Master of Fine Arts in
Creative Writing

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)
Visiting Writer Series
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About

Our MFA program, established in 1978, is a two-year, full residency, studio-based program featuring intensive study of fiction and poetry. We offer a wide range of fully-funded positions in teaching, editing, and arts administration! EWU MFA candidates can gain experience in book and magazine publishing, festival promotion, and teaching both composition and creative writing.

We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and equality in the Creative Writing program. We believe that a respect for policies and practices that foster and protect diverse voices and viewpoints is essential to the success of our students and our program. To that end, our program is committed to proactively fostering diversity and inclusion throughout its curriculum, admissions, and all day-to-day practices.

Since 2021, we no longer offer a track focusing exclusively on creative nonfiction. We do still offer graduate workshops and form and theory classes in creative nonfiction, as well as occasional screenwriting and playwriting workshops.

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Why Earn Your MFA at EWU?

We provide an intensive, two-year, pre-professional course of study with an emphasis on the practice of literature as a fine art.

Our Professional Practicum Opportunities

We place MFA students in positions throughout the community so they get valuable hands-on experience.

Professional Practicum Opportunities

Our Faculty

Our faculty members are practicing writers with significant national book publications and are committed, passionate, and accessible teachers of writing.

Our Faculty

Our Funding

Many of our students receive a full tuition waiver plus a monthly stipend for teaching undergraduate composition and creative writing courses.

Our Funding

Applied Learning Opportunities

An EWU student sits at a table writing in a notebook

  • Applied Laboratory Work: Build hands-on writing and editing skills in workshop-style settings where you draft, revise, and critique work alongside your peers.
  • Classroom-Based Applied Learning/Simulation: Step into the roles of writer, editor, and publisher through workshops, peer critiques, mock submissions, and collaborative storytelling exercises.
  • Community-Based Projects: Team up with local organizations on projects that allow you to solve problems and make a difference.
  • Field Work: Hone your skills by teaching in the community. 
  • Internships: Get real-world experience (and often credit or pay) by working with publishers, nonprofits, media outlets, or arts organizations connected to your career goals.
  • Performance: Share your creative work through public readings, open mics, and other literary events.
  • Practicums: Hone your skills in structured field placements, such as classrooms, publications, and community organizations.
  • Undergraduate Research: Collaborate with professors on real-world research projects where you ask questions, solve problems, and present what you discover.

Get to Know Us

Our Location

The Master of Fine Arts program at Eastern Washington University is located in the heart of downtown Spokane. Learn more about our community, our campus and the local literary scene.

EWU in Spokane

 

 

Our Students 

We are consistently proud of the bright, dedicated, and kind students that make up our MFA cohort each year. There is a strong sense of camaraderie and respect among our students, which creates an atmosphere ideal for writing your best work. Our students range in age from people straight out of college to older, non-traditional students, some of whom have careers in other fields. Every year’s incoming class is different in its makeup.

Our MFA Alumni

From business owners to university professors, our MFA alumni have utilized their degrees to further their careers and to expand their creative work all over the world.

Chris Maccini '18

Producer | National Public Radio (NPR)

Jaime Curl '03

Director of Learning Design and Technology | Slalom Consulting, LLC

Shann Ray '05

Professor of Leadership Studies | Gonzaga University

Our Alumni Work in Many Different Roles!

Educators

Maya Jewell Zeller '07 | Associate Professor of English at Central Washington University

Industry Specialists

Amy Chase ’14| Human Resources Investigation Specialist at Hobby Lobby Corporate

Legal Professionals

Rost Olsen ‘13| Lawyer at State of Nevada

Creative Leaders

Daniel Spiro '19 | Director of Communications, Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah

Technical Writers

Anne Kilfoyle '17 | Instructional Designer at Pen

Publishing Editors

Lauren Hohle '17| Managing Editor The Gettysburg Review at Gettysburg College

Admissions Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university
  • A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 90 quarter or 60 semester graded post-secondary credits

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Frequently Asked Questions

Mailing Address

The MFA at EWU
C/O Eastern Washington University
CAT 400
601 East Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99202

Contact Us

We welcome comments and encourage questions from prospective and incoming students. Feel free to write, call, or email us with queries about the program, application process, or moving to Spokane (definitely check out our Frequently Asked Questions, too).

Lisa Denker
Senior Secretary
mfa@ewu.edu
509.828.1317
Gregory Spatz
Program Director
gspatz@ewu.edu
509.828.1310