The English Department offers a master of fine arts degree in creative writing. The program offers three areas of specialization or tracks: fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry. The master of fine arts is a terminal degree that will serve students seeking careers in writing, higher education teaching, publishing and related fields.
Program Requirements
Candidates design, in consultation with the director of the MFA program, a plan of study including workshops, courses and seminars at the 500 and 600 levels.
Admission Requirements
The English Department seeks the most promising candidates for its master of fine arts in creative writing. Candidates who already possess the MA will receive preference in admission; however, we also encourage exceptional candidates who hold the bachelor’s degree. Applicants with an undergraduate degree in fields other than literature or writing maybe be admitted conditionally, pending additional course work.
In addition to meeting all admission requirements of the Office of Graduate Education, MFA candidates must comply with requirements specific to the MFA program: departmental MFA application form, a resume, three letters of recommendation, a statement of professional purpose, a critical paper, and a writing portfolio (see below). Candidates who wish to apply for a Teaching Assistantship (see below) should address their interest in and qualifications for teaching in the statement of professional purpose. Candidates may apply simultaneously to the MA Program. The application forms and checklist can be found at http://www.nmu.edu/english/gradchecklist
MFA Applicants’ Writing Portfolio
Admission to the program is highly competitive and is determined primarily by the quality and promise of the applicant’s writing. All applicants must submit a writing portfolio in the genre in which they apply. The application deadline is February 1 of each year. The application materials are non-returnable. Page requirements are as follows:
Poetry: 10 pages
Fiction: 20-30 pages
Nonfiction: 20-30 pages
Funding Opportunities
The University offers two types of funding. Teaching Assistantships and Graduate Assistantships. Assistants teach two (2) writing courses per academic year. These courses are at the freshman and sophomore levels. Graduate Assistantships are offered throughout the University for work other than teaching. Applicants for Teaching Assistantships should address their qualifications for teaching in their statement of professional purpose. Additionally, applicants should ask their recommenders to speak to the candidate’s promise as a teacher.
During Winter Semester, active MFA students may apply for a summer Excellence in Education grant. These grants, in the amount of $1,500, are offered by the Office of Graduate Education and Research to fund research and professional travel and to encourage and expand educational opportunities outside the traditional classroom.
Advising
The director of the MFA program will advise all graduate students in the MFA program. Students should meet periodically with the director to ensure their plan of study is appropriate to their needs and acceptable to the Office of Graduate Education and Research. Students are individually responsible for carefully reading and selecting courses in accordance with the requirements of this bulletin.
For department information or additional degree requirements, go to the English department page.
| Total Credits Required | 48 |
| EN 504 Principles of Critical Investigation | 4 |
| Note: Students who have taken a graduate course in critical theory should choose eight credits of literature seminars (see below). | |
| Literature Seminar | |
| Choose one course from the following: | 4 |
| EN 505 Genres of Writing (1 - 4 cr.) | |
| EN 514 Seminar in the English Language (4 cr.) | |
| EN 530 Major Authors (4 cr.) | |
| EN 560 Literary Movements (4 cr.) | |
| EN 570 Seminar in American Literature (4 cr.) | |
| EN 590 Seminar in British Literature (4 cr.) | |
| EN 595 Special Topics (1 - 4 cr.) | |
| EN 698 Directed Study (1 - 4 cr.) | |
| Form and Technique | |
| Choose one course from the following: | 4 |
| EN 640 Form and Technique of Fiction and Creative Nonfiction (1 - 6 cr.) | |
| EN 641 Form and Technique of Poetry (1 - 6 cr.) | |
| Electives/Cognates | 8-16 |
| Electives may be chosen from among all 500 or 600 level English courses. No more than 8 of the 16 credits may be cognates, with approval of the student's adviser. | |
| Thesis (Book length manuscript*) | 8-12 |
| EN 699A Thesis | 1 - 6 |
| Specialty Area Workshops | 12-16 |
| Choose 12 credits from the following: | |
| Fiction | |
| EN 500 Fiction Workshop (1 - 6 cr.) | |
| EN 505 Genres of Writing (1 - 4 cr.) | |
| EN 595 Special Topics (1 - 4 cr.) | |
| EN 598 Directed Study (1 - 4 cr.) | |
| EN 600 Fiction Workshop (1 - 6 cr.) | |
| EN 698 Directed Study (1 - 4 cr.) | |
| Poetry | |
| EN 501 Poetry Workshop (1 - 6 cr.) | |
| EN 505 Genres of Writing (1 - 4 cr.) | |
| EN 595 Special Topics (1 - 4 cr.) | |
| EN 598 Directed Study (1 - 4 cr.) | |
| EN 601 Poetry Workshop (1 - 6 cr.) | |
| EN 698 Directed Study (1 - 4 cr.) | |
| Creative Nonfiction | |
| EN 502 Nonfiction Workshop (1 - 6 cr.) | |
| EN 505 Genres of Writing (1 - 4 cr.) | |
| EN 595 Special Topics (1 - 4 cr.) | |
| EN 598 Directed Study (1 - 4 cr.) | |
| EN 602 Creative Nonfiction Workshop (1 - 6 cr.) | |
| EN 698 Directed Study (1 - 4 cr.) | |
*Students must meet all requirements stated in the Graduate Bulletin. Master of fine arts thesis requirements are as follows:
- Poetry: a minimum of 50 pages of poetry and at least one critical paper of 10 to 20 pages.
- Creative nonfiction and fiction: a minimum of 180 manuscript pages of the candidate’s prose and at least one critical paper of 10 to 20 pages.
- All thesis credits are devoted to a single project.
Prior to graduation, master of fine arts candidates will read from their theses in a celebration event before faculty and invited guests.
Bulletin Year:
2016 - 2017 Graduate Bulletin
| View the current NMU Catalog.