College of Arts and Sciences

Department of English

Program Director : Dr. Lester Standiford

Department’s Phone Number : (305) 919-5857
Department’s FAX Number : (305) 919-5734

For More Information, go to

• Program's web site
• College of Arts and Sciences web site

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Brief Description of the Program:

         The program is a 48 credit hour academic curriculum leading to the Master of Fine Arts degree. It includes a minimum of 18 credit hours of writing workshop, 15 credit hours of literature, 3 credit hours of Form and Theory, and 6 credit hours of thesis (most students complete the program in about three years; the graduate school requires that a program of study be completed within six years). There is no language requirement. Graduate workshops include short fiction, the novel, popular fiction, screenwriting, creative nonfiction, and poetry. The program places great emphasis upon preparation and completion of a book-length creative thesis.

Creative Writing Graduate Course Descriptions

CRW 5130 Advanced Fiction Workshop (5).
Practice in the techniques and analysis of fiction through the reading, discussion, and revision of student manuscripts in a workshop setting. May be repeated. Prerequisite: 9 hours undergraduate CRW course work.

CRW 5331 Advanced Poetry Workshop (5).
Practice in the techniques and analysis of poetry through the reading, discussion, and revision of student manuscripts in a workshop setting. May be repeated. Prerequisite: 9 hours undergraduate CRW course work.

CRW 5620 Advanced Screenwriting Workshop (5).
Practice in the techniques and analysis of screen-writing through the reading, discussion, and revision of student manuscripts in a workshop setting. May be repeated. Prerequisite: 9 hours undergraduate CRW course work.

CRW 5934 Special Topics in Creative Writing (1-5).
A course designed to give students an opportunity to pursue special studies in aspects of creative writing not otherwise offered. May be repeated. Prerequisites: CRW 2001 and three hours of CRW on the 3000/4000 level.

CRW 5935 Special Topics in Creative Writing (1-5).
Gives students an opportunity to pursue special studies in aspects of creative writing not otherwise offered. May be repeated. Prerequisites: CRW 2001 and three hours of CRW on the 3000/4000 level.

CRW 5940 Advanced Independent Study in Creative Writing (1-5).
Development and completion of a graduate level independent project in creative writing undertaken with the consent of the instructor. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and instructor permission.

CRW 6971 Creative Writing Thesis (3).
Research and writing for the creative writing thesis. May be repeated. Prerequisite: 12 hours graduate CRW course work.

CRW 6972 Creative Thesis Continuance (1).
Further guidance and direction for creative writing MFA candidates who have completed the two semester intensive sequence in CRW 6971. May be repeated.

CRW 6XXX Teaching Creative Writing (3).
Instruction and practice in the pedagogy of creative writing instruction at various levels of student abilities.

ENG 5058 Form and Theory of Contemporary Literature (3).
Various approaches and theories of practice in the major genres of imaginative writing, including development and articulation of the creative aesthetic. May be repeated. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

Application Requirements:

• Applicants will be required to provide to the Admissions Office transcript(s) of successful completion of undergraduate studies at an accredited university with a GPA of 3.0, or a GRE score of 1,000 (combined verbal and quantitative.
  Please note: The ‘or’ option does not release you from the obligation of taking the GRE. All applicants applying to FIU are required to take it).
• Two (2) letters of recommendation to the director.
• Writing samples (see details on the program website)
• A letter stating your writing interest and background (see details on the program website). You must also have completed a minimum of 9 semester hours of undergraduate coursework in Creative Writing.

Additional Requirements for International Students:

• Must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by presenting a minimum score of 550 or higher paper-based and a minimum score of 213 computer-based on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
• Certification of financial ability.
• Medical insurance.