Writing Seminars, Master of Fine Arts

Writing Seminars, Master of Fine Arts

The Writing Seminars offers a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in fiction and poetry. Students admitted to the MFA 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.

This two-year program 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. The program's 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.

Admissions

MFA candidates are chosen based on the ability and willingness to undertake serious study in the literary arts. Applicants must be able to demonstrate aptitude for college teaching. All students receive financial aid in the form of full tuition and a teaching assistantship.

Please visit the departmental admissions website for a list of required admissions materials.

To apply, please visit the Krieger School Graduate Admissions website and select ‘Apply Now’.

Program Requirements

Overarching Requirements

• Students enroll in one of two program tracks: Fiction or Poetry
• Residency Requirement: two full years of residency in Baltimore
• Foreign Language Proficiency
  • Students may show foreign language proficiency in the first year by passing a placement exam or a translation test. Students also have the option of enrolling in a full year at any level of college-level foreign language study, to be passed no later than the end of the first semester of the second year.

Year 1-Fall Term

• Graduate Orientation and Academic Ethics (AS.360.603)
• Readings in Pedagogy: Teaching Fiction and Poetry (AS.220.646)
  • First-year students take this course in pedagogy, in preparation for their own teaching of undergraduate fiction and poetry in the spring of the first year.
• Course: Writing Workshop in Poetry or Fiction
  • Fiction Workshop (AS.220.623)
  • Poetry Workshop (AS.220.625)
• Course: Readings & Literature (taught within the department, course numbers vary)

Year 1-Spring Term

• Teaching Assistantship (AS.220.805)
• Course: Writing Workshop in Poetry or Fiction
  • Fiction Workshop (AS.220.624)
  • Poetry Workshop (AS.220.626)
• Course: Readings & Literature (taught within the department, course numbers vary)
• First-Year Portfolio
  • At the end of the first year, students present a first-year portfolio, approximately half the length of the projected thesis, for faculty review. Successful completion of this work is a requirement for continuation in the second year.

Summer

• Summer Independent Research (AS.220.803)

Year 2-Fall Term

• Teaching Assistantship OR Hopkins Review Managing Editor Requirement
  • Teaching Assistant (AS.220.805)
  • The Hopkins Review Managing Editor (AS.220.806)
• Course: Writing Workshop in Poetry or Fiction
  • Fiction Workshop (AS.220.623)
  • Poetry Workshop (AS.220.625)
• Course: Readings & Literature (taught within the department, course numbers vary)

Year 2-Spring Term

• Teaching Assistantship OR Hopkins Review Managing Editor Requirement
  • Teaching Assistant (AS.220.805)
  • The Hopkins Review Managing Editor (AS.220.806)
• Course: Writing Workshop in Poetry or Fiction
  • Fiction Workshop (AS.220.624)
  • Poetry Workshop (AS.220.626)
• Course: Readings & Literature (taught within the department, course numbers vary)
• Thesis Requirement
  • A fiction student’s thesis is a substantial manuscript in the form of a novella, a novel excerpt, or a collection of fiction. Poets produce a thesis of collected poetry. In the second year, the student is assigned a second reader—a faculty member from a different genre—who serves on the thesis committee.