Creative Writing Degree Programs

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.   

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.

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.  

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!

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.

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.

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!