About

Earn your MFA in Creative Writing from home. Two 10-day residencies a year in Bend are opportunities for community building and sharing work.

Genres

  • Poetry
  • Fiction
  • Creative Nonfiction

Specialty Courses and Mentoring Opportunities

  • Blended genres
  • Screenwriting
  • Young adult fiction

Application Deadlines

  • Application opens: September 20, 2023
  • Priority application deadline: March 1, 2024
  • Final application deadline: June 1, 2024
  • Fall start date: September 2024

What Makes Us Different

Our approach offers flexibility, community and independence. Over two years, you will take challenging synchronous and asynchronous courses and participate in writing workshops guided by our philosophy of compassionate critique. Faculty mentorships are game-changing opportunities to hone your voice and your vision.

Acclaimed Faculty Authors

Dedicated, diverse, award-winning and inspiring, the OSU-Cascades faculty have a wealth of experiences and perspectives on writing and the writing life. All are widely published, often in several genres, and they encourage students to explore — and even blend — genres

A Community of Writers

Your writing peers are diverse in their backgrounds and preparation — some have studied literature and creative writing, while others have integrated writing into a life with a different focus. Some have just finished their undergraduate degrees, while others have just finished their careers. All share a passion for writing and a desire to fulfill their promise on the page, and they value the friendships and writing groups formed during the program. Many continue to work full or part time and to raise families while pursuing the MFA degree.

Curriculum

Students complete four 10-day residencies in two years, generally held in November and May of each year.

During regular quarters, you engage online from home in:

  • Genre-based craft series (foundations, forms)
  • Mentorships (one-on-one with faculty)
  • Workshops (with fellow writers)
  • Critical studies (Reading Difference, Power and Privilege)
  • Thesis and defense (end of program)

See sample schedule and courses.