About Master’s Program,
The Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing at The Ohio State University is designed to help graduate students develop to the fullest their talents and abilities as writers of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction. Creative writing classes are conducted as workshops or tutorials, and there are numerous opportunities for related study both within and beyond the Department of English. All students are fully funded for three years in a program that is well known for its sense of community and a faculty that is as committed to teaching as to their own writing.
Approximately 36 graduate students are taught by tenure track, visiting and affiliated (Film Studies) faculty, who also teach in the undergraduate program. Graduate student TAs teach introductory and intermediate special topics undergraduate creative writing courses, undergraduate literary publishing, as well as first-year and second-year writing (required courses for all Ohio State undergraduates). TAs teach two classes a year, one in autumn and one in spring. In addition, they have the opportunity to work as editors of Ohio State’s prize-winning, nationally distributed literary magazine, The Journal, and to serve on the editorial staff of our two annual book prizes, one in poetry and one in prose.
Course offerings are varied and numerous. Special topics graduate workshops (in the long poem, in characterization, in literary translation, in humor writing, and so on) ensure that, in addition to “regular” workshops, opportunities abound for experimentation. Our graduate program includes coursework designed for “crossing over,” such as, poetry workshops for MFA fiction writers or essayists with little experience writing poems; and “forms” classes in prosody, the novel, the memoir, novellas, for example.
Screenwriting for MFAs is offered regularly, and many students also elect to study playwriting or writing for performance as an elective. Some MFAs choose to pursue the Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in the Fine Arts (GISFA), which allows them to take graduate courses in other arts disciplines. Indeed, Ohio State’s size and breadth offer our students the chance to explore many disciplines that enrich their study and practice of creative writing.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
A test score (GRE or GMAT) is recommended if:
Your last degree earned is from an unaccredited college or university and your program requires the score
The cumulative GPA for your last degree earned is below 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) and your program requires the score
Test scores (GRE or GMAT) must be sent electronically from the testing agency. Faxed or emailed scores are not considered.
- Ohio State’s institutional code: 1592
- Exception:Fisher College of Business applicants should use: 3546
Plan to test no later than six weeks prior to your application deadline to allow official test scores to arrive in time. Note: Scores are valid for five years after your test date.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
All admitted students are fully funded for our three-year MFA program in Creative Writing. In addition, all students receive either a graduate teaching associateship, a Graduate School fellowship or a combination of the two. Funding is renewed on a yearly basis as long as the student maintains satisfactory academic progress.
Graduate teaching associateships: Departmental funding is most often in the form of a graduate teaching associateship, for which the student receives a stipend of at least $22,000 for the nine-month academic year. The university also subsidizes 100% of student health insurance premiums and provides a tuition waiver for all GTAs. Students are responsible for COTA bus, student activity, Student Union and Recreation Center fees. Students on GTA appointments teach one course per term during the regular academic year.
Graduate School fellowships: In addition to the funding provided by the Department of English, the Graduate School awards Recruitment Fellowships on a competitive basis to students who are new to graduate education at Ohio State. The Department of English’s admissions committee submits nominations to the Graduate School’s competition, and a selection committee reviewing nominations from across all graduate programs in the university awards the fellowships. Students may not apply directly for fellowship support. Each graduate program has a limited number of students who may be nominated for fellowship consideration. All Graduate School fellowships provide a monthly stipend, academic tuition and fees and a subsidy of 100% of the student health insurance premiums. These fellowships are nonrenewable and may not be deferred.
Application Requirement,
Transcripts
Letters of recommendation
Standardized test score
Curriculum vitae/resume
Statement of purpose
Some programs may also require a portfolio, an audition, writing samples, specific tests or a departmental application. Refer to your program for details.
Application Deadline,
Dec 01, 2025
Application Fee,
A nonrefundable $60 fee for U.S. students and $70 for international students
