About the Graduate Creative Writing Program
At Emerson College, we understand that writing is your life. That’s why our on-campus Creative Writing MFA program focuses on the actual practice of writing, as well as its literary foundations. By the time you graduate, you will have completed a professional thesis, a novel or novel excerpt, a nonfiction book or excerpt, or a collection of poems, short stories, or essays—ready for consideration by agents and publishing houses or for digital publication.
Housed in the Department of Writing, Literature and Publishing in the School of the Arts, our MFA program boasts some of the most impressive faculty in writing and publishing. It is also home to two award-winning literary journals and is strongly connected to the Boston publishing community.
Pursue your passion, choosing from the genres of literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, and explore writing as both an art form and a professional career.
Program Highlights
- Explore different forms of writing through your electives, including poetry to screenwriting, digital to traditional publishing, and more
- Experiences outside of the classroom include teaching creative writing in our Writing Studies Program and editing on-campus journals such as Ploughshares and Redivider
- Students with a BFA in Creative Writing or a BA in English with a Creative Writing Thesis/Capstone may qualify for Advanced Standing. This allows you to waive 4 credits and expedite your degree completion by applying your working knowledge toward the total credit count
- Full-time and part-time options; classes are offered in the evenings to fit your schedule
- No GRE requirements to apply
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Upcoming Events
Graduate Application Overview
October 15, 2024, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT
Join us to learn more about the process of applying to Emerson's graduate programs! Members of the admission team will be available to explain application requirements, answer your questions, and offer insider tips into the graduate school application process. We can’t wait to see you there!
Graduate International Student Webinar
October 23, 2024, 1:00 p.m. EDT
Join us for an international student information session! Staff from Graduate Admissions and the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) will be available to explain application requirements for international students, funding opportunities, the F-1 Visa process, life at Emerson, and so much more. We look forward to seeing you there!
Emerson's Graduate Fall Open House: Your Grad Journey Awaits!
October 26, 2024, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT
Emerson invites you to join us for our Graduate Admission Fall Open House! Explore our downtown Boston campus, connect with current students and faculty, and gain insights into Emerson's graduate programs and community resources.
Between 8:30 a.m and 9:00, check-in, enjoy a light breakfast, and chat with fellow prospective students.
After attending a Welcome Information Session led by Emerson Graduate Admissions, hear more about how you can finance your graduate study through a presentation by our Financial Aid office. Following a quick break, you’ll explore our Resource Fair, where you’ll learn about life for graduate students on Emerson Campus and beyond. Then, you’ll be introduced to program faculty, who will answer your questions and give you more insight into your program of interest. Cap off your morning with a tour of our campus!
We can’t wait to see you there.
International Student Info Session
November 12, 2024, 2:00 p.m. EDT
Join us for an international student information session! Staff from Graduate Admissions and the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) will be available to explain application requirements for international students, funding opportunities, the F-1 Visa process, life at Emerson, and so much more.
Graduate Application Overview
November 14, 2024, 12:00 p.m. EDT
Join us to learn more about the process of applying to Emerson's graduate programs! Members of the admission team will be available to explain application requirements, answer your questions, and offer insider tips into the graduate school application process.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Experience Emerson Live: How to Make Your Dialogue Shine
November 19, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST
Join us for a virtual glimpse into the Creative Writing MFA program! How do you write compelling dialogue—dialogue that shows character, advances the story, and is interesting, funny, and riveting—and how do you write compelling dialogue that sounds natural, something that people would say? Balancing art and verisimilitude can be tricky when it comes to writing a scene. In this session, we’ll examine and take apart great dialogue passages from great contemporary writers with a view toward sharpening your own. Admissions staff will also be available to answer any questions you may have about the program or application process. We hope to see you there!
Experience Emerson Live: How to Make Your Dialogue Shine
November 19, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST
Join us for a virtual glimpse into the Creative Writing MFA program! How do you write compelling dialogue—dialogue that shows character, advances the story, and is interesting, funny, and riveting—and how do you write compelling dialogue that sounds natural, something that people would say? Balancing art and verisimilitude can be tricky when it comes to writing a scene. In this session, we’ll examine and take apart great dialogue passages from great contemporary writers with a view toward sharpening your own. Admissions staff will also be available to answer any questions you may have about the program or application process. We hope to see you there!