Columbia College Chicago

Program Information

Degree Offered

M.F.A. - Creative Writing Nonfiction

Format: Campus

Program Description:

Columbia College Chicago's Creative Writing - Nonfiction (MFA) program is designed to provide students unique opportunities to study, read, write, edit, and teach with leading authors and scholars in the field, preparing them to make a living through their passion for writing. Our focused curriculum covers a broad range of nonfiction approaches: the personal essay, lyric essay, memoir, prose poetry, nonfiction film, and hybrid works that combine genres. Students will explore the theory of nonfiction with our widely published and celebrated faculty, while also working closely with them in thesis seminars to develop their own voice and style. The experience culminates in the thesis project, a book-length manuscript of publishable quality. Our Graduate Student Instructorship program allows select students the opportunity to gain important teaching experience through the English Department's First Year Writing program. In addition, students participate in Columbia's Creative Nonfiction Week, an annual event sponsored by our English, Journalism and Fiction Writing departments. Nonfiction Week explores the diversity of voices and points of view that make creative nonfiction a rich form of literature, and is an opportunity for the College to welcome distinguished authors to campus for a series of readings, lectures, and panel discussions. This preparation in both the theory and practice of nonfiction writing is enhanced by the opportunity to work as readers and editors on our prestigious and nationally distributed literary journals, Hotel Amerika and The South Loop Review. This exposure to a diverse range of artistic voices within the setting of a working journal gives Columbia's Nonfiction MFA students the valuable professional experience needed to help launch a career in publishing.

Accreditation:

Accredited at graduate and undergrad levels by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Also accredited as teacher training institution by Illinois State Board of Education

# of Credits Required:

48

International Student Requirements:

International students are required to submit an official TOEFL score of 100 or greater on the internet based test. For more information about requirements for international students at the graduate level, please visit our website.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Cost Per Credit Hour:

$721.00 USD

Tuition In-State Full Time:

32832 USD

Financial Aid Offered: Yes

Classification: Master's Colleges & Universities I

Institution Sector: Private not-for-profit

Locale: Large City

Size & Settings: 10,000 - 19,999