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2024-2025 Graduate Catalog
Master of Fine Arts - Creative Writing
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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 in the world. The program’s commitment to world literature provides a unique MFA experience that differs from many traditional creative writing programs. Admitted students follow three-year plans of study that includes literature and writing courses, time abroad, completion of a book-length manuscript of poetry, fiction or literary nonfiction, and a literary translation. 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 who strive to create dialogue between private imagination and public concern. Graduates of UNLV’s MFA program have gone on to publish books, secure tenure track teaching jobs, gain admission to Ph.D. programs, 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 and Registration Requirements.
(a) Graduate College Admission Requirements
- Completed application in the Application Portal and non-refundable application fee.
- Bachelor’s Degree – You must hold a four-year baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution or an approved equivalent.
- Grade Point Average – You must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 (4.00=A) for the bachelor’s degree or a minimum 3.00 (4.00=A) for the last two years (60 semester credits).
- All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript from each postsecondary institution attended, showing all degrees and coursework, the dates awarded, and grades received. Official transcripts required upon admission.
- Credentials not in English must be accompanied by an English translation certified as true by a university official, an official representative of a United States embassy or consulate, the United States Information Service, the United States Education Foundation, or an approved professional translating service. Notarized copies of originals or translations are not considered official.
(b) Department Admission Requirements
Applicants for the M.F.A. in Creative Writing must submit the following to the English department:
- A strong manuscript of either poetry, fiction or literary nonfiction for the admissions selection process of approximately 10-15 pages for poetry and 20-30 pages for fiction and literary nonfiction. 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.
- Two letters of recommendation to be sent directly to the Graduate College through the Grad Rebel Gateway portal. 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.
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
Total Credits Required: 54
Creative Writing Course – Credits: 12
Complete 9 credits in the chosen genre of concentration (either poetry, fiction or literary nonfiction) and 3 credits in another genre.
Required Courses – Credits: 6
Forms of Fiction, Poetry, or Literary Nonfiction Course – Credits: 9
Complete 6 credits in the chosen genre of concentration and 3 credits in another genre.
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, usually by taking additional 700-level Literature classes or 700-level classes in other disciplines, or a combination of these and 700-level Independent Study or additional Graduate Workshops.
- Only 12 credits of ENG 705 Creative Writing Workshop can be taken during the MFA program.
- Only 6 credits of ENG 796 Independent Study can be taken during the MFA program.
- In consultation with their 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, literary nonfiction, 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 and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
Student must submit their approved, properly formatted document to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.
Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.
Subplan 2 Requirements: Peace Corps
Total Credits Required: 42
Creative Writing Course – Credits: 12
Complete 9 credits in the chosen genre of concentration (either poetry, fiction, or literary nonfiction) 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.
- Only 12 credits of ENG 705 Creative Writing Workshop can be taken during the MFA program.
- Only 6 credits of ENG 796 Independent Study can be taken during the MFA 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 then complete and defend the MFA thesis.
- In consultation with their 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, literary nonfiction 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
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 their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
Student must submit their approved, properly formatted document to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.
Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.
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