Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Join an outstanding cohort of students working with diverse, award-winning faculty in the literary center of the South.
About this Program
The Department of English in the College of Liberal Arts offers the M.F.A. in Creative Writing.
Work closely with award-winning and bestselling poets and writers, developing creative writers actively participate in a scholarly community that focuses on successfully learning the craft of writing in a town renowned for its literary and artistic culture. Upon completion of the degree, the successful student will have a completed manuscript ready for publication
The program is listed among the Top Fifty M.F.A. Programs by Poets & Writers. A student-run readings series and our literary magazine, The Yalobusha Review, are just some of the opportunities for students. Our environment is close-knit and encouraging, and the University of Mississippi was ranked in The Chronicle of Higher Education‘s list of “Great Colleges to Work For.” We are located in Oxford, Mississippi, home of Faulkner’s Rowan Oak, literary conferences, the best bookstore in the South, an active music scene, and great restaurants.
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Program Information
Program Type
Master's Program
Area of Study
Humanities
School
Duration
3 years
Degree
M.F.A. in Creative Writing
Program Location
Required Credit Hours
42
Program Details
Stage One, October 1-December 15
There is no fee for the first stage of the M.F.A. application. At this stage, we are evaluating applicants based solely on the merits of the writing. If your application progresses to Stage 2 in February, we will ask you to officially apply to the UM Graduate School, at which point a $50 fee will be collected.
Before December 15, please email the following items in one named PDF document to m.f.a.adm@olemiss.edu:
- A statement of purpose (no more than two single-spaced pages; include your name and contact information) that indicates your background and experience, as well as any academic or career goals you hope to achieve in the program. Indicate your wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship or fellowship.
- A writing sample consisting of:
- a cover sheet with your name, mailing address, email, and phone number, and the titles of all the pieces in your writing sample;
- either 10 pages of poems (single-spaced) or no more than 20 pages of prose (double-spaced) with your name and contact information on each page.
If applying for both genres, please send two separate Phase I applications.
Stage Two, February 15-April 15
Completion of Stage I will be posted on the program website and finalists will be contacted to complete the UM Graduate School online application. If you do not hear from us, then you have not moved onto Stage Two of the application process.
Before March 1, Stage Two applicants should complete the UM Graduate School application process. Additional details are found on the department website.
- Complete the Graduate School's Online Application.
- Pay the application fee ($50).
- Submit official transcripts.
- International applicants whose first language is not English may be required to submit scores from an acceptable English language proficiency test.
- Provide email addresses for three recommenders in the online application.
Students with an M.A. or other graduate degree may be released from some coursework.
Students with a B.A. degree complete 36 hours of coursework with at least a B average, as well as 6 additional hours of thesis credit.
- Eng 600: Intro to Graduate Study
- 12 credit hours must be in creative writing workshops
- One of the following
- Eng 679: Form, Craft and Influence - Poetry
- Eng 683: Form, Craft and Influence - Fiction
- 9 credit hours must be in 700-level literature courses (3 credit hours of literature before 1800 and 3 after)
Students may take up to 6 credit hours in related disciplines and/or directed readings. Writing instructors are required to take Eng 617: Teaching College English.
Students pass a written exam and create an M.F.A. thesis, which is a book-length manuscript of either poetry or prose. An oral defense before the committee is the final stage before the student is recommended for the degree.
GRISHAM FELLOWSHIPS IN CREATIVE WRITING
Each year we award two incoming students with John and Renée Grisham Fellowships (one in fiction and one in poetry), a $62,000 package that includes full tuition, health care, and an annual stipend of $16,000, renewable for three years. During this time, Grisham fellows have no teaching responsibilities. The time is a gift for them to hone their craft, and we do everything we can to see that they have the resources and encouragement to use their time to its fullest potential.
TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS
The Department of English offers incoming students Teaching Assistantships at $11,500 per year. Students with a graduate assistantship funded by the Department of English receive a scholarship that covers some or all of the tuition and non-residency fee, if applicable, for regular semesters and subsidized health insurance.
Graduate teaching fellows usually begin by serving as section leaders and graders in the department’s 200-level literature survey or 300-level Shakespeare classes. In their second year, they often teach in the 100-level composition sequence or the Intro to Creative Writing course. More experienced instructors may be assigned to 300-level literature or writing workshops, which helps those who wish to pursue jobs in academia once they graduate.
Department of English contests and awards for current students with prize money include:
- The Bondurant Prize
- The Ann Fisher-Wirth Bright Spirit Award
- Sommerville Prize
- Evans-Harrington Prize
- D.C. Berry Award
GRADUATE SCHOOL
The Graduate School’s financial aid webpage lists a variety of funding possibilities, including summer support and a recruiting fellowship program that promotes academic excellence and access to graduate education to groups who are historically underrepresented.
We’re Here to Help!
If you have any questions about the M.F.A. in Creative Writing, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Melissa Allee Ginsburg
Associate Professor of English & Creative Writing
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