About PhD Program,
The PhD in Creative Writing and Literature is a four-year course of study. Following two years of course work that includes workshop, forms classes, pedagogical training, and literature, students take exams in two areas, one that examines texts through the lens of craft and another that examines them through the lens of literary history and theory. Recent examples of the genre area include Comic Fiction, History of the Love Lyric, and Fantasy; recent examples of the scholarly area include History of the Novel, 20th Century American Poetry, and Modern & Contemporary British Fiction. In the first two years, students take three courses per semester; the teaching load throughout the program is one class per semester.
Every PhD student has the opportunity to teach creative writing, with many also teaching literature classes. Most students are funded by teaching, with two or three at a time funded by editorial work at The Cincinnati Review or Acre Books, and others funded in their dissertation year by college- or university-level fellowships. Fifth-year support, while not guaranteed, has generally been available to interested students in the form of student lecturerships, which carry a 2-2 load. The Creative Writing PhD at the University of Cincinnati has maintained over the last decade more than a 75% placement rate into full-time academic jobs for its doctoral graduates. Two-thirds of these positions are tenure-track.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
MFA or MA in English from an accredited university or college.
Minimum undergraduate GPA: 3.75
For our graduate programs, we welcome applications from students who hold a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from a college or university accredited by accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for Title IV purposes or the international equivalent. It is recommended that applicants have at least a B average in undergraduate course work (or otherwise give evidence of promise that is judged satisfactory by the admitting program).
Each graduate program is responsible for setting application requirements and admission criteria beyond the minimum requirements set by the university (outlined below). Programs set their application deadlines, and they set their own schedule for making admission decisions. Programs have the authority to require certain pre-admission examinations, to require the satisfactory completion of certain coursework prior to admission, and to establish other admission requirements. Admissions decisions are made by the program, and those decisions are final.
PhD Funding Coverage,
Individual graduate programs are primarily responsible for dispensing fellowships, graduate assistantships and other funding. You can also find general information about funding through the Graduate College’s Funding Opportunities page. Additionally, the International Student Services website has information regarding funding available for international students. Loans are handled by the Student Financial Aid office.
Application Requirement,
Letter of Intent: state academic goals and professional objective, recommended length of one to two pages
Curriculum Vitae
Writing samples (combine all samples into one document). :
Three letters of recommendation (no form required): Recommenders will submit letters through the Online Application system.
Unofficial Transcripts from all universities and/or colleges attended. These can be uploaded during your online application completion. Unofficial transcripts can take many forms, including a list of courses/grades from a previous academic institution’s student portal, a copy of an official transcript, a picture of a transcript, or any other listing depicting your academic career.
Please note that although unofficial transcripts are highly recommended for the application, official transcripts will be required if admission is offered and you accept. In addition, official transcripts must be in final form (listing any degrees conferred). Official transcripts can be submitted as early as the day you accept admission and as late as the beginning of your first term of enrollment.
Proof of English Proficiency is required of all applicants whose native language is not English. Please note, international applicants will automatically be exempted from the English Proficiency testing requirement if they have received or will receive a bachelor’s or higher degree from one of the following countries where English is the official language:
Application Deadline,
Jan 01, 2025
Application Fee,
- $65.00 for domestic applicants to most degree programs
- $70.00 for international applicants to most degree programs
