Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog This is not the most recent catalog version; be sure you are viewing the appropriate catalog year.

Creative Writing [M.A.]


The MA Program in Creative Writing promotes innovation, experimentation and collaboration across artistic fields and cultural practices. The MA emphasizes the importance of aesthetic risk and social application, while offering opportunities for writers to explore multiple arts and mixed genres, sound and performance, digital technologies and new media, as well as community-based and collaborative projects, innovative curating and alternative publishing.

Program Admission


Applicants must meet the following requirements:

  1. Graduate School Application
  2. Official transcripts from ALL prior colleges and universities (Note: if you attended EMU, you do not need to request your EMU transcript)
  3. A personal statement discussing the ambitions of your creative work and reasons for pursuing graduate studies in a program that focuses on interdisciplinary and innovative approaches to writing.
  4. A portfolio of 15 pages of your strongest writing and, if available, intermedia work such as sound/text, image/text, performance, and works in digital media. Instructions for submitting the portfolio are included in the graduate application. If you have problems submitting the portfolio, you may submit to the English Language and Literature Department c/o Creative Writing Coordinator.
  5. 2-3 letters of recommendation (optional, although strongly encouraged)

Department Information


English Language & Literature | Joseph Csicsila, Ph.D.Interim Department Head | 612 Pray-Harrold, 734.487.4220, jcsicsila@emich.edu

Matt Kirkpatrick, Ph.D., Graduate Coordinator | 613J Pray-Harrold, 734.487.0399, mkirkpa1@emich.edu

Advisor Information


Rob Halpern, Ph.D., Program Coordinator, 734.487.4220,​ rhalpern@emich.edu

Christine Hume, Ph.D., 734.487.4220, chume@emich.edu

Carla Harryman, Ph.D., 734.487.4220,​ charryma@emich.edu

Matt Kirkpatrick, Ph.D., 734.487.0399, mkirkpa1@emich.edu

Degree Requirements: 30 hours


The M.A. in Creative Writing requires 30 hours of course work to be distributed among required courses, restricted elective courses and cognate courses as follows:

Elective Courses: 12 hours


Literature Courses: 6 hours

Select from among the graduate level literature courses in consultation with an advisor.

Cognate Courses: 6 hours

Six hours selected in consultation with the graduate coordinator. Courses from any area of contemporary studies — art, foreign language literature, music, history, philosophy, etc.