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Department of Languages and Literatures

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Expand your writing practice and refine your craft within the supportive community of Ashland University’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program.

Contact Us

MFA Office

401 College Avenue
Ashland, Ohio 44805
Phone: 419-289-5098
Email: mfa@ashland.edu

The MFA Office is also home to The Ashland Poetry Press and the Black Fork Review.

Graduate Admissions

Call Us: 419.289.5738 or 1.800.882.1548 x5688

E-mail: grad-admissions@ashland.edu

Admissions

Admission

Admission is open to all qualified persons regardless of handicap, religion, race, creed, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, or national origin.

Students seeking admission to the Master of Fine Arts Program must:

complete an application
submit official transcripts from all institutions from which a degree was earned
submit writing sample (10-15 pages of poetry or 20-25 pages of prose)
- fiction and creative nonfiction writing samples may be comprised of several shorter pieces or one longer piece totaling 20-25 double-spaced pages
- poetry writing samples should have no more than one poem per page
- writing samples may be uploaded within the online application or sent electronically to enroll-grad@ashland.edu
submit two letters of recommendation
- letters of recommendation should be addressed to Christian Kiefer, Director
- no form is necessary; a standard letter of recommendation is acceptable
submit a $30 application fee

Letters of recommendation and transcripts may be submitted to enroll-grad@ashland.edu or by mail to

Ashland University

Office of Enrollment Services

Attn: Angie Kessinger

401 College Ave

Ashland, OH 44805

Admission is based on the following:

completed bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a GPA above 2.75 (conditional acceptance for GPAs 2.25-2.75)
submission of 10-15 pages of poetry or 20-25 pages of prose deemed by the MFA faculty to be of sufficient quality for admittance to the program

Application Deadlines

The best way to enter our program is to start with the Summer Residency. Priority deadline is February 1. As long as space is available, new applications will be accepted until May 15th.

Online Semesters

Students may enter the program during the spring online semester, as well.

There is a priority deadline of September 15 for students interested in enrolling during the spring online semester. New applications for spring will be considered through December 1 as long as there is space available in the program. The semester begins in January.

Application Process

Start Your Application Now

After completing the application, send your official transcripts and other support materials to enroll-grad@ashland.edu or mail them to:

Ashland University

Office of Enrollment Services

Attn: Angie Kessinger

401 College Ave

Ashland, OH 44805

Applicants may send letters of recommendation as they are ready for submission. If you are completing a hard copy application, you may email your writing sample to enroll-grad@ashland.edu.

Accepted students are required to make a one-time $150 enrollment deposit to secure their place in the program. The deposit is credited toward their tuition.

Questions about the application process should be directed to Graduate Admissions at 419.289.5738 or grad-admissions@ashland.edu.

Tuition & Aid

MFA Tuition and Fees

Financial Aid

Information regarding financial aid for students in the Master of Fine Arts Program is posted on the Graduate School Financial Aid page.

2022-2023 MFA Tuition Rates

Tuition Schedule, Beginning Summer 2022, $800 per Credit Hour

Year	Semester	Course	Cost
1	Summer	English 501	$2,400
1	Fall	English 631	$7,200
1	Spring	English 632	$7,200
2	Summer	English 502	$2,400
2	Fall	English 633	$7,200
2	Spring	English 701	$7,200
Final Residency	Summer (End of 2nd Year)	English 503	$2,400
Total		45 Credits	$36,000

NOTE: Tuition rates are subject to change annually. We will do our best to inform you of these changes.

Residency Only Fees:

Individuals interested in attending the residency only are invited to apply as a non-degree student. Rates for non-degree students are the same as for degree-track students.

Additional Fees:

For the 2022-23 academic year (summer, fall, spring), MFA students will not be charged the $42 technology fee.

Meals and lodging during the residency are optional. For more information about room and board, visit Summer Residency Room and Board.

There is a $100 fee to graduate, which is charged by the Registrar's office.

Assistantships

MFA Graduate Teaching Assistantships

Opportunity to gain college-level teaching experience while earning $2,494 per course (based on 2021 supplemental contract rates)

Potential for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) to teach as many as 5 courses over the two years of study - must begin studies with the Summer Residency

What Is It?

Many writers make the bulk of their income via teaching and lectureships. Ashland’s MFA Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) represents a pathway into that world through pedagogy coursework and associated supervised (paid) teaching experience.

The Course Sequence

Selected students must enroll and earn a minimum grade of B along with instructor approval in ENG 651, a 16 week, 3-credit course on composition pedagogy, taught by an Ashland University faculty member.

During the following semester, successful students will enroll in ENG 652: Supervised Teaching, a 1-credit course, and will be assigned their first section of composition taught to online students in Correctional Education. GTAs will teach either ENG 100 or ENG 101, depending on the need of the university.

During their teaching semester, GTAs will be closely supervised by an experienced English instructor. Students will meet bi-weekly with their supervisor and peers via Zoom and/or Blackboard to gain instructor and peer feedback on lessons, classroom management, grading practices, and written feedback.

GTA Financial Package

Students will enroll for ENG 651 and 652 under the current MFA tuition and fee structure. Additionally, students teaching during their ENG 652 semester will be paid a supplemental contract for the one section of ENG 100 or 101 following the standard Correctional Education rates as indicated in the current Supplemental Contract Schedule.

Possibilities allow for GTAs to teach as many as 5 courses over the course of the two years of study.

How to Apply

Enrolled students will file a statement of interest with the MFA Administrative Director, mfa@ashland.edu, expressing their desire to teach and offering some sense of their potential ability. Applicants must have successfully completed a minimum of 3 graduate credit hours in the MFA program to be qualified to apply. Financial need, retention, likelihood of rendering a high-quality service in teaching undergraduates in an online environment, and the needs of online and correctional students will be considered in awarding assistantships.

MFA PEDAGOGY TRACK
FIRST YEAR
Summer	ENG 501: Summer Residency I (3 credits)
Fall	ENG 631: Mentorship I (online semester, 5 credits) ENG 651: Composition/Rhetoric Pedagogy (online semester, 3 credits)
Spring	ENG 632: Mentorship II (online semester, 9 credits) ENG 652: Supervised Teaching (online semester, 1 credit) Teach 1 course, ENG 100 or 101, online in the Correctional Education Program, paid a supplemental contract ($2,494 per 2021 rates)
SECOND YEAR
Summer	ENG 502: Summer Residency II (3 credits)
Fall	ENG 633: Mentorship III (online semester, 9 credits) Optional: Teach 1-2 course(s), ENG 100 or 101, online in the Correctional Education Program, paid a supplemental contract
Spring	ENG 701: Mentorship IV: MFA Thesis (online semester, 9 credits) Optional: Teach 1-2 course(s), ENG 100 or 101, online in the Correctional Education Program, paid a supplemental contract
Summer	ENG 503: Summer Residency III (3 credits)
	Total: 45 credits

Ashland Poetry Press Assistantships

A limited number of graduate publishing assistantships are available for poetry students in the Master of Fine Arts program who work with the Ashland Poetry Press.

Graduate publishing assistantships are available to students who have taken ENG 631: Mentorship I and have selected poetry as their primary genre. Students are chosen for assistantships during the fall semester; decisions are based on faculty recommendations and a cover letter sent to the managing editor of Ashland Poetry Press.

Diversity Grant

With assistance from the Archer Fund, the Ashland MFA has developed a series of limited scholarships for talented incoming students of color. Such scholarships may be renewed for a second semester of funding.

News

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