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College
Department
Degree
MFA
Program Type
Graduate
Have Questions?
Read great books. Write your own great book.
What are writers for in the age of AI? We are surrounded by words, many of them machine-made, and many that are not inspiring. But our age—our society, our schools, our media and magazines, our civilization—needs good writers! In our MFA in Creative Writing program, we believe that training writers who will go on to write poetry, fiction and nonfiction that is good, true and beautiful is a project of civilizational significance.
So what does this mean in practice?
Our low-residency MFA in Creative Writing program requires each student to curate a personal list of 50 books to read over the course of the MFA. The program consists of three intensive two-week summer residencies and four online semesters of creative writing and critical reading, culminating with a thesis that is a book-length manuscript — your own great book in the making.
You will choose the primary genre as your main focus: poetry, creative nonfiction or fiction. If you’d like to work in a second genre, a cross-genre is available.
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Is Our MFA in Creative Writing Program Right for You?
This program is ideal for anyone who:
- Wants to develop writing skills and relationships that will last a lifetime.
- Has been out of school for a while and wants to reconnect with the literary arts.
- Would love to be mentored by accomplished writers.
- Is eager to gain publishing experience by working as an editor for a literary magazine or a publishing assistant for a poetry press.
- Writes better and more regularly when involved in a community of writers.
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Learning Experiences
You can look forward to the following:
- Three intensive two-week summer residencies that are taught on a mentorship basis.
- Four online semesters of courses taught via Blackboard and video conferencing.
- Ongoing, individualized mentoring from established writers.
- Lively yet rigorous discussions of contemporary literature and one another’s writing.
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Student Organizations and Internships
You will have the opportunity to participate in:
- Editing the Black Fork Review, a literary journal featuring poetry, creative nonfiction and fiction by AU students and faculty and writers from the wider literary landscape. In your role as an editor, you lead teams of undergraduates in editing work in each genre.
- Graduate publishing assistantships
- A limited number of graduate publishing assistantships to work with the Ashland Poetry Press are available to students who have taken ENG 631: Mentorship I and have selected poetry as their primary genre.
- Students are chosen for assistantships during the fall semester; decisions are based on faculty recommendations and a cover letter sent to the managing editor of Ashland Poetry Press.
- Graduate teaching assistantships that help pay for your education while you gain teaching experience. Currently, qualified M.F.A students earn $2,575 for each course they teach. Based on availability, you may be able to teach five classes during your time in the M.F.A program.
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Course Sequence
You can learn more about the curriculum by reviewing the Curriculum for the MFA Program in Creative Writing and Academic Catalog.
Accessibility
The Student Accessibility Center works one-on-one with students to ensure that all coursework and events are fully accessible. The center offers a variety of resources and services, including text-to-speech software. Please contact the Student Accessibility Center to learn more or to set up an appointment.
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Tuition & Fees
This information shows the tuition fees for the MFA program in creative writing. Explanations of residency-only and additional fees follow the table.
For information about financial aid, go to Graduate School Financial Aid.
Additional Information
Graduate Outcomes
"The Ashland University low-residency program feels more akin to a family than a program. The faculty and staff are not only highly skilled but also deeply caring. I graduated from the program not only a better writer but a better person."
- David Baxley, Ashland University M.F.A. Alumnus
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Can You Give Me a Glimpse of My Future?
Graduates may pursue opportunities as a published author, freelance writer, editor, or educator, our program and be equipped with the skills, knowledge and creative insight to thrive in today's competitive writing landscape. Beyond traditional roles, graduates often find success in fields such as marketing, communications and content creation, leveraging their storytelling abilities to engage audiences and drive impactful narratives across industries. Our program fosters a supportive community of writers and provides opportunities for professional development, mentorship and publication, empowering you to pursue your passion and make a lasting impact with your words.