Master of Fine Arts in Studio
Writing saic.edu/mfaw
Professional preparation
The Master of Fine Arts in Writing (MFAW) program offers students the opportunity to explore diverse writing genres, emphasizing cross-disciplinary experimentation and discovery, and nurturing emerging writers as well as visual artists who view language as vital to their creative practice.
The department provides students with a variety of hands-on opportunities to prepare for a post-graduate career. Students often serve as editors and journalists for SAIC’s F Newsmagazine and other independent publications. They produce a reading series, podcasts and programming for the student-run radio station, Free Radio SAIC. Students share their work and participate in peer critiques through a student-organized series. Program alums go on to write and publish books and stage plays, perform, teach, and manage galleries, small presses, independent theater spaces, and salons, both nationally and internationally.
Freedom to explore The department nurtures the unique potential, process and production of each individual student. We draw freely from disciplines of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, and comics—integrating new media, film, fashion, sculpture, art history and design. Students may customize each course of study with seminars and workshops on such topics as digital poetics, longform narrative, ekphrastic poetry, text art, virtual staging and more.
Accomplished faculty The program is led by a distinguished faculty of poets, authors, and artists. Interactions with students are modeled on the tradition of artist studio visits, with faculty offering in-depth insight and feedback on projects. Workshops, seminars, and electives foster deeper engagement with interdisciplinary work to support student growth. The department regularly hosts visiting writers, artists, and designers, such as Christian Campbell, Cathy Park Hong, Juan Martinez, Maggie Nelson, Amitav Ghosh, Claudia Rankine, Layli Long Soldier, and Mai Der Vang. Nakiyah T.M. Jordan Prayer Portal
For more information on the program and application requirements, please visit:
saic.edu/mfaw