Admission to Graduate Studies

Admission Requirements

• All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy. 

• Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.  

• English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required. 

M.F.A. application requirements

To be admitted to any of the department’s graduate degree tracks, a student must have a strong undergraduate record, particularly in the humanities. Creative writing applicants need to submit writing samples that demonstrate an advanced level of writing skills in their respective genres. For complete admission information, see below.

In addition to the application itself, please submit the following supplemental materials:

1. A resumé or curriculum vitae.
2. A statement of approximately 500 words describing your interests, training, experience (including teaching experience), academic ability, and goals.
3. Three letters of recommendation. Recommenders are required to submit their letters electronically. Letters should, if possible, speak to potential as a teacher, although they should primarily be focused on academic and scholarly ability.
4. M.F.A. candidates must submit approximately thirty total pages of prose (fiction or nonfiction)--multiple stories or a longer piece are acceptable. Poetry writing candidates should submit approximately fifteen pages of poetry. Screen or Playwriting candidates should submit at least one one-act play. 

All applicants must submit their graduate application online. All supplemental materials (transcripts, writing samples, letters of recommendation, etc.) may be attached electronically and submitted with the online application. 

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Degree Requirements

Students are not permitted to take courses at the 500 level or below. No more than 6 hours may be taken at the 600 level. 2 courses (6 hours) outside the department may be taken with approval of the director of graduate studies.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Coursework
ENGL 800	Methods, Theory, and Professionalism	3
ENGL 801	Study and Teaching of Writing	3
4 Creative writing workshops (in any combination)		12
ENGL 751	Fiction Writing III
ENGL 752	Poetry Writing III
ENGL 753	Writers Workshop
ENGL 756	Forms: _____
ENGL 757	Speculative Fiction Writing Workshop
2 courses in non-creative writing English electives		6
2 elective courses		6
ENGL 899	M.A./M.F.A. Thesis	15
Total Hours		45

Thesis Defense

Oral presentation and defense of a thesis to a faculty committee. The thesis will consist of a portfolio of the student’s best work in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, playwriting, or some combination thereof. The committee must meet the requirements outlined in the Office of Graduate Studies' Master's Student Oral Exam Committee Composition policy. 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Other English Electives
ENGL 620	Renaissance English Literature: _____	3
ENGL 633	Milton	3
ENGL 650	Romantic Literature: _____	3
ENGL 655	Victorian LIterature: ______	3
ENGL 690	Studies in: _____	3
ENGL 709	Critical Theory: Problems and Principles: _____	3
ENGL 725	Shakespeare: _____	3
ENGL 730	Topics in Early Modern Literature: _____	3
ENGL 750	British Literature of the19th Century: _____	3
ENGL 760	British Literature of the 20th Century: _____	3
ENGL 774	Topics in Literatures of Africa and the African Diaspora: _____	3
ENGL 776	American Literature to 1900: _____	3
ENGL 777	American Literature after 1900: _____	3
ENGL 780	Composition Studies	3
ENGL 880	Topics in Composition Studies and Rhetoric: _____	3
ENGL 904	Seminar in Composition Theory: _____	3
ENGL 905	Seminar in the English Language: _____	3
ENGL 908	Seminar in Literary Criticism: _____	3
ENGL 970	Seminar in American Literature: _____	3
ENGL 974	Seminar in Literatures of Africa and the African Diaspora: _____	3