Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction):

The program offers an opportunity for students to develop creative and critical skills through the practice of writing and the study of literature. The two-year residency M.F.A. program offers workshops, craft seminars, and interdisciplinary opportunities, culminating in the production of the thesis, a book-length manuscript. In addition to courses in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, the program offers special topics workshops in the novel and screenwriting.

Students must complete 36 units (12 classes) and four semesters (excluding summers) in the program, and the completion of an M.F.A. manuscript. 

Applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree or its equivalent, which need not be in English, and have an overall grade-point-average of 3.0.  Applicants must submit a manuscript in their genre: Poetry applicants should send from 6 to 10 poems; fiction applicants should send 3 short stories or 30 pages of a longer work; nonfiction applicants should submit three essays or 30 pages of a longer work. These should be recent samples of your writing. Decisions for admission to the program and awards of teaching assistantships are based largely upon faculty evaluation of your creative sample. Applicants must also submit three letters of recommendation, a 200-250 word personal statement discussing the personal reasons and goals behind your desire to pursue studies in writing, a one-page resume, and official transcripts for all college level work. These materials should be addressed to the Creative Writing Program Director in the Department of English.