The Graduate Program in Creative Writing offers an MFA in four concentrations: Genre Fiction, Nature Writing, Poetry, and Screenwriting for Feature Film and Television. Western’s curricula differ from most other comparable programs by emphasizing intense training in craft, close study of diverse and marginalized authors, and extensive exposure to the business side of the profession.
All MFA programs in the Graduate Program in Creative Writing use a low-residency format that engages students in two ways:
- on-campus seminars and workshops for two weeks during three consecutive summers, and
- a plan of non-residency study during four full-time academic semesters, 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.
In all three summer residencies, MFA candidates complete a 2-credit intensive course in their concentrations. They also complete one credit each summer of CRWR 600 Summer Orientation which involves attending craft talks, readings, workshops, and other literary events; participating in online discussion of them; and writing a short reflective essay at the conclusion of the residency.
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 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, involving intensive creative work, development of critical and pedagogical skills, and study of the business of being a writer. Students select one of four concentrations, Genre Fiction, Nature Writing, Poetry, or Screenwriting for Feature Film and Television, and are required to take one 6-credit out-of-concentration course from the options in the course menu during their third full non-residency semester.
The program takes 25 months to complete as a full-time student, which includes four regular academic semesters and three summer semesters. During the fall and spring academic semesters of each year, students engage in coursework through the use of both videoconferencing and online learning platforms. During each of the three summer semesters, students take an intensive course in their concentration and attend a one-week, on-campus residency, which takes place at the end of July.
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.
- An 800- to 1,000-word personal statement describing the applicant's 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 writing sample in the appropriate genre, double spaced and numbered, or properly formatted for the appropriate genre:
- The Genre Fiction concentration sample should include 20 to 25 pages, ideally from a single work.
- The Screenwriting concentration sample should include a complete scene or short.
- The Nature Writing concentration sample should include 20 to 25 pages, in any genre or a mix of genres.
- The Poetry concentration sample should include 10 to 15 pages of poetry.
- The Publishing concentration sample should consist of a 3- to 5-page critical assessment of a story’s suitability for publication (story to be provided to applicant during application process).
- Two letters of professional recommendation from those capable of assessing the applicant's preparation to succeed in graduate-level work. All letters must be originals submitted on letterhead, must be signed by the person giving the recommendation, and must be less than a year old.
- Payment of university application fee
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 for All Concentrations
Western’s low-residency MFA in Creative Writing offers a rigorous, terminal degree in the field, involving intensive creative work, development of critical and pedagogical skills, and study of the business of being a writer. Students select one of four concentrations, Genre Fiction, Nature Writing, Poetry, or Screenwriting for Feature Film and Television, and are required to take one 6-credit out-of-concentration course from the options in the course menu during their third full non-residency semester.
The program takes 25 months to complete as a full-time student, which includes four regular academic semesters and three summer semesters. During the fall and spring academic semesters of each year, students engage in coursework through the use of both videoconferencing and online learning platforms. During each of the three summer semesters, students take an intensive course in their concentration and attend a one-week, on-campus residency, which takes place at the end of July.
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.
The MFA Concentration in Genre Fiction requires the following 60 credits:
| 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 | Pedagogy and Practicum | 6 |
| Select one of the following out-of-concentration courses during the second Fall term: | 6 | |
| Traditional Publishing I (with permission of the Publishing Concentration Director) | ||
| Independent and New Model Publishing I | ||
| Narrative Poetry | ||
| Screenwriting Genre | ||
| Craft of Creative Nonfiction | ||
| Three credits of: | 3 | |
| 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:
| 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 | |
| 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:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CRWR 600 | Summer Orientation (taken three times) | 3 |
| CRWR 680 | Writing Place: New Forms and Techniques | 6 |
| CRWR 681 | Nature Writing Intensive | 2 |
| CRWR 682 | Nature Writing Now | 2 |
| CRWR 683 | Thesis Seminar in Nature Writing | 2 |
| CRWR 684 | Pedagogy and Practicum | 6 |
| CRWR 685 | Craft of Creative Nonfiction | 6 |
| CRWR 686 | Genres of Nature Writing | 6 |
| CRWR 687 | Writing about Nature and Science | 6 |
| CRWR 688 | Writing about Nature and Society | 6 |
| CRWR 689 | Special Topics in Nature Writing | 6 |
| CRWR 695 | Professional Development in Nature Writing | 6 |
| One of the following out-of-concentration courses during the second fall term: | 6 | |
| Genre Studies I-Romance and Mystery | ||
| Genre Fiction Writing and Reading Survey | ||
| Traditional Publishing I (with permission of the Publishing Concentration Director) | ||
| Independent and New Model Publishing I | ||
| Narrative Poetry | ||
| Screenwriting Genre | ||
| Three credits of: | 3 | |
| Capstone (must be taken for a total of three credits) | ||
| Total Credits | 66 | |
Nature Writing as a Second Concentration
Students pursuing this concentration as a second area of emphasis must earn 30 credits as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CRWR 600 | Summer Orientation | 1 |
| CRWR 681 | Nature Writing Intensive | 2 |
| CRWR 685 | Craft of Creative Nonfiction | 6 |
| CRWR 686 | 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 | |
| Capstone (must be taken for a total of three credits) | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Students may count CRWR 685 Craft of Creative Nonfiction 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
The Concentration in Poetry brings students into the ongoing conversation of poetics, introducing them to the ideas, questions, approaches and techniques that have been the concerns of poets across time and cultures. The Poetry curriculum includes workshop-style courses focused on developing voice and expanding range, as well as courses on contemporary authors, poetic form and technique, narrative poetry, and professional development. MFA students also take one out-of-concentration course in Genre Fiction, Nature Writing, Publishing or Screenwriting for Feature Film and Television during their second year of study.
As the culmination of their work, MFA students complete a creative thesis, which consists of a book-length manuscript of original poetry. Students work on this year-long, capstone project under the close guidance of a faculty mentor and present it to the GPCW community during their third Summer Residency.
The MFA Concentration in Poetry requires the following 60 credits:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CRWR 600 | Summer Orientation (taken three times with different emphasis each summer) | 3 |
| CRWR 630 | First-Year Poetry Intensive | 2 |
| CRWR 634 | Major Authors I | 6 |
| CRWR 635 | Poetry Workshop I | 6 |
| CRWR 640 | Second-Year Poetry Intensive | 2 |
| CRWR 644 | Major Authors II | 6 |
| CRWR 645 | Poetry Workshop II | 6 |
| CRWR 646 | Narrative Poetry | 6 |
| CRWR 648 | Form and Technique in Poetry | 6 |
| CRWR 650 | Third-Year Poetry Intensive | 2 |
| CRWR 653 | Poetry Book Reviewing/ Poetry, Literacy, Pedagogy | 6 |
| Select one of the following out-of-concentration courses during the second Fall term: | 6 | |
| Genre Studies I-Romance and Mystery | ||
| Genre Fiction Writing and Reading Survey | ||
| Traditional Publishing I (with permission of the Publishing Concentration Director) | ||
| Independent and New Model Publishing I | ||
| Screenwriting Genre | ||
| Craft of Creative Nonfiction | ||
| Three credits of: | 3 | |
| 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:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CRWR 600 | Summer Orientation | 1 |
| CRWR 635 | Poetry Workshop I | 6 |
| CRWR 645 | Poetry Workshop II | 6 |
| CRWR 646 | Narrative Poetry | 6 |
| CRWR 648 | Form and Technique in Poetry | 6 |
| CRWR 650 | Third-Year Poetry Intensive | 2 |
| Three credits of: | 3 | |
| 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 emphasizes 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:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CRWR 600 | Summer Orientation | 1 |
| 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 | |
| Genre Studies I-Romance and Mystery | ||
| Genre Fiction Writing and Reading Survey | ||
| Traditional Publishing I | ||
| Independent and New Model Publishing I | ||
| Narrative Poetry | ||
| Craft of Creative Nonfiction | ||
| Three credits of: | 3 | |
| Capstone (must be taken for a total of three credits) | ||
Screenwriting as a Second Concentration
Students pursuing this second MFA concentration must earn 30 credits as follows:
| 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 675 | Writing the TV Pilot | 6 |
| or CRWR 678 | Adaptation | |
| CRWR 690 | Screenwriting Master's Capstone I | 6 |
| Three credits of: | ||
| Capstone (must be taken for a total of three credits) | ||
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.