The MFA in Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing is a fully online terminal degree for students who wish to focus on writing and publishing creative work in genres typical of “commercial” trade publishing (fantasy, science-fiction, horror, mystery, thrillers, and young adult). This program offers students the chance to workshop their fiction, study the history of the genres, and learn about the publishing processes.
Graduates of the MFA in Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing will exhibit the following Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
- Students will develop their creative writing skills as they create, revise, and collaborate on manuscripts.
- Students will read and analyze literature with the goal of gaining an understanding of the history of various genres of popular fiction, in addition to their context within the fields of literature and creative writing.
- Students will explore the variety of opportunities for publication and understand the benefits and limitations of each for the contemporary writer.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to produce and market a body of writing that reflects an understanding of the literature and the marketplace.
- Students will collaborate with one another to edit and help develop their creative work.
Admission Requirements
Students must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or equivalent. In addition, they must submit two letters of recommendation. Applicants for admission to the Online MFA in Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing program may have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than writing or English.
MFA program applicants are required to submit a personal statement of 2-4 pages and a brief writing sample of their fiction (maximum 15 pages). The quality of the writing sample, as judged by the faculty, will be the primary factor in determining admission.
Degree Requirements
The MFA in Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing requires 36 credit hours of online courses, including 16 credits of writing workshop courses, 8 credits of literature courses, 8 credits of publishing courses, and 4 credits for the master’s thesis. At the conclusion of their coursework, students submit and defend a manuscript of a novel or excerpt of a novel to a thesis committee for approval. Students are expected to complete the degree requirements within five years.