utep creative writing degree plan

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Program Highlights

48 credit hours |  In-state tuition: $490/credit hour | Out-of-state tuition: $575/credit hour

• One of the only 100% online MFAs in Creative Writing 
• Designed for writers with great talent and drive in fiction and poetry who need a master’s in Creative Writing to teach at University level 
• Provides access to a stellar faculty including world-renowned poets and fiction writers 

PROGRAM ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Why Creative Writing at UTEP?

The online Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is the only one of its kind and single-minded in its focus to help students become better writers at their own pace. We do this by creating an exclusive community that includes well-known literary personalities and published authors; students also learn the practical skills needed to hone their craft.

This is a highly competitive program for serious writers with the potential for great literary significance.  

A master’s degree in creative writing is perfect for students who

• Work full-time and want to go on to pursue a career in writing or teaching at the university level
• Are serious writers who want to publish
• Need to learn strategies to become better writers
• Want to be a part of an international community of writers without borders

We also offer an optional low-residency opportunity every summer in Europe, in such cities as London, Paris, and Madrid. The UTEP Career Center provides graduates with resources to help them pursue their career goals.

Our student success initiative, the UTEP Edge, develops upon students’ assets through a variety of high-impact experiences. These experiences are designed to improve student skills and give UTEP students a competitive advantage as they move forward in their lives and careers. Our goal as a campus is to provide these UTEP Edge experiences to all students, regardless of their area of study, so they will graduate with a competitive advantage over their peers. These are the Edge experiences Creative Writing students will have and the Edge skills they will graduate with:

Edge Experiences

• Online Experiences
• Creative Activities
• Research and Scholarly Activities
• Learning Communities
• Study Abroad/Study Away

Edge Skills

• Social Responsibility
• Global Awareness
• Critical Thinking
• Communication
• Problem Solving

Learn more about UTEP Edge

  " It has been a great experience. I could learn and study from home, in my own time. I got to know really interesting people whom I am still in touch with, even if we never met in person. The professors were flexible, kind, and all of them experts in their field . " - Ana Cagnoni, Graduate MEET MORE STUDENTS

Still wondering if this degree can help you get a job? Here's some info that might help you make up your mind .

Learn With Award-Winning Faculty 

Our department is filled with world-renowned, award-winning, bilingual faculty who bring their talent to the classroom; among our ranks are Andrea Cote Botero, José de Piérola, Tim Z. Hernandez, Sasha R. Pimentel, Jeff Sirkin, Lex Williford, Sylvia A. Zéleny and Daniel Chacón. We currently have two visiting faculty members: Jessica Powers and JD Pluecker, who teach children's/YA literature and poetry respectively. In the past, we have had award-winning writers who have served as visiting faculty and shared their expertise with our students:this list includes Natalie Diaz, Laurie Ann Guerrero, Heather Hartley and Carolina Ebeid.

Listen to the program's brand new podcast "Technically Literate" on your favorite podcasting app.  This is the first ever show to blend Creative Writing (poetry fiction writing, memoir) with technology.

Course Overview

The online Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is a highly competitive program that requires a total of 48 semester credit hours; this includes 42 semester credit hours of workshops and literature classes, and six hours of thesis during which students complete a publishable manuscript in poetry or fiction.

A detailed list of courses is available at https://www.utep.edu/liberalarts/creative-writing/academic-programs/online/curriculum.html

Like what you see? Here are some tips to get you accepted and on your way to becoming a successful writer!

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Degree Requirements    |   Getting Started   |   Institution and Advisor   |   FAQs  

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) offers a bilingual, fully-online Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program. The goal of this unique bilingual program is to prepare writers for the publishing marketplace and for teaching and editing careers, both in the United States and Latin America.

Degree Requirements

The degree plan consists of 42 credits of coursework, followed by 6 credits of thesis during which the student completes a publishable manuscript in poetry or fiction. Refer to the Online MFA Curriculum page for a listing of available courses and course descriptions. Spanish is not a requirement for admission.

Many online MFA in Creative Writing courses are open to cross-campus enrollment. Check with your program advisor prior to registering for any of cross-campus courses to ensure they apply toward your degree program, and non-UTEP students who want to take MFA courses must get permission from the MFA Advisor.

To view Online MFA in Creative Writing program courses currently open for cross-campus registration, go to the Student Portal Course Schedule and select Creative Writing-Bilingual (MFA) from the Finish@UT Program menu, or search for a specific course name/number. UTEP students should refer to the UTEP Course Schedule and register directly through your home campus.

Getting Started

Interested in applying? Be sure to review the Online MFA Application Process , Application Check List , and FAQs . If you have any questions regarding the application process after reviewing this information, please contact Coordinator of Graduate Enrollment, Sally Vasko .

Refer to the Student Support section of our website for additional information on cross-campus registration and course access.

Institution and Program Advisor

Degree Awarded: Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Program Advisor:

Sylvia Aguilar-Zéleny

Please send program-related questions to  [email protected] .

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to questions such as, "Do I need to know Spanish to be admitted into the program?" and, "Who do I contact about financial aid?" on the MFA Online website .

Creative Writing & English Graduate Research

• Starting your Research @ UTEP
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Research Tips & Tools

• Meet your Librarian!
• Finding the Research Gap
• Search Strategy
• Literature Review
• Organizing your Research
• Scholarly Output

Search through these databases for theses and dissertations to see if you can find something similar to your research.

• If you find an exact match to what you want to research, how can you pick up where they left off?
• If you found something similar, how can you fill in the gaps they have?
• If you can't find anything exact or similar, you may have found a research gap!
• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT) (ProQuest) This link opens in a new window Provides bibliographic indexing for nearly all doctoral dissertations and Master's theses accepted at North American academic institutions. Selectively indexes dissertations and theses from academic institutions in Great Britain, Europe, and other countries around the globe. Dissertations published since July 1980 include abstracts written by the author. Theses published since 1988 include brief abstracts. All titles published since 1997 include 24-page previews and complete full text; selected full text is available for earlier dates. more... less... https://search.proquest.com/pqdtglobal/advanced?accountid=7121
• OpenDissertations This link opens in a new window Provides bibliographic indexing for nearly all doctoral dissertations and Master's theses accepted at North American academic institutions. New citations include a link to full text, when available. American Doctoral Dissertations includes all the entries found at OpenDissertations. Subject coverage is multidisciplinary. Coverage: 1902 to present. more... less... https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=ip,uid&profile=ehost&defaultdb=ddu&groupid=main
• American Doctoral Dissertations This link opens in a new window Provides bibliographic indexing for nearly all doctoral dissertations and Master's theses accepted at North American academic institutions. New citations include a link to full text, when available. American Doctoral Dissertations includes all the entries found at OpenDissertations. Subject coverage is multidisciplinary. Coverage: 1902 to present. more... less... https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=ip,uid&profile=ehost&defaultdb=ddu&groupid=main

Can you build and run a successful advanced search in databases? Review the following guide to see what we recommend.

• The Search Strategy Graphic organizer to help students develop a word bank of keywords for their research.
• Literature Review Research Guide Working on reviewing your research? Start here!
• Managing Your Research References Use this guide to review different types of reference or citation managers. All managers listed here and below have support from a librarian by showing you how to use your preferred choice.
• RefWorks RefWorks is the only citation manager that UTEP subscribes to. The account is the student's to keep even after they leave the university.
• Zotero Free citation manager
• Mendeley Free citation manager
• Endnote Basic is free, but there is a cost if you need more.

The UTEP Library has a Scholarly Communication Team that can assist with your scholarly output. Please see their guide linked below for more info.

• Measuring Academic Output Research Guide There are a number of metrics (bibliometrics) you need to use as a researcher, such as publication counts, citation counts, h-index and journal impact factors. Use metrics to choose high quality authors and publications for your research and to identify high impact researchers for collaboration.

Librarian for Creative Writing & English

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• URL: https://libguides.utep.edu/JoyResearch

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Online Graduate Certificate in Technical and Professional Writing

Increase your marketability and enhance your writing skills with only four courses. 100% online.

Work in a Variety of Industries. Increase Your Marketability.

Combine your practical and creative skills in a field that emphasizes simplifying the complex. Whether you decide to pursue a career in PR, technical writing, corporate communications or online content, you can become an effective communicator of intricate information.

Study rhetoric, digital communication and community engagement. And do it all with practical application in mind. From grant proposals and manuals to copyediting and social networking, you’ll enhance your writing skills—and your marketability.

Nearly every industry needs professional writers. You’ll learn to write for audiences such as technicians, corporate executives and military personnel, as well as translating technical information to a non-technical audience. You’ll also practice evaluating electronic research and working with new media to share information in a compelling, easy-to-understand way.

This is a 12-credit program that includes only four courses—Technical Writing, Grant Writing, Professional Writing and a Professional Writing Seminar in Editing. Move your career forward.

• 100% online
• Focus on practical application
• Learn from bilingual, multicultural faculty with backgrounds in communication at all levels
• Tuition: $490/credit hour (in-state students) or $575/credit hour (out-of-state students)

Work in a Variety of Industries as a(n):

• Corporate communicator
• Grant writer
• Online content developer
• Public relations specialist
• Science reporter
• Script writer
• Speech writer
• Technical editor
• Technical writer
• Technology reporter
• Military communications specialist

Connect to Your Future

Application deadlines are approaching. Learn more today!

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English Professor Elizabeth Arnold Dies at 65

April 15, 2024 College of Arts and Humanities | English

Arnold was a poet of national and international acclaim and a beloved teacher and colleague.

By Chloe Kim

Elizabeth Arnold, professor of English and a poet of national and international acclaim, died on February 24 after a long illness. She joined the faculty in the Department of English in 2001 and taught in the creative writing MFA program, where she was a beloved teacher, mentor and colleague.

Arnold is the author of six books of poetry: “Wave House,” “Skeleton Coast,” “Life,” “Effacement,” “Civilization” and “The Reef.” She regularly published critical essays, reviews and interviews and her poems appeared in prominent journals such as The Paris Review, Kenyon Review, Chicago Review, Harper’s, TriQuarterly, Slate, Poetry Magazine and The Nation.

Arnold's poetry was notable for its modernist technique, and widely praised for its sophistication. In a review of Arnold’s work in B O D Y magazine, poet Kathryn Maris wrote, “she sings courageously—and her voice is beautiful.”

Arnold was “intrepid, brilliant, passionate, adventurous, inventive, unafraid, inquisitive, quirky, encouraging, warm, loyal. A visionary. One of the best listeners on the planet—as a poet, colleague and friend,” said MFA program coordinator Lindsay Bernal MFA ’07, who is Arnold’s former student and longtime friend and colleague. The two met in 2004 when Bernal was an MFA student in the program, and developed a close personal and professional relationship over the next two decades.

“We trusted each other with our poems, even our earliest, most disastrous drafts, and I was so lucky to have had the chance to work with Liz on every book she published since ‘Civilization.’ That creative collaboration and friendship since 2007 has been one of the greatest joys and honors of my post-MFA life,” Bernal said.

English Professor Joshua Weiner, who first became friends with Arnold in the early 1990s, called her his “sister in the art of poetry.” Weiner joined the department in 2001, the same year as Arnold, and shared an office with her during their first few years. Their joint office hours for students fostered “collective advising and fast-paced discussions about poets and poems,” Weiner said.

As professor, Arnold directed numerous English honors theses, undergraduate independent studies and MFA theses, and regularly served on doctoral dissertation committees. Her reputation among students was “legendary,” Weiner said. “Liz listened to students' drafts with an uncanny intensity of attention at the level of the syllable; she could hear things in their work that they did not yet have the ears to hear themselves.”

Bernal added: “Liz had a singular way of pushing us outside of our comfort zones, challenging us to write and read against the grain, to experiment with a regular meter or some other pattern that at first felt rigid but ultimately led to a creative discovery or breakthrough as we learned where to loosen it, where to adjust. She made the most difficult material approachable.”

Former student Charlie Clark MFA ’03 valued Arnold’s mentorship and thoughtfulness. “She would never have brought less than all of her attention to the matter at hand, whether it was exploring poetic form, scientific data, or the particular birdsong that might interrupt a chat,” he said.

Arnold’s mentorship so deeply influenced Clark that he wrote a poem dedicated to her, titled “ Arnold ,” which was published in the literary journal The Account. “It’s a fairly thorough representation of my appreciation for her ongoing impact on me,” Clark said.

Arnold received her Ph.D. in English in 1990 from the University of Chicago, where she researched the poet Mina Loy and discovered Loy’s previously lost and unpublished novel, “Insel,” which Arnold edited for Black Sparrow Press in 1991. Arnold’s work on Loy helped return Loy to public awareness and highlighted women’s artistic contributions to the field of modernism. Arnold went on to earn an MFA in creative writing from Warren Wilson College, and subsequently taught at the University of Montana, North Florida University and Warren Wilson College before joining UMD.

Arnold was a recipient of numerous prestigious fellowships, including MacDowell in 2014, Ucross Foundation in 2008, Bread Loaf Writers Conference in 1997, Yaddo in 1995, and others, including three Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship awards from Maryland in 2003, 2007 and 2015.

Arnold’s five books with Flood Editions, an independent poetry press, helped elevate the press as it became recognized internationally as a home for innovative writing throughout the Anglophone world, including New Zealand and Australia. 

Outside of her work as a poet and professor, Arnold was an avid gardener and baker who baked a dozen loaves of bread every week for a food co-op in Frostburg, Maryland. Arnold enjoyed watching “Grey’s Anatomy” and tennis and football games, and was a fan of football quarterback Patrick Mahomes. She was also a birding enthusiast whose last trip was a birding adventure through Panama. She loved her labradoodles Daisy, Olive and Clare and a feral cat named Kitten.

“She will be missed and remembered by all who knew her, and because her poems live in the present tense, she will become known to future readers,” Weiner said.

Photo by Mark Shafer.

A Conversation and Book Signing with Adam Mansbach

Adam Mansbach  is a novelist, screenwriter, cultural critic and humorist. He is the author of the #1  New York Times  bestseller  Go the Fuck to Sleep , which has been translated into forty languages, named  Time Magazine 's 2011 "Thing of the Year," and sold over three million copies worldwide. His novels include The End of the Jews  and  Angry Black White Boy,  which is taught at over a hundred schools and was adapted into a prize-winning stage play in 2008, as well as his most recent bestelling novel,  The Golem of Brooklyn . 

Moderated by the Reinhard Family Curator of Hebraica and Judaica at Stanford Libraries, Dr. Eitan Kensky.

This event is generously co-sponsored by the Programs in American Studies and Creative Writing, and the Concentration in Education and Jewish Studies in the Graduate School of Education.

• College of Arts & Sciences
• Graduate Division
• College of Liberal and Professional Studies

Creative Writing alum Gwen Lewis featured in Penn Arts & Sciences at Work

Creative Writing alum Gwen Lewis (C'14) is featured in Penn Arts & Sciences at Work, a photoblog project highlighting the diverse career paths of Penn alumni.

Lewis is the senior product manager for the story team at The New York Times . She talks about how the unique opportunities made possible by the Creative Writing Program and the  Kelly Writers House prepared her for a career at the intersection of journalism and tech:

"At Penn I was an English major. I worked at the Kelly Writers House. I took a bunch of classes in the Kelly Writers House and was taught by amazing professors. The conversations that we had around writing and reading in my classes, and the writing that I did myself—they helped me to officially see myself as a writer. Friends who went to other colleges didn’t get to do the types of projects that I got to do at Penn. They didn’t get to meet the types of writers and people who I got to meet. It provided me with actual skills that make me confident in the caliber of my writing.

I know people don’t encourage majors like English now—it wasn’t too different when I went to college—but at a school like Penn, you absolutely have to study what you care about and what makes you happy."