MFA in Creative Writing
Apply now to begin in January 2026!
Let your creativity thrive.
Whitworth's Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program – the Whitworth Writers Workshop – embraces the generative relationship between literary study and creative expression. This program intentionally incorporates a rich tradition of texts produced by individuals of faith to enhance the exploration of diverse perspectives in writing.
- Work directly with a professional writing mentor.
- Keep your daily commitments and attend just five residencies over the course of two academic years.
- Choose a genre to pursue your creative goals: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry or spiritual writing.
- Collaborate, learn and grow with a supportive community of peers.
Looking for more information? Contact mfa@whitworth.edu or 509.777.4581.
| Degree Snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Semester Credits | 44 |
| Completion Time | 23 months, full time 3 years, part time |
| Cost Per Credit | Competitively priced (financial aid available) Additional residency fees required. |
| Application Deadlines | January start | Apply by Nov. 1 July/August start | Apply by April 1 Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. |
Shape Your Voice: Choose a Genre
Discover your creative talents and build a portfolio that will set you apart in the highly competitive literary and creative industry. Complete a creative manuscript under the direction of a faculty mentor in one of the following genres:
- Fiction
- Creative nonfiction
- Poetry
- Spiritual writing: open genre
Low-Residency Model
Whitworth's MFA program is built on alternating tutorial and residency semesters.
- Tutorial semesters allow you to discover your voice and navigate literature within your chosen genre under the mentorship of a professional writer.
- Residency semesters comprise in-person sessions: workshops, speakers and classes that offer opportunities to connect with your peers.
Logistics
- Students are required to attend a total of five residencies over the course of two academic years.
- Each residency lasts 10 days.
- Residencies take place in the months of January and July/August, allowing for the passage of two tutorial semesters between residencies.
- A residency room and meal fee covers the cost of your stay.
The instructors at each residency generally consist of current MFA mentors as well as two or three invited guest speakers, including some of America's most celebrated writers.
Cohort Format
The MFA in Creative Writing is a 44-credit program that begins each January and July/August. You'll move through the program with a group of colleagues practicing your chosen genre as a cohort, taking each class together in sequence. This provides an additional support system as you complete the program and can help establish your first network of professional writing colleagues.
Visiting Writers
Whitworth will supplement the instruction at each of the residencies with visiting writers. Visiting writers are both accomplished writers and talented and effective teachers; they will each provide a craft talk in one or more genres as well as a reading of original work.
Writing Mentors
The heart of the Whitworth Writers Workshop low-residency MFA program is the dialogue between students and their faculty mentors. You will be expected to correspond with your mentor in a timely fashion, submitting reading list annotations, new and revised creative work, a short critical paper, and, eventually, an expanded critical paper and creative thesis.
After your first residency, you will begin creating and exchanging these packets with your mentor for your first tutorial semester.
You will write one short critical paper (about seven pages long) per semester in preparation for your final critical essay (20 pages) due with your graduating work.