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Online Master's Degree MA in English & Creative Writing Fiction

Find Your Creative Voice with an MA in Creative Writing

Literature has long been a source of inspiration, both for readers and writers. Find your voice with Southern New Hampshire University's Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing with a concentration in Fiction online degree. This English and creative writing graduate program fosters your imagination and creativity with a perfect balance of critical analysis and craft. Your knowledge will grow beyond a basic understanding of plot building, narrative voice and character as you push your creative boundaries. Hone your craft for the kind of fiction you want to bring to life - novels, short stories, children's literature and more.

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See Yourself Succeed in Fiction Writing

The art of storytelling runs perennially through history and society and is critical to cross-cultural communication. In SNHU's MA in Creative Writing online degree program, you’ll study the work of published writers to help you develop your own creative writing skills. You’ll also focus on why authors do what they do and how they do it to develop a deeper understanding of fiction in all of its forms, all while writing your own works of fiction. At the culmination of your coursework, you’ll create your own manuscript and apply what you've learned about your own creative voice. Put pen to paper and tell your tale.

As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission – to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your MA in creative writing online at SNHU include:

  • Affordability. Take advantage of some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation
  • Convenience. Attend class when it’s convenient for you – online education means 24/7 access
  • Efficiency and flexibility. Complete your graduate degree in as few as 15 months, with two courses per 10-week term
  • Expert instruction. Learn from instructors with relevant, real-world experience
  • Minimal requirements. No GMAT or GRE required for admission
  • Networking. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni for internship and career opportunities
  • Student support. Count on the ongoing support of dedicated academic and career advisors specialized in your area of study

Admission Requirements


Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 5 graduate terms. You can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials. To apply, simply contact an admission counselor, who can help you explore financial options. Your counselor can also walk you through the application process, which involves completing a graduate application ($40 fee) and providing undergraduate transcripts.

Candidates must also submit a personal statement. Students with an undergraduate GPA below 2.75 are eligible for provisional acceptance. Based on your educational background, some Master of Arts provisional students may be required to take SNHU 501 – Introduction to Graduate Studies – which will provide students with the scholarly tools to be successful in their Master of Arts program of study.

Career Outlook

The MA in Creative Writing with a concentration in fiction can lead to numerous career opportunities. This program does more than just expose you to literature and help you develop new writing skills. You can apply the communications skills you gain to any profession, from journalism to marketing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of writers and authors is expected to grow by 8% through 2026.*

Curriculum

The MA in Creative Writing curriculum exposes you to powerful examples of compelling fiction writing and provides an outlet to experiment and refine your skills. Courses are taught by accomplished instructors with deep insights into the field.

View Full Curriculum in the Catalog
MA in English & Creative Writing - Fiction

Courses May Include
ENG 510 Studying the Craft

Reading is an essential part of the writing process. To write an effective piece, an author must first read the essential creative works that have informed the genre and delivered on similar themes. In this course students will study the craft of creative writing in close detail. Understanding and identifying the core, foundational elements of quality storytelling, regardless of genre, is crucial to the advancement of a creative writer. In preparation for the development of their own creative works and techniques, students will analyze self-selected texts for their strategic use of the core storytelling elements, and determine whether or not the author was successful in delivering on his/her concept.

ENG 520 Story and Concept

How do authors generate creative ideas? How do they know when to reveal certain information? Do the chapters flow naturally from the broader story concept, or should they be planned? What makes for a rich environment? These are the types of questions we will consider in this course. With these in mind, students will conceptualize a writing project of significant length. The focus will not be on the writing of actual scenes or chapters from this work, but on the drafting of plot arcs, detailed outlines, character sketches/development, world-building, and thematic development. The concepts developed in this course may indirectly or directly inform writing projects in future courses.
ENG 550 Graduate Studies in English Language

This course is an introduction to the following topics in English linguistics: history of English, etymology, vocabulary 'morphology', phonology, dictionaries, syntax, semantics, dialects, discourse analysis, and child language acquisition. The course is designed for students who want to learn about the English language as preparation for teaching, or becoming better writers, or for studying literature. Students will have the opportunity to research, write about, and present on a linguistic topic of individual interest, such as the language of advertising or propaganda.
LIT 500 Graduate Studies in Literary Theory

This course is an introduction to the major schools of contemporary literary theory, and an examination of principal exponents of these theories. The student will become familiar with the most important features of psychoanalytic criticism, Marxism and feminism and examine the meaning of structuralism and post-structuralism. In addition, the course affords an opportunity to practice applying the theories to specific literary texts.
ENG 529 Fiction Fundamentals

This course is designed to deepen writers' understanding and mastery of elements of fiction, including voice, point-of-view, theme, characterization, structure, reflexivity, symbolism, imagery, rhythm, and tone. Writers practice a variety of fiction writing, reading, and workshop skills. They also study major examples of the novel, novella, short story and representative critical texts.
ENG 549 Fiction Thesis Writing

In this course, writers produce work to include in their thesis and offer constructive feedback on class members' writing. They also continue to read and discuss published fiction from the English and American traditions. In addition, writers reflect on their creation and revision processes, not only describing their own craft, influences, and intentions, but also providing an overview of the thesis and a synopsis of their final work.
ENG 559 Fiction Thesis Completion

In this course, writers select the work they will include in their theses, continue to revise them, and complete a significant portion with a clear outline for the future of their work. They also offer constructive feedback on class members' writing and complete the preface they began in their previous coursework. In the preface, writers reflect on their craft, articulate their influences, and introduce the theses.

Total Credits: 36

Program Outcomes

Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer a 25% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Online Graduate Programs Per Course* Per Credit Hour*
Degree/Certificates $1,881 $627
Degree/Certificates
(U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty) 		$1,410 $470

*Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed Annually.

Additional Costs:
$40 Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges as well as several other accrediting bodies. More...

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the Internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/home.htm (viewed online December 13, 2017). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.
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