western michigan university phd creative writing

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Western Michigan University

Michigan, united states.

The MFA in Creative Writing is a program for students who wish to become professional writers of poetry, fiction, drama, or nonfiction, and qualifies them to teach the craft at the college or university level.

The program requires 42 s/hrs of courses in writing workshops, literature, and literary theory, and an MFA project of 6 s/hrs. Workshops (12-18 s/hrs) provide for much independent work, individual instruction, and practical experience in criticism and rewriting, as well as the challenge and inspiration of working with and for one's peers. The successful MFA candidate should develop research and critical skills and a sound background in literature. Therefore, candidates take forms courses in poetry, fiction, drama, or nonfiction; 6-8 s/hrs in literature; and courses in various cognate fields. Capping the program is the MFA Project (6 s/hrs), an original book-length work of fiction, poetry, drama, or nonfiction, including a public reading or performance to be approved by the candidate's advisory committee.

WMU's PhD program is designed to meet the needs of future scholars and writers, particularly those who intend to teach at undergraduate institutions. The program requires all candidates to have broad knowledge of English and American literature, acquaintance with nontraditional literature, practical and/or theoretical background in the teaching of English (including the teaching of creative writing), and a specialization in a single area (which can be creative writing). Candidates entering with an MA are credited with 30 to 36 s/hrs depending on their degrees; those entering with an MFA may be credited with as many as 45 s/hrs in some circumstances.

In order to enrich their creative process, writers are encouraged to work in more than one genre, and the content of MFA projects and dissertations frequently reflects this approach. Whatever their specialization, all candidates will receive essential experience in research, teaching, and writing in the profession, and will develop the breadth required of teachers in relatively small English departments.

WMU hosts the Third Coast Writers' Conference in the spring with participating writers from all over the Midwest and nationally known writers serving as workshop faculty, panelists, and featured readers. Under the general guidance of the writing faculty, graduate (and, occasionally, undergraduate) students serve as the editorial and production staff of Third Coast, WMU's national literary journal. Graduate students may also have the opportunity to pro-vide editorial and other assistance in the production of books in Western's award-winning New Issues Poetry and Prose Series, under the general editorship of writing faculty member and series founder Herbert Scott. Students may compete, in separate categories for graduates and undergraduates, for annual departmental awards in fiction, poetry, playwriting, and nonfiction; they are also eligible for other departmental awards that recognize general achievement in academics and/or creative writing. Playwriting students are also eligible to compete for production at area theaters.

Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, a mid-sized, diverse, traditionally liberal city with a lively arts scene, a vital downtown, and strong music and theatrical venues. Within and around the city are numerous lakes and parks, and the unique beaches of Lake Michigan's eastern coast are an hour's drive through farmland, vineyards, and apple orchards.

Contact Information

1903 Western Michigan Avenue Kalamazoo Michigan, United States 49008-5331 Phone: (269) 387-2571 Email: [email protected] http://wmich.edu/english/creativewriting/

Bachelor of Arts in English/Literature +

The English major with Creative Writing emphasis aims at giving students intensive practice in writing and criticism in various genres in a workshop format; for general writing careers or for prospective candidates for the MFA in Creative Writing.

A minimum of 34 s/hrs are required: 14 s/hrs of coursework in creative writing from among the following: ENGL 266 Writing Fiction & Poetry (prerequisite for all creative writing courses); Advanced Fiction Writing; Advanced Poetry Writing; Playwriting; and Creative Writing Workshop (poetry, fiction, drama, or nonfiction). Literature and language requirements include: ENGL 110 Literary Interpretation (prerequisite for all courses); British Literature I or II and American Literature I or II; Studies in Verse, Studies in the Novel, or Studies in Drama; and an English language.

Minor / Concentration in Creative Writing +

Master of fine arts in creative writing +, graduate program director.

WMU hosts the Third Coast Writers' Conference in the spring with participating writers from all over the Midwest and nationally known writers serving as workshop faculty, panelists, and featured readers. Under the general guidance of the writing faculty, graduate (and, occasionally, undergraduate) students serve as the editorial and production staff of Third Coast, WMU's national literary journal. Graduate students may also have the opportunity to pro-vide editorial and other assistance in the production of books in Western's award-winning New Issues Poetry and Prose Series, under the general editorship of writing faculty member and series founder Herbert Scott. Students may compete, in separate categories for graduates and undergraduates, for annual departmental awards in fiction, poetry, playwriting, and nonfic?tion; they are also eligible for other departmental awards that recognize general achievement in academics and/or creative writing. Playwriting students are also eligible to compete for production at area theaters.

PhD in Creative Writing +

Steve feffer.

The Wizards of Quiz, Ain't Got No Home, The House I Call Love

http://www.wmich.edu/english/facultyandstaff/profiles/feffer.html

Richard Katrovas

Green Dragons, Snug Harbor, The Public Mirror

http://www.wmich.edu/english/facultyandstaff/profiles/katrovas.html

Thisbe Nissen

http://www.wmich.edu/english/facultyandstaff/profiles/nissen.html

Twice There Was a Country

Publications & Presses +

Third Coast

New Issues Press

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Western Michigan University

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MFA Program

Poetry: Alen Hamza, Richard Katrovas Fiction: Richard Katrovas, Thisbe Nissen Playwriting: Steve Feffer

The program offers full funding. Most students receive a three-year teaching assistantship, which includes a full tuition waiver and an annual stipend.

Third Coast

The program offers degrees in playwriting. The program also offers the Gwen Frostic Reading Series and Gwen Frostic Creative Writing Awards, the student-run literary magazine Third Coast , and opportunities to collaborate with the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center and local theater organizations.

Bonnie Jo Campbell, Lisa Fishman, Hedy Habra, Cara Beth Heath, David Dodd Lee, Lisa Lenzo, Dan Mancilla

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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Powerful Ideas. Proven Results.

College of Letters & Science English

Creative writing.

The QWERTY keyboard was created in Milwaukee, and so was one of the first graduate programs to grant both the MA and PhD with concentrations in Creative Writing. The former happened downtown, the latter right here on the UWM campus.

Our program is unique; you will hone your craft as you receive a broad-based education that will inform and enhance your artistic vision

While our students generally focus on a particular genre, many of them experiment in multiple genres, seeking to borrow tools from other forms that prove useful to their primary work. Some students have even successfully incorporated multiple genres in their culminating projects.

We admit 10 to 15 new students per year, and we generally have between 40 and 50 graduate-level Creative Writing students in our program. Of these students, approximately one-fourth are working at the MA level and three-fourths are working at the PhD level.

For more information on the Creative Writing Program at UW-Milwaukee, tour the links at left.

Join us: Apply!

Contact person, professor liam callanan [email protected] curtin hall 593, creative writing core faculty.

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Obtaining a doctorate degree in creative writing provides an education specializing in fiction writing techniques and literary analysis. Upon receiving a PhD in Creative Writing, graduates can use the degree to further develop their own creative writing career or teach others the skills and techniques used to write and analyze literature at the high school, college, or university level.

Requirements

Most PhD programs are very selective in choosing which few students will be admitted to study in their program. Candidates should have an excellent mastery of the written word, literary analysis, and familiarity with the liberal arts. Many schools require or prefer that a masterís degree in English or a related subject area be held by the applicant in order to be considered for their degree program.

Multiple letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and writing samples are required by most programs to help determine whether you are right for the rigorous demands of earning a doctorate degree. Academic writing samples are often required in addition to creative writing samples; this gives the office of admissions an idea of both your creative talent and your ability to analyze and critique literary works.

Expectations

Students accepted into a doctoral creative writing program can expect to study for approximately three to five years depending on the program. Students can also expect to have to write a variety of essays, teach classes on writing techniques and literature, complete a comprehensive examination, and compose a dissertation. Courses required often include a combination of literature, writing, and teaching classes.

Online Programs

Online programs exist for the bachelorís degree and masterís degree level of English, literature, and creative writing education. However, those wishing to pursue a PhD in Creative Writing must obtain their degree in person rather than online.

Offline Programs

If you want to obtain your doctorate degree in creative writing, there are numerous universities across the country with creative writing programs to consider. Some programs put a higher emphasis on teaching others how to write, while other programs focus more on your own writing abilities. Here are some of the programs available to those interested in creative writing.

University of Illinois Chicago

The University of Illinois Chicago offers a PhD in Creative Writing geared towards those students who wish to eventually pursue a career in teaching. The program teaches writing skills as well as teaching skills to prepare graduates for work in the academic world. Students will be required to write a creative dissertation, as well as teach creative writing to become educated and prepared for teaching after receiving their degree.

Department of English University of Illinois at Chicago 2027 University Hall 601 S. Morgan St. (M/C 162) Chicago, IL 60607-7120 Phone: 312-413-2200 www.uic.edu

Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University offers a PhD in English with an emphasis in creative writing. Students are required to take two teaching courses and prove their competency in a foreign language, in addition to their literature classes. Students will also take workshops to prepare for their dissertation in their selected area of specialization.

Creative writing students must also participate in doctoral reading programs before taking their doctoral reading exam. Upon passing the doctoral reading examination, students will then be required to write a dissertation. For questions regarding admission to their graduate school, contact the university at the following address or website.

2240 Seibert Administration Building 1903 W Michigan Ave Western Michigan University Kalamazoo MI 49008-5211 Phone: 269-387-2000 www.wmich.edu

University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati offers a PhD in English and Comparative Literature with a focus in creative writing. All doctoral students participate in the departmentís teaching training program which lasts approximately seven months. During the program students will have the opportunity to teach college writing courses. Students may also take courses that specialize in how to teach creative writing. Creative writing students will complete a creative dissertation and analytical essay in order to finish their degree. More information regarding the graduate program can be found by contacting the Department of English or visiting their website.

Department of English College of Arts & Sciences University of Cincinnati PO Box 210069 Cincinnati, OH 45221-0069 Phone: 513-556-3906 www.artsci.uc.edu

University of Utah

The University of Utah offers a PhD in Literature with a creative writing emphasis. Students will learn better creative writing techniques while also learning how to analyze literary works. The PhD is generally for those students wishing to teach at a college or university upon completion.

Students will graduate with the skills to teach not only creative writing, but literature courses as well. Students will learn literary history, attend writing workshops, and complete a prospectus and dissertation. Contact the English Department regarding admission and program requirements.

Department of English Languages & Communication Bldg 255 S Central Campus Drive, Room 3500 Salt Lake City, UT 84112 Phone: 801-581-6168 www.hum.utah.edu

University of Denver

A PhD in Creative Writing is offered by the University of Denver. Students better their writing through constant practice and by reading literary works. Four workshops will be completed over the course of the studentís program. Students will not only read works from their genre, but also works dealing with anthropology, philosophy, art history, and other subject areas. Contact the university with any questions regarding their program.

English Department 2000 E. Asbury Denver, CO 80208 Phone: 303-871-2266 www.du.edu

Georgia State University

The PhD in Creative Writing offered by Georgia State University allows students to practice and better their writing abilities while also critiquing and analyzing literature. Unless completed at the MA or MFA level, students must take courses in literary theory, form, and contemporary poetry or fiction craft. All students are also required to complete a dissertation. Questions regarding admission requirements or their program of study can be directed to the Department of English.

Department of English P.O. Box 3970 Atlanta, GA 30302-3970 Phone: 404-413-5800 workshop.gsu.edu

Employment Opportunities

Many graduates immediately begin teaching at the university level and start working towards a tenured position. Work at community colleges and high schools teaching English and creative writing is also a choice for many upon receiving their degree.

Teaching is not the only option for post-grads. Working for magazines, newspapers, and other print or online media is available for creative writers, especially after developing a strong creative writing portfolio. Choosing to be an author or writer can also be composed of freelance work and self-employment. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 70% of writers and authors were self-employed in 2008.

Salary Ranges

The salary range for those who obtain a PhD in creative writing varies greatly depending on the position obtained after graduation and the location of the school. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, teaching at the high school level on average earns $52,200 a year, with those having a doctoral degree potentially earning more. Post-secondary educators earn on average $108,749 as a professor, $76,147 as an associate professor, and $63,827 as an assistant professor.

Writers and Authors

Salaried writers and authors earned on average $57,070 in 2008. Freelance writers’ annual earnings vary greatly depending on the type of freelance work and number of projects completed each year. Many freelance writers have to find income from working another part-time or full-time job.

Employment Outlook

High school teachers.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, teaching at the high school level is expected to grow by 13% between 2008 and 2018. An even higher demand for teachers will be seen for high schools in poor and inner-city school districts, since many teachers leave to teach elsewhere after a short period of time in these areas.

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics expects the demand of post-secondary educators to grow by 15% between 2008 and 2018, which is faster than the average growth rate for most positions. This is due to the increased number of students attending community colleges and universities around the country. Tenured positions are still expected to be quite competitive to earn, but part-time and non-tenured positions are expected to grow even faster.

The writing industry is very competitive, and many writers and authors will continue to stay self-employed. However, there is an expected increase of salaried writers and authors by 8% between 2008 and 2018. Companies online are seeing an increased need for writers as more material is needed for websites, so many writers are expected to start writing for online publications.

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Search for other great programs, 5 responses to “creative writing”.

Of course it is very interesting that one now can obtain a phd degree from one’s workplace without hampreing the job.But it could have been better if one had had the opportunity of doing an online phd degree.

Will it be possible in future to do an online degree in liberal arts specially in english?It would be very good if one got the chance to do a phd degree the same way.

I am interested in pursuing a ph.d in creative writing and literature—–looking for an accredited online program

I’m interested in pursuing a doctorate degree in Creative Writing. I’m searching for programs on the west coast of the United States.

I have been looking for an online PhD program in Creative Writing and have not found any accredited ones. I don’t understand why this is a area of study with such limited accessibility for online classes. The bulk of the work is reading and documenting and writing which seems to be a perfect fit for an online course. I did find one that sounded perfect AIU…however they are NOT accredited.

I currently have three Masters Degrees and two of them are MFA’s. One in Non-fiction and one in fiction. My fourth Masters degree will be completed in January 2022. It is an MFA in poetry. I have a memoir published and five esssys published. I have another book to be published this November 2021. Lipstick Lesbian.. book of poems (LGBTQ) Could I get any classes waived in a PhD. Creative Writing program?

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New Scholarship Supports Western’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing

The Mari Sandoz Emerging Writer Scholarship will be awarded every year.

Students with a passion for writing about the people and landscapes of the West will have a new scholarship opportunity when they enter Western Colorado University’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing (GPCW), thanks to the generosity of the Mari Sandoz Heritage Society.

The Mari Sandoz Emerging Writer Scholarship will be available to one qualified first-year graduate student in the GPCW’s Nature Writing concentration starting in the summer of 2024. The scholarship will be granted each academic year, awarding the winner $3,000 each semester for a total of $6,000.

According to Mari Sandoz Heritage Society board member and director of the GPCW Nature Writing Concentration, Laura Pritchett, the scholarship aims to memorialize Mari Sandoz’s legacy as someone who had a passion for writing and loved the landscapes and peoples of the West. Through the scholarship, the board hopes to support significant writing about the West in the contemporary literary landscape.

“Sandoz’s writing emphasized the environmental and human landscape of the West and was recognized for her no-nonsense yet deeply evocative style,” Pritchett said. “She was passionate about sharing her hard-earned and well-honed writing skills. We’re fortunate to have the Mari Sandoz Heritage Society support this scholarship.”

Applying to the GPCW’s Nature Writing program will also serve as an application for the scholarship. For more information about the GPCW Nature Writing Concentration, visit western.edu/program/nature-writing .

Author credit: Seth Mensing

Photo credit: Courtesy

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Take the next step, apply to western, visit western, alumni community, request information, select your undergraduate student type.

Creative Writing Program Marks Three Decades of Growth, Diversity

By Luisa A. Igloria

2024: a milestone year which marks the 30 th  anniversary of Old Dominion University’s MFA Creative Writing Program. Its origins can be said to go back to April 1978, when the English Department’s (now Professor Emeritus, retired) Phil Raisor organized the first “Poetry Jam,” in collaboration with Pulitzer prize-winning poet W.D. Snodgrass (then a visiting poet at ODU). Raisor describes this period as “ a heady time .” Not many realize that from 1978 to 1994, ODU was also the home of AWP (the Association of Writers and Writing Programs) until it moved to George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

The two-day celebration that was “Poetry Jam” has evolved into the annual ODU Literary Festival, a week-long affair at the beginning of October bringing writers of local, national, and international reputation to campus. The ODU Literary Festival is among the longest continuously running literary festivals nationwide. It has featured Rita Dove, Maxine Hong Kingston, Susan Sontag, Edward Albee, John McPhee, Tim O’Brien, Joy Harjo, Dorothy Allison, Billy Collins, Naomi Shihab Nye, Sabina Murray, Jane Hirshfield, Brian Turner, S.A. Cosby, Nicole Sealey, Franny Choi, Ross Gay, Adrian Matejka, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Ilya Kaminsky, Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, Jose Olivarez, and Ocean Vuong, among a roster of other luminaries. MFA alumni who have gone on to publish books have also regularly been invited to read.

From an initial cohort of 12 students and three creative writing professors, ODU’s MFA Creative Writing Program has grown to anywhere between 25 to 33 talented students per year. Currently they work with a five-member core faculty (Kent Wascom, John McManus, and Jane Alberdeston in fiction; and Luisa A. Igloria and Marianne L. Chan in poetry). Award-winning writers who made up part of original teaching faculty along with Raisor (but are now also either retired or relocated) are legends in their own right—Toi Derricotte, Tony Ardizzone, Janet Peery, Scott Cairns, Sheri Reynolds, Tim Seibles, and Michael Pearson. Other faculty that ODU’s MFA Creative Writing Program was privileged to briefly have in its ranks include Molly McCully Brown and Benjamín Naka-Hasebe Kingsley.

"What we’ve also found to be consistently true is how collegial this program is — with a lively and supportive cohort, and friendships that last beyond time spent here." — Luisa A. Igloria, Louis I. Jaffe Endowed Professor & University Professor of English and Creative Writing at Old Dominion University

Our student body is diverse — from all over the country as well as from closer by. Over the last ten years, we’ve also seen an increase in the number of international students who are drawn to what our program has to offer: an exciting three-year curriculum of workshops, literature, literary publishing, and critical studies; as well as opportunities to teach in the classroom, tutor in the University’s Writing Center, coordinate the student reading series and the Writers in Community outreach program, and produce the student-led literary journal  Barely South Review . The third year gives our students more time to immerse themselves in the completion of a book-ready creative thesis. And our students’ successes have been nothing but amazing. They’ve published with some of the best (many while still in the program), won important prizes, moved into tenured academic positions, and been published in global languages. What we’ve also found to be consistently true is how collegial this program is — with a lively and supportive cohort, and friendships that last beyond time spent here.

Our themed studio workshops are now offered as hybrid/cross genre experiences. My colleagues teach workshops in horror, speculative and experimental fiction, poetry of place, poetry and the archive — these give our students so many more options for honing their skills. And we continue to explore ways to collaborate with other programs and units of the university. One of my cornerstone projects during my term as 20 th  Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth was the creation of a Virginia Poets Database, which is not only supported by the University through the Perry Library’s Digital Commons, but also by the MFA Program in the form of an assistantship for one of our students. With the awareness of ODU’s new integration with Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) and its impact on other programs, I was inspired to design and pilot a new 700-level seminar on “Writing the Body Fantastic: Exploring Metaphors of Human Corporeality.” In the fall of 2024, I look forward to a themed graduate workshop on “Writing (in) the Anthropocene,” where my students and I will explore the subject of climate precarity and how we can respond in our own work.

Even as the University and wider community go through shifts and change through time, the MFA program has grown with resilience and grace. Once, during the six years (2009-15) that I directed the MFA Program, a State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) university-wide review amended the guidelines for what kind of graduate student would be allowed to teach classes (only those who had  already  earned 18 or more graduate credits). Thus, two of our first-year MFA students at that time had to be given another assignment for their Teaching Assistantships. I thought of  AWP’s hallmarks of an effective MFA program , which lists the provision of editorial and publishing experience to its students through an affiliated magazine or press — and immediately sought department and upper administration support for creating a literary journal. This is what led to the creation of our biannual  Barely South Review  in 2009.

In 2010,  HuffPost  and  Poets & Writers  listed us among “ The Top 25 Underrated Creative Writing MFA Programs ” (better underrated than overrated, right?) — and while our MFA Creative Writing Program might be smaller than others, we do grow good writers here. When I joined the faculty in 1998, I was excited by the high caliber of both faculty and students. Twenty-five years later, I remain just as if not more excited, and look forward to all the that awaits us in our continued growth.

This essay was originally published in the Spring 2024 edition of Barely South Review , ODU’s student-led literary journal. The University’s growing MFA in Creative Writing program connects students with a seven-member creative writing faculty in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.

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Western Michigan University BA in Creative Writing

Creative Writing is a concentration offered under the writing studies major at Western Michigan University. Here, you’ll find out more about the major bachelor’s degree program in creative writing, including such details as the number of graduates, diversity of students, and more.

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Featured Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

BA in Creative Writing & English

Develop your creativity and gain practical skills with a creative writing degree program –featuring 100% online classes – through a bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.

How Much Does a Bachelor’s in Creative Writing from WMU Cost?

Wmu undergraduate tuition and fees.

Out-of-state part-time undergraduates at WMU paid an average of $630 per credit hour in 2019-2020. The average for in-state students was $504 per credit hour. The average full-time tuition and fees for undergraduates are shown in the table below.

Learn more about WMU tuition and fees.

Does WMU Offer an Online BA in Creative Writing?

WMU does not offer an online option for its creative writing bachelor’s degree program at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the WMU Online Learning page.

WMU Bachelor’s Student Diversity for Creative Writing

Male-to-female ratio.

Of the students who received their bachelor’s degree in creative writing in 2019-2020, 64.7% of them were women. This is less than the nationwide number of 72.8%.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

Racial-ethnic minority graduates* made up 26.5% of the creative writing bachelor’s degrees at WMU in 2019-2020. This is about the same as the nationwide number of 26%.

Majors Related to a BA in Creative Writing From WMU

You may also be interested in one of these majors related to creative writing.

View All Creative Writing Related Majors >

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online

More about our data sources and methodologies .

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2024 Peer Writing Consultant Program Graduates

• 2024 MiW Commencement
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Congratulations Peer Writing Consultant Graduates

Aniyah fisher, lindsey bixler, hailey fiel, isabella simakas, laine kibler, lauren reitzel, maddie cutler, maryam romio, meghan behr, rafah al-shohaty, roshni veeramachaneni, sarah shepard, savanna cowley.

Our Graduates

Major: Psychology

Being part of the Sweetland community was one of the best experiences during my time at Michigan. It encompassed more than just being a peer writing consultant and oftentimes included being a listening ear, a friend, and an advocate amongst other things. Through my interactions with other PWCs, Sweetland faculty, and students seeking help, I was able to learn much more than I ever could have imagined. I have grown as a student, professionally, and personally, and I could only hope that I have left a memorable impact on both the Sweetland and greater Michigan community along the way. 

Major: English Minor: Education for Empowerment

Majors: Film, Television, and Media; Creative Writing

Working with the PWC has led me to meet people who will continue to inspire me after graduation. It began as a job I was nominated for and thought I might as well do because it was related to careers I was interested in, but it became so much more than that. It has allowed me to do work that I find truly meaningful, and since I hope to continue working with writers in some capacity in my future career, the ways in which this experience has impacted the my approach to talking about writing and encouraging writers in their work will be invaluable.

Major: Spanish; Linguistics

Major: Spanish; Linguistics

Major: Biology, Health, & Society Minor: Writing

Izzy Simakas

Major: Public Health Sciences Minor: Spanish

There is no community like the one I have found through my fellow coworkers at the Peer Writing Center. During our years together, we've grown alongside each other, and it has been truly inspiring to see the amazing things everyone has done and will go on to do. I cherish the friendships I've made through my involvement with the PWC, and hope that they will be long-lasting. Between growing closer with my colleagues and making amicable connections with students that came to me for appointments, working as a Peer Writing Consultant has been an incredibly fulfilling time of my life while also providing me with improved communication and interpersonal skills. It is an experience I will not soon forget. 

Major: RC Creative Writing (Mixed-Genre) and RC Arts & Ideas (Image/Text) Minor: Linguistics

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working as a PWC at Sweetland for the past two years. The highlight of my experience was working for the Sweetland Advisory Board, which was made up of disabled students giving feedback to the writing center as a part of its accessibility initiative. We made a lot of exciting improvements to our physical spaces including adding lamps and fidget toys for a more Universal Design in terms of sensory needs; we also gave a presentation to the Writer's Workshop staff on more accessible consulting practices which went over very well. As a student, it's not often you feel that the administration of your university is really hearing you about your needs---however, Sweetland was the exception to this standard for me and it has been so rewarding to watch our suggestions turn into real, tangible changes.

Major: English Minor: Writing

Major: Political Science Minor: French

Joining the PWCP has been one of the best experiences I've ever had, and what made it so phenomenal was the amazing community of people. I've met wonderful mentors and friends and learned so much about writing, language, and social forces, knowledge that will stay with me as I navigate law school, my career, and life beyond undergrad. Thank you so much to the PWCP for encouraging me on my intellectual journeys and for being an all-around cool and rad group, and I'm going to miss you all!

Major: History Minor: Public Policy

I've genuinely loved serving as Peer Writing Consultant as I have gotten to do great meaningful work, meet and work alongside amazing peers, and improve my own writing in the process. I hope the program continues to grow and improve; it has been the most rewarding to see all of the individual and different types of contributions each student has made to make our program better at serving a diverse community of writers. 

Major: Community and Global Public Health

During my time at the Sweetland, I was able to pursue my passion for working with different styles of writing and helping others one-on-one that I would not have been able to do otherwise. Being able to talk to my fellow consultants and writers truly helped me become a better problem-solver and writer. I was able to learn so much during every session. I am so grateful for my time with the PWC! 

Major: Public Policy Minor: English

Without a doubt, working at Sweetland has been one of the highlights of my collegiate career. During each shift, I interacted with bright individuals who were constantly teaching me something new about writing, academia, and the world. Truly, I could not be more grateful for the lessons I've learned or the connections I've made with writers, staff members, and fellow PWCs. As I embark on the next chapter of my life, I will reflect fondly on all that Sweetland has given me!

Major: Psychology; English

Major: Anthropology; English

Major: Creative Writing Minor: Asian Studies

During my time working at the PWCP, I have enjoyed having such productive discourse around writing, as well as the incredibly compassionate people I’ve been able to work with!  

Major: Classical Civilization

What I have valued the most about working at the PWC is how it constantly put me into contact with varied ideas and writing styles. Through consulting, I was able to enter dialogues with people I would never have met otherwise, discover things about subjects I would never have encountered, and look at writing and language in new ways. I loved to learn from and practice truly seeing all of those diverse fragments of the U of M community. I will always be incredibly grateful for being a part of the PWCP, and for all of the support that enabled that to happen.

Major: English

I am so grateful to have been a part of Sweetland's Peer Writing Center! Being a peer consultant has been one of the most exciting and formative experiences I've had in my undergraduate career. I will forever cherish writing center work and its commitment to equity, liberation, and community care. As I move forward into a post-graduate writing career, I am thankful for the opportunity to have served and collaborated with my peers on something as transformative as writing. Thank you, PWCP! 

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Artistic Work Explores Connection Between Spirituality and Tech Innovation

• Post published: May 21, 2024

Patrick Taylor, a Spring 2024 Michigan State University graduate with an MFA from the Department of Art, Art History, and Design , is a boundary-pushing artist whose artistry is rooted in his creative writing background, his practice of making music and digital art, and his commitment to building collaboration and community. His thesis work is part of the 2024 Master of Fine Arts Exhibition that runs through Sunday, May 26, at the MSU Broad Art Museum .

Taylor’s work reflects a fusion of technological innovation and artistic expression, embodying the intermedia art culture theorized by Dick Higgins in the 1960s, a dissolution of the genre that makes art more accessible and more unrestricted in its expression. Delving into the intersection of technology and spirituality, Taylor’s work explores the transformative power of information technology and its implications for human existence. He navigates existential questions surrounding consciousness, selfhood, and the transition from the physical to the digital realm. Through his work, Taylor invites viewers to contemplate the intricate connections between technology, nature, and spirituality, striking a balance between showing and telling and sparking curiosity and speculation about the underlying processes at play. He meticulously designs each piece to evoke a coherent narrative, inviting viewers to engage with the interconnected themes woven throughout his work.

In his thesis piece, Taylor imagines a spiritual practice that places particular attention on humanity’s transition from the physical to the digital. “LEDs, microcontrollers, and relay systems serve as the digital counterpart to the organic matter of a suspended tree, and granular charcoal litters the space as a symbol of the destruction necessary to move from one form to the other,” he explained. “In the video piece, Mimir’s Well , I was particularly inspired by the myth of the Norse god Odin’s self-sacrifice where he plucked out his right eye, threw himself on a spear, and hung himself from the world tree for nine days in exchange for the ability to read ancient runes and to see everything all at once. I felt that humanity might be doing something similar with technology, a ritual sacrifice of the natural world in exchange for access to an infinite ocean of information. Mimir’s Well is intended to embody that idea, and I hope it’s successful in that regard.”

“I hope viewers see the work and feel something. It may be an abstract feeling, but the work itself is meant to display symbols of mortality alongside sculptural and architectural elements that hold an obscure but particular spiritual or mythological significance.”

Taylor hopes this work evokes abstract emotions and prompts contemplation about mortality and spiritual significance. “I hope viewers see the work and feel something. It may be an abstract feeling, but the work itself is meant to display symbols of mortality alongside sculptural and architectural elements that hold an obscure but particular spiritual or mythological significance,” he said. “If this work gets viewers thinking about that significance in each piece, I’ll be very happy.”

Taylor’s artistic process involves extensive exploration and iteration, from sketching and 3D rendering to physical construction and installation. “I can make 20 different versions of a sculpture in 3D software before I decide to buy any of the materials, and the experiments that I consider successful are the ones that lead to the next idea,” he said. “I’m sure this is true for all artists, but I have a ton of ideas and I act on only a few. The experimentation process lets me see what sticks with me after messing around with it for a while.”

Taylor draws inspiration from science fiction narratives that abstract present and future social issues. He also is inspired by computer and video art pioneers, such as Woody and Steina Vasulka, Nam June Paik, and Shigeko Kubota, while embracing contemporary movements in New Media Art and maker culture.

Reflecting on his MFA journey, Taylor highlights the transformative impact MSU’s MFA program has had on his artistic practice. Through interdisciplinary exploration and hands-on learning, he says he gained confidence in his skills and developed a robust foundation for future projects.

Looking ahead, he envisions continuing to explore large-scale electronic sculptures that integrate programming and digital media. He aims to delve deeper into projects that reimagine death and spirituality in the digital age, fostering dialogue and reflection among viewers.

For more information on the MFA Exhibition, see the  2024 MFA Exhibition web page .

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1. Required Entry-level Course (4 hours)

• ENGL 1100 - Literary Interpretation Credits: 4 hours

2. Required Writing Courses (14 hours)

• ENGL 2660 - Writing Fiction and Poetry Credits: 4 hours

Plus six (6) hours of credit from the following courses

Any of these courses may be repeated one time for credit.

• ENGL 3660 - Advanced Fiction Writing Credits: 3 hours
• ENGL 3670 - Advanced Poetry Writing Credits: 3 hours
• ENGL 3680 - Playwriting Credits: 3 hours
• ENGL 3700 - Writing Creative Non-Fiction Credits: 3 hours

Four (4) hours of credit from the following courses:

These courses may be repeated one time for credit. Courses in the same genre may not be taken concurrently.

• ENGL 5660 - Creative Writing Workshop Credits: 4 hours

Fiction Credits: 4 hours

Poetry Credits: 4 hours

Playwriting Credits: 4 hours

Creative Non-fiction Credits: 4 hours

3. Literature and English Language Courses (13 to 14 hours)

A. two of the following courses:.

• ENGL 3200 - American Literature I Credits: 3 hours
• ENGL 3210 - American Literature II Credits: 3 hours
• ENGL 3300 - British Literature I Credits: 3 hours
• ENGL 3310 - British Literature II Credits: 3 hours

B. One of the following courses:

• ENGL 4400 - Studies in Verse Credits: 4 hours
• ENGL 4420 - Studies in Drama Credits: 4 hours
• ENGL 4440 - Studies in the Novel Credits: 4 hours

C. One Additional Course

4. electives.

At least one additional English Department course at the 2000, 3000, 4000, or 5000 levels to complete the major. The following courses cannot be used for this purpose: ENGL 3070, 3080, 3110, or 4800.

5. Foreign Language Requirement

Minimum of two semesters of a modern or classical foreign language at the college level with a grade of “C” or better, or two years of the same language in high school level with grade of “B” or better in the second semester of the second year. One year at the high school level coupled with the second semester of the same language at the college level is also satisfactory.