Program Overview

MFA Program in Creative Writing

The MFA program in Creative Writing at the University of Montana has been in existence for over 50 years, founded by Richard Hugo. The program offers a unique experience with long winters, brilliant peers, a diverse and engaged faculty, excellent funding, and a community that lasts long after the program ends.

Program Details

• The program provides students with a variety of awards, fellowships, scholarships, and TA positions.
• TA's teach one class per semester in exchange for a tuition waiver and stipend.
• The program offers excellent training for teaching both composition and creative writing.
• Truman Capote Scholarships are available, which include tuition waivers and stipends without the obligation of teaching.

Curriculum

• Students take 4 workshops in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.
• Students take 1 techniques course.
• Students take 4 literature or special topics courses.
• A year-long, one-on-one mentorship with a faculty member results in a thesis manuscript.
• Elective courses are available in critical theory, film, storytelling, and teaching, with a focus on preparing writers to teach a variety of courses at the college level.

Career Outcomes

• More than 50 graduates hold tenure-line positions in creative writing at universities across the country.
• 13 graduates are directing creative writing programs.
• Former students have published widely, with over 27% of graduates having books with reputable publishing houses.
• Notable alumni include Sandra Alcosser, Kim Barnes, Judy Blunt, Kevin Canty, Emily Danforth, Chris Dombrowski, Rick DeMarinis, Michael Fitzgerald, David Gilbert, Andrew Sean Greer, Shannon Hale, Frances Hwang, Megan Kruse, Melissa Kwasny, Aryn Kyle, J. Robert Lennon, Abi Maxwell, Neil McMahon, Deirdre McNamer, Colin Meloy, Janisse Ray, Steven Rinella, Kim Todd, Amanda Eyre Ward, James Welch, Robert Wrigley, and William Finnegan.

Program Activities

• Students direct their own reading series, Second Wind, pairing second-year MFA students with community writers.
• Students edit and publish CutBank, a noted literary journal featuring poetry, prose, art, and critical work by both emerging and established artists.
• The Editor-in-Chief receives full funding.
• The program welcomes semester-long visiting writers in both poetry and prose.
• The program sponsors frequent readings and workshops by short-term visiting writers, including past visitors such as Sherwin Bitsui, Marilyn Chin, Charles D'Ambrosio, Timothy Donnelly, Alexandra Fuller, Walter Kirn, William Kittredge, Catherine Lacey, Chang-rae Lee, Sandra Lim, Barry Lopez, Eileen Myles, Alice Notley, Peter Orner, Gregory Pardlo, D.A. Powell, Claudia Rankine, Mary Szybist, Jess Walter, and Dara Weir.