Degree Requirements
To earn an MFA in creative writing, students must complete 42 semester hours of graduate work including 18 semester hours of writing workshops in fiction, poetry, play writing, screen writing, or creative nonfiction; 12 semester hours in literature or theory; three semester hours in a practical writing internship; an additional elective or internship; and six semester hours of thesis work. Three of the writing workshop courses must be in the core specialty, and of the three electives, at least one must be in a genre other than the declared specialty. Internships are in public service writing, publishing, arts administration, or teaching.
| Required Courses | Hours |
| Thesis | 6 |
| Elective in Literature, Writing Workshop, or Additional Internship | 3 |
| Internship | 3 |
| Four courses in Literature and Theory | 12 |
| Three Elective Workshops, at least ONE outside of specialty area | 9 |
| Three workshop courses in specialty area | 9 |
A student who has not completed a thesis or other final project must maintain continued registration during fall and spring semesters until completion of the project by registering for the appropriate zero-credit course (course number followed by "Y"). Students who have not maintained continuous registration for thesis or other final project will be required to register for all intervening fall and spring semesters prior to graduation.
Specialization in Fiction
In this sequence of classes, students will work on the process of creating, rewriting, editing, and publishing fiction. Emphasis will be placed on composition, analysis, and critique of narrative and non-narrative forms in a workshop environment. Candidates in the fiction specialty will complete all of the core fiction workshops. These studies will culminate in a thesis project consisting of a novel or book-length fiction collection of publishable quality.
Admission to fiction requires consent of the faculty upon review of a portfolio containing three pieces of fiction totaling at least 5,000 words, a resume of publications and readings, if applicable, and a statement of purpose.
Specialization in Poetry
In this sequence of courses, students will work on forms of poetry from the traditional to the experimental. Emphasis will be placed on the workshop process from creating to rewriting, editing, and publishing. Candidates who declare the poetry specialty will complete all of the core poetry workshops. These studies will culminate in a thesis project consisting of a book-length poem or collection of publishable quality.
Admission to poetry requires consent of the faculty upon review of a portfolio containing a minimum of three poems of any length and at least 12 pages of poetry, a resume of publications and readings, if applicable, and a statement of purpose.
Specialization in Creative Nonfiction
Writers interested in developing their skills as essayists, critics, biographers, or other relevant nonfiction specialists will find ample opportunities and direction to meet their goals. Although this genre often uses many of the narrative essentials of fiction, like point of view, voice, and plot, it relies on life experience coordinated with research, both documentary and interview. Declared nonfiction specialists will complete all of the core nonfiction workshops. These studies will culminate in a thesis project consisting of a book-length nonfiction work of publishable quality.
Admission to creative nonfiction requires consent of the faculty upon review of a portfolio of at least three essays of approximately 5,000 words. The portfolio should also include a resume of publications and readings, if applicable, and a statement of purpose.
Practical Writing Internships
Public-service writing: students will be placed with a compatible nonprofit concern where they can exercise skills in technical and promotional grant writing and other forms of professional and written expression.
Publishing: students may enroll in Literary Magazine Production, the class that produces Oyez Review, the professionally edited literary journal affiliated with the program, or may be placed with a publisher in the Chicago community.
Teaching: students may opt for an internship in the Roosevelt English composition program or in literature or creative writing, or they may develop and conduct creative writing workshops in community senior or youth centers.
Literary marketing: students will be placed with an organization that develops and produces literary events throughout the city.
Additional Certifications
Two additional certifications are also available: a Certificate in the Teaching of Writing (from the Department of Literature and Languages) and a Certificate in Women and Gender Studies (from the Department of Women and Gender Studies). Both certificates require four additional courses, including a teaching internship or final project, respectively.
For more information see internships and professional development.
Additional MFA Requirements
MFA Students are expected to attend at least three out of four readings of the official department Reading Series.
Students also need to be familiar with and easily access RU Access, Blackboard and their Roosevelt mail accounts. If you are unable to access your RU Access, Blackboard or Roosevelt mail account, contact your advisor. Technical help for faculty and staff is available during business hours at 312-341-6460, and all users can contact the main help desk anytime at 312-341-4357.
