College of Arts and Sciences
Department of English
www.kent.edu/english

About This Program

The Creative Writing M.F.A. program is designed for aspiring writers who want to hone their craft and take their skills to the next level. With a focus on individual attention and mentorship from experienced faculty, you'll have the opportunity to refine your writing skills in a supportive and inspiring environment. Whether you're interested in fiction, poetry, or nonfiction, our program provides you with the tools needed to achieve your writing goals. Read more...

Contact Information

• Program Coordinator: Christopher Roman | croman2@kent.edu | 330-672-1757
  Bee Viton | bviton@kent.edu | 330-672-1708
• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Funding deadline: January 15
    Applications must be submitted by these deadlines to be considered for an assistantship or any other funded position.
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

The internship must be in a teaching, editing or arts administration setting.

²

The thesis must be submitted according to the general requirements established by the Division of Graduate Studies. The student is required to defend the thesis in an oral presentation before a committee of graduate faculty from a minimum of two consortium schools.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Critique creative literary works in a workshop environment.
2. Critique and revise their own material.
3. Create a high quality publishable work of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, drama or literary translation.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of theories and practices of creative writing and the creative process.
5. Develop skills in creative writing in real world job situations.

Full Description

The Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing is a consortium program between Kent State, the University of Akron, Cleveland State University and Youngstown State University. The program allows students to take advantage of collaboration with an award-winning 15-member faculty and to concentrate in the writing of plays, poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. The number and variety of the faculty guarantee consistent individual attention to student work. The range of study gives students opportunities to take classes with other writers from different backgrounds and in different genres. An annual series of readings and visiting writers in all genres supports the regular curricular offerings.

Selected students attend special summer programs, such as the Juniper Institute in Massachusetts and the Imagination Writers Conference in Cleveland; many students attend the annual Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) Conference representing the consortium, or publish in journals and presses associated with the program.