
English and Writing Degree Programs
Prepare for Fulfilling and Creative Professions at Manhattanville
Welcome to Manhattanville College’s English Department, where our Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English, Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing degree programs, and convenient accelerated dual degree formats are shaped to your talents, interests, and goals.
Choosing to pursue a degree program in English literature or creative writing 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 English and 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.
Annual Events

Fall Writers' Weekend

Fall Poetry Festival

Meet the Writers Series

Interested in joining our community of aspiring writers?
English and Creative Writing Programs
Manhattanville’s BA in English 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.

Accelerated BA/MFA in Creative Writing Dual Degree Program
Manhattanville’s accelerated dual degree program allows students the opportunity to pursue both a Bachelor of Arts in English 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.

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 Program
Center for 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 Appointment
The Campus is Our Retreat
Our beautiful location and facilities contribute to the vitality and creativity of our community. 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 Campus
Inkwell Journal
Since 1995, Inkwell has been a proud part of Manhattanville College’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
English and Writing Program 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 English program will generally receive student aid packages when accepted.
Contact English and Writing Programs at Manhattanville
Grow your current skill set and professional interests with Manhattanville College’s BA in English and MFA in Creative Writing degree programs. Our supportive English and 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 English Department or Undergraduate Admissions anytime for guidance or to ask questions.
Upcoming Writing Events
Summer Writers' Week 2023 Begins
Summer Writer's Week Reading: Novelist V.V. Ganeshananthan
Summer Writers' Week Faculty Reading (Davon Loeb, Silvina Lopez Medin, Sheela Chari)
Summer Writers' Week Faculty Reading (Sharbari Ahmed, Jonathan Vatner, Iain Haley Pollock)
Summer Writers' Week
Summer Writers' Week
Contact Us
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Nada Halloway, English Division Chair
Nada.Halloway@mville.edu914.323.5107
Reid Castle, Room 411