The M.F.A. in Creative Writing, one of the oldest and most prestigious programs of its kind in the nation, is offered to a limited number of students with superior ability in writing original works of poetry or fiction. The program requires 36 credit hours and permits students to develop particular talents in small classes and in conferences with writers in residence and distinguished visiting writers. Students are considered for fellowships as well as graduate assistantships. The M.F.A. is a residency program for full-time students.

For information regarding deadlines and requirements for admission, please see https://grs.uncg.edu/programs/.

In addition to the application materials required by the Graduate School, applicants must submit a writing sample by January 15 to be considered for Fall admission.

Degree Program Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Required (9 credits)
ENG 682	The Structure of Verse	3
ENG 683	The Structure of Fiction	3
Select one course (3 credits) in literature or rhetoric from graduate-level ENG courses		3
Workshop Requirement (12 credits)
Fiction students must complete 12 credits in the following courses: 1
ENG 625	MFA Fiction Workshop	6
ENG 626	MFA Fiction Workshop	6
Poetry students must complete 12 credits in the following courses: 1
ENG 627	MFA Poetry Workshop	6
ENG 628	MFA Poetry Workshop	6
Tutorial Requirement (9 credits)
Fiction students must complete 9 credits in the following courses:
ENG 671	Graduate Tutorial in Writing: Fiction 2	6
ENG 672	Graduate Tutorial in Writing: Fiction	3
Poetry students must complete 9 credits in the following courses:
ENG 673	Graduate Tutorial in Writing: Poetry 2	6
ENG 674	Graduate Tutorial in Writing: Poetry	3
Elective Academic Course (3 credits)
Select one course (3 credits) in a related academic field at the 500-, 600-, or 700-level 3		3
Thesis (3 credits)
ENG 699	Thesis 4	3
Total Credit Hours		36

¹

Each course must be repeated once for total of 6 credits. 

²

Course must be repeated once for total of 6 credits. 

³

Usually in English or American literature.

⁴

May be a novel, a collection of short stories, or a volume of poetry.

Elective Academic Courses

Students may, with permission of the Director of the M.F.A. Writing Program, take 500- and 600-level courses offered by other departments in the College of Arts and Sciences, most often in the departments of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, Media Studies, and Art. Additional electives may be taken with approval from the M.F.A. Program Director, but they do not count toward the 36-hour minimum requirement for the degree.

If a student is assigned to teach for their graduate assistantship, they must take 3 credits of ENG 747 Teaching College Writing beyond the 36-hour minimum required of the degree.

Students who plan a career in college teaching should take as many courses as possible in literature, criticism, and composition and rhetoric, including ENG 680 Teaching Internships in English.

Students who plan careers in publishing and editing should select courses focusing on contemporary publishing:

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
ENG 535	Entrepreneurship and Independent Press Publishing	3
ENG 620	Contemporary Publishing	3
ENG 622	Internship in English	3