university of utah mfa creative writing

Department of English

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Graduate Programs & Student Involvement

Masters & PhD

Find information about our specific masters and doctoral studies programs in the English Department Learn More

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Review our application system, instructions, preparation, deadlines,  checklists, and FAQs LEARN MORE

Courses Offered

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Creative Writing

Learn about the department's two graduate degrees in creative writing: our MFA and PhD programs LEARN MORE

Working Dog

Check out our graduate student reading series, where we feature the talent of our Creative Writing Program LEARN MORE

Alumni Spotlights

Get inspired by graduate student awards and publications from some of our distinguished alumni LEARN MORE

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Students in all programs, except the MFA, must demonstrate proficiency in one or more foreign language.

Graduate Student Handbook

This handbook is designed to provide you with useful information that you will need in the next few years.

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How to Become a Writer in Utah with a BFA, MFA or Similar Creative Writing Degree

Written by Jennifer Williams

Utah’s formal American literary culture is young, first introduced with the arrival of the Mormons in 1847 . The influence of Mormon culture was strong and became instrumental in the development of Utah’s early social structure, giving many the solace of an insular society, and perhaps just as many others something worth pushing back against.

From then on, at least until the onset of modern literature, writings here were described as either “insider” (intended for a Mormon audience) or “observer” (intended for Utah’s larger society). Popular writings by non-Mormon authors were generally nothing complex, primarily letters and political speeches, but continued to evolve into the modern era. In fact, the first novel by a Utah author didn’t appear until 1909.

Utah’s literary history may be tinged with religious influence, but as its literary culture has evolved, from it, some of America’s most talented literary icons have been borne.

Utah’s Literary Roots Run in Wildly Different Direction

Susa Young Gates was an incredibly influential writer and activist in her time. Born in Salt Lake City, her mother was the 22 nd wife of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) Church president, Brigham Young, whom she would later go on to biograph and defend. She started her writing career penning short stories and nonfiction pieces under the pen name “Homespun”. Gates believed deeply in causes like women’s rights and education and felt that writing was the best way for her to contribute. As her writing gained notice and her reach became more widespread, she had the incredible opportunity to converse with literary greats like Leo Tolstoy as well as to collaborate with women’s activists like Susan B. Anthony. All in all, these influences led her to accomplish a series of firsts – the first Utah author to publish a novel, John Stevens’ Courtship : A Story of the Echo Canyon War ; and founding the American West’s first college paper, College Lantern. Today, she’s remembered as one of Utah’s most influential women.

Wallace Thurman was born in Salt Lake City and grew up in a single-parent home. Thurman and his mother moved around a lot but always ended up back in Salt Lake City living with his grandmother, who ran a saloon and sold liquor without a license. His childhood was tumultuous and plagued by illness. As a teenager, he suffered several heart attacks and even fell ill during the 1918 influenza epidemic. Despite all of this, he finished school and went on to attend college in California, where he started working as a reporter and made a name for himself as a writer. Shortly thereafter, he moved to New York, where he worked as an editor for Messenger and published famous names like Langston Hughes. Thurman came to be a prominent literary figure in black artistic circles for ideas that often ran counter to well-known racial-equality writers like W.E.B DuBois. His ideas were loudly presented in his most famous work, The Blacker the Berry – a book about the realities of racial prejudice within the African American community. Nearly a century later, it remains one of the most controversial and widely read works of the Harlem Renaissance.

Today, large cities like Ogden and Salt Lake City are hubs of literary activity and booming with opportunity for fresh talent. If you’re interested in becoming a writer in Utah, getting involved with your local writing community is a good place to start. In the end, though, a successful writing career will most likely follow a formal education. Whether it’s a bachelor’s degree for up-and-coming undergrads or an MA or Master of Fine Arts (MFA) for those looking to take their writing careers to new levels, Utah offers something for all aspiring authors.

“Every time you try to encourage someone else, your own soul will be flooded with a light and glow of peace and good cheer.” ~ Susa Young Gates

Utah’s Creative Writing Classes, Courses, and Workshops Can Prepare You for a Creative Writing Degree

At this point, you’ve probably realized that there’s no specific outline to follow if you want to become a writer. There’s no neatly penciled blueprint or step-by-step guide that’s going to assure your success. Career writing is simply not that prescriptive. Writing is, by its nature, unique to the author. No two writers produce the same story, nor share the same goals, visions, passion, or style. The finished piece is so exclusive and individualistic because the author’s template – the mind – is of, course, one-of-a-kind.

Your journey as a writer starts with exploring your own mind, reflecting on your ideas, discovering your passion, and finding your vision. The first thing you’ll want to do is connect with your local writing community. Getting involved locally is the best way to network, establish relationships, and find opportunities.

The League of Utah Writers is a state-wide writing organization which aims to help writers develop skill through peer critique workshops and skill-building seminars. It has chapters throughout the state, including areas like Ogden, Salt Lake City, and Provo, so no matter where you are, you’re sure to be able to connect. The League also hosts its annual Pre-Quill Conference in Salt Lake City, which puts on writing workshops, hosts a keynote speaker, and concludes with a book signing event. And, if you want to get your name out there, you can participate in any of the group’s three annual contests – the Quills Awards, the Woolley Awards, and Typewriter Awards – or submit a piece of fiction, non-fiction, or poetry to the League’s 2023 Anthology .

If you like writing poetry, you’ll want to check out the Utah State Poetry Society (UTSPS). This group is a great connection point if you’re looking to improve your poetic skill and connect with fellow poets. The UTSPS has so much for you to get involved in – the annual poetry festival, annual writing contest, and poetry and creative writing seminars. And, with chapters in Ogden, Salt Lake City, and St. George, and even online, you’re sure to find a way to connect!

Don’t forget to check out your local literary circulars, too. This is the best way to stay up to date about events and opportunities in your local area. The Quarterly West is an online literary journal sponsored by the University of Utah. Through its partnership with the Academy of American Poets, all poems published in the Quarterly West are shared with the Academy, giving writers access to a larger audience. The journal also pays generously to winners of its poetry and prose contests, with top prize of $500 plus publication to the winner and $200 to the runner-up.

Writing Colleges in Utah Offering Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Creative Writing Provide a Path to Becoming a Writer

Bringing together your experience, carefully honed talent, and your willingness to incorporate all that feedback from hundreds of hours of workshopping, a degree in creative writing provides your last best hope for success as a professional writer.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Other Bachelor’s Degrees in Creative Writing in Utah

Brigham young university.

COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES

Accreditation: NWCCU

Degree: Bachelor – BA

Private School

• English-Creative Writing track

Weber State University

TELITHA E. LINDQUIST COLLEGE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Public School

• English-Creative Writing emphasis

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Other Master’s Degrees in Creative Writing in Utah

Degree:  Master – MFA

• Creative Writing

University of Utah

Degree:  Master – MA

MFA Creative Writing

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• MA in Art History
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Department of Art & Art History College of Fine Arts | The University of Utah

MFA Program Information

• MFA Application Process
• Current & Previous MFA Students
• U of U Graduate School

The Department of Art & Art History offers a stimulating and collegial atmosphere in which to advance your artistic practice and earn an MFA in art from Utah's leading Tier-1 research institution. The graduate student-to-faculty member ratio provides the opportunity to receive individual and specialized attention. The open structure of our two-year, full-time MFA program allows you to work with a supervisory committee to develop your own program of study. As a graduate student, you also have access to numerous facilities beyond the workshops, labs, and studios in the Art and Sculpture Buildings: among these are the Utah Museum of Fine Arts ; the Marriott Library with the Katherine W. Dumke Fine Arts and Architecture Library , the Book Arts Studio , and the Digital Matters Lab ; the Make Space at Lassonde Studios ; Taft-Nicholson Center in Centennial Valley, Montana; and the Bonderman Field Station at Rio Mesa .

We offer all incoming graduate students the opportunity to be a teaching assistant and receive a minimum of $10,000 a year stipend, plus a tuition discount, as part of the Graduate Tuition Benefit Program . The university also provides numerous opportunities to apply for research and teaching grants to help you finish your degree. Please explore our website as well as the graduate school's site , and if you have any questions about the program, please contact us .

Program Information

The MFA Program in Studio Art welcomes applicants with an outstanding record of creative activity. We expect you to have a BFA degree in Art or a cognate discipline such as architecture or design and a sincere commitment to graduate study demands. In our program, you can specialize in Community-Based Art Education, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Illustration, Painting and Drawing, Photography and Digital Imaging, Printmaking, and Sculpture Intermedia.

The two-year residential MFA program in studio art is for those fully committed to their lives as artists through superior creative work, discipline, and self-motivation. You will demonstrate a mature and intelligent conceptualization of your work and a general understanding of contemporary art’s different perspectives. In the program, you can master the techniques and technologies needed to realize your career goals.

The Department has a broad range of excellent facilities with specialized equipment. The Art and Sculpture Buildings include a woodshop and tool room, a print shop, spray booths, thermoforming and plastic fabrication, digital imaging and audio computer labs, darkrooms, plaster room, metal fabrication, and foundry rooms, photography lighting studio, ceramic wheel, and glaze rooms, and a variety of kilns, including a car kiln. The Alvin Gittins Gallery, a departmental exhibition venue, is located next door in the Film & Media Arts Building, and the bookmaking and letterpress studio is in the adjacent Marriott Library. Within the Art Building is the D. Ray Owen Reading Room/Computer Lab and the Dumke Photography Studio. The Owen lab contains one large format and several smaller format flatbed/negative scanners, two professional tabletop inkjet printers, a copy stand, and a collection of books, magazines on contemporary art, videos, and CDs/DVDs. The Dumke Photography and Documentation studio has a professional wireless lighting system, backdrops, large-format and medium-format film cameras, and a portable lighting system. The Katherine W. Dumke Fine Arts and Architecture library, part of the Creativity and Innovation Services at the Marriott Library, is an extensive art resource, including a large collection of artists’ books and a large-format scanner. The Utah Museum of Fine Arts is home to a worldwide art collection with concentrations in Asian, American, 20th-century, and contemporary art.

Our graduate students benefit enormously from meeting and working with artists invited to our Department as part of the Carmen M. Christensen Visiting Artist/Scholar Lecture Series and the Warnock Visiting Artist in Residence . The faculty selects a slate of individuals annually for their contribution to the visual arts disciplines.

The Master of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art comprises 60 semester credit hours of coursework. This includes 26 hours in the primary area of studio art specialization, 9 hours of ART 6810 Graduate Seminar, 3 hours of ART 6815 Graduate Critique, 10 hours of classes in allied fields, and 6 hours of art history coursework. A minimum of 6 hours of ART 6975 Final Project is required as preparation for the Final Project and the MFA Exhibition. Coursework must be taken for a letter grade (no grade below B- will count for the MFA degree.)  To graduate, a B average must be maintained. Further explanations of the credit requirements follow; see also the Forms section in the Graduate Handbook for a semester-by-semester chronology of activity.

Students typically enroll in 12-15 credit hours each Fall and Spring Semester; some graduate students also take courses during the Summer Term to complete the program in two years. Students who have been awarded a graduate assistantship or a teaching assistantship are required to register for a minimum of 9 credit hours. The Graduate School's tuition benefit program for a teaching assistantship or graduate assistantship applies only to the first 24 hours of a student's course during the academic year (fall and spring semesters only); tuition for the remaining hours, as well as full tuition in the Summer Term, is the obligation of the student.

Studio Art Specialization

You will complete 26 hours with the faculty in your primary area of specialization. You will enroll in the 6000-level Graduate Project courses as directed studies. Before the semester begins, you must meet with the faculty member you wish to work with and formulate the goals of the class. Your Graduate Study Contract (available online or from the department graduate coordinator) should include a description of the objectives and an outline of the frequency and scheduling of critiques and be signed by you and the faculty member before returning it to the department graduate secretary. When you pay the course fee to the Department, the graduate secretary will issue you the class number/permission number to enroll. All graduate coursework, except for a few classes such as ART 6810 Graduate Seminar (3 credits), have variable credit, generally from 2 – 6. You and the faculty member will decide how many credits you will need for the 6000-level Graduate Project in the semester.

ART 6810 Graduate Seminar & ART 6815 Graduate Critique

You must take ART 6810 for a total of 9 hours & ART 6815 Graduate Critique for 3 hours. The courses are offered in the Fall and Spring semesters of the two-year MFA program. The course rotates among full-time faculty who bring a different perspective each time they teach it. The class is taught from conceptual issues to practical matters of preparing a teaching portfolio.

Allied Studio Credits

Allied fields are defined as work outside your studio specialization, perhaps in another discipline. You need to take a minimum of 10 hours. With the approval of your Supervisory Committee, you may take a graduate course in another department (5000 level or above), Coursework from elsewhere in the University should enrich your studio work or increase your awareness of the arts and humanities.

Art History Credits

The Art History Program has established ARTH 6000-6005 for the required 6 hours of art history coursework. The art history faculty member uses one of the numbers in conjunction with one of their 4000-level lecture courses. You should consult the online class schedule to find the 4000-level course you are interested in. Then, contact the faculty member teaching the course for permission for the appropriate ARTH 6000-level number. You will work with the Graduate Coordinator to obtain the corresponding course number and add code. Graduate students are allowed to sign up for other graduate-level art history courses with permission from the instructor.

ART 6975 Final Project:  MFA

The course gives credit for studio work, and Final Project Paper research and writing that leads to the MFA Exhibition. It has variable credit of 1-6 hours, and you can take the course once or multiple times for a total of 6 hours. The department chair serves as the instructor of record and will issue a "T" grade 9signifying continuing work) until the final requirements are completed (MFA Exhibition, Final Oral Examination, Final Project paper, and MFA Exhibition Documentation).

Final Oral Examination

The examination occurs during the MFA Exhibition and is held in the space where the show is installed. You will be asked to discuss your conceptual insight and technical proficiency concerning your studio work as well as a general professional awareness of contemporary art. You must be registered for at least 3 hours of ART 6975 MFA Final Project during the semester of the MFA Exhibition and Final Oral Examination.

Final Project Paper

In consultation with your Supervisory Committee, you will write a comprehensive essay, approximately 10-20 pages long, that reveals the state of your creative research. The paper is designed to represent formally the culmination of two years of graduate work. A revised draft should be submitted to your Supervisory Committee before the Final Oral Examination as the written counterpart to the MFA Exhibition. See the Appendix for a fuller description of the contents of the final project paper and the "Final Responsibilities" section in this handbook for the procedure for submission of the final version to the University.

MFA Exhibition Documentation

You must document your complete MFA Exhibition in a digital format and provide a USB thumb drive or shareable URL with the images. Twenty or more images become the property of the Department and will be housed in its Visual Resources Collection.

The Department of Art & Art History provides students opportunities to serve as teaching assistants during the two-year program as part of the Tuition Benefit Program , which covers up to 24 in-state credit hours and all university fees. We start our Tuition Benefit offer with a minimum of 50% off in-state tuition and a stipend of $10,000 a year. The base stipend and TB discount can increase depending on the quality of your application. We will also increase the discount and stipend based on available funding. We also offer scholarship assistance to incoming students studying specific artist practices. Graduate students in good standing can apply for the Graduate Research Fellowship or Graduate Teaching Assistantship for their second year, which pays 100% in-state tuition for 24 credit hours and a stipend of over $20,000 (it increases almost every year). Please consult the Graduate Fellowship Opportunity website for further information on this and other financial aid resources.

The Graduate School Research Supplemental Travel Award is available to graduate students who will present their creative research at a professional conference. Application is made through the Graduate School, and up to $500 may be granted. The online form is available through the Graduate School website.

The College of Fine Arts also has several financial opportunities for graduate students, including the CFA Graduate Research Grant , the Graduate Research Excellent Fellowship , the CFA Dean's Fund for Excellence , and the CFA Individual Student Travel Grants . Please visit their website for further opportunities and information.

Individual Studio Space

The department attempts to provide all MFA graduate students individual studio space in the Art Building. Space is currently at a premium, and you may be required to share or relinquish your studio if it is insufficiently used. The Director of Graduate Studies reviews studio assignments each August. Students in good standing may retain their studio for the length of the 2-year MFA program.

Building Access and Shared Facilities

The Art and Sculpture Buildings are wired for security and controlled access. Students need to have a University ID or U-Card to get access to the building. Graduate students need to obtain their U-Card from the University Student Union Bldg. Once a student has their card, a department staff member can code the card through the C-cure system (pronounced "secure"). Graduate students are granted access to exterior doors and several shared shops/labs in the Art and Sculpture Buildings, including a computer lab (ART 169), darkroom (ART 264), print shop (ART 252), dry mount /copy stand / FAB room (ART 160G), woodshop and tool room (SCULP 184-185), plaster room (SCULP 181), kilns (SCULP 195), foundry (SCULP 182), sandblasting booth (ART 180), three spray booths (painting, woodshop, ceramics). Woodshop and sandblasting access is granted after learning safety and equipment operation procedures in a Fall Semester orientation led by the Facilities Supervisor.

The Facilities Supervisor is charged with maintaining specialized machines and equipment (excepting Dumke and computer labs) and should be informed immediately of theft or damage. The custodial staff does not clean these spaces, so all graduate students are expected to clean up after themselves and store their materials away from public areas. Graduate students have access to the Owen Reading Room (ART 365), a supplement to the Katherine W. Dumke Fine Arts and Architecture Division in the University's Marriott Library. The Reading Room has a collection of books, videos/CDs/DVDs, and subscriptions to current issues of some art and art history periodicals. Back issues of all periodicals in the Reading Room are housed at Marriott Library. Checkout of materials in the Reading Room for short periods is restricted to faculty and TAs as the instructor of record for a class.

Student Insurance

Graduate students have the option to get affordable health insurance coverage through the Graduate School as part of the Tuition Benefit Program. The details of the program can be found at http://gradschool.utah.edu/tbp/insurance-information/ .

Safety & Wellness

Your safety is our top priority. In an emergency, dial 911 or seek a nearby emergency phone (throughout campus). Report any crimes or suspicious people to 801-585-COPS; this number will get you to a dispatch officer at the University of Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS; dps.utah.edu). If, at any time, you would like to be escorted by a security officer to or from areas on campus, DPS will help — just give them a call.

The University of Utah seeks to provide a safe and healthy experience for students, employees, and others who make use of campus facilities.  In support of this goal, the University has established confidential resources and support services to assist students who may have been affected by harassment, abusive relationships, or sexual misconduct. A detailed listing of University Resources for campus safety can be found at https://registrar.utah.edu/handbook/campussafety.php.

Your well-being is key to your personal safety. If you are in crisis, call 801-587-3000; help is close.

The university has additional excellent resources to promote emotional and physical wellness, including the Counseling Center ( https://counselingcenter.utah.edu ), the Wellness Center ( https://wellness.utah.edu ), and the Women’s Resource Center ( https://womenscenter.utah.edu ). Counselors and advocates in these centers can help guide you to other resources to address a range of issues, including substance abuse and addiction.

University of Utah Title IX Information

The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX, the Department of Education, the Office for Civil Rights, etc.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, we encourage you to report it to Title IX in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action.

Sherrie Hayashi, Director Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO/AA) 201 South Presidents Circle, Rm.135 Salt Lake City, UT, 84112 801-581-8365 801-585-5746 (fax) [email protected] www.oeo.utah.edu Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu

For further information, please see:

• https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/
• https://regulations.utah.edu/general/1-012.php
• https://regulations.utah.edu/general/1-011.php

Department of Art & Art History MFA Family Leave Policy

Students who need time off for caregiving can take up to 16 weeks for a Family Leave of absence. Students who experience a medical condition associated with their pregnancy and need accommodations recommended by their medical provider should contact the Office of Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Title IX. https://oeo.utah.edu/

The OEO office will work with the student, cognizant faculty, and administration to determine reasonable and effective accommodations. The student will be ineligible for financial support and may be required to relinquish individual studio space during the semester of familial leave.

Please talk with the Director of MFA Graduate Studies if you wish to apply for Family Leave.

By University policy, you must maintain a minimum registration (Fall and Spring) of one semester hour per semester until you complete all MFA degree requirements, including the semester in which you schedule your MFA Exhibition and Final Oral Examination. Summer terms are not included in this requirement. You will not graduate until all Department, College, and Graduate School requirements in this handbook are satisfied.

If you do not maintain minimum registration or submit an official Graduate Student Request for Leave of Absence ( registrar.utah.edu/handbook/leave.php ), your Supervisory Committee will be terminated, and you will be put on inactive status by the Graduate School. You must reapply to the Graduate School Admissions Office to reactivate your file. According to University policy, four consecutive calendar years are the maximum length for completing MFA degree requirements. Your permanent record is maintained in the College of Fine Arts.

Please download the Graduate Handbook for full details about the program.

Start your application.

To learn more about the application requirements or start an application,

press the button.

Applications are due by January 15th .

Meet & greet event, sept. 20th at 1 pm or nov. 1st at 10 am.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, the department conducts Prospective Graduate Student Meet & Greet events during the fall semester so you can learn why our MFA program is where you should go to further your creative research.  The events will explain what we offer an MFA candidate, give you a tour of the facilities, allow you to meet some faculty, help answer questions, and show you how to apply to the program.

Please get in touch with Lewis J. Crawford , the Director of MFA Graduate Studies, with any questions.

Galleries & MFA Final Papers

- Ceramics - Community-Based Art Education - Painting and Drawing - Photography & Digital Imaging - Printmaking - Sculpture Intermedia - MFA Thesis Papers

MFA Forms & Resources

- Information Form - MFA Checklist - Graduate Study Contract - TA Responsibilities Worksheet - Graduate TA Time Sheet - Teaching Handbook - Teaching & Research Image Database - Graduate/Mentoring Committee - Program of Study Worksheet - Graduate Committee Preference Sheet - 1st Year Probation Review - Report of Final Examination - Supervisory Committee Approval - Final Reading Approval - Documentation Sign-off Form - Marriott Library Publishing Agreement - Requirements for Graduation Release

Check out what our current (and previous) graduate students are up to!

University of Utah

Salt Lake City , UT

http://english.utah.edu/creative-writing/

Degrees Offered

Fiction, Poetry, CNF

Residency type

Cross-genre study.

PhD students are encourage to take a workshop outside the genre of their dissertation.

• Pamela Balluck MFA (Fiction) 2000, PhD (Fiction) 2008
• Allison Field Bell PhD (Fiction/CNF)
• Malachi Black PhD (Poetry) 2014
• Harmony Button MFA (Poetry) 2007
• Sigman Byrd PhD (Poetry) 2003
• Jackson Connor MFA (Fiction) 2005
• Martin Corless-Smith PhD
• Lisa Fay Coutley PhD (Poetry) 2014
• Meg Day PhD (Poetry) 2015
• Daniele Cadena Deulen PhD (CNF) 2011
• Noam Dorr PhD
• Halina Duraj PhD (Fiction) 2010
• Michael Gills PhD (Fiction) 1997
• Katharine Haake PhD (Fiction) 1984
• Ceridwen Hall PhD (Poetry) 2020
• Rachel Michelle Hanson MFA 2010
• Pam Houston MA (Fiction) 1992
• T. R. Hummer PhD (Poetry) 1980
• Ishion Hutchinson PhD (Poetry) 2012
• Rebecca Lindenberg PhD (Poetry/CNF) 2011
• Christine Marshall PhD 2009
• Shena McAuliffe PhD (Fiction/CNF) 2014
• David McGlynn PhD 2006
• Brenda Miller PhD 1999
• Josie Milliken PhD 2009
• Debra Monroe PhD (Fiction) 1990
• Matthew Nye MFA 2011
• Timothy O'Keefe PhD (Poetry/CNF)
• Donald Platt PhD (Poetry) 1995
• Alyssa Quinn PhD
• Wendy Rawlings PhD 2000
• Sherod Santos PhD 1982
• Margot Singer PhD (Fiction) 2005
• Jamie L. Smith PhD 2024
• Darrell Spencer PhD 1986
• Nicole Walker MFA (Poetry) 2001, PhD (Poetry) 2006
• Adam Tipps Weinstein PhD 2017
• Michael White PhD 1990
• Cori Winrock PhD

Send questions, comments and corrections to [email protected] .

Disclaimer: No endorsement of these ratings should be implied by the writers and writing programs listed on this site, or by the editors and publishers of Best American Short Stories , Best American Essays , Best American Poetry , The O. Henry Prize Stories and The Pushcart Prize Anthology .

Creative Writing, MFA

Pen a future in writing..

Fiction. Poetry. Nonfiction. No matter your genre, if you want a career in the literary arts, this program provides the rigorous instruction and expert guidance you need to polish your craft and develop your voice as a professional writer.

As an MFA student, you will undergo intensive theoretical and practical training across genres – including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, editing and publishing. You will complete a thesis in the form of a collection of poetry, short stories, essays, a novel or memoir.

The MFA program features an intimate, supportive learning environment with an award-winning faculty of published writers. Students have opportunities to publish their works in national literary magazines and for mentorship from nationally recognized authors through the Distinguished Visiting Writers Program.

• Are an aspiring professional writer
• Want to teach creative writing at university or college level
• Have a strong background in creative writing
• Self-motivated and goal-oriented
• Eager to be challenged, technically and creatively
• Committed to developing your craft

Career Outcomes

• Environmental writer
• Magazine writer
• Writing conference/program director
• Public relations specialist
• Advertising professional
• Freelance business writer
• Arts manager

Available On-Campus

You may also be interested in:

Develop your talents as a professional performer, composer, music educator or studio teacher.

History, M.A.

Enrich your historical perspective through the in-depth study of the history of the United States, Europe or North American West.

More degrees below. Enjoy!

Theatre arts: performance.

Prepare for a career performing, directing, writing or designing for professional theatre.

Theatre Arts: Scenery

Develop advanced critical thinking and writing skills through the scholarly study of language, literature and rhetoric.

Theatre Arts: Lighting

Music: choral conducting.

Develop your talents as a professional performer, composer, conductor or studio teacher.

Theatre Arts

Political science.

Learn how to research and analyze the relationships, behaviors and other factors that drive governments and political systems around the world.

Anthropology

Gain advanced training and research skills in the study of people and cultures of the past and present.

Theatre Arts: Directing

Theatre arts: dramatic writing, music: performance, music: composition, interdisciplinary studies.

Integrate courses from two or more departments to create a customized plan of study that supports your unique interests and professional goals.

Public Administration

Gain management, planning and budgeting skills for a leadership role in a public agency or nonprofit organization.

Music: Collaborative Piano

Psychology: human factors emphasis.

Explore the psychology of the human mind and its role in decision-making, behaviors, relationships, work and more.

Music: Piano Pedagogy & Performance Studies

Theatre arts: costumes.

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Department of English

• Why English Studies?
• Why Creative Writing?
• Career Success
• BA in English/Creative Writing
• Graduate Admissions
• Undergraduate Studies
• MA/PhD in Literary/Writing Studies
• Undergraduate Course Offerings
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Our MFA in Creative Writing

Our three-year MFA program provides students with graduate study and professional training in the writing of fiction and poetry with our distinguished graduate faculty.

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing is a terminal degree awarded by the University of Illinois. Our three-year MFA program provides students with graduate study and professional training in the writing of fiction and poetry with our distinguished graduate faculty :  Ángel García , Janice Harrington , Amy Hassinger , Christopher Kempf ,  Ted Sanders , Alex Shakar , Corey Van Landingham,  and David Wright .

The primary goal of the MFA in Creative Writing is to give literary artists time and space to work on perfecting their art. Students will teach creative writing and produce a book-length, publishable manuscript. Students will also gain extensive experience in literary editing and publishing while enrolled in the program.

Teaching Assistantships, Fellowships, and Tuition Waivers

The MFA program at the University of Illinois is fully funded. Students accepted into the program will receive full tuition waivers, guaranteed teaching assistantships, and partial-fee waivers for the duration of the program, as long as they remain in good standing and make reasonable progress toward their degree.

Stipends for MFA students are competitive and the low cost of living in the area is quite reasonable. In their first year, all entering MFA candidates will receive a 1/1 teaching assistantship (one class each semester). In their second year, students will receive a 2/1 assistantship, with opportunities for teaching-load reduction in the form of publishing-job-training graduate assistantships with our award-winning literary magazine,  Ninth Letter.  In their third year, students will again receive a 1/1 teaching assistantship.

Most semesters, teaching assignments will be in the undergraduate rhetoric program. MFA students will also teach at least one undergraduate creative-writing workshop, with an opportunity to teach additional undergraduate classes in creative writing. In recent semesters, MFA students have taught CW 104 Fiction Writing I, CW 106 Poetry Writing I, and CW 200 Reading for Writers, among other courses. 

For application requirements and instructions, please visit  Application Requirements for Prospective Students .

Life in Champaign-Urbana

Life in C-U combines some of the best aspects of life in a city with the benefits of a small-town environment.

Accessibility :

• Low cost of living, affordable housing, and green spaces within half a mile of every home
• Free, award-winning mass transit for all U of I students
• Proximity to major cities with Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis only a few hours away

Arts & Culture:

• Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and Krannert Art Museum
• Vibrant local live music scene
• Public art and murals throughout the area, seasonal fairs and festivals

Food & Drink:

• A food scene reflecting the diversity of the country’s second largest international population at a public university
• A wide range of bars and local breweries to suit anyone’s taste

The faculty of the Creative Writing Program represent a diverse range of writing and teaching styles and interests. Faculty members work and teach actively in a wide variety of genres and media, including poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, juvenile fiction, theater, and film. Faculty members have received numerous awards and fellowships, including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Fiction, the O’Henry Prize in fiction, the Pushcart Prize, the A. Poulin Jr. Poetry Prize, the Kate Tufts Discovery Prize, the Levis Prize, the William Peden Prize, the FC2 National Fiction Competition, the Academy of American Poets Award, the Bakeless Prize, the Wallace Stegner fellowship, and fellowships from the NEA, Guggenheim Foundation, Yaddo, MacDowell, CantoMundo, Bread Loaf, Sewanee, and many others.

Follow the links below to learn more about our MFA program's core faculty members:

Ángel García

Janice N. Harrington

Amy Hassinger

Christopher Kempf

Ted Sanders

Alex Shakar

Corey Van Landingham

David Wright

Ninth Letter

Ninth Letter , the University of Illinois's award-winning literature and arts magazine, is a semi-annual publication featuring emerging and established writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and other genres undefined, as well as visual artists   working in a variety of mediums. This collaborative energy comes together in a highly-designed format, both in print and on the web.

Ninth Letter  is dedicated to providing educational opportunities to all interested MFA candidates. Students may enroll in the  Ninth Letter - based literary publishing course and will have the opportunity to work as assistants on the editorial staff alongside the journal’s faculty editors: Amy Hassinger (Fiction Editor), Ja nice N. Harrington  (Poetry Editor) and Christopher Kempf  (Creative Nonfiction Editor).

Students in UIUC's MFA in Creative Writing program hail from a wide range of educational and cultural backgrounds, and their work in prose and poetry explores an extensive range of literary styles. While enrolled in the program, students past and present have published writing in  AGNI ,  Alaska Quarterly Review ,   The Believer ,  Cincinnati Review ,  Colorado Review ,  Copper Nickel ,  Georgia Review ,  Kenyon Review ,  Missouri Review ,  Paris Review , and elsewhere.  Additionally, recent MFA book publications include Laura Adamczyk's  Island City  (Macmillan, 2023); Lillian-Yvonne Bertram's  Negative Money  (Soft Skull, 2023); Chekwube Danladi's  Semiotics  (University of Georgia Press, 2020), winner of the 2019 Cave Canem Poetry Prize; Katherine Gaffney's  Fool in a Blue House  (University of Tampa Press, 2023), winner of the 2022  Tampa Review  Prize; Matthew Minicucci's  DUAL  (Acre, 2023); and Jess Tanck's  Winter Here  (University of Georgia Press, 2024), winner of the 2022 Georgia Poetry Prize.

Carrie Johnson (Poetry)

Deon Robinson (Poetry)

Nina Sannes (Fiction)

Andrea Sielicki (Fiction)

Zach Simon (Poetry)

Second Year

Matthew Fash (Poetry)

Justine Mercado (Poetry)

David Miller (Fiction)

Jason Pfister (Fiction)

Erin Stoodley (Poetry)

Hannah Thorpe (Fiction)

Isabella Escamilla (Poetry)

David Foley (Poetry)

Gabriella Hoggatt (Fiction)

Callan Latham  (Poetry)

Tyler Moore (Fiction)

Garrett Stack (Fiction)

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MFA Program in Creative Writing

Founded by Richard Hugo, our MFA program has been going strong for over 50 years. We offer long winters, brilliant peers, a diverse and engaged faculty, excellent funding, and community that lasts long after the program ends.

We provide students with a variety of awards, fellowships, scholarships and TA positions. TA’s teach one class per semester in exchange for a tuition waiver + stipend. We provide excellent training for teaching both composition and creative writing. We also offer Truman Capote Scholarships - tuition waivers and stipends without the obligation of teaching.

Students take 4 workshops in fiction, nonfiction or poetry; 1 techniques course; 4 literature or special topics courses; and a year-long, one-on-one mentorship with a faculty member that results in a thesis manuscript. We offer elective courses in critical theory, film, storytelling and teaching with a focus on preparing writers to teach a variety of courses at the college level.

More than 50 of our graduates hold tenure-line positions in creative writing at universities across the country; 13 of them are directing these creative writing programs.

Students direct their own reading series, Second Wind , pairing second year MFA students with community writers. They also edit and publish Cutbank , a noted literary journal featuring poetry, prose, art and critical work by both emerging and established artists. The Editor-in-Chief receives full funding.

Former students have published widely (over 27% of our graduates have books with reputable publishing houses). Our alumni include Sandra Alcosser, Kim Barnes, Judy Blunt, Kevin Canty, Emily Danforth, Chris Dombrowski, Rick DeMarinis, Michael Fitzgerald, David Gilbert, Andrew Sean Greer - winner of the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction , Shannon Hale, Frances Hwang, Megan Kruse, Melissa Kwasny, Aryn Kyle, J. Robert Lennon, Abi Maxwell, Neil McMahon, Deirdre McNamer, Colin Meloy, Janisse Ray, Steven Rinella, Kim Todd, Amanda Eyre Ward, James Welch, Robert Wrigley and William Finnegan - winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Autobiography. 

Our program actively assists students in creating successful careers with writing.

Each year we welcome semester-long visiting writers in both poetry and prose. We also sponsor frequent readings and workshops by short-term visiting writers. Past visitors include Sherwin Bitsui, Marilyn Chin, Charles D'Ambrosio, Timothy Donnelly, Alexandra Fuller, Walter Kirn, William Kittredge, Catherine Lacey, Chang-rae Lee, Sandra Lim, Barry Lopez, Eileen Myles, Alice Notley, Peter Orner, Gregory Pardlo, D.A. Powell, Claudia Rankine, Mary Szybist, Jess Walter, and Dara Weir, among others. 

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1000 E. University Ave.

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: 307-766-6452

Fax: 307-766-3189

Email: [email protected]

At the University of Wyoming, we consider prose a full-time commitment. In fact, we are one of the few universities you will find anywhere that devotes its fully funded MFA program entirely to prose. We teach a wide range of courses in fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid forms. We offer award-winning faculty who write novels and story collections, public dialogues and philosophical meditations. We prepare our graduates to release books with prominent commercial and small-press publishers, and to bring their prose passions to writing for scientific communities, for public radio, for political campaigns. We recognize that prose writers need, most of all, time to hone their purpose and cultivate their craft. Accordingly, we provide each student with free tuition, career-enhancing (but never schedule-filling) teaching opportunities, and a generous living stipend. Our flexible degree requirements allow students to tailor their pursuits to their personal interests and career goals, and encourage many students to pursue simultaneous joint degrees in a variety of fields: from American Indian Studies, to English Literature, to Gender and Women's studies, to Environmental and Natural Resources, to Geology.

Our incomparable location beside the Medicine Bow National Forest and the Snowy Mountains allows ample space for focused work, and endless potential to expand one's artistic range through exploration of the stunning wilderness, through structured engagements with nearby writing programs and residency programs, and through informal excursions to Denver. Our students take advantage of summer stipends and numerous travel scholarships to position themselves all around the world, on a wide array of research projects. Our ongoing collaborations with prominent literary agents, with Essay Press, and with the renowned Wyoming Public Radio station provide prose writers with constructive models, with useful contacts, and with practical know-how when it comes to taking your prose public.

Program News

Jeff Lockwood's TED talk: Are locust plagues unstoppable?

Jeff Lockwood's Murder on the Fly , the next book in his noir mystery series featuring CV Riley (investigator/exterminator), is now available from the publisher , Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and all really discerning bookstores.  

In this excerpt from an MFA Conversation, University of Wyoming's David Romtvedt and MFA Candidate Bethann Garramon Merkle discuss what it means to be drawn toward and inspired by particular place and how writers' perspectives can be altered by proximity and time.

The Meadowlark Review

a student-run, online literary journal

ENR Spotlight on Manasseh Franklin.  Manasseh graduated with a joint degree in Creative Writing and ENR. She wrote her MFA thesis on glaciers and spent time exploring the glaciers of North America with the generous assistance of the ENR program and the Creative Writing program.

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Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

With a degree in creative writing, students can publish fiction, poetry, drama, memoir, and screenplays, as well as become educators, journalists, and editors for magazines and publishing companies.

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Programs at Reinhardt University

The creative writing program at Reinhardt University is unique because of its small classes and individual attention from award-winning writers. Whether it’s poetry, fiction, playwriting, screenplay, or memoir, students are guided on creative projects with a rich understanding of literary traditions.

Students work one-on-one with faculty on projects that lead toward a publishable manuscript, en route to becoming stalwart editors. Oftentimes, undergraduate students work with M.F.A. students on projects as editors.

Many of the creative writing students have worked as editors on manuscripts that have gone on to be published, including award-winning books. It is not uncommon for the RU CW students to work on graduate-level projects, including working as an editor on the James Dickey Review, which has a national reputation for publishing the best writers in the world.

Choose from numerous genres: poetry, fiction, memoir, drama, or screenplays for your creative writing degree at RU:

• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (B.F.A.)
• Creative Writing minor

What You’ll Learn at RU

With one-on-one instruction from award-winning professors, the creative writing student can begin at any level and work toward publishing a manuscript. From the beginning draft and planning, through revision and editing, students are guided through the professional process of writing and publishing.

By the time you graduate with a degree in creative writing, you will understand:

• The major ideas of literary movements and how to apply a study of these movements to the student’s creative work
• How to recognize and understand the value of other’s creative work
• How to properly edit for magazine publication
• How to tap into their creative resources for ideas and inspiration
• How to communicate ideas
• How to publish and where to publish

Creative Writing Classes You’ll Take

All creative writing classes are offered as advanced classes. Here are just a few of the CW classes you will take while pursuing your degree:

• Fiction Writing
• Script Writing
• Literary Editing and Publishing
• Poetry Writing
• Screenplay Writing
• Creative Writing Internship

Open Course Catalog

Careers in Creative Writing

National average for a novelist, with a potential for more with sales and movie rights.

Possible Careers

• Creative Writer
• Web Designer
• Video Game Designer
• Video Game Content Editor
• Concept Artist
• UX Designer
• Freelance Writer
• Advertising Designer
• Script Doctor

Related Programs

• Creative Writing
• English Language Arts Education

Creative Writing Program Details

Tuition and Fees

Reinhardt’s affordable tuition helps you get the personal attention and real-world experiences that will give you a competitive edge in the creative writing job market.

Based on the 2023-24 RU Catalog, the fee per credit hours is $560. The Catalog includes:

• Convocation of Artists and Scholars
• Creative Writing Club
• English Honor Society – Sigma Tau Delta
• Tutoring in the Center for Student Success
• Editor of the student literary journal, Sanctuary
• Participant in off-campus literary events, such as viewing plays at the Alliance Theatre
• Meeting local, national, and international authors

View Cost of Attendance

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Nearly all students at Reinhardt University receive some sort of financial aid or scholarship. Find out what options you may be eligible for.

Check Scholarship and Aid Eligibility

Clubs and Organizations

Student organizations and activities round out the total educational program at Reinhardt University. And there is something for everyone, from sports and outdoor recreation, to student government and leadership opportunities, to multicultural and faith-based groups.

Get Involved on Campus

Campus Living

Living on campus is an essential part of the college experience and will help you adjust to college life. You’ll have more opportunities to interact with faculty and friends, get involved in activities, and have easy access to classes, the library, performing arts, recreational, and athletic facilities.

Explore Dorm Life

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Creative Writing Department

Reinhardt University Lawson Building, 124-B 7300 Reinhardt Circle Waleska, GA 30183-2981

[email protected] 770.720.5526

7300 Reinhardt Circle | Waleska, GA 30183

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UMass Boston

• Creative Writing MFA

Further your commitment to writing as the center of your professional life.

Intensive study and practice of fiction and poetry writing with award-winning and nationally renowned faculty at the most diverse university in new england..

UMass Boston's Creative Writing MFA offers you an intense, 3-year program and focused opportunity to further your commitment to writing as the center of your professional life. Through a combination of mentoring by accomplished faculty in a series of creative writing workshops, courses focused on the study of literature offered through the English MA Program, and electives that include the practice of literary editing, the teaching of creative writing, documentary poetics, the art of memoir, and more—you will have the guidance to develop and shape your work to the full extent of your talent.

All accepted students receive funding. Graduate assistantships offer the opportunity to work with students as teaching assistants and fellows, or in editorial positions with one of our sponsors, including 826 Boston, Hanging Loose Press, Write on the Dot, Consequence Magazine, Breakwater Review, and Arrowsmith Press.

Career Possibilities

Pursue a career as a professional writer, publishing your work in literary journals, magazines. Work as an editor and collaborate with writers to refine their work and shape the final product for publication. These are just a few of the possibilities.

Become a(n):

• Writer/Author
• Literary Agent
• Writing Instructor/Professor

Start Your Application

Plan Your Education

How to apply.

Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the following program-specific requirements:

• A 3.0 GPA overall and in the student’s major
• Three substantive and detailed letters of recommendation, from former teachers familiar with the applicant’s most recent academic and creative work
• A 3-5 page personal statement focusing on the role of the candidate’s reading life in his or her development as a writer. (Note: The general Graduate Admissions application refers to this as a statement of interests and intent. They are one and the same.)
• Applicants must indicate whether they are applying in FICTION or POETRY in their Statement of Purpose. If you want to apply in both genres, include one writing sample in FICTION and one in POETRY and indicate in the Statement of Purpose that the application is for both.
• A writing sample of 10 manuscript pages of poetry or 20 manuscript pages of fiction

Deadlines & Cost

Deadlines: January 15 (priority) for fall. While rare, if space is available, we’ll happily consider applications until June 1 (final deadline).

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Program Cost Information: Bursar's website

Writing Workshops (24 Credits)

Complete one from below four times.

• CW 601 - MFA Poetry Workshop 6 Credit(s) or
• CW 602 - MFA Fiction Workshop 6 Credit(s)

Literature Courses (9 Credits)

Complete three graduate literature courses.

Electives (9 Credits)

Complete three from below.

• CW 605 - Memoir Workshop 3 Credit(s)
• CW 606 - Literary Editing and Publishing 3 Credit(s)
• CW 614 - The Teaching of Creative Writing 3 Credit(s)
• CW 675 - Creative Writing Internship 3 Credit(s)
• CW 697 - Special Topics in Creative Writing 1-6 Credit(s)

Students may elect courses offered by other graduate programs with approval from the graduate program director.

• ENGL 459 Seminar for Tutors may be taken for graduate credit (see Undergraduate Catalog)
• ENGL 675 - Reading and Writing Poetry 3 Credit(s)
• ENGL 676 - Reading and Writing Fiction 3 Credit(s)
• ENGL 681 - Advanced Workshop in Poetry 3 Credit(s)
• ENGL 682 - Advanced Workshop in Fiction 3 Credit(s)

Thesis Courses (6 Credits)

Complete the course below both semesters of the third year.

• CW 699 - MFA Thesis 3 Credit(s)

Graduation Criteria

Complete 48 credits from twelve courses including four writing workshops, three literature courses, three electives, and two semesters of thesis workshops.

The MFA degree requires six semesters of full-time study, with 9 credits required in each of the first four semesters, and 6 credits in the final two semesters, during which students will concentrate on completing a thesis in fiction or poetry under the direction of a faculty member. MFA workshops are limited to 12 students, and seminars are limited to 15. Students have the opportunity to interact with writers in our Global Voices Visiting Writer series (recent visitors have been Raquel Salas Rivera and Carole Maso), and work with visiting prose writers - recently these have included Jane Unrue, ZZ Packer, and Fanny Howe.

Capstone: Completion of an MFA thesis of 48 to 64 pages of poetry or 100 to 200 pages of fiction written under the supervision of a thesis advisor, reviewed by a thesis committee, and subject to a public defense.

Statute of limitations: Five years.

Contact & Faculty

Graduate Program Director John Fulton john.fulton [at] umb.edu (617) 287-6700

English & Creative Writing MFA Department englishmfaprogram [at] umb.edu (617) 287-6702

Fiction Faculty

John Fulton , Program Director & Associate Professor Askold Melnyczuk , Professor Eileen Pollack , Visiting Assistant Professor

Poetry Faculty

Jill McDonough , Professor Shangyang Fang , Associate Lecturer

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