MFA Program
See writers who attended this program
Poetry: David Blackmore, Heather McNaugher, Sheila Squillante
Fiction: Marc Nieson, Anjali Sachdeva (climate fiction, speculative fiction)
Nonfiction: Heather McNaugher, Sheila Squillante
Literature: David Blackmore, Heather McNaugher, Marc Nieson, Anjali Sachdeva
Pedagogy: David Blackmore, Sheila Squillante
Publishing: Sheila Squillante
Travel Writing: Marc Nieson
The program offers partial funding, with one full tuition scholarship, as well as teaching fellowships offered each year. A managing editor position for the Fourth River literary journal and a social media/newsletter editor position are offered every other year to qualified applicants.
The program offers the Fallingwater Residency in Nature and Place-Based Writing, a five-day experience at Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece just outside of Pittsburgh. It also features specialty courses in food writing, nature writing, travel writing, pedagogy, publishing, and social engagement.
Pedagogy courses train students to teach in college settings and in community spaces, and graduate students often have opportunities to mentor underserved Pittsburgh-area high school students.
The application deadline for funding and early decision is February 15, and requires a 3.5 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale; regular decision applications will continue to be accepted and considered for admission until July 1.
Chris Barzak, Sarah Capdeville, Elias Dubus, Caitlyn Hunter, Robert Isenberg, Laura Jackson, Derek Maiolo, Sarah Reis, Lisa Slage Robinson, Mark Anthony Rolo, Cedric Rudolph, Ryan Rydzewski, Christine Stroud, Karen Zhang