Program Overview

Dual MA in English/MFA in Creative Writing Program

The Dual MA English/MFA Creative Writing program at Chapman University's Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is an innovative three-year program combining the practice and study of creative writing with literary scholarship. The exciting coursework ranges across literary and critical studies, creative writing, journalism, rhetoric and composition, digital humanities, creative and cultural industries, and linguistics.

Program Overview

This program is designed especially for students who intend to pursue a career in teaching English and creative writing at the university, community college, or secondary-school level, and graduates have gone on to pursue their Ph.D. Full-time students complete the degree in three years. All graduate classes are offered in the late afternoon or evening.

Faculty Highlights

• Dr. Ian Barnard: Courses taught include Rhetoric and Composition, Queer Studies.
• Dr. Rei Magosaki: Courses taught include Multicultural Literatures of the U.S., Asian-American Literature, U.S. Fiction after 1950, Contemporary U.S. literature, American Short Stories, Japanese Literature in Translation.
• Dr. Lynda Hall: Courses taught include Introduction to Fiction, Literature into Film, Jane Austen studies.
• Professor Mildred Lewis: Courses taught include Techniques in Screenwriting, Film Theory, Caribbean Literature.
• Dr. Jean Ho: Courses taught include Advanced Fiction Workshop, Techniques in Fiction Writing.
• Dr. Anna Leahy: Courses taught include Advanced Poetry Workshop, Techniques in Poetry Writing.

Application Requirements

To apply, all applicants must provide the following materials:

• Official transcripts from all degree-granting (bachelor's or master's degrees) colleges and universities attended.
• A statement of intent; an essay expressing your reasons for wanting to join the Dual MA English/MFA in Creative Writing program. What are your personal and career goals, and how will this particular degree from Chapman University help you reach those goals? Your essay should be double spaced, size 12 font, and 1-2 pages in length.
• A portfolio of creative work. You should submit work that best represents your style and demonstrates your potential. The portfolio should include 20-30 pages of fiction or nonfiction OR 10-15 pages of poetry.
• A completed 12–15-page literary essay that focuses on an analysis of one or two literary texts. The essay should be informed by contemporary literary, rhetorical, and/or cultural theory and criticism, and demonstrate analytical strengths and critical writing skills.
• Two letters of recommendation that speak to academic and/or professional preparation, intellectual ability, and aptitude for graduate study.
• Your resume or curriculum vitae.
• A graduate admission test is required for applicants with a bachelor's degree cumulative GPA below a 3.0. Applicants with a GPA between 2.5 and 2.99, may be considered for admission by submitting a satisfactory Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with minimum scores of Verbal: 154, Quantitative: 147, and Analytical Writing: 4.0 or by demonstrating significant relevant professional experience.

Curriculum

Students complete 51 credits of academic coursework toward the MA and the MFA. These degrees culminate in two separate thesis projects, including a book-length creative project and an essay on literature or rhetoric.

Funding Opportunities

• MFA Creative Writing Fellowships: Six competitive fellowships with full tuition waiver and a fellowship payment of $18,000, each renewable for a second year and requiring no work obligation.
• Paid Graduate Teaching Assistantships: For select second-year students in the competitive Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) program teaching in our undergraduate English Composition courses.
• Paid Graduate Assistantships: Starting at $36.89 an hour for 9 to 19 hours per week, for select students starting as early as their first year of study with either department faculty members or in offices across the university.

Important Dates

• Fully completed applications received by the February 1 priority deadline are automatically considered for fellowship.
• Offers of fellowship are released with offers of admission, typically by March 15.