The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Chapman University’s Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences encourages students to write boldly, read thoughtfully, and live vibrantly. Whether you’re interested in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, or a combination of genres, including course options in graphic novels, young adult (YA), and screenwriting, the MFA at Chapman invites you to write better than you ever thought you could.
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Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
»Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
At Chapman University, Your Writing Comes First
- Workshops with genre options that appeal to your tastes and style of writing including Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Nonfiction, with electives offered in areas such as Screenwriting and Graphic Literature.
- Each MFA student's degree program culminates in a book-length thesis project of distinction so that you graduate with a complete (or near to complete) manuscript, as well as a diverse portfolio from workshop writing.
- Six competitive fellowships (three awarded each year) with full tuition waiver and a fellowship payment of $18,000, each renewable for a second year and requiring no work obligation — so you can focus on writing. Limited full-tuition scholarships are also available.
- Literary events like the Tabula Poetica Reading Series every fall, the John Fowles Center Reading Series every spring, and Pub(lishing) Crawl in April make this MFA program an especially energetic milieu for emerging writers.
Alumni Spotlights
Audrey Fong, MFA '24
"The MFA program provided me with attention and one-on-one help, factors key in
making me feel like I belong at Chapman... The care and attention both helped me improve
my writing and introduced me to what the world of writing and academics looks like
beyond the classroom."
Emily Velasquez, MFA '24
"As someone who came into this program without experience in a workshop, being
among such a brilliant and exceptional group of educators and students felt intimidating.
However, I am amazed at how assignments are always geared to help you gain new practice
and skills that work towards thoughtfully and professionally shaping your ideas."
Deborah Paquin, MFA '23
"[After] a traumatic brain injury, I couldn’t sit in class without getting debilitating
migraines. Disabilities services worked with me to provide an environment where I
could succeed. As a result, I had a safe and creative place to explore new aspects
of writing and literature, along with a supportive community of teachers and students."
Tryphena Yeboah, MFA '21
"As an international student from Ghana, my experience at Chapman University and
the relationships I’ve built have been an invaluable part of my life. Not only has
this inclusive community become a home to me but it also continues to empower and
challenge me in honing my craft as a writer."
Faculty Spotlights
Professor Mildred Lewis
Courses taught: Techniques in Screenwriting, Film Theory, Caribbean Literature
Dr. Martin Nakell
Courses taught: James Joyce, Twentieth-Century Poetry, Italy travel course
Dr. Justine Van Meter
Courses taught: Modern/Contemporary Irish Literature, Postcolonial Theory and
Literature, Cultural Theory, World Literature, Fairy Tales, Writing about Diverse
Cultures
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Application Requirements
All applicants must provide the following materials:
- Official transcripts from ALL degree-granting (bachelor’s or master’s degrees) colleges and universities attended. An official transcript submitted in a sealed envelope which you have received from your college or university is acceptable.
- Your resume or curriculum vitae.
- A statement of intent; an essay expressing your reasons for wanting to join the particular academic program to which you are applying. What are your personal and career goals, and how will this particular degree from Chapman University help you reach those goals? Your essay should be double spaced, size 12 font and 1-2 pages in length.
- A portfolio of creative work. You should submit work that best represents your style and demonstrates your potential. The portfolio should include 20-30 pages of fiction or nonfiction OR 10-15 pages of poetry. While we offer courses in additional genres, please stick to fiction, nonfiction or poetry in the application writing sample. You will be prompted to identify the genre of your portfolio. This genre identification is for the submitted portfolio only, not an indication of any track in the program. While students can take courses in multiple genres, we ask that the application writing sample be in a single genre: fiction, nonfiction or poetry. Please also include your first and last name and selected genre in the document header.
- Two letters of recommendation that speak to your academic and/or professional preparation, intellectual ability and aptitude for graduate study.
Curriculum
Students complete 36 credits of academic coursework culminating in a book-length thesis project consisting of a novel, short story collection or poetry collection. For further information on degree prerequisites, admission requirements and a list of courses view the Graduate Course Catalog.
Funding Opportunities
- Six competitive fellowships (three each year) with full tuition waiver and a fellowship payment of $18,000, each renewable for a second year and requiring no work obligation. Limited full-tuition scholarships are also available.
- Graduate Teaching Assistantships and other jobs-oriented Graduate Assistantships for select students in the second year of study.
- Paid Graduate Teaching Assistantships for select second-year students in the competitive Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) program—worth $6,000 for teaching in our undergraduate English Composition courses. This assistantship allows first-year students who take the spring class in Teaching Composition to apply for one of the GSI positions for the following fall. The selected GSIs each teach a section of composition in the fall, while also enrolled together in a second pedagogy class. This position does not come with an award that covers tuition but does come with a teaching stipend.
- Financial aid often contains mainly student loans. In addition to any program funding, you will also receive your “financial aid package” from the Graduate Financial Aid Office after you have been admitted. Regarding loans, please contact their office directly with any questions at gradfinaid@chapman.edu.
Important Dates
- Fully completed applications received by the February 1 priority deadline are automatically considered for fellowship.
- Offers of fellowship are released with offers of admission, typically by March 15.
Dynamic Visiting Writers
- Isabel Allende
- Victoria Chang
- Carolyn Forché
- Karen Joy Fowler
- Pico Iyer
- Maxine Hong Kingston
- Kim Stanley Robinson
- Rebecca Skloot
MFA Alum and Student Newsletter
Whether you are an alum or a current student, we want to help you sustain your writing life. If you have good news about a publication or a job you’ve landed or if you find an opportunity for writers that you’d like to share, please write to us at mfacwnews@chapman.edu so that we can include the info in a future newsletter. We also have a private Facebook group for sharing and conversation.
2023
2022
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- February/March 2022
- January 2022
2021
Contact Us
Lynda Hall, Ph.D.
Interim Director, MFA in Creative Writing
David Krausman
Graduate Programs Coordinator
(714) 516-7116
krausman@chapman.edu
Shannon Morris Alvarez
Graduate Admission Counselor
(714) 628-2884
shannona@chapman.edu
For additional admission information, please contact:
Office of Graduate Admission
888-CU-APPLY or (714) 997-6711
gradadmit@chapman.edu
Application Deadlines
Apply now using the Online Application. Submit your application and all supporting documents by the deadline listed below.
Applications received after these deadlines will be considered on a rolling basis as space is available.
- For Fall Semester: February 1
- For Spring Semester: November 1