Thesis Requirements
MFA Students
All MFA students must complete a thesis. This is a substantial creative manuscript: a novel or sustained nonfiction narrative, a collection of short stories or essays, or a collection of poems. Length for the MFA thesis may be anywhere from 80-200 pages of prose or 40-50 pages of poetry.
Work on the thesis may begin at any time after the required course work has been completed. The thesis is written under the supervision of an advisor, chosen by the candidate and appointed by the Director of the School of Letters, who may be any member of the School of Letters faculty. As the project nears completion, a second reader will be appointed by the Director. When the thesis has been completed and conditionally approved, the candidate for the degree will submit to a one-hour oral examination conducted by the advisor and second reader.
Information about thesis submission can be found in the 2023-2024 Thesis Formatting and Submission Instructions, below.
Thesis Course
ENGL 599
MFA students completing the thesis will enroll in ENGL 599 in the fall or spring following their final summer. They will register for six credit hours and tuition will be billed at the same rate as the previous summer.
Thesis Calendar
Fall (August 23, 2023 - December, 1 2023):
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Choose thesis advisor - NOW (speak with Justin if you need help)
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Submit Thesis Registration Form – Aug. 23, 2023
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FALL Banner Online Registration and Billing – announced by email Aug/Sept 2023
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Final draft for conferences – Dec. 2, 2023
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Final copy submitted to the library (including signed title page and abstract) – by May 1, 2024
Spring (January 16, 2024 - May 1, 2024):
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Choose thesis advisor - NOW (speak with Justin if you need help)
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Submit Thesis Registration Form – Jan. 16, 2024
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SPRING Banner Online Registration and Billing – announced by email Jan./Feb. 2024
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Final draft for conference – May 1, 2024
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Final copy due to the library (including signed title page and abstract) - by Sept. 1, 2024
