College of Sciences and Humanities
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 will have the opportunity to refine your writing skills in a supportive and inspiring environment. Whether you are interested in fiction, poetry or nonfiction, our program provides you with the tools needed to achieve your writing goals. Read more...

Contact Information

• Robert Sturr, Ph.D. | rsturr@kent.edu |
  330-672-4324
• Bee Viton | bviton@kent.edu | 330-672-1708

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor

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

Applicants must apply to both the NEOMFA consortium and Kent State University. For more information on admission to the consortium, visit the NEOMFA website.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 65 PTE score
  • Minimum 120 DET score

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Funding deadline: January 15
    Applications must be submitted by this deadline 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 university. 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. Students must continually register for ENG 69199 for maximum 6 credit hours toward the degree. Students may need to register for ENG 69299 to complete the thesis requirement; however, those credit hours do not, whatsoever, count toward the degree.

Graduation Requirements

• No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

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, University of Akron and Cleveland State University  (Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts or NEOMFA).

The degree 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; 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.