Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing

The MFA Program at the University of Akron is part of the Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program. The NEOMFA is a multidisciplinary, interdepartmental, and inter-institutional program that provides opportunities for students to pursue the terminal degree in creative writing. The NEOMFA draws its faculty from departments at Youngstown State University, Cleveland State University, Kent State University, and The University of Akron.

This program offers workshops in poetry writing, fiction writing, creative non-fiction writing, literary translation, and playwriting, as well as courses in literature, literary craft and theory, and professional writing and editing. The MFA prepares graduates to pursue opportunities in many areas of communication, publicity, and marketing, in arts management, and in teaching creative writing, literature, and expository writing. Graduates of the program are ready to contribute to the literary life of the nation and the cultural life of the community. The program requires 48 semester hours of coursework.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the MFA program must gain admission to one of the consortium universities’ graduate degree programs in English. Those students applying to The University of Akron as their NEOMFA gateway school must first apply to the UA Department of English and meet its minimum requirements. Then, applicants must submit to the NEOMFA admissions committee three letters of recommendation, a one-page statement of purpose, and a substantive portfolio of creative work in one genre: 15 pages of work in poetry or literary translation, or 30 pages of fiction, creative non-fiction, or drama.

The letters of recommendation should come from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic or professional background. The letters should include an assessment of the applicant’s current work quality and ability to successfully complete graduate training. Application to the MFA program authorizes staff members at participating institutions to have access to all student academic records and application materials.

Degree Requirements

All MFA students must complete 48 semester hours in graduate level courses. There are six areas of course work in the MFA: Writing Workshops (15 hours), Craft and Theory Courses (6 hours), Literature Courses (9 hours), Internship (3 hours), Electives (9 hours), and Thesis (6 hours). The thesis must be submitted according to the general requirements established by the University of Akron Graduate School, as well as submitted to the NEOMFA program. The student is required to defend the thesis in an oral presentation before a committee of graduate faculty from a minimum of two consortium schools.

Application

To apply to The University of Akron as your gateway school, please click here. Be sure to indicate that you are applying to the NEOMFA Creative Writing program.