Program launch: Autumn Quarter 2012
Our Program
The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing and Poetics at the University of Washington Bothell (UW Bothell) is dedicated to helping each student develop 
their creative work through a course of study that encourages exploration and discovery. Through an emphasis on poetics, or a study of making, we invite students to participate in a forum and laboratory that focuses on the pursuit of creative writing in a rapidly changing society.
The intensive, first year curriculum is based on areas of inquiry, rather than genres (poetry, fiction, non-fiction), creating an alternative to most regional and national MFA programs. The MFA addresses the central question of poetics: why do we write how we write? It inquires into the social, cultural, and technological aspects of writing, and asks: How is creative writing an ethical, political, and aesthetic endeavor? What forms might creative writing take in an interconnected and global society? How does new media alter the context and possibilities for the pursuit of creative writing?
In the second year, students pursue a thesis with an advisor and an individualized course of study. Some degree candidates may choose to write the
ir thesis as a single genre; others may elect hybrid modes that utilize multiple genres or media. The second year is designed to give students access to a broad range of interdisciplinary courses so that they can develop an area of expertise pertinent to their written arts and career paths.
Each year, there is a Fall Convergence and Spring Festival in which our graduate students, UWB faculty, and invited nationally and internationally renown writers engage with each other. These symposia host author and student readings, lectures on poetics, and open discussion.
If you would like to receive periodic updates on the MFA as more information becomes available, please send your full name, phone number, and mailing address to the Program Manager at iasgraduate@uwb.edu.
Professor Jeanne Heuving is also available to answer questions, and will be present at the information sessions. Contact her at jheuving@uw.edu.
Share this page: