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"BG's creative writing program sets itself apart because the faculty is committed to supporting the unique voice and talents of each individual writer. It's not a
factory churning out copies. The program fosters personal and artistic growth, and each member of the faculty and staff works diligently to provide the tools
needed for that maturation. In addition, the teaching experience gained goes a long way, both in the classroom, and for the graduated student in the 'real world.'"
- Megan Ayers, MFA 2009 |
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"You'll think I'm exaggerating (or crazy), but my time in the MFA program at BGSU was the best of my life. I put a two-year hold on everything in order to focus on my writing completely; I will always consider those two years a gift."
- Paula Lambert Neidigh, MFA 1996
"I chose Bowling Green because its program was the most flexible and customizable. The focus is on workshopping and actually creating poetry, not just thinking about poetry. The workshops were invaluable. The faculty was excellent at facilitating the group dynamic, validating each individual's point of view while keeping the discussion on track, helpful, and open ... There's no spoon-feeding going on here, no apprenticing, no molding. There is instead nurturing, fertilizing, seeding, and appreciating the results."
- Sarah Kraine Marquigny, MFA 1987
The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing gives a comprehensive and rigorous education in the professional writing, editing, and marketing of poetry and fiction. Artistic development, craft knowledge, and professional presentation are guiding principles. The program is a composite of a total of 36 hours, consisting primarily of writing workshops, including a minimum of one course in techniques, one in literary editing, one in pedagogy, and the remainder in recommended courses or electives. Writers complete a thesis and comprehensive examination.
CURRENT STUDENTS: SEE THE LINK BELOW FOR YOUR ROADMAP TO THE MFA DEGREE!
CURRENT STUDENTS: GOING FOR MORE GRADUATE WORK? WANT A JOB? TIME TO WRITE? WANT TO PUBLISH SOMETHING? SEE THE LINK TO THE CAREERS PAGE BELOW!
Publishing, Internships, Jobs, Writers' Colonies, and Further Graduate Studies
In recognition of the value that interdisciplinary studies has for artistic development and intellectual enrichment, degree candidates may choose electives from a wide range of fields, such as physics, philosophy, cultural studies, history, and art. Students must choose a body of electives early in the program, and show a clear relationship between their electives and their specific goals as writers.
A typical student's program consists of:
Required Courses
Eng 6320 Writers' Workshop 12 semester hours Eng 6300 /6310 Techniques Course 3 semester hours Eng 7820 Advanced Writer's Workshop 3 semester hours Eng 6330 Editing the Mid-American Review 3 semester hours Eng 6370 Pedagogy of Creative Writing 3 semester hours Eng 6990 Thesis Research Hours 6 semester hours TOTAL: 30 semester hours Required Electives 6 semester hours GRAND TOTAL: 36 semester hours
Total hour requirements may be reduced for outstanding students who are able to apply credit from previous graduate work. However, approval for the transference of hours must happen prior to matriculation. In all cases, a student is required to take a minimum of thirty hours in residence with a minimum of one workshop in their major area per semester after being accepted into the Program.
For detailed Graduate College requirements for preparing the thesis, click here.
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Mid-American Review is the literary publication of the Department of English and the Creative Writing Program at Bowling Green State University. Started by Robert Early in 1980, MAR has served the literary community by publishing the best contemporary fiction, non-fiction and poetry being written today. MAR is proud of its tradition of publishing both new and established writers. Poets and writers including Madison Smartt Bell, Fred Chappell, Bernard Cooper, Stephen Dunn, Stuart Dybek, Albert Goldbarth, William Goyen, T.R. Hummer, Susan Ludvigson, Naomi Shihab Nye, A. Poulin, Jr., Alberto Rios, Richard Russo, William Stafford, Jean Thompson, Chase Twichell, Lee Upton, David Foster Wallace, C.K. Williams, and Eleanor Wilner have published in MAR. |
| Work from MAR has been reprinted in Best American Short Stories, Best American Poetry, Pushcart: Best of the Small Presses, Prize Stories: The O'Henry Awards, New Stories from the South, and Harper's. MFA students serve as assistant editors for MAR, providing them with valuable editorial and production experience. |
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Poets and writers from all over the world have visited, read from their work, and interacted with writers in our programs. Follow the link to find the schedule.
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Admission Writers should concentrate in either poetry or fiction, and are expected to have all suppoting materials uploaded by January 15 prior to the fall semester they plan to enter the program. Admission to the program is determined primarily on the basis of a manuscript. This should consist of 20 pages minimum, 30 pages maximum of fiction or 10 pages minimum, 15 pages maximum of poetry (do not mix genres). Writers are also required to apply online to the Graduate College for general admission. |
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Click here for further information and to submit an on-line application.
Please contact Max Kupresanin with any additional questions.
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