The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Writing program gives students with a passion for storytelling an opportunity to expand their writing in a fully supported online environment.
Why students choose this program:
- To learn who they are as a writer, artist and collaborator as they push boundaries to discover and learn about new avenues of their art.
- To gain an opportunity to focus on individual projects in the student's preferred genre, with a plan of study to support these projects.
- To join a tight-knit community of dedicated writers where relationships last long beyond graduation.
- To maximize previously earned graduate-level coursework through the Pathways program.
The flexible structure, guided readings and critical response focus on the following areas:
- Fiction
- Poetry
- Creative Nonfiction Young Adult
- Playwriting
- Screenwriting
Faculty Mentorship:
Each semester a student is paired with a mentor, who is selected not only for their literary and teaching accomplishments but also for their approach to teaching and their style of writing. Mentors are working artists who bring real-world experience to the learning environment. It is truly a collaborative environment where the mentor pushes the student's critical writing and reading skills through one-on-one discussion, questions and imagination.
Short, Conference-Style Residencies:
The retreats, located at the stunning Lied Lodge & Conference Center in Nebraska City, NE, combine craft and theory where students attend lectures, workshops and readings of original work, all under one roof. The residency is designed to inspire a continued commitment to the art and refuel enthusiasm with the solitary writing time during the semester ahead. Students are introduced to a variety of artistic concepts and practical writing techniques in a mixture of literary activities. Students are encouraged to explore event offerings and network with mentors in all genres.
Each residency will include a combination of instructional activities and co-curricular events, including:
- Lectures and craft discussions conducted by faculty and guest writers.
- Small team-taught workshops.
- Readings of original work by faculty, guest writers and graduating students.
- Individual conferences with faculty mentors.
