Writing Programs

Whether you’re looking for a creative writing program that leads to an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree at a US or international school, and whether you want a residency or low-residency program, here you’ll find easily searchable listings of our selection of the most worthwhile programs. The listings include links to author bios and works by each program’s graduates and by current and former faculty members who are published in Narrative.

University of Victoria

MFA
VICTORIA, CANADA

The two objectives of the program are to create a publishable or producible body of work, as a Major Writing Project, in one of five genres (fiction, creative nonfiction, playwriting, film, and poetry) and to train students in the teaching of writing at the postsecondary level.

Narrative Author Graduates: Portia Elan

University of Virginia

MFA, BA
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA

A two-year graduate program that admits five poets and five fiction writers each academic year. Our program is full-time, and residency is required for both years of study.

Narrative Author Faculty: John Casey, Rita Dove, James Alan McPherson (d. 2016) , Gregory Orr

Narrative Author Graduates: Will Boast, Julia Cariño, Jennifer Chang, George David Clark, Tom Jenks, Reed Johnson, James Kimbrell, Michael Knight, Hannah Pittard, Austin Smith, Sam Taylor, Reetika Vazirani, Gina Wohlsdorf

University of Washington

MFA, BA
SEATTLE, WA

Students participate in writing workshops in prose and poetry, and undertake coursework in literary periods and types, and critical theory. MFA candidates also present an MFA thesis, an MFA essay, and an oral presentation.

Narrative Author Faculty: Charles Johnson, Richard Kenney, Pimone Triplett, David Wagoner

Narrative Author Graduates: David Guterson, Carol Light, Matthew Nienow

University of Wisconsin

MFA, BA
MADISON, WI

All of our MFA candidates receive generous financial aid, the opportunity to teach courses both in Creative Writing and English Composition, and a semester of teacher-training and support. Our MFAs also have the opportunity to take workshops in other genres, including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, playwriting, and screenwriting.

Narrative Author Faculty:Amaud Jamaul Johnson, Lorrie Moore, Adam Stumacher, Ryan Walsh

Narrative Author Graduates: Kai Carlson-Wee, Lydia Conklin, Sarah Crossland, Kevin A. González, Caroline Knox, Jacques J. Rancourt, Ryan Walsh

University of Wisconsin, Whitewater

BA
WHITEWATER, WI

A degree in Creative Writing provides opportunities to cultivate and improve upon your craft. You will learn about the industry from published writers, study literature from a writer’s point of view, and participate in a variety of writing courses across a variety of genres.

Narrative Author Faculty: Holly Wilson

University of Wyoming

MFA
LARAMIE, WY

An intensive two-year studio degree in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Special features include a flexible curriculum, cross-genre opportunities, opportunities for interdisciplinary study, and our Eminent Writers in Residence program, which brings distinguished authors to campus to work closely with our students.

Narrative Author Faculty: Brad Watson