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.
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 | View Program of Study |
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.
- Actively participate and network in a community of writers and cultivate a professional identity through performing one's work in both written and oral forms to include:
- 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 Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.
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: 6 - 9 units
- Thesis: 3 - 6 units
Take the following 36 units:
- Students completing a thesis are required to complete 18 units of formal letter-graded coursework.
Creative Writing Courses (12 units)
- 500- and 600-level creative writing courses, some of which may be repeated for 9 units of credit (12 units)
Supportive Coursework (12 units)
- Coursework in literature, literary criticism, literary theory, and/or readings in creative writing (12 units)
Electives (6 - 9 units*)
- Students who complete 3 units of Thesis:
- Electives chosen with your advisor's approval (9 units)
- Students who complete 6 units of Thesis:
- Electives chosen with your advisor's approval (6 units)
- Students who complete 3 units of Thesis:
Thesis (3 - 6 units*)
- Students who complete 6 units of electives:
- ENG 699 for the research, writing, and revision of an approved thesis (6 units)
- Students who complete 9 units of electives:
- ENG 699 for the research, writing, and revision of an approved thesis (3 units)
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.
*Students who complete 6 units of thesis will be required to complete fewer units of electives.
- Students who complete 6 units of electives:
Up to 6 units of 400-level literature courses may count toward degree, with advisor approval.
Additional Information
Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.
Funding and tuition
MFA in Creative Writing students are eligible to teach composition during their first year and creative writing during their second year in the English Department. Furthermore, a limited number of tuition waivers are available to out-of-state or in-state students who can demonstrate financial need. More information on graduate teaching assistantships and tuition waivers is available on our "Graduate Assistantships" page under "Resources."Non-academic graduate assistantships are available through many university-wide offices. They are awarded with stipends that vary by office, job duties, and degree-level. The NAU Office of Graduate and Professional Studies provides more information about "at-large" graduate assistantships.