It’s that time again. You’re finally close to earning that master of fine arts in creative writing (MFA). Congrats! You’ve been working hard, and now it’s time to reap the benefits.
Although you’re ecstatic about earning your MFA, you may be wondering how many credits you need to graduate. After all, you’ve been diligently taking classes your whole life. Now, you need to find out how many credits you need to bring with you to the next level.
To help you navigate this often daunting task, we’ve put together a detailed course schedule that will give you an idea of what to expect. We’ve also calculated the amount of credits you need to bring to the next level based on published tuition rates, so you’ll know exactly how much you need to shell out. Let’s get into it.
The MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Michigan
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already heard of the University of Michigan. You may know it as one of the most prestigious universities in the United States, or you may have even visited it yourself. Either way, the time to learn more about the MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Michigan is now.
The MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Michigan is a 48-credit hour program, which can include up to 36 writing and up to 12 humanities/social science classes. Students can choose to take the program full time or part time, and there are a variety of options for fellowships and assistantships available to students in the program. In the 2018-19 academic year, there were 632 students reported to have graduated with a MFA in Creative Writing. Only about 12% of those students took the program full time. The majority of students (88%) took the program part time, including 65% who took only one class per semester. The remaining 23% took the program completely online. (University of Michigan, 2019)
A Typical Course Schedule in the MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Michigan
If you’re looking for a standard course schedule, you’ve come to the right place. The following table shows a typical course schedule in the MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Michigan. (To download a complete course schedule, visit this link.)
- Fall 2018 (Semester 1): ENG 101 (English 101)(3 credits) (Taught in English) (Professor Mark Coggins)
- Winter 2019 (Semester 2): REL 113 (Introduction to Literature)(3 credits) (Taught in English) (Professor Darryl Sterba)
- Spring 2019 (Semester 2): FREN 110 (Introduction to French)(3 credits) (Taught in English) (Professor Stephen Cole)
- Summer 2019 (Semester 2): LANG 207 (English for Specific Purposes)(3 credits) (Taught in English) (Professor Joseph O’Neill)
How Many Credits Do I Need to Take to Graduate from Michigan in the MFA in Creative Writing?
Now that you have a general idea of what to expect, it’s time to figure out how many credits you need to graduate. To do this, you need to look at all of your relevant classes and try to find a total. If you’re wondering, many students find it helpful to take a few classes per semester to reduce the number of courses required to graduate. More students take a less number of courses and do more writing in the summer. The following table will help you navigate this. (To download a complete course schedule, visit this link.)
- Fall 2018 (Semester 1): ENG 101 (English 101)(3 credits) (Taught in English) (Professor Mark Coggins)
- Winter 2019 (Semester 2): REL 113 (Introduction to Literature)(3 credits) (Taught in English) (Professor Darryl Sterba)
- Spring 2019 (Semester 2): FREN 110 (Introduction to French)(3 credits) (Taught in English) (Professor Stephen Cole)
- Summer 2019 (Semester 2): LANG 207 (English for Specific Purposes)(3 credits) (Taught in English) (Professor Joseph O’Neill)
The credits you need to bring to the next level are the credits not taken directly from your high school diploma. You’ll need 12 credits of English (most schools require students to take at least 12 credits of English), and you’ll need to take 48 credits of other classes in order to graduate. Students in the MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Michigan have a broad array of courses in which to specialize. Many students choose to pursue a concentration in fiction. However, students can also select a non-fiction emphasis, or they can even double major in both fiction and non-fiction. (University of Michigan, 2019)
An MFA in Creative Writing does not mean you’ll have to stop working or seeking employment. In fact, many graduates find work easily within the first year after they graduate, and many also choose to go on to teach in either high school or college. (University of Michigan, 2019)
Is An MFA in Creative Writing Worth It?
As we mentioned above, not all students will specialize in fiction. Many will take a hybrid approach, taking classes in both fiction and non-fiction, or even choosing to double major. There are a variety of classes available to students who aim to specialize in creative writing. The following table will give you an idea of what classes you may need to take to become an MFA in Creative Writing.