About Master’s Program,
The MFA in Writing is a three-year degree providing students with the time and opportunity to produce a book-length final manuscript. Our graduate writing faculty are distinguished nationally and internationally through numerous publications and awards. They include poets Diana Khoi Nguyen, Joy Priest, and Gary Jackson; fiction writers Angie Cruz, William Lychack, and Irina Reyn; and, in nonfiction, Jeanne Marie Laskas, Michael Meyer, and Erin Anderson.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
The MFA in Writing will be awarded for the completion of a minimum of 36 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.0, plus the completion of an acceptable final manuscript. There is no language requirement for MFA students.
The requirements below are a general guideline for prospective MFA students. Current MFA students in the Department of English should refer to the MFA section of the graduate handbook for official guidelines.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
The Writing Program admits nine students across the genres each year, all of whom will receive full funding for three years of study. The sources of this support are as follows:
Teaching Assistantships
All students admitted to the program will receive Teaching Assistantships for two or three years. All Teaching Assistantships include salary, medical benefits, and tuition remission.
Pitt’s English Department is well-known for its excellent teacher preparation, which is an asset to students who seek careers in teaching after graduation. English Department TAs teach 1 course per semester, typically a course with 24 students or fewer. For teaching this course, work defined as requiring approximately 20 hours per week, full tuition scholarships and medical benefits are provided, and TAs are paid a salary. TAs who are making satisfactory progress as students and teachers will have their appointments renewed for an additional two years. After the second year, TAs generally teach advanced composition and introductory creative writing classes.
- Leroy Irvis Fellowships
MFA applicants will be considered for K. Leroy Irvis Fellowships, established in 1994 to enhance the academic excellence and diversity of the Pitt’s graduate student body. The program provides a non-duty bearing fellowship for the student’s first year of study as well academic guidance and cohort-based mentoring. The Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences has been awarding Irvis Fellowships to MFA students since 2008, and the department has been invited to nominate an entering MFA student for an Irvis Fellowship every year beginning in fall 2014.
Travel and Research Funding
Upon successful application, the Department of English provides Research and Development funds to support travel for MFAs undertaking research for their thesis manuscript and other professional activities. Contact the English Department’s Graduate Administrator at ENGGRAD@pitt.edu for further information and how to apply for Research and Development funds.
Contact info for interested students: English Graduate Administrator at ENGGRAD@pitt.edu
Application Requirement,
These materials must be submitted as part of the application:
- Online Application
- Detailed Statement of Purpose
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
- Unofficial Transcripts
- Writing Sample
- Application fee (for a fee waiver, see the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences website here: https://www.asgraduate.pitt.edu/admissions/application-fee-waivers)
Application Deadline,
Jan 07, 2025
Application Fee,
$75 application fee
