Bulletin Year: 2023 - 2024 Graduate Bulletin | View the current NMU Catalog. | View this program in the current bulletin.

Admission Requirements

  • Comply with the regular admission requirements of the College of Graduate Studies and Research, which includes an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0.

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.

All Applicants must submit:

  1. Graduate admission application and fee.  (Applications closed for Fall 2024)
  2. Official transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions.
  3. MA/MFA English Graduate Program Application Form (writeable PDF).
  4. A resume or CV.
  5. A statement of professional purpose describing their interest in the program (and if applying for a teaching assistantship, their preparedness for teaching).
  6. A critical paper.
  7. A writing portfolio (see below).
  8. Three letters of recommendation that speak to their academic abilities (and if applying for a teaching assistantship speaking to their potential as a teacher).

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.  Page requirements are as follows:

Poetry: 10 pages
Fiction: 20-30 pages
Nonfiction: 20-30 pages 
Mixed: 20-30 pages of any mix of poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction
Hybrid: 20-30 pages primary comprised of work that does not fall into traditional genre boundaries or categories, or that blends genres.

Application Due Dates

The application deadline is February 1 of each year, with new student cohorts starting each Fall semester.  (Applications closed for Fall 2024)

MFA in Creative Writing Curriculum

For department information or additional degree requirements, go to the English department page.

Total Credits Required 48
Required Course 
EN 504 Introduction to Critical Theory4
 
Core Options8
Choose 8 credits from the Literature Seminars, or 4 credits from the Literature Seminars and 4 credits from Pedagogy/Literacy/Linguistics 
 
Literature Seminars 
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.) 
 
Pedagogy/Literacy/Linguistics 
EN 510 Writing and Literacy Studies: Theory and Practice (4 cr.) 
EN 511 Teaching of College-Level Reading and Writing (4 cr.) 
EN 512 Teaching of College-Level Literature (4 cr.) 
EN 514 Seminar in the English Language (4 cr.) 
EN 515 English Grammar and Usage (4 cr.) 
EN 516 Second Language Acquisition (4 cr.) 
EN 517 TESOL Methods and Materials (4 cr.) 
EN 518 Rhetorical Theory and Practice (4 cr.) 
 
Specialty Area Workshops12-16
 
Fiction 
EN 500 Fiction Workshop (1 - 6 cr.) 
EN 505 Genres of Writing (1 - 4 cr.) 
EN 595 Special Topics (1 - 4 cr.) 
EN 600 Fiction Workshop (1 - 6 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 601 Poetry Workshop (1 - 6 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 602 Creative Nonfiction Workshop (1 - 6 cr.) 
 
Electives/Cognates8-16
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 - 8 cr.) 

Graduation Requirements

Graduates must meet the requirements of the College of Graduate Studies as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin in addition to the following:

  • Complete the minimum number of credits for the degree 
  • Maintain a 3.0 GPA
  • Successfully complete capstone thesis

Master of Fine Arts thesis requirements are as follows:

  1. Poetry: a minimum of 50 pages of poetry and at least one critical paper of 10 to 20 pages.
  2. Creative nonfiction, fiction, hybrid or mixed theses: a minimum of 180 manuscript pages of the candidate’s work and at least one critical paper of 10 to 20 pages.
  3. 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: 2023 - 2024 Graduate Bulletin | View the current NMU Catalog.