Creative Writing MFA Programs in the Northeast

A graduate degree in Creative Writing (usually in the form of an MFA) typically requires students to the study the various forms that form part of the craft of writing. Although most such programs focus mainly on fiction and poetry, quite often they do offer students education in a wide variety of other forms as well, such as memoir and other nonfiction. The following MFA programs in Creative Writing are located in the northeast and offer rigorous training in form and composition.

Syracuse University

The MFA program in Creative Writing at Syracuse University offers both fiction writers and poets the chance to work with some of the most esteemed writers in the f ield. The program features small class sizes, with the result that students get to work closely with their instructors. Admission to Syracuse University is very rigorous and is based on writing samples and prior academic achievement. Due to the small size of any incoming class, the program offers a generous financial aid package to all incoming students, typically comprised of fellowships and teaching assistantships. The strong faculty, small class size, and generous financial aid make this the perfect Creative Writing Program.

Boston University

The Creative Writing MFA program at Boston University is an intensive program,and almost all studetns finish their course requirements by the end of their second academic year. The program consists of two components: a number of seminars that members of a particular class complete as a cohort, and four other courses typically taken from English graduate course offerings. The program does require its students to have some familiarity with a foreign language. A number of financial aid packages are available for exceptionally qualified students.

University of New Hampshire

Although it is a fairly young program (having been formed in 2007,) the Creative Writing MFA at the University of New Hampshire has deep roots, and all of the faculty in the program are working writers. The program is small, typically admitting only five students in each genre each academic year and this, combined with the conference system in which students meet regularly with their instructors, ensures that students in the program receive individual attention and undergo rigorous preparation for their careers as artists. Students typically complete the program in three years, and a number of financial aid options are available, including teaching assistantships.

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Unlike many MFA programs (which typically focus on just the artistic aspect of writing,) that located at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst prepares its students for careers in a variety of fields, including publishing, teaching, and arts administration. Students typically take three years to complete all of the degree requirements, which include workshops, classes in poetry, and a number of thesis credits. A number of financial aid opportunities are available for students, ranging from teaching assistantships to research assistantships.

Those who decide to pursue a MFA degree in Creative Writing will find that the job possibilities are quite extensive, ranging from full-time fiction writing to other writing careers such as technical writer, freelance writer, and many others. Pursuing a graduate degree in Creative Writing can be an immensely rewarding and satisfying experience.