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Dec 03, 2024
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2018-2019 Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.
Master of Fine Arts - Creative Writing
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 Return to: UNLV Graduate Programs
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Plan Description
The MFA international program at UNLV enables writers to begin recognizing themselves and their art in relation to a larger understanding of writing. The program’s commitment to world literature provides a unique MFA experience that differs from many traditional creative writing programs. Admitted students follow a three-year program that includes literature and writing courses, time abroad, completion of a poetry or fiction manuscript, a literary translation, and a critical essay. In addition, the MFA program at UNLV is the nation’s only creative writing program that gives credit to students who wish to spend their time abroad in the Peace Corps. The program’s international emphasis is derived from the belief that the best writing is done by individuals who know that literature is something created from more than mere self-expression, and that great books are written by the few who know their gift is connected to the world they live in and strive to create dialogue between private imagination and public concern. Graduates of UNLV’s MFA program have gone on to secure tenure track teaching jobs, gain admission to Ph.D. programs in creative writing, publish books, and enter the workforce as editors, writers, and arts administrators. UNLV also routinely supports recent graduates with part-time teaching opportunities in the department.
For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes please visit the Degree Directory.
Plan Admission Requirements
Application deadlines
Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.
- All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission & Registration Requirements.
- Applicants for the M.F.A. in Creative Writing must submit the following to the English department:
- A strong manuscript of either poetry or fiction for consideration, of approximately 10-15 pages for poetry and 20-30 pages for fiction. The primary consideration for admission is the quality of the manuscript as judged by the Creative Writing faculty.
- A letter of application to the Graduate Committee that includes a statement of purpose and reasons the applicant wants to study creative writing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
- Applicants must send one official set of transcripts from all colleges or universities attended to the Graduate College and one unofficial set directly to the English Department.
- Two letters of recommendation to be sent directly to the department. There is a wide range of acceptability with regard to an applicant’s previous record of studies and major field of specialization as an undergraduate.
- Scores for the Verbal portion of the General test of the Graduate Record Examination.
Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.
Subplan 1 Requirements: International Focus Track
Total Credits Required: 54
Creative Writing Course – Credits: 12
Complete 9 credits in the chosen genre of concentration (either poetry or fiction) and 3 credits in another genre.
Required Courses – Credits: 6
Forms of Fiction or Poetry Course – Credits: 9
Elective Courses – Credits: 9
Complete 9 credits of graduate literature courses not offered by the creative writing faculty of the Department of English.
Independent Study – Credits: 6
Degree Requirements
- Independent Study: International Focus
- 3 credits for the completion of a significant translation of superior quality from a language other than English and 3 credits for the writing of a substantial scholarly essay of at least 5,000 words on some aspect of a major world writer or field of literary study.
- The strong international emphasis of the M.F.A. in Creative Writing requires all students to spend at least one semester or summer abroad in a non-English speaking country and to earn at least six credits toward the M.F.A. by enrolling in a university, school, or institute abroad and/or by Independent Study guided and monitored by a member of the Creative Writing faculty. For applicants with strong experience and demonstrable study and residency in a non-English speaking country and with significant foreign language skills, the study abroad requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Creative Writing faculty and of the Graduate College. The six required credits must then be earned in some other way.
- In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a thesis committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
- All candidates for the M.F.A. degree are required to write a creative thesis in either poetry or fiction and to complete at least 12 credits toward the creative thesis requirement by intensive work in conference with members of the faculty. The creative thesis for the M.F.A. will be a book-length manuscript and must conform to the guidelines set forth by the Graduate College in this catalog and in its Thesis and Dissertation Manual. The M.F.A. creative thesis will only be passed and the M.F.A. degree granted when the creative thesis is judged to be a substantial creative work of high seriousness and literary merit in the opinion of the Creative Writing faculty and the student’s creative thesis committee.
Graduation Requirements
- The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
- The student must submit and successfully defend his/her thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
- Student must submit his/her approved, properly formatted document to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.
Subplan 2 Requirements: Peace Corps Track
Total Credits Required: 42
Creative Writing Course – Credits: 12
Complete 9 credits in the chosen genre of concentration (either poetry or fiction) and 3 credits in another genre.
Required Courses – Credits: 6
Forms of Fiction or Poetry Course – Credits: 9
Elective Courses – Credits: 6
Complete 6 credits of graduate literature courses not offered by the creative writing faculty of the Department of English.
Degree Requirements
- Through the Peace Corps Master’s International Partnership, students must apply to the Peace Corps during their first or second year in the program.
- The entire program is a four-year obligation. Students complete their course work in two years instead of the usually required three, and write a thesis during their two-year Peace Corps assignment.
- Students receive an MFA when they complete their Peace Corps assignment, receive a resettlement allowance, and experience the Peace Corps firsthand.
- In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a thesis committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
- All candidates for the M.F.A. degree are required to write a creative thesis in either poetry or fiction and to complete at least 12 credits toward the creative thesis requirement by intensive work in conference with members of the faculty. The creative thesis for the M.F.A. will be a book-length manuscript and must conform to the guidelines set forth by the Graduate College in this catalog and in its Thesis and Dissertation Manual. The M.F.A. creative thesis will only be passed and the M.F.A. degree granted when the creative thesis is judged to be a substantial creative work of high seriousness and literary merit in the opinion of the Creative Writing faculty and the student’s creative thesis committee.
Graduation Requirements
- The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College.
- Upon return from the Peace Corps, students must:
- Have faculty submit a grade change form for any X grades
- Apply for graduation and pay the fee
- If the student cannot graduate in the semester in which they return, they must enroll in 6 graduate credits in the next semester
- The student must submit and successfully defend his/her thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
- Student must submit his/her approved, properly formatted document to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.
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Return to: UNLV Graduate Programs
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