MFA in Creative Writing
Boston, USA
Master degree
DURATION
6 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Priority decision: February 1
Key Summary
About: Emerson College's Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing explores poetry, screenwriting, digital and traditional publishing. You can teach in the Writing Studies Program and edit on-campus journals. BFA or BA with a creative thesis may gain Advanced Standing, waiving 4 credits. Full-time and part-time options; evening classes and no GRE requirement.
Career Outcomes: Graduates pursue roles as Author, Editor, Copywriter, Content Manager, Journalist, Communications Coordinator, Public Relations Manager, Poet, and writing instructor. The program connects you with industry leaders and alumni. Job growth looks steady; master's holders often earn more annually. Career opportunities include those roles commonly.
Program Highlights
- Explore different forms of writing through your electives, including poetry to screenwriting, digital to traditional publishing, and more
- Experiences outside of the classroom include teaching creative writing in our Writing Studies Program and editing on-campus journals such as Ploughshares and Redivider
- Students with a BFA in Creative Writing or a BA in English with a Creative Writing Thesis/Capstone may qualify for Advanced Standing. This allows you to waive 4 credits and expedite your degree completion by applying your working knowledge toward the total credit count
- Full-time and part-time options; classes are offered in the evenings to fit your schedule
- No GRE requirements to apply
Write the stories you’re passionate about in Emerson’s on-campus Creative Writing graduate program. Focus on your genre—poetry, non-fiction, or fiction— during your required workshops and thesis, and explore different genres along the way through your elective courses. Housed in the School of the Arts, the program requires completion of 44 credits.
Advanced Standing Curriculum
Students with a BFA in Creative Writing or a BA in English with a Creative Writing Capstone or Thesis may qualify for Advanced Standing. Qualified students waive 4 credits (1 course) from the Workshop Course requirements. Advanced Standing students complete the degree in 40 credits instead of the full 44-credit degree, saving time and money. Please note that advanced standing credit advances a student’s position within the program but credits are not granted or transferable to another institution.
Creative Writing Alumni
Our alumni have gone on to establish successful writing careers, publishing work ranging from poetry, fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, and more. Recent alumni who have published their work include:
- Ciera Burch ’20, The Inevitability of Home (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
- Madeline Sneed ’20, The Golden Season (HarperCollins)
- Stephanie Wrobel ’19, The Recovery of Rose Gold (Penguin Random House)
- Noe Alvarez ’17, Spirit Run: A 6,000-Mile Marathon Through North America’s Stolen Land (Catapult)
- Brionne Janae ’15, Blessed Are the Peacemakers (Northwestern University Press)
- Amber McBride '12, Me (Moth) (Macmillan)
Financial Aid
Emerson College is proud to offer students and families financial aid options and resources.
Scholarships
Upon applying to an Emerson Graduate Program, the Graduate Admission team automatically reviews every accepted student’s scholarship eligibility.
Who Should Apply?
Students in Emerson’s on-campus graduate Creative Writing program come from diverse backgrounds and have majored in, work in, or have a passion for writing and storytelling. The majority of our students aspire to publish their own novels, poems, or stories or teach creative writing to the next generation of writers. Our students are dedicated to their craft and welcome constructive feedback from peers and mentors. They also have a solid understanding of the themes and writing types they want to focus on. Housed in the School of the Arts, our graduate program offers students the option to choose from literary fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry tracks.
Career Outlook for Creative Writing Graduates
Students interested in a writing career can expect yearly job growth of 4%. Employees with a master’s degree earn up to $12,000 more per year with a master’s than those with a bachelor’s. Housed in the School of the Arts, our Creative Writing program offers you direct access to top creative industry leaders, alumni, and faculty.
Explore a dynamic range of careers and industries, including:
- Author
- Communications Coordinator
- Content Manager
- Copywriter
- Editor
- Journalist
- Poet
- Public Relations Manager