The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Western State Colorado University supports and celebrates aspiring writers who wish to reach and connect with larger audiences. Taught by esteemed faculty members with years of experience as successful, currently publishing writers, the program aspires to help each student develop their art and become, not only great writers, but great writers who get published.

Students enrolled within the low residency MFA program engage in four semesters of online coursework and three summer face-time residencies that include a combination of master classes, individual projects, and regular discussion with faculty mentors.  The program includes two-week, on-campus residencies during three consecutive summers, and a capstone thesis.  The degree requires 60 total credit hours, a combination of residencies, individual projects, and workshops. 

The Master's candidate earns a degree in one of three tracks:

• Popular Genre Fiction/Nonfiction

• Poetry with a Focus on Versecraft

• Screenwriting for Feature Film and Television

General Program Information

Admissions Requirements

Costs and Financial Aid

In the first and second summer residencies, candidates will also take one credit each summer of CRWR 600 learning or updating online tools mastery, attending faculty and student readings, and meeting with non-residency mentors. Third-summer candidates will earn one credit attending and participating in critiques and readings for cohorts attending their first and second summers.

• "Like" WSCU MFA in Creative Writing's Facebook page and see what students and faculty are writing about!
  

• Watch our faculty discuss the program on WSCU MFA in Creative Writing's YouTube page.

• Check out the WSCU MFA in Creative Writing Blog or the Screenwriting Blog.

• Screenwriting Bootcamp: Information and Registration. 

• Writing the Rockies: Creative Writers Workshop. July 25-27, 2013: Registration.

• Poetry Intensive: Information and Registration. 
  

Non-Residency Mentoring Component

This component of each MFA concentration pairs a student one-on-one with writing faculty mentors. Students can expect to spend a minimum of 25-30 hours per week to complete writing assignments, for which mentors will provide weekly feedback using online tools. Students will also participate in threaded synchronous and asynchronous online voice and discussion boards during each term with other students and mentors. Students will earn 12 credits each semester for this work (six credits for each mentored topic).

Sample the MFA Graduate Program

A non-degree seeking student holding a bachelor’s degree may be allowed to complete up to nine credit hours of 600-level graduate coursework at WSCU, to be determined by individual graduate programs, before admission into a graduate program.  These credits, graded B- or higher, may be applied to a graduate degree at WSCU upon approval by the Chair/Director of the program.  The registration for graduate level courses does not constitute or imply admission into a graduate program, as the candidate must meet the program admission requirements.  Coursework completed more than five years prior to being admitted into the graduate program shall be evaluated by the major department as to current relevance and applicability to the degree requirements.  For more information and registration, please contact Extended University Studies at 970.943.2885 or extendedstudies@western.edu