WCU - Graduate Program in Creative Writing - Hero

Graduate Program in Creative Writing

Part of: Graduate Program in Creative Writing, School of Graduate Studies

Offered as: Master's

Degree: Master of Arts or Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Related Areas of Study: English with Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Part of: Graduate Program in Creative Writing, School of Graduate Studies

Offered as: Master's

Degree: Master of Arts or Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Related Areas of Study: English with Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Hone the art of storytelling.

Western Colorado University’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing offers a dynamic and immersive experience for aspiring writers who want to refine their craft in a supportive, inspiring environment. With specialized concentrations in Nature Writing, Poetry, Genre Fiction, Publishing, and Screenwriting, the program provides focused study that allows students to deepen their skills while working alongside experienced faculty. Whether you’re passionate about telling stories inspired by the natural world, exploring the nuances of poetry, or crafting the next great movie script, you’ll find a vibrant community ready to help you grow as a writer.

Designed with flexibility in mind, the program combines online coursework with summer in-person residencies, providing a unique blend of structure and creative freedom. As a student, you’ll engage in hands-on projects, collaborate with fellow writers, and receive personalized mentorship from published authors and industry professionals. Whether you’re looking to advance your career, publish your first book, or break into the film industry, Western’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing offers the tools and support you need to succeed. Explore below to view each concentration and see where your writing journey can take you.

A graduate student reads a piece of literature aloud into a microphone during a summer residency on campus.

The Summer Residency

The highlight of each year is the Summer Residency, held near the end of July on Western’s beautiful campus in Gunnison, Colorado. At the Residency, students finish summer coursework begun online in their concentrations, attend faculty craft talks, participate in workshops with visiting artists, and meet with publishers, editors and other industry professionals to advance their writing careers.

Students also partake in a wide range of community-building social activities during their stay, including participating in open-mic sessions, attending receptions, communal meals and other gatherings, and exploring the world-renowned natural beauty of the Gunnison Country. With all this and more going on, the Summer Residency powerfully launches students into the low-residency academic year, energizing and inspiring them to succeed in the program.

Areas of Study

Students in the Graduate Program in Creative Writing can choose to study one of the following concentrations. We offer both an MA or MFA in Poetry, Nature Writing, Screenwriting, and Genre Fiction, with an option for a secondary concentration in each. The Publishing concentration is only offered as an MA.

Admissions, Cost & Requirements

MFA Admissions
MA Admissions
Tuition & Costs
Program Requirements

MFA in Creative Writing Application Requirements

Candidate must submit:

  • An official transcript of the bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university showing recommended 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher.
  • An 800- to 1,000-word personal statement describing the applicant’s experience and commitment to writing. This statement should include a self-assessment of qualifications for admission to Western’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing for the chosen degree and concentration.
  • A writing sample in the appropriate genre, double spaced and numbered, or properly formatted for the appropriate genre:
    • The Genre Fiction concentration sample should include 20 to 25 pages, ideally from a single work.
    • The Screenwriting concentration sample should include a screenplay of 15-30 pages.
    • The Nature Writing concentration sample should include 20 to 25 pages, in any creative writing genre or a mix of genres.
    • The Poetry concentration sample should include 10 to 15 pages of poetry.
    • The Publishing concentration sample should consist of a 3- to 5-page critical assessment of a story’s suitability for publication (story to be provided to applicant during application process).
  • Two letters of professional recommendation from those capable of assessing the applicant’s preparation to succeed in graduate-level work. All letters must be originals submitted on letterhead, must be signed by the person giving the recommendation, and must be less than a year old.

Provisional Admission to the MFA in Creative Writing

An applicant who does not meet the requirements for full admission to the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing may be considered for provisional admission upon the recommendation of the program director and approval by the Dean of Graduate Studies. A provisionally admitted student will have a maximum of one calendar year to complete any pre-requisite academic coursework. The program director or Dean of Graduate Studies may set additional timeline requirements.

Admission Requirements & Application

Western’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing considers applications on a rolling basis from August 1 through May 15, and all admitted students begin their coursework in early June, with online courses. Once a cohort has filled for the coming year, applications will be waitlisted or pushed to the following year’s cycle.

We make admissions decisions on all completed applications within 4 weeks of receipt. Students may be accepted, accepted with provisions (e.g. a requirement to finish their undergraduate degree before matriculating in the graduate program at Western), waitlisted (with a notification of a final decision by May 1) or rejected.

Transfer Credits

International Students

MA in Creative Writing Application Requirements

Candidate must submit:

  • An official transcript of the bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university showing recommended 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher.
  • An 800- to 1,000-word personal statement describing the applicant’s experience and commitment to writing. This statement should include a self-assessment of qualifications for admission to Western’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing for the chosen degree and concentration.
  • A writing sample in the appropriate genre, double spaced and numbered, or properly formatted for the appropriate genre:
    • The Genre Fiction concentration sample should include 20 to 25 pages, ideally from a single work.
    • The Screenwriting concentration sample should include a screenplay of 15-30 pages.
    • The Nature Writing concentration sample should include 20 to 25 pages, in any creative writing genre or a mix of genres.
    • The Poetry concentration sample should include 10 to 15 pages of poetry.
    • The Publishing concentration sample should consist of a 3- to 5-page critical assessment of a story’s suitability for publication (story to be provided to applicant during application process).
  • Two letters of professional recommendation from those capable of assessing the applicant’s preparation to succeed in graduate-level work. All letters must be originals submitted on letterhead, must be signed by the person giving the recommendation, and must be less than a year old.

Provisional Admission to the MA in Creative Writing

An applicant who does not meet the requirements for full admission to the Master of Arts in Creative Writing may be considered for provisional admission upon the recommendation of the program director and approval by the Dean of Graduate Studies. A provisionally admitted student will have a maximum of one calendar year to complete any pre-requisite academic coursework. The program director or Dean of Graduate Studies may set additional timeline requirements.


Admission Requirements & Application

Western’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing considers applications on a rolling basis from August 1 through May 15, and all admitted students begin their coursework in early June, with online courses. Once a cohort has filled for the coming year, applications will be waitlisted or pushed to the following year’s cycle.

We make admissions decisions on all completed applications within 4 weeks of receipt. Students may be accepted, accepted with provisions (e.g. a requirement to finish their undergraduate degree before matriculating in the graduate program at Western), waitlisted (with a notification of a final decision by May 1) or rejected.

Transfer Credits

International Students

Tuition & Fees

Tuition and fees are subject to change. Any changes will be announced prior to the start of the summer semester.

MFA

Full-time enrollment in the MFA extends over 27 months, including required attendance at three summer residencies. Students may also attend half-time or take a leave of absence if necessary.

Term Credits Tuition per Credit Fees per Credit* Flat Fees** Total Tuition & Fees
Year 1: Summer 5 $749.60 $73.40 + $600 Residency Fee $600.00 $4,715.00
Year 1: Fall 12 $749.60 $73.40 $50.00 $9,926.00
Year 1: Spring 12 $749.60 $73.40 $9,876.00
Year 1: Summer 5 $749.60 $73.40 + $600 Residency Fee $4,715.00
Year 2: Fall 9 $749.60 $73.40 $7,407.00
Year 2: Spring 13 $749.60 $73.40 $10,699.00
Year 2: Summer 4 $749.60 $73.40 $600.00 $3,892.00
Program Total 60 $51,230.00

*Mandatory graduate student fees per credit hour
$63.00 Graduate Studies Administrative Operations Fee
$6.50 Library Fee
$3.90 IT Services Fee

**Mandatory graduate student flat fees
New Student Matriculation Fee: $50.00 Charged in the Fall Semester
Summer Residency Fee: $600.00 Charged each summer the student attends the GPCW Summer Residency

MA

Full-time enrollment in the MA extends over 15 months, including required attendance at two summer residencies. Students may also attend half-time or take a leave of absence if necessary.

Term Credits Tuition per Credit Fees per Credit Hour* Flat Fees** Total Tuition & Fees
Year 1: Summer 5 $749.60 $73.40 $600.00 $4,715.00
Year 1: Fall 12 $749.60 $73.40 $50.00 $9,926.00
Year 1: Spring 12 $749.60 $73.40 $9,867.00
Year 2: Summer 1 $749.60 $73.40 $600.00 $1,423.00
Program Total 30 $25,940.00

*Mandatory graduate student fees per credit hour
$63.00 Graduate Studies Administrative Operations Fee
$6.50 Library Fee
$3.90 IT Services Fee

**Mandatory graduate student flat fees
New Student Matriculation Fee: $50.00 Charged in the Fall Semester
Summer Residency Fee: $600.00 Charged each summer the student attends the GPCW Summer Residency

For both the MA and MFA programs, students have a maximum of five years for completion of a master’s degree from initial enrollment as a graduate degree seeking student. In order to maintain active status, graduate students must register in at least one graduate course per academic year. 

Master's

A master’s degree is an advanced qualification earned after completing a bachelor’s degree. It focuses on a specific area of study and provides specialized knowledge and skills. This differs from a concentration, which is a more focused area within the master’s program. Your concentration determines the specialized courses you take, shaping your expertise in a particular field. To complete a master’s degree, students must fulfill core coursework, elective requirements, and often a final project, thesis, or practicum.

Western accelerated my growth as a poet, connected me to a supportive community, and guided me through a process I’ve always wanted to go through: writing and publishing my first book. If you are a writer seeking not only inspiration but also direction and support, let this program show you the way forward.

Erica Reid, MFA

Poetry Concentration Graduate Program in Creative Writing
Erica Reid

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Faculty & Staff

Kevin J. Anderson, MFA

Director, Publishing Concentration

Byron Aspaas, MFA

Poetry Concentration Faculty

Karen Auvinen, PhD

Poetry Concentration Faculty

Elizabeth Bradfield

Poetry Concentration Director

Olivia Chadha

Genre Fiction Concentration Faculty

Joe Fassler

Genre Fiction Concentration Faculty

Amy Fox, MFA

Screenwriting Concentration Faculty

CMarie Fuhrman, MFA

Associate Director, Graduate Program in Creative Writing; Faculty, Poetry and Nature Writing Concentrations

Sarah Goettsch

Graduate Program in Creative Writing Coordinator

Carol D. Guerrero-Murphy, PhD

Poetry Faculty

Tyson Hausdoerffer, PhD

Director, Graduate Program in Creative Writing; Faculty, Poetry Concentration

Mitali Jahagirdar, MFA

Screenwriting Concentration Faculty

Tenea D. Johnson, MA

Genre Fiction Concentration Faculty & Thesis Mentor

Lindsay King-Miller, MFA

Genre Fiction Concentration Faculty & Thesis Mentor

Kimberlea Kressal, MFA

Screenwriting Concentration Faculty

Gary Lilley, MFA

Poetry Concentration Faculty

Allyson Longueira, MA

Associate Publishing Concentration Director

JS Mayank, MFA

Screenwriting Concentration Faculty

Cameron McGill, MFA

Poetry Concentration Faculty

Candace Nadon, PhD

Genre Fiction Concentration Faculty

James Napoli, MFA

Screenwriting Concentration Director

Johanna Parkhurst, MA

Genre Fiction Concentration Director

Laura Pritchett, PhD

Nature Writing Concentration Director

Erica Reid, MFA

Poetry Concentration Faculty

Laura Resau, MA

Nature Writing & Genre Fiction Faculty

Ligiah Villalobos Rojas, MFA

Screenwriting Faculty

Elizabeth Sczudlo

Screenwriting Concentration Faculty

Andrew Sellon, MFA

Performance Coach and Lecturer

Nakeesha Seneb

Genre Fiction Concentration Faculty

Derek Sheffield, MFA

Poetry Concentration Faculty

Cindy Skaggs, MFA

Genre Fiction Concentration Faculty

Ana Maria Spagna, MFA

Nature Writing Concentration Faculty

Anna Stileski, MA

Executive Assistant

Kaila Young, MFA

Graphic Design Associate

Graduate Program in Creative Writing

Contact Information

Contact Location

Western Colorado University
Quigley Hall 117
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231

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