Creative Writing Degree Programs
Prepare for Fulfilling and Creative Professions at Manhattanville
Welcome to Manhattanville University, where our Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Creative Writing and Literature, Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing degree programs, and convenient accelerated degree formats are shaped to your talents, interests, and goals.
Choosing to pursue a degree program in Creative Writing and Literature at Manhattanville builds skills and experiences that translate to a vast range of disciplines and careers. Located in the greater New York City and Westchester County areas, our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs provide access to a wealth of field experiences and resources spanning the Tri-State Area and New England, where some of the country’s best writers have made their mark.
On campus, students hone their skills and receive individualized feedback from experienced faculty and mentors through the Bodenrader Writing Center. Whether you are interested in publishing or journalism careers; writing poetry, fiction, or nonfiction; or something else entirely, find your home in the creative spaces of Manhattanville’s writing programs.
Our Events Bringing Writers Together
As a dynamic and diverse community of writers located in New York City’s backyard and at the gateway to the Hudson Valley, our campus is a hub of literary activity. The Manhattanville MFA program hosts a wide array of events throughout the year, including author readings, writing workshops, seminars, and other special events. Events take place at Barat House, the central hive of activity for the MFA program, or in beautiful Reid Castle, the crown jewel of Manhattanville’s campus.
Author Visit, October 17
Join us for a visit from essayist Nina Sharma, author of The Way You Make Me Feel: Love in Black and Brown, published earlier this year by Penguin. Sharma will read from her new book, which focuses on her experiences being in an interracial marriage, will answer audience questions about her book and writing process, and will sign copies of her book. The event is co-sponsored by the Center for Inclusion, and The Ville'age Store will be on hand to sell copies of the book.
See DetailsMeet the Writers Series, October 26
As part of our Fall Writers' Weekend, novelist Jimin Han will visit campus to read from her most recent book The Apology. A review in The New York Times Book Review called the novel, an "enthralling multigenerational tale of familial secrets, trauma and healing." In addition to the reading, Han will answer questions about the novel and sign copies of the book, which the Ville'age Store will be selling on site.
Learn MoreWriters' Hub Workshops
The Writers’ Hub at Manhattanville University is a literary home for the local Westchester County and Hudson Valley community. Each semester, the Manhattanville University MFA Program develops a series of creative writing workshops, panel discussions, and readings that are open to local community members and program alumni as well as to current MFA students. These events are designed to dig deeply into a specific element of the craft of writing and to help participants hone their skills. All events take place at Barat House, home of the Dowd-O'Gorman Creative Writing Center, tucked away on Manhattanville’s vibrant campus. Please see this semester’s offerings below. We look forward to hosting you at Barat House. Come tell your story with us!
Learn More
Upcoming Writing Events
Author Visit: Nina Sharma
WRITERS' HUB Workshop: Self-Publishing
Author Visit: Jimin Han
WRITERS' HUB Workshop: Writing Place
Annual Events
The Writers’ Hub is a literary home for the local Westchester County and Hudson Valley community.
A creative writing extravaganza featuring workshops, readings, craft talks, and good food.
Fall Writers’ Weekend
A Friday to Sunday workshop focused on critique of existing work and generation of new work.
Literary Festivals
Meet the Writers Series
Interested in joining our community of aspiring writers?
Creative Writing and Literature Programs
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
The rich literature and writing workshops of Manhattanville’s master's in writing degree program prepare students with various professional goals, from journalism, freelance writing, and teaching to graphic novels and screenwriting.
Flexible genre requirements allow writers to hone skills and develop a professional writing portfolio that doesn’t conform to a single category of writing. Each member of the faculty and your MFA cohort will enrich your writing tools and offer the support needed to succeed in any literary pursuit.
Learn More about the MFA Creative Writing ProgramAccelerated BA/MFA in Creative Writing Degree Program
Manhattanville’s accelerated degree program allows students the opportunity to pursue both a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Literature and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing in just five years total.
Fast-track your career goals and hone your craft, seamlessly integrating graduate-level coursework as you complete your bachelor’s.
Manhattanville’s BA in Creative Writing and Literature degree program is a chance to delve into literature, language, and communication. Discussion, critical analysis, and writing skills develop into a deep understanding of the power of language and how it shapes society.
From dissecting everything from contemporary fiction to the Romantic greats, students in our bachelor’s in English degree programs gain a valuable skill set that can be applied to careers ranging from publishing to education and beyond.
Manhattanville places a unique focus on academic writing skills, supported by the dedicated and experienced writers on the faculty. All first-year students enroll in an academic writing review course that connects critical thinking to revising, editing, and drafting on academic subjects. Students especially interested can enroll in further academic writing coursework to graduate with this in-demand skill.
Support with Writing
The Andrew Bodenrader Center for Academic Writing and Composition is the focal point of Manhattanville’s English and writing student support. Receive feedback and assistance from professionals and peer tutors on papers for all your courses. Graduate Writing Center Fellows, instructors, and peers guide all stages of writing, from drafting to proofreading. Make an appointment or drop in in person or virtually at the Bodenrader Center.
Make an AppointmentThe Campus is Our Retreat
Our beautiful location and facilities contribute to the vitality and creativity of our community. Undergraduate and MFA students come together for inspiration in our Creative Writing Center at Barat House, a hive of activity where classes, programs, and social events take place.
Visit CampusInkwell Journal
Since 1995, Inkwell has been a proud part of Manhattanville University’s literary tradition. The publication has a dual mission: to find new literary voices and to provide established writers with a venue for further developing their work. With every issue, we seek to publish work that upholds the highest literary standards and meaningfully contributes to the national literary conversation. Inkwell continues to launch careers, inspire writers, and delight readers through the varied mix of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction that grace our pages. We’ve read what the greats from multiple traditions have said, and in the pages of Inkwell, we publish writers who answer. Publish With Us!
Read Inkwell
Creative Writing Programs Admissions and Aid
Graduate writing students may find paid opportunities to write, edit, and tutor, as well as take advantage of graduate assistantships. Undergraduates who apply to the Creative Writing and Literature program will generally receive student aid packages when accepted.
Contact Creative Writing Programs at Manhattanville
Grow your current skill set and professional interests with Manhattanville University’s BA in Creative Writing and Literature and MFA in Creative Writing degree programs. Our supportive creative writing programs ensure the support necessary to succeed in your literary or authorial pursuits.
Take the first step toward studying and writing at Manhattanville’s tranquil New York campus and beyond.
Contact the Creative Writing Department or Undergraduate Admissions anytime for guidance or to ask questions.
Contact Us
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English and Creative Writing Programs
Iain Pollock
Director, MFA Program
MFA@mville.edu
914.323.7211
Barat House, 2
Jessica Cox MS '18
Senior Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions
Jessica.Cox@mville.edu
914.323.1477