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Master of Fine Arts in
Creative Writing
& Poetics

Develop your creative voice and earn a master's degree at the University of Washington Bothell

Image: LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs performing the opening keynote at the 2019 Fall Convergence

UW Bothell: Where Writers and Artists Converge

Find your voice as a writer while inquiring into the social, cultural and technological aspects of writing. How is writing an ethical, political and aesthetic endeavor?

Our students experiment across genres and are encouraged to extend their practice beyond the page, drawing upon media, art and performance.

Our unique curriculum includes workshops, seminars and opportunities to participate in readings, conferences and festivals.

Earn your degree with flexible evening classes designed for working professionals. Join a creative community and gain valuable skills for a vibrant writing career.

Learn more about our program below.

Explore the UW Difference

Designed For

Writers who want to join a supportive community of literary peers and gain the credentials to work in diverse industries or teach at the college level

Program Highlights

Experimental writing, hybrid forms and performance
Critical thinking about contemporary literature and art
Exploration across genres and media
Hands-on collaboration with faculty
Visiting writers and artists
Connection with Seattle’s thriving literary community

Degree You'll Earn

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing & Poetics

Program Length

2 years / 6 quarters

When Classes Meet

Evenings; part-time and full-time options available

Autumn 2024 Application Deadline

February 1, 2024

Our Faculty

Amaranth Borsuk

MFA Program Director
Associate Professor

Works at the intersection of print and digital media

Naomi Macalalad Bragin

Associate Professor

Dancer, writer and performance ethnographer

Ching-In Chen

Assistant Professor

Hybrid writer, community organizer and performer

Jeanne Heuving

Founding Director

Teaches classes in creative writing and poetics, literature and cultural studies

Joe Milutis

Associate Professor

Writer and media artist

Outcomes Worth the Investment

Alumni Accomplishments

MFA alumni go on to publish their work, found literary journals and small presses, study in doctoral programs and build literary communities in Seattle and beyond. Here are some recent stories:

$82,300^*

Average annual salary for writers and authors in Washington state in 2022

37%^*

Projected annual job growth for writers and authors in Washington state (2020–30), which is much faster-than-average job growth

^*Source: O*Net Online

“Having other people come from an experimental poetry section, which I didn’t even know was a thing. And then also Filipino mythology and folklore, and people who are brilliant poets who use sound poetry — how the words sound and feel in your mouth as opposed to how they look on the page. Experiencing all these different artistic approaches was phenomenal. It was absolutely worth every second I could spend in class to learn.”

TERRELL FOX

Creative Writer, Editor, Mediator and Leader
Alumnus, Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing & Poetics