MFA Creative Writing Student Resources

Degree Plan 

For students entering the program from Fall 2022 to the present day, the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Creative Writing requires the successful completion of 48 graduate semester hours.  

MFA Degree Plan: Creative Writing (Fall 2022 - Present) 

For students enrolled in the program prior to Fall 2022, the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Creative Writing requires the successful completion of 42 graduate semester hours.  

MFA Degree Plan: Creative Writing 

As you near the completion of your course work in the degree plan, please refer to the checklist below. It will prepare you for the paperwork and deadlines you need to complete as you get ready to defend your thesis defense and for graduation. 

General Checklist for Graduation 

This is a fantastic opportunity for new students. New students who are interested in the PFW, please mention that in your cover letter. Please foreground your publication history and/or serious publication agenda in your application cover letter to the program. Decisions are made for fall in March, so if you are interested in the PFW, please have your application completed by March 1. For regular admission, there is a rolling admission deadline. 

The Fine Arts web page will have further details about the program when they are solidified. 

B) Graduate Teaching Assistantships

The College of Fine Arts is expanding the GTA positions, including positions for the MFA. Packages exceed $15,000 annually with teaching duties. Details are on their webpage, but please mention your teaching interest and experience in your cover letter if you would like to be a candidate for this support and responsibility. For creative writing, students would teach or assist in the Introduction to Creative Writing course or help out with first-year writing courses. 

C) Graduate Select Scholarship 

The UTRGV Graduate Select Scholarship offers graduate students a great opportunity to help fund their studies at UTRGV. The award consists of a one-time, up to $1,000 scholarship for one academic year. Newly admitted graduate students must be enrolled a minimum of 6 hours (or 3 hours per module) for the award semester.  

D) Graduate College Financial Aid portal

Students, be sure to do your FAFSA application ASAP.  Please maintain 6 hours per semester for aid purposes, even in the summer (though you may spread out from one summer session to the next). Learn more.  

E) Graduate Assistantships and Work-study positions

MFA students often work with riverSedge magazine in a GA position. There is usually a GA position for an MFA student to work with the student literature magazine Gallery. Students support the faculty leading the magazines in duties to help the publication and support the faculty in their workload. Learn more. 

F) Affordable cities with great access to rivers and coastlands, the Rio Grande Valley is an area with great cuisine and vast cultural wealth. Learn more. 

When requesting over the cap limit of hours, please fill out the Additional Enrollment Hours Request below. Email it to cofa@utrgv.edu or bring the forms to ELABS 334. 

Additional Enrollment Hours Request form.  

• Amanda Johnston, TX Poet Laureate 2024 on February 20-22,
• Fiction Writer Mona Susan Power on March 12-13.