Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing

The Reinhardt MFA prepares students for careers as professional writers or as university creative writing teachers and will allow English teachers certified in Georgia to upgrade an existing teaching certificate through the study of a specialization.

Story and Place in the New South

Students create a literature that is story-driven and grounded in the places where we live, rural and urban. They work one-on-one with experienced writers in their preferred genres while taking cross- genre classes that focus on the craft elements writers need.

Program Director 

William Walsh, MFA 
Assistant Professor of English 404-217-0603
Website – http://www.reinhardt.edu/mfa 
Email: bjw@reinharrdt.edu

Donna Little, MFA, Ph.D. 
Professor of English
Assistant MFA Program Director 
Email: dcl@reinhardt.edu
 

Accreditation

Reinhardt University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Reinhardt University. The Reinhardt MSN is approved by SACSCOC.

Admission Requirements

All admission documents should be sent to the following address:

Office of Admissions 
Reinhardt University 
7300 Reinhardt Circle
Waleska, GA 30183
e-mail: admissions@reinhardt.edu

General admission to Reinhardt University graduate studies:

• The Graduate Admission Application form—complete and submit the Online Application for Admission or contact the Office of Admissions.
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended; proof of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution should be on one transcript. If a transcript includes any graduate classes, the applicant should have left the graduate program in good standing.

Official transcripts must be mailed from the granting institution, or delivered in a sealed envelope from the institution, or sent via a professional electronic transcript sending service.

Additional admission requirements for the Reinhardt MFA:

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with an overall undergrad GPA of 2.75 minimum (on a 4.0 scale)
• A sample creative manuscript (10 pages of poetry OR 20 pages of fiction/non-fiction OR 30 pages of a script)
• A critical writing sample (4-5 pages): This sample may be a college research paper OR a detailed review of a recent book or film.
• A personal essay (2-4 pages) – an informal introduction to who you are and a description of your writing experiences, interests and goals.
• Two letters of recommendation from a professor, workplace supervisor, or fellow writer testifying to your character, intellect, commitment to completing tasks, ability to work independently, and writing ability.

Transfer Credit

A maximum of nine (9) credit hours of graduate work earned at a regionally accredited Commission on Colleges (COC) institution may be transferred in to Reinhardt University’s MFA program. The acceptance of any transfer credit is contingent upon approval of the MFA Director and/or the Dean of Arts and Humanities. Transferred courses must correspond to those courses offered in Reinhardt’s MFA curriculum. Students will need to provide official transcripts of course work, course descriptions and course syllabi, and the amount of transfer credit awarded will be determined by the MFA Program Director.

Transfer credit will not be given for 1) course work that is more than five years old, 2) any course in which a grade of less than a “B” was earned, 3) course work already applied toward another degree, and 4) course work that was not applicable toward a graduate degree at the institution where the credit was earned. See Transfer Credit (p. 32) under “Academic Policies” for stipulations of Reinhardt University graduate transfer credit.

MFA Scholarships

Reinhardt University offers the Etowah Writers Need-Based Scholarship. The total amount a student may receive over one academic year is

$2000. The scholarship is renewable but financial need will be assessed anew in May of each academic year. Students who wish to be considered for this scholarship must complete the FAFSA by March 1. The Office of Financial Aid determines the amount of the scholarship.

Literary Editor Fellowship – James Dickey Review MFA students who are particularly interested in literary editing are encouraged to apply for the Literary Editor Fellowship. Only one Fellowship is given each year. The student who earns the scholarship will receive a $1,000 scholarship in the year the editorship occurs. The Fellow will serve as the Literary Editor of the James Dickey Review.

Copy Editor Fellowship – James Dickey Review MFA students who are particularly interested in literary editing are encouraged to apply for the Copy Editor Fellowship. Only one Fellowship is given each year. The student who earns the scholarship will receive a $1,000 scholarship in the year the editorship occurs. The Fellow will serve as the Copy Editor for the James Dickey Review.

Dr. Robert Driscoll Award for Regional Study MFA students in the final year of the program are eligible to apply for a grant from the Robert Driscoll Fund in Support of Regional Studies and Service, provided the student’s creative thesis centers on the Etowah River Valley. Interested students should discuss applying for the grant with their thesis advisor or the MFA Program Director.

MFA Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, MFA students will demonstrate

• A mastery of structure and form in their chosen genre
• A mastery of style, including diction, syntax and tone
• A mastery of image in concrete description and figurative language
• A mastery of character, point of view and voice
• The ability to analyze craft elements in literary works within their chosen genre
• The ability to constructively critique the work of their peers
• The ability to prepare and submit their work for publication and performance
• The ability to conduct and document scholarly research

Attendance

Graduate Students are expected to attend all class meetings and are required to follow the attendance policies of each individual professor.

Academic Performance

MFA students earn grades Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U) in their course work. Only one (1) course grade of “U” may be allowed for degree completion. A second course grade of “U” will result in Academic Probation. The second course in which a “U” is earned must be retaken to count toward degree completion. A third course grade of “U” will result in Academic Dismissal.

A student may appeal a dismissal by submitting a letter to the Vice President for Academic Affairs describing the condition and identifying the reasons for seeking a positive decision of the appeal.  See also Grade Appeals and Enrollment Related Appeals under Appeals and Petitions.

Academic Probation

When a student receives a second “U” (Unsatis- factory) grade, the student will be placed on Academic Probation (p, 28-30). The student will be informed by the University Registrar of the probationary status, which may be removed by retaking the course and receiving a grade of “S.”

Academic Dismissal

If a student receives a third course grade of “U” (Unsatisfactory), the student will be dismissed from the graduate program. Students receiving notification of Academic Dismissal (p. 29) shall be notified by the University Registrar and shall not be eligible for graduate study or readmission at Reinhardt University.

Graduation Requirements:

1. Successfully complete a minimum of sixty (60) credit hours in the approved curricula with only one (1) grade of “U” (Unsatisfactory).
2. Successfully complete the final portfolio and thesis defense. At the end of the program, each graduate will present and defend a thesis consisting of a portfolio of his or her best creative work introduced by a critical essay placing the corpus in the context of contemporary and/or historical literary movements.
3. Once the student has completed all course work, three (3) years (maximum) are allowed for the completion of the portfolio and thesis. Students not completing this requirement within the three-year period may be required to complete additional course work.
4. Submission of Graduation Application and fee by the semester deadline before expected degree completion. For the MFA degree completion in summer 2025, this deadline is January 21, 2025.

There is a processing fee of $250 that must be submitted with the application. After the application deadline, there is a late fee of $25 added to the processing fee. The graduation fee offsets the costs of binding the student’s thesis, ordering diplomas, and costs of a commencement event specifically designed for MFA graduates.