BFA Creative Writing at George Mason University

Programme overview

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is one of only thirty BFAs in creative writing available nationwide. With three concentrations to choose from (fiction, poetry, nonfiction), the BFA is structured to give students ample opportunity to learn to write and think creatively while also developing the vocational writing skills that are desperately needed in the workplace. All students pursuing a BFA are strongly advised to complete on-site workplace internships in writing-intensive environments, and finish the degree with a submission of a portfolio of work as part of a final-semester capstone course, with final approval from the faculty.

Faculty: College of Humanities and Social Sciences | Duration: 15 credits | Study mode: full-time | Location: Fairfax, VA, United States

What you will study

Total 15 credits. Curriculum courses listed include Dimensions of Writing and Literature (Mason Core); Digital Creative Writing; Introduction to Creative Writing (Mason Core); Internship; Capstone and Thesis (Mason Core); Literature of the Middle Ages.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Acceptance into the program is competitive. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the BFA program. After acceptance to Mason, students who wish to pursue a major in creative writing should inform the academic coordinator in the English department or the director of the creative writing program of their interest in the program and should seek evaluation of any prior coursework as well as guidance on courses to take and the sequence in which to take them. In the program, students enroll in a series of courses intended to introduce them to all forms of creative writing, and then they select a core set of courses built around a specialization in fiction, nonfiction or poetry, along with upper-level writing, literature and advanced studies courses. Students planning to enter the BFA program are initially designated as "pre-BFA" until they have successfully completed the

Entry terms: Fall (August start) and Spring (January start) for freshmen and transfer students.

Transfer students may start in the Spring (January) or Fall (August) semester.

Freshman: Non-binding Early Action deadline is November 1 (priority consideration for Honors College, University Scholars and merit-based scholarships); Regular Decision deadline is February 1 (Honors College considered on a space-available basis); the Spring semester priority deadline is October 1. FAFSA/VASA priority deadline is March 1.

International freshman: Fall (August start) Non-Binding Early Action November 1, Regular Decision February 1, final deadline June 1; Spring (January start) priority deadline October 1 and enrollment deposit deadline December 1.

Transfer priority deadlines: October 1 for Spring (January) and March 1 for Fall (August); applications after these dates are reviewed on a space-available basis.

The freshman application fee is $75 and the transfer application fee is $75; applicants apply through the Common App or George Mason's own online application. SAT/ACT scores are optional (score optional since 2007).

The transfer application fee is $75; transfer applicants use George Mason's Transfer Application.

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