northern michigan university creative writing mfa

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Northern Michigan University . NMU is an .

Northern Michigan University

Aug 23, 2024

2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

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:

Graduate admission application and fee. (Applications closed for Fall 2024)
Official transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions.
MA/MFA English Graduate Program Application Form (writeable PDF).
A resume or CV.
A statement of professional purpose describing their interest in the program (and if applying for a teaching assistantship, their preparedness for teaching).
A critical paper.
A writing portfolio (see below).
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 Credits

Required course.

EN 504 - Introduction to Critical Theory Credits: 4

Core Options 8 Credits

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 Credits: 1-4
EN 514 - Seminar in the English Language Credits: 4
EN 530 - Major Authors Credits: 4
EN 560 - Literary Movements Credits: 4
EN 570 - Seminar in American Literature Credits: 4
EN 590 - Seminar in British Literature Credits: 4
EN 595 - Special Topics Credits: 1-4

Pedagogy/Literacy/Linguistics

EN 510 - Writing and Literacy Studies: Theory and Practice Credits: 4
EN 511 - Teaching of College-Level Reading and Writing Credits: 4
EN 512 - Teaching of College-Level Literature Credits: 4
EN 515 - English Grammar and Usage Credits: 4
EN 516 - Second Language Acquisition Credits: 4
EN 517 - TESOL Methods and Materials Credits: 4
EN 518 - Rhetorical Theory and Practice Credits: 4

Specialty Area Workshops 12-16 Credits

EN 500 - Fiction Workshop Credits: 1-6
EN 600 - Fiction Workshop Credits: 1-6
EN 501 - Poetry Workshop Credits: 1-6
EN 601 - Poetry Workshop Credits: 1-6

Creative Nonfiction

EN 502 - Nonfiction Workshop Credits: 1-6
EN 602 - Creative Nonfiction Workshop Credits: 1-6

Electives/Cognates 8-16 Credits

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 Credits

EN 699A - Thesis Credits: 1-8

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:

Poetry: a minimum of 50 pages of poetry and at least one critical paper of 10 to 20 pages.
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.
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

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Northern Michigan University

Michigan, united states.

The MA in English with an Emphasis in Writing is intended for writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and technical and professional works. The degree is also intended for prospective teachers of writing. The core courses in the program are the writing workshops in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and technical and professional writing. Each student plans an individual course of study with the Director of Graduate Studies to include writing workshops in at least 2 of the 4 workshop areas. Since the department regards as axiomatic that there is an intimate link between good reading and good writing, literature courses are a necessary and vital part of the degree.

The MFA program in creative writing offers talented writers the opportunity to meet high literary standards in their own work as well as sharpen their critical acumen in a formal academic setting. The three-year program offers three tracks: poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction.

Application packet must include: application forms, transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and writing sample (poetry, a minimum of 10 pages; fiction, a minimum of 20 pages, maximum of 30 pages; creative nonfiction, a minimum of 20 pages, maximum of 30 pages). Three copies must be submitted; copies are nonreturnable. We begin reading applications February 15. For an application packet, contact Director, MFA Program in Creative Writing, English Dept., Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855.

Faculty members encourage students to submit their outstanding writing for publication, and our students and recent graduates have published their work in American Poetry Review, Country Journal, Michigan Natural Resources, Mid-American Review, the Third Coast, and Midwest Quarterly. The English Department publishes the literary quarterly Passages North, which in 1998 was listed in "Fifty Best Fiction Markets" by the Writers' Digest. The MA in English program presently has between 50 and 60 active candidates. The MFA in poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction has 18 active candidates.

Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, is a city of 23,000 on the scenic south shore of Lake Superior. The area is noted for its forests and lakes and its clean, natural environment.

Contact Information

1401 Presque Isle Ave Department of English Marquette Michigan, United States 49855 Phone: (906) 227-2711 Email: [email protected] https://nmu.edu/english/mfa-program

Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing +

Northern Michigan University's English Writing Major enables students to acquire a solid background in literature while preparing for careers that require regular, extensive writing as part of professional duties.

Bachelor of Arts in English/Literature +

Minor / concentration in creative writing +, master of arts in creative writing +, graduate program director, master of fine arts in creative writing +, austin hummell.

Poppy; The Fugitive Kind, winner of Contemporary Poetry Series prize

http://webb.nmu.edu/Departments/English/SiteSections/FacultyAndStaff/AustinHummell.shtml

Beverly Matherne

La Grande Pointe, Le blues braillant, and French translation of The Salt Kingdom by Stanley Kunitz

http://webb.nmu.edu/Departments/English/SiteSections/FacultyAndStaff/BeverlyMatherne.shtml

Ronald Johnson

Anthon Chekhov: A Study of the Short Fiction, Silver Thaw

http://webb.nmu.edu/Departments/English/SiteSections/FacultyAndStaff/RonaldJohnson.shtml

Paul Lehmberg

In the Strong Woods: Alone in the North Country

http://webb.nmu.edu/Departments/English/SiteSections/FacultyAndStaff/PaulLehmberg.shtml

Matthew Frank

Barolo, Pot Farm, Sagittarius Agitprop, The Morrow Plots

http://webb.nmu.edu/Departments/English/SiteSections/FacultyAndStaff/KateMyersHanson.shtml

John Smolens

The School Master's Daughter, The Anarchist, Cold, The Invisible World, and Free and Clear,

http://webb.nmu.edu/Departments/English/SiteSections/FacultyAndStaff/JohnSmolens.shtml

Publications & Presses +

Passages North

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This is an attempt at creating an objective ranking of graduate creative writing programs.

For further and more detailed information on how the scores are generated see the methodology page.

Overall score	Fiction score	Poetry score	CNF score	Genres	Degrees	State
11475	10600	9350	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	MD
9225	10350	8100	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	IN
8484	7900	7100	12100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	OH
8400	9100	7700	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	VA
8300	10580	4350	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	IA
7183	8350	2600	10350	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	AZ
7016	5850	1933	183	Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Screenwriting	MFA	TX
6988	9850	4350	6100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	PhD	OH
6850	2600	3350	1100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama	MFA, PhD	FL
5600	100	100	5600	CNF	MFA, PhD	IA
5475	3100	1850	1412	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA, PhD	TX
5350	3850	1475	225	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	IN
5266	5600	3350	6850	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	MN
5183	6766	2100	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	NY
5100	6100	4100	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	NC
4600	3475	1225	475	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	AZ
4544	5100	3350	0	Fiction, Poetry, Drama	MFA	MA
4500	3100	2100	9100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	PA
4366	3877	5100	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	NC
4266	6100	2433	0	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	PhD	CA
4266	3600	766	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama	MFA	WI
4145	2781	1372	190	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	MI
4100	1766	4433	6100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	ID
3975	1433	5100	5766	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA, PhD	OH
3933	2683	1433	183	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	CA
3645	6300	1433	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	FL
3266	4433	2100	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	TN
3100	1946	946	407	Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Multimedia	MFA	RI
2933	1711	988	433	Fiction, Poetry	MFA, PhD	NY
2918	3814	1350	0	Fiction, Poetry	MA, PhD	MS
2900	4100	1700	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	OH
2850	850	850	1350	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	NM
2833	2242	2300	5100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	MT
2725	475	2100	100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	MD
2655	3350	1766	2600	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	FL
2600	1400	1300	100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	OR
2500	2544	2200	4100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	MA
2475	1600	600	725		MA, PhD	NE
2475	100	4600	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	MS
2447	3946	300	0	Fiction, Poetry, Drama	MFA	NY
2350	2100	2350	0	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	IN
2300	1300	1100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	MO
2266	5100	3100	4600	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	MI
2225	1350	3100	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	IL
2225	2500	100	0	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	CO
2166	616	333	1500	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA	MFA	VT
2100	766	4766	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	VA
2080	1000	320	960	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	VT
2016	1600	350	350	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	VA
2016	1016	916	316	Fiction, Poetry	MA, MFA	NY
2000	1200	600	1400	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama	MFA	IA
1975	558	1058	975	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA, PhD	UT
1850	800	650	750	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	AL
1766	1600	266	100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	FL
1766	100	1300	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	VA
1766	2600	850	2433	Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Screenwriting	MFA	LA
1683	1100	183	600	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA, MFA	CO
1600	700	900	400	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	WA
1600	1475	225	100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	LA
1600	3100	100	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	SC
1544	1544	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	WY
1529	744	529	462	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	NY
1463	1766	1350	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA, PhD	NV
1433	2766	100	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	ID
1385	385	528	671	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	AK
1385	1242	242	171	Fiction, Poetry, Translation	MFA	AR
1372	100	100	3600	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	CA
1360	885	850	3100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Drama, Screenwriting	MA, MFA	KY
1350	766	516	266	Fiction, Poetry	MFA, PhD	MI
1340	1016	725	2500	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	VA
1330	510	612	356	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA, PhD	MO
1300	544	100	855	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting	MFA	MA
1300	1200	200	100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	TX
1266	1266	100	100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	IL
1262	748	370	289	Fiction, Poetry	MA, MFA	CA
1260	1683	600	1100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting	MFA	LA
1242	671	671	100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	TX
1242	600	100	742	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	OR
1233	1385	766	1300	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	NH
1211	1475	957	1100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	WA
1100	433	683	266	Fiction, Poetry, Screenwriting	MFA	DC
1100	513	341	651	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA, PhD	TX
1100	516	683	100	Fiction, Poetry	MA	CA
1100	1100	100	1100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Screenwriting	MFA	KY
1100	100	1100	2100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	WV
1100	350	1600	1766	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	WA
1044	988	100	155	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	NY
1016	100	1766	3100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	IN
1000	1900	100	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	MO
1000	1000	100	100	Fiction, Poetry	MA, MFA	NM
1000	100	600	500	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	UT
988	433	488	266	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting	MFA	CA
975	2433	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	OH
957	1300	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	FL
933	100	100	272	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama	MA	ON
933	933	100	1766	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	NJ
900	546	376	176	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	NY
900	500	100	500	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA, MFA	IL
877	2433	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Graphic Novel	MFA	FL
839	100	1100	3433	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Popular Fiction	MFA	ME
833	633	100	300	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting	MFA	NC
827	100	100	827	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	NC
822	488	100	433	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	MN
787	725	162	100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	NJ
725	725	100	100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	CA
700	100	100	500	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	OH
700	1350	100	433	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	GA
671	1100	100	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	PA
671	457	314	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	FL
671	528	814	0	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	NC
651	444	272	134	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	PhD	CO
633	633	100	366	Fiction, Poetry	MFA, PhD	GA
625	175	200	450	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	WA
600	600	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, Drama	MFA, PhD	KS
600	100	600	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	TX
566	366	300	100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA, PhD	TN
548	548	100	203	Fiction, CNF	MFA, PhD	GA
544	1100	100	0	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Translation	MFA	NY
533	333	100	300	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Screenwriting	MFA	NM
520	300	180	240	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	OR
520	273	372	975	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA	MFA	CA
500	100	100	500	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	NV
500	100	100	500	CNF	MFA	MD
479	203	410	134	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA	MA, PhD	NY
477	233	166	366	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA, PhD	TX
475	100	100	475	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	SC
461	127	100	350	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	IL
433	100	100	433	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	WA
433	700	1600	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	VA
433	133	166	266	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Drama, Screenwriting, Graphic Novel	MFA	VT
400	100	100	400	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	IL
400	400	100	100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	NY
400	220	220	160	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA, PhD	WI
400	150	250	200	Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Multimedia	MFA	CA
400	233	200	166	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA, PhD	IL
390	172	100	318	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Drama, Screenwriting, Translation, Lyric and libretto, Radio drama, Graphic Novel	MFA	BC
375	100	375	100			CA
341	237	168	134	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	PA
340	100	220	220	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA	MFA	MN
340	180	180	340	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Translation	MFA	NJ
340	340	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	OR
330	100	100	1100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA	AZ
306	100	100	306		MA, PhD	LA
306	100	306	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA, MFA	CO
300	300	100	100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	KS
300	100	100	300	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	OH
300	100	300	100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	NH
276	100	100	276	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	CA
273	100	100	600	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting	MFA	CT
272	272	100	100
272	272	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, Drama	MA	Québec
272	272	100	272		MA	MO
272	100	272	100	Fiction, Poetry, Multimedia	MFA	NY
272	100	100	272
260	260	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	NY
242	100	100	242	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	SK
242	242	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	CA
240	450	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA, PhD	OK
237	237	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama	MFA	Ontario
237	100	134	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama	MFA	CA
237	100	237	100
237	100	237	100	Fiction, Poetry	MA	MS
227	188	139	100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	NY
203	203	100	100			MN
203	203	100	203	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA	RI
203	203	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, Drama	MA, PhD	New Brunswick
200	150	150	100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	CA
180	140	100	140	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	IL
168	168	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA	TX
168	168	100	168
166	100	100	166	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA	OK
166	166	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	CA
134	134	100	100		MA	Ontario
134	100	100	134			CT
112	100	100	112	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA, MFA	PA
100	100	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting	MFA	CA
100	100	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	TN
100	100	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	SC
100	100	100	100		MA, PhD	HI
100	100	100	100		MA	CA
100	100	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA	MI
100	100	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MFA	KY
100	100	100	100		MA, PhD	NY
100	100	100	100
100	100	100	100
100	100	100	100
100	100	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Drama, Screenwriting	MFA	MA
100	100	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA	NY
100	100	100	100		MFA	MO
100	100	100	100
100	100	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Screenwriting	MFA	MO
100	100	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting	MFA	LA
100	100	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting	MA, PhD	CT
100	100	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Graphic Novel	MFA	MA
100	100	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF	MA	NE
100	100	100	100	CNF	MFA	GA
100	100	100	100	Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Translation	MFA	CO
100	100	100	100	Poetry	MFA	NJ
100	100	100	100			TX
100	100	100	100	Fiction, Poetry	MFA	MA

Lists of authors without graduate creative writing degrees or whose degree status is unknown are available. Send questions, comments and corrections to [email protected] .

Disclaimer: No endorsement of these ratings should be implied by the writers and writing programs listed on this site, or by the editors and publishers of Best American Short Stories , Best American Essays , Best American Poetry , The O. Henry Prize Stories and The Pushcart Prize Anthology .

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Northern Michigan University

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MFA Program

Poetry: Austin Hummell, Patricia Killelea Fiction: Jon Billman, Jennifer A. Howard, Monica McFawn Nonfiction/Hybrid: Matthew Gavin Frank, Rachel May

The program offers full funding. The program offers teaching and graduate assistantships to its incoming students.

Passages North

The program also offers a concentration in mixed and hybrid writing for students who work in or across multiple genres, as well as special topics classes in screenwriting, image and text, and experimental writing.

The program hosts a Visiting Writers Series, and generous travel funding and summer research grants are available, as well as field writing residencies in a lighthouse on Lake Superior.

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Considering Michigan for MFA in Creative Writing

University of Michigan is on my short list of schools that I plan on applying to for the MFA program. Could any of you guys tell me anything about your MFA program, the English department in general, or just what it's like to live in Ann Arbor (apartments, commuting, etc)?

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Michelle Menting

Adjunct Faculty of English

northern michigan university creative writing mfa

311 Luther Bonney Hall, Portland

PhD English: Creative Writing & Literature, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
MFA Creative Writing: Poetry & Nonfiction, Northern Michigan University
MA English: Writing & Publishing, Northern Michigan University
BA English & Creative Writing: Fiction, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Michelle Menting’s poems, flash nonfiction, and short stories have appeared in Cincinnati Review , Passages North , EcoTheo Review , Diagram , About Place Journal , SWWIM , and other places, and have been featured in American Life in Poetry , Verse Daily , and numerous anthologies. She is the author of the poetry collection Leaves Surface Like Skin , and the chapbooks Residence Time and Myth of Solitude . The recipient of awards and residencies from Sewanee and Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences, Hewnoaks, the National Park Service, Maine Farmland Trust, and others, she has taught literature and creative writing at the University of Nebraska, Northern Michigan University, Franklin Pierce University, Nicolet College, and other academic institutions and writing programs, and has served as a mentor for the AWP Writer to Writer program. She is at work on another poetry manuscript, as well as a collection of lyric essays and flash prose.

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English Department
MFA Creative Writing

Questions? Please contact...

Creative writing, master of fine arts.

This program, which involves completing a creative thesis, allows you to balance academic course work in English with the serious study of creative writing.

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Faculty tab closed, requirements tab open, overview tab closed, details tab closed, availability tab closed, requirements accordion open.

To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units. You must additionally complete:

All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.

Read the full policy here .

Overview Accordion Closed

In addition to University Requirements:

Complete individual plan requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion	36
Additional Admission Requirements	Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Thesis	Thesis is required.
Oral Defense	Oral Defense is required.
Research	Individualized research is required.
Progression Plan Link

Purpose Statement The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing balances the study and practice of creative writing with academic coursework in English. Students participate in writing workshops in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, undertake coursework in literature, and study critical theory. MFA candidates will present a creative thesis of between 45 to 120 pages, depending on genre. The MFA Program at Northern Arizona University allows you to:

live and write in the beautiful, vibrant city of Flagstaff
focus on poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction
participate in intensive writing workshops with dedicated professors

Student Learning Outcomes Upon completion of the Creative Writing MFA students will be able to:

Examine, explicate, analyze and evaluate literary texts of considerable difficulty in order to determine the place of the student’s own work within a literary tradition.
Develop the student’s own critical and aesthetic position, based on recognizing, understanding, and interpreting critical positions and literary arguments of other authors.
Read and respond thoughtfully and thoroughly to work by other MFA students in order to hone the critical, intellectual, and analytical skills that are crucial to success in a broad range of literary, artistic, cultural and professional fields.
Investigate the world of literary publishing in order to discover suitable journals, magazines and/or quality trade book publishers to which the student author can submit his/her own finished work.
Refine skills in drafting, revising and editing in a primary literary genre with the goal of producing a polished creative manuscript of marketable quality.
public readings,
interviewing other writers,
attending outside readings,
writing book reviews,
serving on editorial boards, and
organizing literary events.

Details Accordion Closed

Graduate admission information.

The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College. Admission requirements include the following:

Transcripts.
Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.

Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies. Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy .

Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

2 letters of recommendation
Writing sample
Personal statement or essay

Master's Requirements

This Master’s degree requires 36 units distributed as follows:

Creative Writing courses: 12 units
Supportive coursework: 12 units
Electives chosen with your advisor’s approval: 6 to 9 units
Thesis: 3 to 6 units (if 6 units of thesis are selected, it will reduce the number of units of electives required for the degree)
500- and 600-level creative writing courses, some of which may be repeated for 9 units of credit (12 units)
Coursework in literature, literary criticism, literary theory, and/or readings in creative writing (12 units)
Electives chosen with your advisor's approval (6-9 units)
ENG 699 , for the research, writing, and revision of an approved thesis. Please note: You may end up taking more than the 6 units of thesis credit you can count toward your degree because you must register for it each semester while you are working on your thesis. (3-6 units)
Note that up to 6 units of 400-level literature courses may count toward degree, with advisor approval

Additional Information

Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

Availability Accordion Closed

Department of English

Mailing address.

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MFA Program in Creative Writing
Creative Writing MFA Home
MFA Information Session
Buy The Creative Writing Mfa Handbook, Revised And Updated Edition Book
michigan university mfa creative writing
😀 Mfa programs creative writing. 30 Most Affordable Online MFA Creative

COMMENTS

MFA Program in Creative Writing
Prospective Students. NMU's Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program is a three-year, 48-credit degree. Students will take workshops in more than one genre (we offer fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and occasionally screenwriting), two literature courses plus one critical theory course. All new teaching assistants also take a Teaching ...
Program: Creative Writing, M.F.A.
Northern Michigan University is located on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabe Three Fires Confederacy. Gichi-namebini Ziibing is the traditional name of Marquette. ... MFA in Creative Writing Curriculum. For department information or additional degree requirements, ...
Creative Writing (MFA)
Northern Michigan University, located in Marquette, MI, is a dynamic four-year, public, comprehensive university. Explore our website and see all that NMU has to offer. Creative Writing (MFA) - NMU Graduate Bulletin. Creative Writing (MFA) Bulletin Year: 2022 - 2023 Graduate Bulletin.
Graduate Program Applications
Applying for graduate assistantships for current MA students (February 1st deadline): A minimum of three letters of recommendation addressing your academic ability and potential as a teacher (emailed to or snail mailed to English Department, Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855, directly from recommender.
Creative Writing, Master
Creative Writing ; About. Northern Michigan University's Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program is a three-year, 48-credit degree. ... During your first Creative Writing semester at Northern Michigan University, many of you will take EN 509: Teaching Practicum and some of you will be teaching for the first time. ... MA/MFA English ...
Northern Michigan University
Graduates. Lisa Fay Coutley MA (CNF) 2007, MFA (Poetry) 2010. Amanda Giracca MA (Fiction) 2009. L. E. Kimball MFA (Fiction) 2014. John LaPine MA (Poetry/CNF) 2017.
Northern Michigan University
The MFA program in creative writing offers talented writers the opportunity to meet high literary standards in their own work as well as sharpen their critical acumen in a formal academic setting. ... Northern Michigan University's English Writing Major enables students to acquire a solid background in literature while preparing for careers ...
creativewritingmfa.info
This is an attempt at creating an objective ranking of graduate creative writing programs. For further and more detailed information on how the scores are generated see the methodology ... MFA: MO: Northern Michigan University: 2266: 5100: 3100: 4600: Fiction, Poetry, CNF: MFA: MI: Southern Illinois University Carbondale: 2225: 1350: 3100: 0 ...
English MFA and MA Recipients Featured
English MFA and MA Recipients Featured Apr. 19, 2021 Northern Michigan University's English Department will host virtual readings and celebrations April 24-25 to honor those who completed degree requirements for either a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in creative writing or a Master of Arts this year or in 2020.
MFA Program Excels in Writing Contest
Northern Michigan University graduate assistant Benjamin Fidler won first place in the most recent international 3-Day Novel Contest. Elijah Sparkman, an MFA graduate of NMU, also participated and advanced to the final selection. Instead of relaxing during Labor Day weekend 2021, both wrote tirelessly to create a novel or novella in 72 hours, competing against other writers worldwide.
Program: Creative Writing, M.F.A.
Northern Michigan University is located on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabe Three Fires Confederacy. Gichi-namebini Ziibing is the traditional name of Marquette. ...
Northern Michigan University
Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we've published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests ...
How to Apply
Applying to the University of Michigan. All application materials, including at least two letters of recommendation, are due by 11:59 PM, EST, on December 15, 2024. The online application portal will be available tentatively on August 21, 2024. The application fee for United States citizens and those with permanent resident visa status is $75.
Considering Michigan for MFA in Creative Writing : r/uofm
leschwe. ADMIN. Considering Michigan for MFA in Creative Writing. University of Michigan is on my short list of schools that I plan on applying to for the MFA program. Could any of you guys tell me anything about your MFA program, the English department in general, or just what it's like to live in Ann Arbor (apartments, commuting, etc)?
Programs
MFA in Creative Writing; Special Topics Courses; Students. Dept - 02. Overview; Advising; Awards; EN211 Exit Expectations; Graduate Assistantships; Graduate Program Applications; ... Northern Michigan University, located in Marquette, MI, is a dynamic four-year, public, comprehensive university. Explore our website and see all that NMU has to ...
Creative Writing Master's Degree
As a master of arts student in Creative Writing at CMU, you can: • study with award-winning faculty and published authors. • submit your poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction work to our literary journal, The Central Review. • work on The Central Review as an editor. • hear from prominent poets and fiction writers who come to CMU for ...
Michelle Menting
The recipient of awards and residencies from Sewanee and Bread Loaf Writers' Conferences, Hewnoaks, the National Park Service, Maine Farmland Trust, and others, she has taught literature and creative writing at the University of Nebraska, Northern Michigan University, Franklin Pierce University, Nicolet College, and other academic ...
MFA in Writing
MFA in Writing. Graduate Programs. Programs. PhD in English Language and Literature. PhD in English and Women's and Gender Studies. PhD in English and Education. MFA in Writing. How to Apply. Prospective Students.
PDF Northern Michigan University MFA in Creative Writing
Northern Michigan University MFA in Creative Writing Plan of Study Name IN# Address Semester Admitted City/State/Zip Current Date Home Phone Email Course I.D. Course Title Semester Credits Grade Substitutions Core Curriculum (4) ED 504 Principles of Critical Investigation (4)
Home
Whether you want to become a writer, teacher, or expert multi-media communicator, majoring in English at NMU will open many doors to your future — ones you may not have even considered yet. In literature classes, you will be challenged to consider matters of broad human significance. In creative writing, exposition, and journalism classes you will develop your talents for expressing ideas ...
MFA Creative Writing
P.O. Box 6032. Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6032. Email. [email protected]. Phone. 928-523-4911. Study fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry, take part in workshops and more, while pursuing your MFA in Creative Writing at NAU. Apply today and enroll!