Students interested in graduate creative writing programs in Houston, Texas, can choose from two schools offering a Master of Fine Arts (MFA). The first program is at the University of Houston and the second is at Houston Baptist University, with each differing slightly in its requirements and makeup.
Universities in Houston, Texas, Offering MFAs in Creative Writing
University of Houston
The University of Houston's MFA in Creative Writing is renowned, and offers a solid background in literary history, artistic principles, and the field of publishing. It is 36 credit hours of coursework and 6 hours of an MFA thesis. The distribution of credits is 15 hours in creative writing, including 9 hours in the student's major genre, 3 hours of a master workshop, and 3 hours in forms and techniques specific to the major genre. An additional 3 credit hours are required in literature courses, as well as 12 hours in specified literature studies, and 6 hours of elective courses. The University of Houston encourages a writing environment that causes students to think about the political, ethical, and aesthetic implications of their writing. Students are required to have a foreign language. Admissions into this program only happen yearly in the fall semester. Students graduate with work publishable in major publishing houses. Only six to eight students are selected per academic year for this program. Famous authors such as Kristin Hannah and Mark Haber are on the visiting lecturer series and do readings from their work at the campus regularly.
Houston Baptist University
Houston Baptist University offers a combination residency and online coursework MFA in Creative Writing program. The total credit hours for the program is 45, and the accelerated scheduling format allows students to accomplish the degree in one and a half years. 6 hours of thesis coursework is required. Residencies are biannual in the months of May and January, and to graduate students must accomplish four. Sample classes include faith-based arts classes, technique classes in either fiction or poetry, and genre-specific work. The program is supportive of community writing, and students participate in writing cohorts as well as apprenticeships with established authors. Be advised this university is faith based.
Program Admittance Requirements for an MFA in Creative Writing
MFA programs in creative writing tend to shoot for a 3.0 GPA at a minimum for admittance. Letters of recommendation and GRE scores are also necessary to apply. These creative writing programs require a writing sample in addition to the application process for the school. Personal statements inform the admission committee and the prospective faculty mentors as to the scope of a student's desired creative writing portfolio.
This article went over two different colleges in the Houston, Texas, area that offer MFAs in Creative Writing. Programs either offer a majority of their coursework online with in-person residencies or are hosted entirely at the campus location.
