Graduate Programs

MFA Program

The MFA program at UNLV is an international program, designed so that writers could begin to recognize themselves and their writing in relation to world writing at large. It is our belief that this commitment to world literature makes us different from many traditional creative writing programs. Students admitted to the MFA at UNLV follow a three year program where students take literature and writing courses, complete a manuscript of poems or fiction, spend time abroad and complete a translation. In addition, the MFA program at UNLV is the only creative writing program in the country that gives credit to students who wish to spend their time abroad in the Peace Corps. Students wishing to pursue the Peace Corps option apply to the Corps as early as their second year and course work is waived in lieu of their time spent in the Corps. Our varied emphases are derived from the belief that the best writing is done by individuals who know that literature is something created from more than mere self-expression; that great books are written by the few who know their gift is connected to the world they live in, and often, from a desire to give something back to the world.

Almost all our students who wish to be are fully supported by Graduate Assistantships in a thriving teacher-training environment. So far, we have been able to provide generous support for the experience abroad in the form of scholarships, teaching positions, and private funding to selected students. Through our partnership with the Peace Corps, we welcome returning volunteers who are writers and help to place MFA students into generous, life-transforming service overseas.

Our permanent faculty includes Dave Hickey, Claudia Keelan, Pablo Medina, Donald Revell, and Douglas Unger. The University also sponsors visits and readings by award-winning guest writers such as Russell Banks, Dan Chaon, Maxine Chernoff, Paul Hoover, John Irving, Mary Karr, Joyce Carol Oates, Tillie Olson, Tom Perrotta, Doug Powell, George Saunders, Charles Simic, Liz Waldner, Tobias Wolf, and many others. The MFA Program also publishes Interim, a journal of new poetry and fiction.

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