Creative Writing

Create on the shores of Lake Michigan at one of America’s first graduate English programs to grant both the MA and PhD with concentrations in Creative Writing. Our program is unique; you will hone your craft as you receive a broad-based English education that will inform and enhance your artistic vision.

While our students generally focus on a particular genre, many of them experiment in multiple genres, seeking to borrow tools from other forms that prove useful to their primary work. Some students have even successfully incorporated multiple genres in their culminating projects.

We admit 10 to 15 new students per year, and we generally have between 40 and 50 graduate-level Creative Writing students in our program. Of these students, approximately one-fourth are working at the MA level and three-fourths are working at the PhD level.

Admission Requirements 

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.

Admission

An applicant must meet Graduate School requirements plus these departmental requirements to be considered for admission to the program:

  1. Undergraduate major in English or related field, with appropriate background for proposed concentration of study: Plan A, broad background in English and American literature; Plan B, literature, linguistics, and/or composition; Plan C, literature and creative writing; Plan H, background in media studies, film studies, or digital and/or popular culture.
  2. Undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale).
  3. Reason statement.
  4. Three letters of recommendation to the Department’s Director of Graduate Studies from persons familiar with applicant’s academic ability and achievement.
  5. A sample of academic writing.
  6. For Plan C admission, an applicant must also submit samples of original fiction or poetry.

For more information about how to apply to the graduate program in English, as well as admissions FAQs, please see the Students/Graduate section of the English department web site.

Plan C (Creative Writing)

A minimum of 30 credits, including:

Select 6 credits in 600- or 700-level literature courses (at least 3 credits at the 700 level)6
Select one of the following:6
ENGLISH 715& ENGLISH 815Narrative Craft and Theory:and Seminar in Fiction Writing:
ENGLISH 716& ENGLISH 816Poetic Craft and Theory:and Seminar in Poetry Writing:
Select 6 credits in writing courses at the 600 or 700 level6
Select 12 credits of electives 112
Total Credits30
1

Which may include up to 6 credits of ENGLISH 790.

Additional Requirements

  • No more than 12 credits may be earned in 600-level courses.
  • A final project, which shall be a collection of fiction and/or poetry, a novel, or other substantial work of imaginative writing.
  • An oral examination, usually lasting an hour and a half, which covers the final project and a reading list of at least 30 texts representative of the student’s literary background and interests.
Contact

Prospective Graduate Students

Questions regarding the application or the application process should be directed to the UWM Graduate School at gradschool@uwm.edu or 414-229-6569.

Current Graduate Students

Questions about research opportunities, department funding opportunities, or issues specific to the discipline should be directed to the English department.

Interested in this Plan?

For more information about the Creative Writing plan, contact Professor Liam Callanan at liam@uwm.edu.

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