About Master’s Program,
The MFA program provides students pursuing vocations in creative writing the opportunity to acquire the background and knowledge required to be leading citizens of what Vachel Lindsay calls the “Republic of Letters.” The program prepares students for lives as writers of novels, short fiction, creative nonfiction, scripts, and poetry and related pursuits such as teaching, literary editing and publishing. In addition to intensive creative writing, students will complete four classes in a secondary concentration as part of the MFA. Students can select a concentration in literature, composition/rhetoric, or teaching English as a second language in order to give them additional options for employment after graduation. In total, the three-year residential program consists of 48 credit hours of graduate course work, culminating in the completion of a publishable creative thesis in fiction, poetry, scriptwriting, or creative nonfiction.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
WKU’s graduate admission requirements are broadly determined by the type of degree that you are interested in pursuing. Please choose a tab below to view degree related requirements. Note that specific programs may require materials in addition to these; please check the current graduate catalog for more information. Minimum Graduate Studies admission requirements include an earned bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and a 2.75 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
Master’s Funding Coverage,
The graduate assistantship program at WKU provides graduate students the opportunity to earn an excellent salary and fringe benefits while advancing their career. Assistantships are available for qualified applicants — please read the graduate assistantship overview to learn about qualifications, how to apply, potential benefits, and more.
Application Requirement,
Application and Fee: Students seeking a graduate degree must complete the online Application for Admission and submit a one time application processing fee of $65 (non-refundable) to Graduate Studies;
Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university;
Any additional application requirements (GRE/GMAT scores, or other items; varies by program);
Adequate academic preparation in the field of specialization
Transcript Record: Graduates of accredited institutions other than Western Kentucky University must request one official transcript showing the completed degree be sent to Western Kentucky University (as well as official transcripts for any postsecondary coursework where credit [but no degree] was earned). Official transcript(s) must be forwarded from the college or university registrar electronically or directly to Graduate Studies, and official transcripts can be provided by the applicant. Applicants who have not completed the undergraduate degree are required to submit one official transcript at the time of application and one official transcript showing the degree is completed. Transcript records must be submitted for any graduate and undergraduate courses taken at any institution other than WKU. While electronic transcripts are strongly preferred, any paper transcripts must be received in Graduate Studies in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution. Transcripts sent to Graduate Studies become the property of the University and will not be returned to the student under any circumstances nor will a copy of the transcript be given to the student. Please have the issuing institution send them electronically to graduate.school@wku.edu or via mail to:
GRE Scores
GMAT Score
Application Deadline,
Feb 01, 2026
Application Fee,
Processing fee of $65 (non-refundable) to Graduate Studies;
