Is there a Master’s in Poetry degree?

While the degree awarded is a Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing, students can specialize through a dedicated Poetry concentration. This structure provides masters-level study in poetry while offering the academic recognition of a Creative Writing degree.

What is the difference between an MA and an MFA in Poetry?

Both degrees focus on advanced poetic craft. The MFA is a two-year, terminal degree that culminates in a book-length poetry manuscript, while the MA is a one-year degree focused on foundational coursework and intensive residencies. Students choose the path that best aligns with their creative and professional goals.

Is this program suitable for working professionals?

Yes. The Poetry concentration is designed for working professionals and uses a low-residency model that combines live online coursework with intensive summer residencies. This format allows students to pursue graduate study in poetry without relocating or pausing their careers.

Do I need to have published poetry to apply?

No prior publication is required. Applicants are evaluated based on the strength and potential of their writing sample, along with their commitment to developing their poetic craft at the graduate level.

What kind of mentorship do poetry students receive?

Students receive yearlong, one-on-one mentorship from practicing poets, in addition to workshop-based learning. Faculty mentors provide individualized guidance on craft, revision, and professional development throughout the program.

What is Eco-Poetics, and can I focus on it in this program?

Eco-Poetics explores the relationship between poetry, environment, place, and ecology. Students in the Poetry concentration may explore Eco-Poetics through coursework, mentorship, and creative projects, depending on their interests.

Can this program help me prepare for publication or teaching?

Yes. Graduates leave with a polished creative portfolio, professional guidance, and experience engaging critically with poetry—preparing them for publication, teaching, further graduate study, and sustained creative practice.

Can I apply if my background is not in English or Creative Writing?

Yes. Students from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The program values diverse experiences and perspectives alongside demonstrated commitment to poetry.

Poetry Concentration - MA or MFA in Creative Writing

Q: Who teaches in the Poetry concentration?

The Poetry concentration is led by award-winning faculty poets, including CMarie Fuhrman, Maya Jewell Zeller, Byron Aspaas, Erica Reid, Tyson Hausdoerffer, and Cameron McGill. Students also engage with distinguished visiting writers and guest speakers.

Poetry student Shelli Rottschafer presents her poetry thesis at the 2025 GPCW summer residency.

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

Offered as: Master's Concentration

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

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

Offered as: Master's Concentration

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

Poetry is the language of human experience. For writers seeking a masters-level program in poetry, Western’s Poetry concentration offers advanced graduate study within the MA or MFA in Creative Writing.

As one of five concentrations in Western’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing, the Poetry concentration provides a supportive literary home for poets at every stage of their journey. Students deepen their craft in a welcoming, intellectually engaged environment that values diverse voices, aesthetics, and poetic traditions.

Designed for working professionals, this poetry-focused master’s pathway blends live virtual workshops with intensive, yearlong one-on-one mentorship from practicing poets. Whether students pursue the two-year MFA or the one-year MA, the program emphasizes the development of a polished, publishable body of work—along with opportunities to explore specialized areas such as Ecopoetry. Graduates leave prepared to sustain a meaningful writing life while contributing to contemporary literary conversations.

Let's connect!

A student on stage speaking into a microphone.

Poetry creates a visceral experience through the compressed power of sound, image, and form. The Poetry concentration invites students to explore the full range of poetic craft through close reading, experimentation, and sustained creative practice.

Students engage deeply with poetry across styles, historical periods, and cultural contexts while refining their own aesthetic voice. The concentration is led by accomplished faculty poets who provide individualized mentorship and rigorous workshop experiences, helping students move beyond technical clarity toward work that evokes lived emotional experience.

Faculty mentors specialize in areas such as Eco-Poetics, formal innovation, lyric tradition, and hybrid forms. Through this close collaboration, students in the poetry concentration within the MA or MFA in Creative Writing gain the critical insight, creative discipline, and professional grounding needed to produce resonant, impactful work.

Graduate study in poetry is both rigorous and transformative. Your journey in the Poetry concentration is designed to be as deep and transformative as the work you create. Under the direction of acclaimed poet Elizabeth Bradfield, you will move beyond technical clarity to help your unique voice evoke the actual feelings you explore.

Apprenticeship with Masters

Students in the Poetry concentration benefit from close apprenticeship with an award-winning faculty of practicing poets, including CMarie Fuhrman, Maya Jewell Zeller, Byron Aspaas, Erica Reid, Tyson Hausdoerffer, and Cameron McGill.

In addition to core faculty mentorship, students engage with distinguished visiting writers and guest speakers such as Linda Hogan, Ellen Bass, Ross Gay, and J. Drew Lanham. These encounters expose students to a wide range of poetic approaches and professional pathways, ensuring their work is informed by voices shaping contemporary literature.

Your Creative Path

The Summer Residencies: Your experience centers on intensive summer residencies in Gunnison. MFA students attend three residencies focused on program preparation, chapbook creation, and the professional presentation of their work. MA students attend the first two residencies.
Flexible Online Learning: Throughout the academic year, you will complete two six-credit courses each semester via video conferencing. This low-residency format allows you to engage deeply with poetics while maintaining your professional life.
The Culminating Work: To complete the MFA, you will develop a book-length poetry manuscript under the dedicated supervision of a faculty mentor. MA students complete their degree through foundational coursework and residency requirements.
A Visceral Experience: We explore the compressed potential of sound, image, and form, reading widely across styles, time periods, and identities to help you find the precise shape for your vision.

The Ecopoetry Track in the Graduate Program in Creative Writing invites poets to explore the intersections of language, place, and the more-than-human world. Rooted in an attentive relationship with place and the living world, the track welcomes poets writing from any landscape—urban, rural, and everywhere in between. Drawing on the combined strengths of the Poetry and Nature Writing concentrations, it supports writers engaging ecological imagination, environmental change, and questions of justice, community, and belonging.

Students in the Ecopoetry Track move through the program with the Poetry cohort while completing at least two courses in Nature Writing. Through close reading, field-based awareness, and rigorous craft study, students explore contemporary ecopoetics alongside broader poetic traditions. The thesis or capstone centers on a sustained collection of ecopoetry, mentored by a practicing ecopoet.

This track is designed for poets who want to deepen their relationship to place — urban or wild, local or global — and to create work that responds thoughtfully to a rapidly changing world.

Students interested in the Ecopoetry Track should apply to the Poetry concentration and indicate their interest in ecopoetics in their cover letter.

Student Learning Objectives

Students in the Ecopoetry Track will:

Read widely in contemporary poetry, ecopoetics, and nature writing
Strengthen their understanding of poetic craft and terminology
Engage diverse voices and movements within environmental and literary traditions
Develop the ability to read critically and analytically “like a writer”
Situate their own work within poetic and ecowriting lineages
Draft, revise, and complete a cohesive collection of ecopoetry

Admissions, Cost & Requirements

Joining Our Community: MFA Admissions & Requirements

We welcome applications for the Master of Fine Arts on a rolling basis from August 1 through May 31. Because our cohorts are small and highly personalized, we recommend applying early to secure your spot for our June start date. You can expect a decision from us within four weeks of completing your application.

What You’ll Need to Apply

A Bachelor’s Degree: Official transcripts from an accredited college (a 3.0 GPA is recommended).
A Personal Statement: A 1,000-word reflection on your experience, your commitment to the writing life, and why Western is the right home for your goals.
Two Professional Recommendations: Letters from mentors or colleagues who can speak to your readiness for graduate-level craft.
A Writing Sample: This is your chance to share your voice with us. Requirements vary by concentration:
- Poetry: 10–15 pages.
- Nature Writing: 20–25 pages (any genre or mix).
- Genre Fiction: 20–25 pages.
- Screenwriting: 15–30 pages of a screenplay or short film script.

Our Approach to Admission

We believe in potential. If you don’t meet every requirement for full admission, you may be considered for Provisional Admission, giving you the space and time (up to one year) to complete any necessary prerequisites while beginning your journey with us.

Apply Now
Program Information

Departmental representatives determine if graduate classes completed at other accredited institutions can be transferred to the respective Western graduate studies programs. Transfer credits must be listed and approved by the major advisor on the degree plan. Transferred graduate credits must be:

Earned at a regionally-accredited institution.
Numbered at the graduate level and accepted as part of a graduate degree program at the sending institution.
Passed by the student with a grade of B or above (courses with grades such as pass/fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory are not acceptable).
Earned within the past five years unless a department specifies otherwise.
Account for no more than nine credits towards a Western degree.

Students must provide official transcripts, and request and receive permission in writing from Western to transfer coursework.

Joining Our Community: MA Admissions & Requirements

We welcome applications for the Master of Arts on a rolling basis from August 1 through May 31. Because we focus on small cohorts and high-level mentorship, we recommend applying early to secure your spot for our June start date. You will receive an admissions decision within four weeks of completing your application.

What You’ll Need to Apply

A Bachelor’s Degree: Official transcripts from an accredited college (a 3.0 GPA is recommended).
A Personal Statement: A 1,000-word reflection on your writing experience, your commitment to the craft, and how Western can help you reach your professional goals.
Two Professional Recommendations: Letters from individuals who can speak to your readiness for graduate-level work.
A Writing Sample: This is our first look at your voice. Please follow the guidelines for your chosen concentration:
- Poetry: 10–15 single-spaced pages.
- Nature Writing: 20–25 pages (any creative genre or a mix).
- Genre Fiction: 20–25 pages (ideally from a single work).
- Screenwriting: 15–30 pages of a screenplay.
- Publishing: A 3- to 5-page critical assessment of a provided story.

Our Approach to Admission

We look for potential and dedication. If you don’t meet every requirement for full admission, you may be considered for Provisional Admission. This path allows you up to one year to complete any necessary prerequisites as you begin your journey with our faculty and community.

Apply Now
Program Information

Earned at a regionally-accredited institution.
Numbered at the graduate level and accepted as part of a graduate degree program at the sending institution.
Passed by the student with a grade of B or above (courses with grades such as pass/fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory are not acceptable).
Earned within the past five years unless a department specifies otherwise.
Account for no more than nine credits towards a Western degree.

Students must provide official transcripts, and request and receive permission in writing from Western to transfer coursework.

Investing in Your Writing Life

We believe in transparency when it comes to the cost of your education. Our low-residency model is designed to be accessible, allowing you to maintain your professional life while you pursue your degree. Tuition is billed by the credit hour, allowing you to manage your investment as you progress through the program.

Tuition & Program Value

Tuition: $749.60 per credit hour.
Standard Graduate Fees: $73.40 per credit hour (includes administrative operations, library, and IT services).
One-Time Matriculation Fee: $50.00. Applies once to new students in their first fall semester.
Summer Residency Fee: $600.00 (charged only during the summers you attend the residency in Gunnison).

Program Totals at a Glance

Master of Arts (MA): A focused 15-month journey totaling 30 credits. The estimated total for tuition and fees is $25,940.00.
Master of Fine Arts (MFA): A deep 27-month immersion totaling 60 credits. The estimated total for tuition and fees is $51,230.00.

All tuition and fees are subject to change, and any updates will be announced prior to the summer term.

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.

A graduate degree is a transformative step that deepens your specialized knowledge and refines your artistic practice. At Western, your chosen concentration allows you to shape your expertise through high-level coursework, culminating in a final project or thesis that serves as a cornerstone for your long-term writing life.

Whether you seek the one-year MA for focused professional development or the two-year MFA terminal degree for university-level teaching and deep craft exploration, our program is built to support your unique journey.

Explore Your Program Path:

MA Program Requirements: A streamlined, one-year path to professional growth.
MA Degree Plan: View the course sequence tailored to your concentration.
MFA Program Requirements: The two-year terminal degree path for a deeper dive into craft and pedagogy.
MFA Degree Plan: Map out your journey toward a publishable thesis.

MA Program Requirements MA Degree Plan MFA Program Requirements MFA Degree Plan

Both the MA and MFA programs are designed for flexibility. While many students follow the full-time track, you have the option to attend half-time or take a leave of absence if life requires it. You have up to five years from your initial enrollment to complete your degree.

We’re excited about your interest in applying to the Graduate Program in Creative Writing with a concentration in Poetry! Before starting your application, please take a moment to review the requirements and deadlines. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re happy to help.

Request More Information Apply Now

Scholarships & Financial Aid

We are committed to ensuring that our community remains diverse, inclusive, and accessible to writers from all walks of life. To support this mission, we offer:

GPCW Scholarships & Grants

Our Equitable Access Scholarships and Residency Grants work together to reduce financial barriers and ensure all students can fully participate in the program. These awards support students who bring diverse perspectives to our cohorts while also helping cover the costs of attending our annual summer residency in Gunnison, making our on-campus community accessible to everyone.

Learn More

Graduate Financial Aid

Graduate students at Western can offset the cost of their education through a range of financial support options, including federal financial aid, departmental scholarships, fellowships, graduate assistantships, loans, and personal funding sources.

Learn More

I recommend this program to anyone who needs flexibility and wants to be able to interact with other students and the instructors. The Zoom classes make me feel that I am there with others; it is a special part of my week. The instructors are so understanding and caring for the student; they are amazing.

Charlie Nightengale

Poetry – MA or MFA in Creative Writing

While students earn an accredited Master of Arts or Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, the Poetry concentration offers a clear pathway for those seeking graduate-level specialization in poetry. This structure allows students to benefit from the rigor and recognition of a Creative Writing degree while centering their studies on poetic craft.

Graduates emerge with a strong portfolio, a distinct poetic voice, and the confidence to pursue publication, teaching, and continued artistic growth—supported by a lasting community of writers and mentors.

Ecopoetry explores the relationship between poetry, environment, place, and ecology. It invites writers to engage the more-than-human world through language, imagination, and craft, often addressing questions of landscape, climate, justice, and belonging.

Yes — the GPCW offers a dedicated Ecopoetry Track for students who want to make this work central to their graduate study. Housed within the Poetry concentration, the Ecopoetry Track combines poetry workshops with selected Nature Writing coursework, allowing students to deepen both craft and ecological inquiry. Students in the track develop an ecopoetry-focused thesis or capstone under the guidance of a practicing ecopoet.

Students interested in Ecopoetry should apply to the Poetry concentration and indicate their interest in ecopoetics in their cover letter.

Yes. Graduates leave the program with a polished creative portfolio, professional guidance, and sustained experience reading, writing, and engaging critically with poetry. The MFA is a terminal degree in creative writing, meaning it is widely recognized as the standard credential for teaching creative writing at the college and university level.

Through intensive workshop practice, mentorship, and the development of a cohesive body of work, students are prepared to pursue publication, teaching opportunities, further graduate study, and a sustained creative life.

Experiential Learning

GPCW – Masterclasses

The GPCW offers free masterclasses for folks at any stage in their writing journey. These virtual classes are available to anyone, anywhere.
Read More
GPCW – WordFire Press

Western's Publishing students gain firsthand experience in editing, marketing, and distributing books through an established publishing company.
Read More

Writing
Expression
Communication
Community
Knowledge
Creativity

Poet
Teacher
Editor
Publisher
Creative
Writer

Related News

Write What You Know? Maybe Not So Much.

Write What You Know? Maybe Not So Much. It’s probably somewhat fitting that the origins of the phrase “write what you know” are a matter…
Read More
What “Nature Writing” Means Now

What “Nature Writing” Means Now: New paradigm shifts in America’s oldest writing tradition — and a unique program at Western Colorado University From seven to…
Read More
Elizabeth Bradfield’s SOFAR Explores the Currents That Carry Us All

In her newest book of poetry, SOFAR, Western Colorado University’s Elizabeth Bradfield turns her attention to the ecological and historical moment we live in through…
Read More
“The Holly” Wins National Emmy

The Holly, a documentary written, directed, and produced by Julian Rubinstein, Filmmaker and Journalist-in-Residence at Western Colorado University, won the national award for Outstanding Regional…
Read More
Mari Sandoz’s Legacy Lives On: Nature Writing Students Claire Thompson and Lizbeth Bárcena Awarded First Scholarships 

Two students in Western Colorado University’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing’s Nature Writing concentration are the beneficiaries of the newly established Mari Sandoz Scholarship. Claire…
Read More
CMarie Fuhrman’s New Collection, Salmon Weather, Reflects on Change, Connection to Place

There’s one constant: change. And there’s a lot of it these days. It threatens us with the unknown, and that can be scary. But it’s…
Read More
Elizabeth Bradfield Named New Poetry Concentration Director at Western’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing

Western Colorado University is pleased to announce the appointment of Elizabeth Bradfield as the new Poetry Concentration Director within its esteemed Graduate Program in Creative…
Read More
Story Catcher Festival Brings Literary Luminaries to Western Colorado University

Come celebrate storytelling, creativity, and literary exploration at the 2025 Story Catcher Festival, which will be held at Western Colorado University from April 9 to…
Read More
Western’s Kevin J. Anderson Co-Produces HBO Max’s Dune: Prophecy

Author Kevin J. Anderson is a master of the fantasy realm, with dozens of best-selling novels and a box office hit to his credit. Now,…
Read More
Western Colorado University Professor Julian Rubinstein Wins Emmy Award for Documentary “The Holly”

A documentary filmmaker who opened the eyes of many Colorado residents to the unsavory realities hidden away in the state’s capital city has added yet…
Read More
Bryce Swaim’s Debut Collection of Poetry, Prose Scheduled for Publication

WCU alumnus’ work selected as second book in a series by Western Press Books. Writer and teacher Bryce Swaim, who graduated from Western Colorado University…
Read More
NYT Bestselling Author Jamie Ford to speak at Western GPCW Graduation

Ford will also visit classes during summer residency. Western Colorado University’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing is proud to welcome New York Times bestselling…
Read More
Western Colorado University Graduate Program in Creative Writing Announces New Screenwriting Director

Western Colorado University’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing (GPCW) is excited to announce the hiring of veteran screenwriter James Napoli as the program’s new Screenwriting…
Read More
Western Colorado University Graduate Students, Alum, and Faculty in Poetry Win Nationwide Awards

“Being surrounded by poets whose work is consistently recognized and celebrated provides an unparalleled environment for our students to thrive.” Poets in Western Colorado University’s…
Read More
New Scholarship Supports Western’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing

The Mari Sandoz Emerging Writer Scholarship will be awarded every year. Students with a passion for writing about the people and landscapes of the West…
Read More
Western Graduate Students, Faculty Member Receive Distinguished Achievement Award

Recipients conducting important research in four disciplines Western Colorado University’s School of Graduate Studies is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2024 Distinguished Achievement…
Read More
Western’s MFA Director Laura Pritchett’s latest novel is born from a world on fire

Students see how an idea can go from the classroom to the bookstore Laura Pritchett doesn’t like to ask her students to do an assignment…
Read More
Western professor wins Dragon Award for his latest contribution to sci-fi series Dune

International bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson recognized at DragonCon GUNNISON, Colorado: Professor Kevin J. Anderson, Publishing Concentration program director at Western Colorado University, won the…
Read More
Western Poetry Faculty Member Chosen for Prestigious Poetry Prize

GUNNISON, Colorado: Western Colorado University’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing (GPCW) is pleased to announce that poet Eduardo Corral has selected out takes/glove box, an…
Read More
Teaching into the Firetower

One professor reflects on the unique benefits of a low-residency program by Laura Pritchett Evonne lives for part of the year in an Oregon…
Read More
Western’s CMarie Fuhrman Releases New Anthology & Public Radio Podcast

Colorado Public Radio recently announced a new short-form podcast, Terra Firma, which pairs reflections on nature with soundscapes gathered in wild places. The podcast features…
Read More
Nature Writing and Western Press Books to Produce Inaugural Book

Western Colorado University’s Nature Writing concentration in the Graduate Program in Creative Writing (GPCW) is set to release its first book-length publication through Western Press…
Read More
Fuhrman Appointed to Director of Poetry

Western Colorado University’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing (GPCW) is thrilled to announce the appointment of CMarie Fuhrman as Director of the Poetry concentration. Fuhrman will be the…
Read More
GPCW Publishing Concentration Director Celebrates the Release of DUNE

Contributing to a Major Motion Picture The work of a Western Colorado University educator is on display in a blockbuster film that just hit the…
Read More
Western Instructor Named to Top Writer’s Honor

CMarie Named Idaho Writer in Residence A Western Colorado University instructor has been named Idaho Writer in Residence by the state’s Commission on the Arts.…
Read More