MFA Program
See writers who attended this program
Poetry: Cyrus Cassells, Roger Jones, Naomi Shihab Nye, Cecily Parks, and Steve Wilson
Fiction: Doug Dorst, Jennifer duBois, Lindsey Stern, Debra Monroe, and Tim O’Brien
The program offers partial funding. Most students receive an assistantship or scholarship that includes a stipend and in-state tuition status.
The program hosts a visiting writers’ series, which includes readings and master classes with six to eight writers each year. The program also hosts professional development workshops and talks with respected writers, editors, agents, and publishers about the editing and publishing industry in collaboration with the Writers’ League of Texas. Each year a new Endowed Chair of Creative Writing is named for the program. For 2024, the Endowed Chair is Layli Long Solider. The Endowed Chair will teach one workshop in their genre in the Fall and, in the Spring, will be available for campus readings and programming. After students complete their thesis, they receive notes and feedback from a requested member of the Adjunct Thesis Faculty, a group composed of acclaimed writers from around the world. The program has two residencies: the Katherine Anne Porter House in Kyle, Texas and the L.D. & Laverne Clark House in Smithville, Texas. Each year, two graduating MFA students are selected amongst an application pool to serve as the writer-in-residence at each house for one year.
January 31 is the deadline for fall admission applications and November 1 is the deadline for spring admission applications.