The Graduate Program in Creative Writing offers an M.A. and MFA in four concentrations: Genre Fiction, Screenwriting for Film and TV, Nature Writing, and Poetry. It also offers an M.A. in Publishing. Western’s curricula differ from most other comparable programs by emphasizing intense training in craft, imitation of models as the basis of study, and formal exposure to the business side of the profession.

All degree programs in the Graduate Program in Creative Writing use a low-residency format that engages students in two ways:

1. on-campus intensive seminars and workshops for two weeks during either two or three consecutive summers (depending on the degree), and
2. a plan of non-residency study during either four or six full-time academic semesters (depending on the degree), during each of which students work one-to-one with writing faculty and members of their peer cohort of students.

All programs require a high degree of commitment and excellence from candidates, who must maintain a 3.000 course average to complete the program. A minimum grade of B- in each course is required. Summer residency courses within concentrations require students to prepare for the intensive by completing pre-assigned reading as well as preparing assignments to maximize the time for discussion during the course of studies on campus.

In the first and second summer residencies, candidates in both the M.A. and MFA degrees complete one credit each summer of CRWR 600 Summer Orientation which involves learning or updating online tools mastery, attending faculty and student readings, and meeting with professors and visiting faculty. MFA third-summer candidates earn one credit attending and participating in critiques and readings for cohorts attending their first and second summers. All students also complete 2-credit intensive workshop courses in their concentrations each summer they attend.

In their third full non-residency semester, all MFA candidates are required to take one 6-credit out-of-concentration course from the options in the course menu.

During the academic year, full-time students should expect to spend a minimum of 25-30 hours per week to complete writing assignments, for which professors will provide weekly feedback online. Students also participate regularly in online discussion boards and videoconference calls with other students and professors. Students earn 12 credits each semester for this work (six credits per course).

Program Information

Western’s low-residency MFA in Creative Writing offers a rigorous, terminal degree in the field. Pursuit of the MFA involves extensive creative work, development of critical skills, and study of the business side of being a writer. Students select one of four concentrations: Genre Fiction, Screenwriting for Film and Television, Nature Writing, or Poetry.

The three on-campus residencies occur during the month of July, and the program takes 25 months to complete as a full-time student.

The low-residency component of the program involves four online semesters of coursework that use a combination of online writing submissions and critiques as well as regular real-time discussions with professors and peers.

During each of the three required summer residencies on Western’s Colorado campus, students network with their peers as well as attend student and faculty readings, workshops on craft and literature, and master classes with renowned visiting writers.

Total Credits for the MFA in Creative Writing
Two summer residencies @3 hours/summer = 6 credits
Third summer residency, with capstone = 4 credits
 First two academic semesters @12 hours/term = 24 credits
Second two academic semesters @13 hours/term = 26 credits
Total Credits: 60

Requirements for Full Admission to the MFA in Creative Writing

Candidate must submit:

• An official transcript of the bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university showing recommended 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher, including grades of B- or above in at least four (4) undergraduate or graduate courses in literary and/or film studies (either in analytical or creative work).
• An 800- to 1,000-word personal statement describing writing experience and commitment to writing. This statement should include a self-assessment of qualifications for admission to Western's Graduate Program in Creative Writing for the chosen degree and concentration.
• A 20- to 30-page writing sample in the appropriate genre, double spaced and numbered, or properly formatted for the appropriate genre. The Fiction concentration sample should cap at 25 pages and ideally be from a single work. The Poetry concentration sample should include 20 pages of poetry and 10 pages of analytical prose in any genre. The Screenwriting concentration sample should include a complete scene or short.
• At least two letters of professional recommendation from those capable of assessing the applicant's preparation to succeed in a low-residency program. All letters must be submitted on letterhead, must be originals, less than a year old and signed by the person giving the recommendation.
• Payment of university application fee
• For Poetry Concentration only: Poetry applicants must have sufficient preparation in a foreign language (ancient or modern) to work on translation with aid of a dictionary and other supporting texts during second year of studies.

Provisional Admission to the MFA in Creative Writing

An applicant who does not meet the requirements for full admission to the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing may be considered for provisional admission upon the recommendation of the program director and approval by the Dean of Graduate Studies. A provisionally admitted student will have a maximum of one calendar year to complete any pre-requisite academic coursework. The program director or Dean of Graduate Studies may set additional timeline requirements.

Program Requirements

Western’s low-residency MFA in Creative Writing offers a rigorous, terminal degree in the field, including intensive creative work, development of analytical and critical skills, and study of the business side. Students select one of four concentrations: Genre Fiction, Poetry with an Emphasis on Versecraft, or Screenwriting for Film and Television, and Nature Writing.  

The three on-campus residencies occur the last two weeks of July, and the program takes 25 months to complete as a full-time student. The low-residency component of the program involves four online semesters of coursework that use a combination of online writing submissions and critiques as well as regular real-time discussions with professors and peers. 

During each of the three required summer intensives on Western’s Colorado campus, students network with their peers as well as attend student and faculty readings, workshops on craft and literature, and master classes. Each summer culminates in the national conference Writing the Rockies, which is required of students and open to the public. 

Concentration in Genre Fiction

The Concentration in Genre Fiction includes instruction in writing for such forms as science fiction/fantasy, the mystery, romance, and other forms of mainstream commercial fiction. Study includes short and long written forms, the business aspects of writing and publishing in the current market, and teaching pedagogy. Students may also elect to study two of these concentrations by increasing the duration of their program to six academic semesters and a fourth summer residency. 

The MFA Concentration in Genre Fiction requires the following 60 credits:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CRWR 600	Summer Orientation (taken three times with different emphasis each summer)	3
CRWR 601	Fundamentals of Writing Genre Fiction I	2
CRWR 602	Fundamentals of Writing Fiction II	2
CRWR 604	Career Planning for Genre Writers	2
CRWR 608	Genre Writing I- Romance and Mystery Fiction	6
CRWR 609	Genre Studies I-Romance and Mystery	6
CRWR 618	Genre Studies II- Western, Speculative, and YoungAdult Fiction	6
CRWR 619	Genre Writing II- Western, Speculative, and Young Adult Fiction	6
CRWR 620	Short Forms Genre Fiction Writing	6
CRWR 621	Business Fundamentals for Genre Writers	6
CRWR 684	Teaching and Pedagogy	6
Select one of the following out-of-concentration courses during the second Fall term:		6
CRWR 614	Traditional Publishing I (with permission of the Publishing Concentration Director)
CRWR 623	Independent and New Model Publishing I
CRWR 646	Narrative Poetry
CRWR 665	Screenwriting Genre
CRWR 685	Nature Writing Prose
Three credits of:		3
CRWR 694	Capstone (must be taken for a total of three credits)
Total Credits		60

Genre Fiction as a Second Concentration

Students pursuing this second MFA concentration must earn 30 credits as follows:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CRWR 600	Summer Orientation	1
CRWR 604	Career Planning for Genre Writers	2
CRWR 608	Genre Writing I- Romance and Mystery Fiction	6
CRWR 609	Genre Studies I-Romance and Mystery	6
CRWR 618	Genre Studies II- Western, Speculative, and YoungAdult Fiction	6
CRWR 619	Genre Writing II- Western, Speculative, and Young Adult Fiction	6
Three credits of:		3
CRWR 694	Capstone (must be taken for a total of three credits)
Total Credits		30

Students may count CRWR 609 Genre Studies I-Romance and Mystery or CRWR 610 Genre Fiction Writing and Reading Survey toward the second concentration if they have already taken it to fulfill the out-of-concentration course required by their primary concentration. 

Concentration in Nature Writing

The Concentration in Nature Writing teaches students a wide range of literary techniques and styles writers have used in their creative responses to the natural environment and human interactions with it. The concentration provides training in all the major literary sub-genres relevant to the field, including memoir, science writing, political writing, history, poetry, fiction, and various forms of the essay and creative nonfiction. Courses include significant reading in primary and secondary sources, along with extensive work in short and long creative writing forms, focusing on creative nonfiction but also including other genres, as well as strategies and techniques for the effective teaching of creative nonfiction and other forms of creative writing.

The MFA Concentration in Nature Writing requires the following 60 credits:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CRWR 600	Summer Orientation (taken three times)	3
CRWR 655	Writing about Nature and Religion	6
CRWR 681	Nature Writing Intensive	2
CRWR 682	The Poetics of Nature Writing	2
CRWR 683	Thesis Seminar	2
CRWR 684	Teaching and Pedagogy	6
CRWR 685	Nature Writing Prose	6
CRWR 686	History and Genres of Nature Writing	6
CRWR 687	Writing about Nature and Science	6
CRWR 688	Writing about Nature and Society	6
CRWR 689	Advanced Seminar/Special Topics in Nature Writing	6
One of the following out-of-concentration courses during the second fall term:		6
CRWR 609	Genre Studies I-Romance and Mystery
CRWR 610	Genre Fiction Writing and Reading Survey
CRWR 614	Traditional Publishing I (with permission of the Publishing Concentration Director)
CRWR 623	Independent and New Model Publishing I
CRWR 646	Narrative Poetry
CRWR 665	Screenwriting Genre
CRWR 685	Nature Writing Prose
Three credits of:		3
CRWR 694	Capstone (must be taken for a total of three credits)
Total Credits		60

Nature Writing as a Second Concentration

Students pursuing this concentration as a second area of emphasis must earn 30 credits as follows:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CRWR 600	Summer Orientation	1
CRWR 681	Nature Writing Intensive	2
CRWR 685	Nature Writing Prose	6
CRWR 686	History and Genres of Nature Writing	6
CRWR 687	Writing about Nature and Science	6
CRWR 688	Writing about Nature and Society	6
Three credits of:		3
CRWR 694	Capstone (must be taken for a total of three credits)
Total Credits		30

Students may count CRWR 685 Nature Writing Prose toward the second concentration in Nature Writing if they have already taken it to fulfill the out-of-concentration course required by their primary concentration.

Concentration in Poetry with an Emphasis on Versecraft

The Concentration in Poetry with an Emphasis on Versecraft requires that students achieve demonstrable mastery of a wide range of poetic forms and techniques along with acquiring historical and analytical knowledge about them. Students also learn to apply strategies and techniques for the effective teaching of creative writing. Students who complete the program will also be required to demonstrate their readiness to participate fully in the literary world through public speaking and relevant prose (book reviews, metrical analysis, historical investigation, etc.). This concentration requires passing a comprehensive exam on versecraft and poetics as well as sufficient reading competency in a foreign language, aided by a dictionary, to translate foreign-language poetry into English.

The MFA Concentration in Poetry with an Emphasis on Versecraft requires the following 60 credits:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CRWR 600	Summer Orientation (taken three times with different emphasis each summer)	3
CRWR 631	Scansion Immersion	2
CRWR 632	Public Speaking for Poets	2
CRWR 633	Poetry and Music	2
CRWR 636	Metrical Traditions and Versification I	6
CRWR 638	History of the English Language/ Poetry Translation	6
CRWR 641	Metrical Traditions & Versification II	6
CRWR 643	Historical Foundations of English Prosody	6
CRWR 646	Narrative Poetry	6
CRWR 647	Dramatic Poetry and Satiric Verse	6
CRWR 653	Poetry Book Reviewing/ Poetry, Literacy, Pedagogy	6
Select one of the following out-of-concentration courses during the second Fall term:		6
CRWR 609	Genre Studies I-Romance and Mystery
CRWR 610	Genre Fiction Writing and Reading Survey
CRWR 614	Traditional Publishing I (with permission of the Publishing Concentration Director)
CRWR 623	Independent and New Model Publishing I
CRWR 665	Screenwriting Genre
CRWR 685	Nature Writing Prose
Three credits of:		3
CRWR 694	Capstone (must be taken for a total of three credits)
Total Credits		60

Poetry as a Second Concentration 

Students pursuing this second MFA concentration must earn 30 credits as follows: 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CRWR 600	Summer Orientation	1
Select one of the following two summer residency courses:		2
CRWR 632	Public Speaking for Poets
CRWR 633	Poetry and Music
CRWR 636	Metrical Traditions and Versification I	6
CRWR 641	Metrical Traditions & Versification II	6
CRWR 646	Narrative Poetry	6
CRWR 647	Dramatic Poetry and Satiric Verse	6
Three credits of:		3
CRWR 694	Capstone (must be taken for a total of three credits)
Total Credits		30

Students may count CRWR 646 Narrative Poetry toward the second concentration if they have already taken it to fulfill the out-of-concentration course required by their primary concentration.

Concentration in Screenwriting for Feature Film and Television

The Concentration in Screenwriting for Feature Film and Television includes instruction in the history and analysis of classical and contemporary screenwriting texts and the resulting films. The program further includes instruction in writing the visual narrative, three- and four-act structure, character development, thematic development, conflict, genre, story arc, and dialogue for both the feature-length screenplay and television writing. Students also learn to apply strategies and techniques for the effective teaching of creative writing. 

The MFA Concentration in Screenwriting for Feature Film and Television requires the following 60 credits: 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CRWR 600	Summer Orientation (taken three times with different emphasis each summer)	3
CRWR 661	Film History and Analysis; the Visual Narrative	2
CRWR 662	Story, Conflict, Character, and Genre in Screenwriting	2
CRWR 663	Screenwriting, Competition, Representation, the "Option"	2
CRWR 665	Screenwriting Genre	6
CRWR 668	Television Drama and Sit Comedy	6
CRWR 671	Writing the First Feature-Length Screenplay	6
CRWR 675	Writing the TV Pilot	6
CRWR 678	Adaptation	6
CRWR 690	Screenwriting Master's Capstone I	6
CRWR 691	Screenwriting Master's Capstone II	6
Select one of the following out-of-concentration courses during the second Fall term:		6
CRWR 609	Genre Studies I-Romance and Mystery
CRWR 610	Genre Fiction Writing and Reading Survey
CRWR 614	Traditional Publishing I (with permission of the Publishing Concentration Director)
CRWR 623	Independent and New Model Publishing I
CRWR 646	Narrative Poetry
CRWR 685	Nature Writing Prose
Three credits of:		3
CRWR 694	Capstone (must be taken for a total of three credits)
Total Credits		60

Screenwriting as a Second Concentration

Students pursuing this second MFA concentration must earn 30 credits as follows: 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CRWR 600	Summer Orientation	1
CRWR 663	Screenwriting, Competition, Representation, the "Option"	2
CRWR 665	Screenwriting Genre	6
CRWR 668	Television Drama and Sit Comedy	6
CRWR 671	Writing the First Feature-Length Screenplay	6
CRWR 675	Writing the TV Pilot	6
or CRWR 678	Adaptation
Three credits of:		3
CRWR 694	Capstone (must be taken for a total of three credits)
Total Credits		30

Students may count CRWR 665 Screenwriting Genre toward the second concentration if they have already taken it to fulfill the out-of-concentration course required by their primary concentration.