University Of Washington Creative Writing Mfa

Writing Changes

MFA in Creative Writing & Poetics (logo)

Inside the MFA in Creative Writing & Poetics

The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing & Poetics at the University of Washington Bothell is dedicated to helping each student develop their creative work through a course of study that encourages exploration and discovery.

We organize our curriculum into areas of inquiry rather than genres. In contrast to many MFA programs, our writers enjoy the freedom to experiment across genres and media as suits their creative purposes. Emphasizing experimentation and hybridity, our program invites students to participate in a community concerned with the pursuit of creative writing in a rapidly changing society.

The MFA poses the central questions of poetics, inquiring into the social, cultural, and technological aspects of writing to ask: How is creative writing an ethical, political and aesthetic endeavor? What forms might creative writing take in an interconnected, transnational society? How does new media alter the environment and possibilities for creative writing?

Each academic year kicks off with the Fall Convergence, a gathering of nationally and internationally renowned writers and artists to engage topics in contemporary poetics. The year closes with the Spring Festival, where graduating students share their thesis work publicly and receive a benedictory reading from a student-nominated invited speaker.

Program Highlights

Focus on experimental writing and hybrid forms
Vibrant roster of visiting writers, conferences, and festivals
Evening program designed for students with jobs and other commitments
Optional residency in second year
Flexible part-time or full-time thesis completion
Connections to Seattle's thriving literary and arts scene

Questions?