Creative Writing and Literature

Master’s Degree Program

Hone your unique voice and dive deep into the study of storytelling with an MFA in creative writing and literature from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. UAF's rigorous three-year program prepares MFA creative writing students to become engaging teachers, critical thinkers and fearless writers dedicated to the art of storytelling.

Work with published faculty members one-on-one and in courses focusing on fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and dramatic writing. Gain invaluable experience in editing and publishing with editorial opportunities offered through the University of Alaska Press and the graduate student-run journal, Permafrost.

In your second year, you’ll take a comprehensive exam to show you've mastered a wide variety of literature in your chosen area: fiction, nonfiction, poetry or screenwriting and drama. In your third year, you’ll work closely with faculty mentors to prepare your manuscript for thesis defense and eventual publication.

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Why Earn a Creative Writing MFA at UAF?

Thrive as a writer and thinker in one of the most underrated and best MFA creative writing programs in the country. Here are just some of the benefits of choosing to study creative writing and literature at UAF.

Get hands-on experience teaching literature

  • One of the best ways to master your craft is to teach it. That’s why we offer competitive teaching assistantships with stipends for MFA creative students. Share your knowledge and passion with students while sharpening your teaching and writing skills.

Join an active community of like-minded artists

  • Join a vibrant group of writers who have come to Alaska in search of a unique, more attentive way of life. Find lifelong friends who love to share ideas and workshop your writing to help you be the best writer you can be. In addition, meet and learn from nationally known writers with UAF's Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series.

Fuel your imagination with Alaska’s beauty

  • Explore the many hiking and skiing trails around campus and let the natural beauty of Alaska inspire you. If you’re into running, hiking, biking or just want to see a moose, UAF’s campus is integrated into the environment so you can step away from the classroom and recharge in nature.

Combine your MFA creative writing degree with an MA in literature

  • Make your job or graduate applications more competitive with UAF's unique MFA creative writing and English literature master’s program. The combined MFA/MA degree balances curricula in creative writing and literary analysis and takes the same time it would normally take to receive the MFA alone.

 

Attending UAF’s MFA program was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for both my writing and personal growth. There’s such a strong, authentic sense of community within this space—which is such a rare thing to find—and the experiences I had here were so transformational for my work. Maeve Kirk, MFA, 2018, PhD candidate at Texas Tech University    
My time at UAF placed me in the perfect supportive community of writers that I still workshop with and rely on today. I had the space to push genre boundaries, and discover my identity as a writing teacher, as well as an endless supply of story ideas from the surrounding landscape.Megan Mericle, MFA 2017, PhD student in English and Writing Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign    

 

What Can You Do with an MFA Creative Writing degree?

Few degrees are as versatile as creative writing and literature master’s programs. In addition to writing and publishing your work, you have myriad career-path options—such as professional writer, reporter, editor and teacher. Many graduates go on to top doctoral programs and work in academia.

As one of the oldest MFA creative writing programs in the nation, we’ve helped hundreds of writers find meaningful and rewarding careers. UAF MFA creative writing graduates have gone on to publish dozens of books and win national recognition. They’ve earned NEA fellowships, The Whiting Award and the Flannery O’Conner Award for Short Fiction. In addition, UAF writers have appeared in The New York Times’s list of notable books.

How much do MFA creative writing graduates make? Based on recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, writers and authors earn a median salary of $67,120 a year.

 

 

Explore MFA Creative Writing Classes

We believe that building a strong foundation as a writer starts with reading. That’s why you can take literature seminars ranging from Old and Middle English British literature to contemporary literature, ensuring that you have a solid grasp on the rich history of your discipline. Combine these seminars with workshops and genre-specific classes to help you hone your voice and improve your writing.

View all classes for the MFA creative writing and literature program

MFA Degree Programs Related to MFA Creative Writing Programs

 

Get Started on Your Creative Writing and Literature Master’s Program

Take the next step toward earning your MFA in creative writing. We have the resources to help you get started.

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The application deadline for the MFA and MFA/MA in Creative Writing is January 15 of each year, with enrollment beginning the following fall semester.