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Master of Creative Writing at University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)

University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)

United States of America, Aberdeen

The Creative Writing is a Master degree offered by University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) at its main campus in Aberdeen, United States of America. The program is delivered on campus as a Full Time course in English and requires approximately 2 years to complete. Students study at the university's main campus while gaining the knowledge and practical experience expected for this area of study. The next intake is available from August 23, 2027.

About Master of Creative Writing

A Community of Writers

Our MFA program joins students who share a common passion and faculty members who provide critical support of their work. The faculty of the Department of Creative Writing view MFA students as colleagues-in-the-making. To help initiate them into the profession, we offer a series of panels and workshops designed to address practical issues that lie outside the scope of the writing workshop.

Apprenticeship Leading to Publishable Quality Manuscript

The MFA at UNCW is a 48-hour apprenticeship, requiring a total of 21 hours of writing workshops, 21 hours of literature or other elective courses, and 6 thesis hours, leading to completion and defense of a substantial book-length manuscript of literary merit and publishable quality.

While students apply in poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction, and focus primarily on that genre, some cross-genre study is required. Coursework in editing and publishing is offered through our Publishing Laboratory. Experience in magazine and book production is also offered in conjunction with our imprint Lookout Books and with Ecotone and Chautauqua, our department's national literary magazines.

Generate complex, original writing of literary merit and personal value

Utilize form, style, and technique in effective and sophisticated ways

Critically analyze literary works

Articulate your own evolving aesthetic as a writer

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Master of Creative Writing at University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for admission for graduate study at the University of North Carolina Wilmington applicants must:

Regionally Accredited Bachelor's Degree: Hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in this country or its equivalent in a foreign institution (as evaluated course-by-course through a NACES approved credit evaluation service) by the first official day of classes for the term of the application.
- Seven Accrediting Bodies for Regional Institutions:
  - Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association (NH)
  - Middle States Commission on Higher Education (M)
  - New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (EH)
  - Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NW)
  - Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SC)
  - Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (WC)
  - Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (WJ)
Student Holds (Current/Previous UNCW Students): Applicants with an application hold will not be allowed to move forward in the application process until the hold is released. Check your SeaNet Account to view your account hold(s).
Grade Point Average: Have a strong overall academic record with a B average or better in the basic courses prerequisite to the area of proposed graduate study. Provisional admission may be considered by some programs. Contact the program coordinator for additional information regarding their acceptance policy.
Level: Graduate and undergraduate programs may not be pursued simultaneously.
Online Accelerated Programs (OAP): OAP programs must be pursued independent of any other program.
Additional Requirements: Meet any additional admission requirement(s) as outlined by the graduate program.
Professional Licensure in State-Regulated Professions: State laws may require practitioners to be licensed to practice in their state. Learn more about UNCW's participation in the NC-State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement.

English Requirements

IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 79

Career Opportunities after Completing Master of Creative Writing

STUDY OF CREATIVE WRITING PREPARES STUDENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS. OUR ALUMNI ARE:

Graduates have published books with top commercial, university and independent presses, garnering critical acclaim and prestigious awards. Many have careers as technical writers. Most importantly, they learned the skills and habits to pursue a satisfying and sustainable writing life.

The MFA is a terminal degree and qualifies graduates to teach at the university level. We provide teaching assistantships and pedagogical training, and our graduates go on to teach writing and publishing throughout the country.

Our graduate students gain hands-on experience in the editing, design, production and marketing of books and magazines and go on to careers as agents, marketing coordinators, art directors, managing editors, and small press publishers.

Organize and manage arts programming for communities, organizations and institutions.

Tuition and Fee Information for Master of Creative Writing at University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)

Application Fee 75

How to Apply for Master of Creative Writing at University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)

You will create your account after choosing a Regular Term Instruction (RTI) or Online Accelerated Program (OAP) program option on our application page.
Please create only one account. Use the same log-in anytime you start or continue an application.
Review the deadlines for your program of interest on our Key Dates page.

Master of Creative Writing at University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)

University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)

United States of America, Aberdeen