Graduate Degree Programs
In the Department of English, we offer three graduate degree programs: the MFA in Creative Writing, the MA in English, and the combined MFA/MA. Our students receive not just an intellectual education, but an experiential one as well. The ҹɫ¸£Àû is unique in location, climate, and literary community. Our graduate programs allow students to live more simply and purposefully, and to focus on the crafts of critical reading and engaged writing. We prepare students to become active teachers, independent thinkers, and fearless writers.
M.F.A. in Creative Writing
Our MFA in Creative Writing is a three-year residential program with courses in the
craft of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Students enroll in both multi-genre
and genre-specific workshops, as well as forms and special topics courses. Additionally,
MFA students undertake an in-depth study of literature.
In their second year, MFA students prepare a thesis proposal that requires them to
read widely and define their aesthetic goals. In their third year, students work closely
with faculty mentors to prepare manuscripts for thesis defense and eventual publication.
M.A. in English
Our MA in English is a two-year program featuring coursework in American, British, and World Literatures. In their first year, students design a plan of study and form a thesis committee. In the first semester of their second year, they begin to create a defined list of literary, critical, and theoretical texts to support the completion and defense of their thesis.
Beginning in Spring 2026, all graduate literature courses and ENGL 601 (Theory, Criticism, and Methods) will be available online, making it possible to complete the entire MA in English remotely.
Just as our department hosts faculty with a broad range of expertise, we encourage our MA students to explore many different studies. In recent years, MA students have written theses in literary theory, composition pedagogy, and English as a Second Language studies. Our students have full access to the Rasmuson Library, which houses numerous British and American texts, as well as the extensive Alaska and Polar Region Collections and Archives.
M.F.A./M.A. Combined Degrees
The MFA/MA degree is a three-year program that combines curricula in creative writing and literary analysis. By coordinating one’s literature and creative writing coursework, students receive the MFA/MA degree in the same time it normally takes to receive the MFA alone. Students in this track complete reading exams in both literature and creative writing. Likewise, they complete two separate theses—a critical one and a creative one. The MFA/MA is awarded as a single degree rather than two separate degrees.
ACNS/ENGL 620: Images of the North
3 Credits
Offered Spring Even-Numbered Years
Interdisciplinary approaches to the variety of images created about and by the people and environment of the circumpolar North. The course will analyze conceptualizations of the North as expressed in a number of media, employing methodologies from many disciplines. Course may be repeated once for credit when content varies.
Graduate Timeline & Exams
Our MFA program follows a three-year curriculum, the basic timeline for which is provided below. These dates and deadlines assume a traditional fall enrollment and three-year plan of study. You should consult your program director or the Graduate School office if you have questions or extenuating circumstances. Below, all the forms within quotation marks can be located on the Grad School's "Forms" webpage; on that site, you'll need to search for the appropriate form within the listed categories, which will allow you to submit all paperwork electronically.
​- Submit your "Graduate Study Plan" by the end of the spring semester.
- Submit your "Annual Academic Progress Report" by March 15.
- Form your thesis committee and submit your "Appointment of Advisory Committee" by the end of the fall semester.
- With approval from your thesis advisor, choose five additional texts for your Thesis Portfolio Reading List; submit a signed, printed copy of the list to the English Department administrator.
- Submit your "Annual Academic Progress Report" by March 15.
- Submit your thesis portfolio (which, when approved, will serve as your "comprehensive exam" for the Graduate School) to the English Department administrator no later than April 1.
- Submit your "Report on Comprehensive Exam" immediately upon confirmation of passing your comprehensive exams.
- Submit your "Advancement to Candidacy" by October 15.
- At the beginning of the spring semester, consult with your thesis committee to determine a defense date; ideal times are toward the end of February or the beginning of March, and you should provide your committee with a completed version of your thesis two weeks in advance of your defense date.
- Complete the UAF Graduation Application, located in UAOnline. You will need to login, go to the Student tab, and then click on Apply to Graduate under the Student Records section. The deadline for submission is February 1st for spring graduation. (Oct. 15 for fall graduation, and July 15th for summer graduation).
- Submit your "Annual Academic Progress Report" by March 15.
- Submit your "Report on Thesis/Dissertation/Project Defense" upon confirmation of your successful thesis defense.
- After your successful thesis defense (no later than March 17), email a PDF file of your thesis to CLA Interim Dean Carrie Baker and CLA Coordinator Isabel Norris with the subject line "English MFA Thesis for Approval"; please also cc: your thesis advisor on the email.
- After approval of your thesis by CLA Interim Dean Carrie Baker (no later than April 7), submit your "Approval of Thesis/Dissertation/Project."
- Upload the final version of your thesis to the ProQuest ETD Administrator website no later than April 7; your thesis must be approved by your committee, the English Department Chair, and the CLA Dean before being uploaded.
Again, all the above forms indicated with quotation marks can be located on the the Grad School's "Forms" webpage.
MFA candidates submit a thesis proposal during their fourth semester. The portfolio should consist of a one-page synopsis of the student’s proposed thesis, a substantial annotated bibliography, and a creative writing sample. In the portfolio, students should demonstrate a solid base of knowledge in their chosen genre, summarizing their own creative goals and assessing the craft, forms, and techniques of certain literary texts. Students select titles for their annotated bibliographies that are relevant to their own interests and creative projects, with guidance and support from their thesis advisors.
Our MA program follows a two-year timeline, and students may be admitted for the fall or spring semesters. MA candidates take comprehensive exams during their second year in the program. (The timeline might vary for students pursuing the MFA/MA degree.) The following document provides an overview of the MA degree process, and students will receive further assistance on their comp exams and thesis development from faculty advisors.
How to apply to the graduate degree program
To apply, please (1) complete your online application, (2) upload your supplemental materials, and (3) submit your brief Teaching Assistantship Form. These requirements are described in more detail below.
Note that we do not require GRE results.
Information about fee waivers can be found here.
- MFA and MFA/MA applications are due by January 15, with a start date in the fall semester.
- MA applications are due by either October 15 (for spring enrollment) or January 15 (for fall enrollment).
Online application:
Visit the UAF Office of Admissions webpage. Once you create an account, you can begin filling out your application.
The management system will allow you to save your progress and return later if you
choose. While completing the application, you will submit:
- Unofficial transcripts (please provide unofficial transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work; although the application system will ask for official transcripts, those will only be required later for students who accept a place in the program)
- Contact information for three references (your references will receive an email with a link for submitting letters; if your letters are stored via Interfolio, you can provide the "send. Recommendation...@interfolio.com" email for each specific letter)
Supplemental materials:
Once you submit your application, return to the application portal homepage. There,
you will upload the following documents:
Creative writing sample (MFA applicants)
Submit 20–30 pages of fiction, creative nonfiction, or 15–20 pages of poetry. It is acceptable (but uncommon) to submit work in more than one genre. Also, please include a brief note at the beginning of your manuscript indicating the genre in which you’re applying.
Scholarly writing sample (MA applicants)
Submit 20–25 pages of your best scholarly or critical work. At the beginning of your document, please include a brief (one paragraph max.) contextual statement explaining for which course(s) you wrote this paper(s) and why you're choosing it as your writing sample.
MFA applicants: In 600–1,000 words, address your personal goals for graduate studies. You can discuss your current interests, writing projects, and literary influences. You might also address how your experience, skills, and intellectual outlook make you an ideal fit for our writing community.
MA applicants: In 600–1,000 words, discuss why you wish to earn an advanced degree in English. Identify which research area(s) you plan to focus on during your graduate work, and explain why the ҹɫ¸£Àû is an attractive site for your studies.
Teaching Assistantship Form:
Please submit the to declare whether you would like to be considered for an assistantship. We do not
require a specialized statement or teaching philosophy—just this short form.
For questions about the application process, contact:
Gwen Retterer
(907) 474-7193
uaf-english-dept@alaska.edu
For information about our MA program, contact:
Sarah Stanley
Department Chair
(907) 474-7335
sstanley2@alaska.edu
For information about our MFA program, contact:
Gerri Brightwell
Director of Creative Writing
(907) 474-5209
gabrightwell@alaska.edu