2020-2021 Course Catalog
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is a broad program of study (42 credit hours) designed to prepare students for careers as writers or other positions requiring similar professional skills, such as editing, publishing, and content development for the web; to enable students to improve their writing in more than one genre through interaction with our faculty and other writing students; and to become experienced critics of literary works. Our focus on nature, environmental, and travel writing provides students unique opportunities to explore the world and travel as part of their degree programs.
Most full-time students will be able to complete the program in two years. All students must complete the program within five years of entrance into the program.
Program of Study:
Complete 42 credits hours of graduate coursework beyond the BA or BS. Students who have not completed an undergraduate
major in writing, or in English with a writing focus, may be required to take a basic core of 3 courses before registering for
the advanced curriculum.
Admission Requirements
Early Decision Deadline for Fall 2020 for Fellowship/Assistantship MFACW Interviews: Feb 15
Recommended regular application deadline for FALL entry: April 1
Note: applications will continue to be accepted and considered for admission as long as seats remain in the class.
- Have a completed baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, with an overall undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale (3.5 or higher recommended for Assistantship/Fellowship consideration).
- 6 credits in undergraduate Writing are recommended, but not required.
If a Student has below a 3.0 GPA, please feel free to apply if you show extreme promise through other achievements. Additional Admissions documents may be requested. - Complete application for admission, including:
- Online application
- In approximately 500 words, please explain why you are interested in pursuing this degree. How will the degree impact your future personal and career goals?
- Curriculum vita or resume
- Two official letters of recommendation, preferably written by former writing teachers or professors who know your writing
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- Writing Sample ranging from 10-20 (maximum) pages. It can be one work or several pieces combined. Please provide on standard 8 ½ x 11 paper.
Admissions Materials may be submitted to:
Chatham University
Office of Graduate Admission
Woodland Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Fax: (412) 365-1609
Email: graduate@chatham.edu
For specific questions about the Program, please reach out to Rachel Fiscus at 412-365-1141 or at r.fiscus@chatham.edu.
Integrated Degree Program
Chatham University undergraduates applying through the Integrated Degree Program (IDP) must complete all requirements outlined on their respective admission or track tab on the IDP Portal Site. All IDP applicants should work closely with their academic advisor to ensure they are meeting all requirements according to their IDP course of study.
Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the MFA program students will:
- Develop and hone skills in creating, editing and revising in the student's primary genre.
- Demonstrate ability to read and respond thoughtfully and critically in both oral and written form to other student’s work.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how to perform in a workshop situation.
- Recognize and write within the genres of nature, environmental or travel writing.
- Write and publically present (orally) a polished creative manuscript of marketable quality.
- Cultivate a professional identity in terms of self-presentation in both written and oral forms to include reading their work aloud at public venues, interviewing other writers, attending outside readings, writing book reviews and organizing literary events.
- Demonstrate understanding of the theory and practice of literary publishing, including the practice of submitting work to literary journals and/or to quality trade publishers.
- Develop a nuanced sense of place and the ways in which place is important to the student’s work.
- Travel to a national or international destination and generate creative works from that experience
- Analyze and write with care about literary texts of considerable difficulty.
- Recognize critical positions and literary arguments, including the student’s own critical and aesthetic position.
- Demonstrate a good reading knowledge of modern and contemporary literature and how the student’s own work fits within a literary tradition.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the theory and practice of teaching creative writing.
Curriculum
Contact
Sheila Squillante
Program Director
ssquillante@chatham.edu
(412) 365 - 1190