-residency requirement. The program includes three areas of study: Fiction, Literary Nonfiction, and Poetry. Low-Residency The low-residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing has become a relatively commonplace format in American higher education. The nation's first low-residency MFA program in creative writing was inaugurated at Goddard College in 1976. ... Seattle Pacific University was founded in 1891 by Free Methodist pioneers who valued a non-sectarian ... Program: Writing, MFA The final semester, usually the fourth in the program, focuses primarily on creative writing and completion of an original, high-quality manuscript of poetry, fiction or nonfiction. The analytical and creative components form the Master of Fine Arts thesis, copies of which are placed in the MFA program archives and in the Pacific University ... Creative Writing (MFA) Seattle & the Pacific NW. Our Strategic Position. Vision Statement. Our Mission, Vision & Core Themes. University Leadership. Our President & Leadership Team. News. The Latest Scoop & Announcements. Department Directory. All Departments, Offices & Organizations. Diversity. Our Commitment to Diversity. Calendar. Campus Events & Activities. Faith ... Master of Fine Arts in Writing Pacific University Feb 28, 2024 ... Pacific's Master of Fine Arts in Writing program celebrates writing as an art that has the potential to make a difference in the world. With an emphasis on the creative process, award-winning writers work closely with students to support and inspire evolving craft and voice. My experience applying to 15 of the best Creative Writing MFA ... I have an MFA in Creative Writing from Syracuse University. I also got accepted at Columbia and Iowa. But Syracuse wouldn't cost me any money, so I chose there. It was a decent program -- Mary Karr, Tobias Wolff, Stephen Dobyns, etc. Graduated. Then moved to NYC, got a job, and started going to a writing workshop. Pacific University MFA (@pacificmfa) 826 Followers, 806 Following, 291 Posts - Pacific University MFA (@pacificmfa) on Instagram: "Study with award-winning writers whose careful mentorship will help you achieve more than you thought possible. Our writers meet you where you are." MFA in Creative Writing Seattle Pacific University; Subject Guides; Subjects; MFA in Creative Writing; MFA in Creative Writing. Browse our best resources, organized by subject. Toggle navigation. 46 SUBJECTS. Creative Writing, Master Alaska Pacific University; Creative Writing ; About. The purpose of the MFA Creative Writing program at Alaska Pacific University is to provide an engaging, rigorous, and culturally responsive learning environment for emerging writers from all backgrounds, while showcasing and supporting the work of Alaskan, Indigenous, and Northern writers. Admissions Admissions - MFA in Creative Writing. The 2023-2024 Graduate Admissions Application is now OPEN! https://grad.ucdavis.edu/apply. The deadline to apply to our program is January 5, 2024. Graduate Studies' Applications Page covers most campus-level admissions questions, but feel free to contact our graduate program staff for more details and ... Pacific University MFA Created 16 years ago. Pacific University MFA. Private group. ·. 480 members. Join group. About this group. A group for students, alumni, and faculty in the Pacific University low-residency MFA In Writing program based in Forest Grove, Oregon. Private. Program: Creative Writing, MFA 1. Writing, editing and revision in student's primary literary genre, leading to a creative manuscript of publishable quality. 2. Reading in ways that contribute to a student's writing. 3. Analyzing and writing with care about literary texts. 4. Responding thoughtfully and critically to work by other MFA students. 5. Program: Creative Writing, Specialization in Fiction, MFA E-mail: [email protected] The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at BGSU is widely recognized as one of the country's most prestigious. For more than fifty years, graduates of BGSU's Program in Creative Writing have contributed to contemporary literary culture and published hundreds of books. assignment essay homework phd report resume review speech thesis