The Writing Seminars offers a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in fiction and poetry. Students admitted to the M.F.A. program enroll in two years of course work and produce a substantial manuscript in the form of a novel or collection of fiction or poetry. M.F.A. candidates are chosen on the basis of a manuscript, college transcripts, GRE scores, and appropriate letters of recommendation that testify to the student’s ability and willingness to undertake serious study in the literary arts. Since all students receive financial aid in the form of full tuition and a teaching assistantship, applicants must be able to demonstrate aptitude for college teaching.
The program requires two full years of residency in Baltimore. Students enroll each semester in two courses: a writing workshop in poetry or fiction and a second course in craft or literature taught within the department. At the end of the first year, students present a portfolio of revised work for faculty review. Successful completion of this work is a requirement for continuation in the second year.
The M.F.A. degree in The Writing Seminars is designed for students committed to the study and practice of literary writing at the highest level of accomplishment. Approximately four poets and four fiction writers will be admitted annually. Our pedagogy emphasizes genre-informed discussions, faculty conferences, independent readings, and interactions with visiting writers. Culminating in a book-length thesis, this immersion in literary study is designed to inculcate the habits and skills necessary for a productive writer’s life.
Students applying to the M.F.A. program should have a bachelor’s degree. All must demonstrate competence in a foreign language at the college level.