MFA in Creative Writing: Nonfiction

Expand your writing opportunities with an MFA in creative nonfiction

Experienced, published faculty will guide you on your writing journey in this program. You can explore memoirs, personal essays, short narrative work and lyric essays. A mentor will guide you to find the voice and structure that best suits your story.

You can take your writing skills to the next level and explore your creativity within a supportive literary community.

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A Carlow students sits at her desk with her laptop. Her hands are folded and she is smiling at the camera.

Credits Required:

36 credits

Cost per credit:

$1,059/credit

Time to degree:

As few as 5 semesters

Delivery:

On campus, some online

Nonfiction MFA curriculum

Carlow’s MFA in creative nonfiction program includes four 11-day residencies in Pittsburgh and Dublin, Ireland, that feature workshops, master classes and mentor conferences. Practicum work will be on a writing and reading plan designed with your mentor; you will submit work for critique, review and collaborative feedback.

By the end of the program, you will create a book-length work of publishable creative nonfiction. Seminars, lectures and readings in all genres are also available.

Quick Facts

Elevate your learning with small class sizes and a strong literary community
Cultivate connections with peers and faculty
Adapt your learning experience to your schedule
Learn to critique creative nonfiction

A female student in the nonfiction creative writing program

View Plan of Study

Career opportunities for Nonfiction writers

With the writing and creating thinking skills gained from this program, you will be well equipped to become a writing lecturer or published author or write for magazines and other publications.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate for editors is slated to decrease 7% over the next 10 years, though many supplement their income with freelance work.

Admission requirements and application process

You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:

Official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions you have attended
Two essays: Self-assessment of your writing ability and a critical response to a substantive piece of literature
25 pages of nonfiction you authored
Current resume or curriculum vitae
Two letters of recommendation that address your leadership potential and ability to succeed in graduate-level work

An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success.

Apply

anytime

Start terms:

Spring & Summer

Contact Admissions

If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.

admissions@carlow.edu

+1 (412) 578-6059