http://www.as.miami.edu/english/creativewriting/
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
The University of Miami’s M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing offers a fully funded, two-year course of study in the writing of poetry, fiction, or cross-genre literature while providing substantial pedagogical training in the teaching of creative writing and composition. The program features a broad multilingual focus in a vibrant, multicultural city unlike any other. Enrollment is kept deliberately small to maximize student-teacher interaction, and faculty at U.M. are supportive of the linguistic and cultural differences that writers bring to their art. Students in good standing may apply to receive a third year of funding to focus on professional development and publication as they continue to teach undergraduate writing courses.
Full Funding
The James Michener Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships support all our graduate students. Awards include a full tuition waiver, health and travel benefits, and an annual stipend. M.F.A. candidates teach one section of Introduction to Creative Writing (ENG 209) per semester during their second year in the program.
The Third Year
Two students are selected each year to proceed into an optional third year during which they continue teaching undergraduate creative writing courses while receiving faculty mentorship toward professional development in literary magazine editing and/or public outreach and marketing.
Graduates of the M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing have gone on to publish award-winning novels, poetry collections, and creative nonfiction. They have been awarded Stegner Fellowships and other highly competitive residencies; have been accepted into Ph.D. programs; and have found employment in teaching, publishing, and other allied fields.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Workshop Requirement | ||
| Students must take 12 credits of workshop in the genre they were admitted to. | 12 | |
| Creative Writing: Fiction III | ||
| Creative Writing: Poetry II | ||
| Form Requirement | ||
| Students must take 12 credits of forms in the genre they were admitted to. | 12 | |
| Form in Poetry | ||
| Form in Fiction | ||
| Thesis Requirement | ||
| ENG 810 | Master's Thesis | 6 |
| Required Electives 2 | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Third Year Option:
ENG 820 is required for third year students. Students make take up to 6 credits in electives during their third year.
- 2
Required electives must be literature or forms courses, or other graduate courses at the university.
Sample Plan of Study
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| ENG 601 or 602 | Creative Writing: Fiction III or Creative Writing: Poetry II | 3 |
| ENG 604 or 605 | Form in Poetry or Form in Fiction | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| ENG 691 | TAs Only | 0 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENG 601 or 602 | Creative Writing: Fiction III or Creative Writing: Poetry II | 3 |
| ENG 604 or 605 | Form in Poetry or Form in Fiction | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Creative Writing (TAs Only) | ||
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Year Two | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ENG 601 or 602 | Creative Writing: Fiction III or Creative Writing: Poetry II | 3 |
| ENG 604 or 605 | Form in Poetry or Form in Fiction | 3 |
| ENG 810 | Master's Thesis | 3 |
ENG 105 | TAs Only | |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENG 601 or 602 | Creative Writing: Fiction III or Creative Writing: Poetry II | 3 |
| ENG 604 or 605 | Form in Poetry or Form in Fiction | 3 |
| ENG 810 | Master's Thesis | 3 |
| Creative Writing (TAs Only) | ||
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
Mission
The M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing trains students in best practices for writing publishable novels, short story collections, books of poetry, and individual works that will contribute to the global literary canon. Students learn critical and craft-based strategies for establishing their unique voice and style within their chosen literary genre and for achieving their artistic ambitions. In addition to mentoring our students in the writing and revision of their creative theses, we also offer substantial training for careers in university teaching, publishing, and arts administration, both, inside and outside of the academy.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate a thorough understanding of how to write publishable novels, collections of short stories and books of poetry in order to contribute to the global literary cannon.
- Students will master a range of critical and craft-based strategies in order to attain their creative and artistic vision and demonstrating the skills needed to establish their own expertise, voice and style within the literary genre of their choice by submitting a final portfolio and by participating in the Closing Conversation.
- Students will cultivate the necessary skills for careers in the production of contemporary literatures and arts administration.
