About Master’s Program,
The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at BGSU is widely recognized as one of the country’s most prestigious. For more than fifty years, graduates of BGSU’s Program in Creative Writing have contributed to contemporary literary culture and published hundreds of books.
The MFA in Creative Writing program gives a comprehensive and rigorous education in the professional writing, editing, and marketing of poetry and fiction. Artistic development, craft knowledge, and professional presentation are guiding principles. The program is a composite of a total of 36 hours, consisting primarily of writing workshops, including a minimum of one course in techniques, one in literary editing, one in pedagogy, and the remainder in recommended courses or electives. Writers complete a thesis and comprehensive examination. BGSU does NOT require an electronic thesis; ours is paper-based. Why? See the article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, here.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
The Graduate College at Bowling Green State University has several graduate programs that permit qualified undergraduate students who are earning their bachelor’s degree at BGSU to apply to an Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s program. Participating in an Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s program provides students with the opportunity to complete both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in an efficient manner.
Undergraduate students who apply to and have been accepted into an Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s program will be coded as Undergraduate Accelerated Students until they have completed their Bachelor’s degree. While an Undergraduate Accelerated Student, they may take up to nine (9) credit hours of graduate credit. A maximum of nine (9) graduate credit hours may be overlapped between both the bachelor’s and the master’s degrees. These overlapped credits can count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees (according to the curriculum of each program).
Master’s Funding Coverage,
To help students achieve their degree goals, graduate assistantships (including stipend and scholarship) are available for all eligible face-to-face students. Presently, newly funded graduate assistants at the master’s level receive:
- 100% tuition scholarship
- Waiver of the non-Ohio resident fee for students in the first year (and for the second year for international students)
- Graduate stipend (the 2024-25 stipend is $12,000)
To be considered for funding, all application materials should be submitted by January 15th.
Students are responsible for any other fees and insurance (if required), which vary per student. Please review the Student Insurance Program web site for requirements and details pertaining to insurance.
During the 2023-24 academic year, a typical MFA graduate student at BGSU who enrolled in 12 credit hours per semester, paid approximately the following fees:
Application Requirement,
Applicants must have graduated with a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university or complete the degree prior to enrollment. Students are advised to apply at least six months in advance for admission. International students should allow more time for the application process. All credentials submitted to BGSU become the property of BGSU and will not be released. The application for admission to the Graduate College should be submitted along with:
- $45 nonrefundable application fee for domestic applicants; $75 for international applicants. The application fee is automatically waived for McNair Scholars, U.S. Military Veterans, returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and K-12 public school teachers currently employed in the U.S.
- Scanned copies of official or unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended. Upon admission, final official or notarized copies of transcripts from all institutions where degrees were earned (showing dates when the degrees were conferred) and diplomas from international institutions must be submitted. Evaluations by a NACESorganization are accepted. Note: For current or previous BGSU students, you do not need to request a BGSU transcript, it will be obtained for you.
- Standardized test scores (GRE, GMAT, PRAXIS, OAE) may be required by the program. Please visit the program websitefor additional information.
- Programs may also require recommendations, a statement of purpose, a resume, and other documents. Please visit the program website for additional information.
- International applicants are required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTEA). Successful completion of ELS 112 will also be accepted for this requirement. Additionally, Duolingo test scores will be accepted for applications through Summer 2026. Please see exceptions below.*
Application Deadline,
Jan 15, 2026
Application Fee,
$45 nonrefundable application fee for domestic applicants; $75 for international applicants.
