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Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Department of English

College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Department of English

College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences

Online

Program

48 Credit Hours

to Graduate

Online Tuition Rate

$583 Per Credit Hour

Low-Cost Textbooks

For All Students

One of the Most Affordable and Progressive Low-Residency Programs in the Nation

A studio-academic, terminal degree program, the Bluegrass Writers Studio™ low-residency MFA in Creative Writing equips students with the training necessary to become regularly publishing writers, educators, business professionals and more. Workshops, contemporary literature courses, and residencies focus on advanced craft, contemporary literature, publishing, the literary marketplace, and professional development. The program is regularly ranked among the top low-residency MFA programs in the country, and it has twice been named Best Low-Res MFA Program by Intelligent.com (2022, 2023). With live workshops, in-person and online open mics, a student-run literary journal, and opportunities for 100% remote publishing internships, Bluegrass Writers Studio™ has created a writer’s community without the commute.

Along with earning a degree of expertise in writing short and book-length poetry and/or prose, graduates will have a working understanding of the literary marketplace. The goal of the Bluegrass Writers Studio™ is to prepare students to become better writers, but an MFA in Creative Writing can open doors to a variety of careers including education, law, and roles in the medical and business sectors.

Note: Students must complete 12 hours of summer residency. Each summer, full-time students attend two sessions of in-person, domestic or international residency (ENW 800, 3 cr. hrs. and/or ENW 801, 3 cr. hrs.)

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Career Outlook

Writers must establish their credibility with editors and readers through clean prose, strong research, and the use of sources and citations. Writers and authors select the material they want to use and then convey the information to readers. With help from editors, they may revise or rewrite sections, searching for the clearest language and phrasing.

Employment of writers and authors is projected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032.

– U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Some writers and authors are self-employed or freelancers. They sell their written content to book and magazine publishers; news organizations; advertising agencies; and movie, theater, and television producers. They may be hired to complete specific short-term or recurring assignments, such as writing a newspaper column, contributing to a series of articles in a magazine, or producing an organization’s newsletter.

Graduates of the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program regularly publish poetry and prose in national literary journals, publish their book-length works with regional and national presses, and have been named finalists or winners of several notable literary and scholarly awards such as The Annie Dillard Award for Creative Nonfiction, The Fulbright Scholars Program, The PEN/Bellwether Award for Socially Engaged Fiction, and others.

The Office of Academic and Career Services is a one-stop shop for all your career and professional development needs.

Services Include:

  • Creating/updating your resume and cover letter
  • Interviewing tips and coaching
  • Career documents review
  • Job search

Why EKU?

  • Low-cost textbooks through EKU BookSmart
  • No application fee
  • Reduced tuition for active-duty military members and their spouses
  • A close-knit and supportive writing community devoted to your creative and professional success
  • Real-time workshops providing focused feedback
  • Supportive of both literary and literary genre writing
  • Member of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP)
  • Small class sizes – the class cap for workshops is 9 students
  • 250+ books and literary magazine publications by alumni
  • Accomplished, dedicated core faculty

Publishing Internships

Students may apply for one-semester internships in fall and spring and will earn 3 credit hours as part of the new ENW 810 Publishing Internship course.

  • Appalachian Book Company (2 exclusive internships per year)
  • Jelly Bucket Literary Journal (multiple guaranteed editing positions)
  • Martin Sisters Publishing (4 exclusive, paying internships per year)
  • Midwest Weird Audio Literary Magazine (2 exclusive internships per year)
  • University Press of Kentucky (multiple competitive internships per year)

Curriculum & Admission

MFA graduates are qualified for careers in college and university-level teaching, contract and freelance writing, digital content creation, editing, and publishing.

Courses include studies in modern composition, writing across the curriculum, intro to linguistic theory, critical studies of premodern texts, English as a second language, advanced grammar, topics in reading & teaching, writing & teaching writing.

A minimum of 48 credits are required to graduate.

View the degree requirements:

EKU Academic Catalog

Please review the admissions requirements before applying for this or any program. If you have questions about the program or are planning to register for classes, please speak to the program advisor.

Our thesis requirements prepare you for your post-MFA writing career, guiding you through writing a book, giving a public reading as you would on a book tour, and giving a craft or industry talk as you would at a writing residency or book festival.

By the time a student has completed the fourth required section of ENW 820 MFA Writing Workshop/Mentorship (6 credits) he/she will have produced a book-length creative thesis of publishable quality. The thesis must be approved by the MFA Committee.

Bluegrass Writers Studio™ offers two options for attending summer residencies: Richmond, Kentucky, and Lisbon, Portugal. These programs provide intensive, culturally enriching writing experiences:

  • Work with nationally known visiting writers
  • Participate in workshops, readings, and author socials
  • Network with faculty, visiting writers, and peers

Residencies and Degree Requirements

Four sections of ENW 800 Writing Residency are required to obtain the MFA at Bluegrass Writers Studio™. Each section is 3 credit hours. Both the Domestic and the International Summer Residencies earn either 3 credits (if you stay two weeks) or 6 credits (if you stay four weeks). Two month-long Summer Residencies will also fulfill the residency requirement. You may combine credits from both Residencies to earn a total of 12 hours (ENW 800).

International Summer Residency

All students traveling to Lisbon for summer residency receive a travel grant from EKU Education Abroad.

Students may transfer up to 12 hours of credit from accredited institutions. Please note that a minimum of 15 credit hours in this degree program must be completed at Eastern Kentucky University.

Previously earned credits must be reviewed upon admission to EKU for appropriate articulation.

TermApplication
Deadline		Classes
Begin
FallAugust 1August
SpringDecember 1January
SummerMay 1May

Applicants to the MFA in Creative Writing program (Bluegrass Writers Studio) are required to submit a portfolio of work in their desired concentration (poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction) to the MFA Program Director. The writing sample should consist of up to 15 pages of poetry or 20 pages of prose. The portfolio should also include a Statement of Purpose that addresses the applicant’s reasons for applying. Though applicants are not required to have completed an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in English or Creative Writing, it is recommended applicants without such preparation have either a minor in English and/or significant outside preparation or experience in literature and writing. In lieu of that, applicants should be prepared to complete additional hours to remove any deficiency in their preparations for graduate study.


Applicants must also meet the general requirements of the Graduate School. Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of less than 2.50 are required to complete the GRE and achieve satisfactory scores of 150 or higher on the Verbal and 4.0 or higher on the Analytical Writing sections of the exam. The MFA Program Director reserves the right to waive certain departmental requirements in the event that a writing sample is exceptional.

Enrolling & Advising Information

EKU’s College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences is committed to delivering high-quality enrollment and academic advising for our students. We strive to create an atmosphere of mutual trust and meaningful engagement to help students reach their academic goals and have a rewarding educational experience.

Interested in enrolling? Reach out to our enrollment advisor today.

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Shaker Ezaizat

Enrollment Advisor

859-622-2316
shaker.ezaizat@eku.edu

Schedule an Appointment

Additional Contact Info

Admissions: 859-622-2106
Academic Testing: 859-622-1281
Big E Central (Financial Aid & Student Account Services): 859-622-2361
Military & Veterans Affairs Office: 859-622-2345

Student Stories & Features

  • Wyatt Owens

    EKU English & History Teaching Graduate
    My favorite part about being an EKU student were the bonds I made with my peers and instructors. The community within EKU’s English program is fantastic and each person feels like they have a place. I received support from all of my instructors when I needed it. Without their support, I would not be able to teach and fulfill my other responsibilities now.

  • Anna Allen

    EKU English Teaching Graduate
    I would not be the teacher I am without the faculty at Eastern Kentucky University. The English and Education departments provided me with the knowledge, aptitude, and confidence to achieve great things inside my career field. My professors always challenged me to do my best and wanted to see me succeed.

  • Kaitlyn Taylor

    EKU English Teaching Graduate
    Earning this degree aided my career by showing me the types of literature to teach along with how to teach. I have experience not only studying the English content (i.e. grammar, literature, etc.) but also studying specific teaching techniques that I use in my career today. My favorite part of being an EKU student was building connections with peers and professors that I am still in touch with today.

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Contact Information

Department of English

Beckham Hall
Room 106
473 University Drive
Richmond, KY 40475

859-622-5861
Fax: 859-622-3156
kathy.mounts@eku.edu

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