The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Southern Illinois University is designed for aspiring authors seeking to hone their craft and develop a professional writing career. This postgraduate degree provides dedicated time and focused mentorship to explore fiction, poetry, and literary non-fiction. You will engage with a vibrant literary community, benefiting from faculty who are respected authors and scholars in their fields. This program is ideal for students committed to intensive study and practice of creative writing, preparing you for the demands of the publishing world and advanced literary scholarship.
You will study on campus full-time over two years, completing 48 credit hours including core seminars in creative writing and specialized electives. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on workshop experience, culminating in a substantial thesis project. Throughout your studies, you will participate in a candidacy review and a final oral examination defending your thesis. Graduates of Southern Illinois University's MFA program are well-prepared for careers as published authors, editors, educators, and literary professionals, equipped with a strong portfolio and a deep understanding of literary arts.