Master of Arts in Writing

Offered in Asheville

The Master of Arts in Writing program is designed to prepare students for careers in creative writing, professional and technical writing, the teaching of writing, and/or the development of advanced writing skills as a powerful tool within one’s chosen profession. In addition to fundamental courses in rhetorical theory, editing, and publishing, students will participate in a journey of discovery - exploring the evolution of a literary genre through reading select works. Students will build upon the core by participating in highly individualized writing intensive workshops. Finally, students will develop a sense of purposeful writing through an engaged internship and a guided portfolio of professional and publishable quality. The program features academic rigor, instruction from a cadre of professional writers, and flexibility in design.

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Writing Program at the Thomas Wolfe Center for Narrative Healthcare at Lenoir-Rhyne University offers graduate-level and certificate courses in Creative Writing and Narrative Healthcare in Thomas Wolfe’s hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. The Master of Arts in Writing degree engages scholarship in literature, narrative theory, and creative process development to prepare graduates to be the storytellers and story interpreters in professional and cultural environments. Students will participate in a journey of discovery, exploring the evolution of literary genres, paired with a series of supportive, intensive close reading and writing workshops.

Faculty

All faculty in the Writing program are appropriately credentialed. In addition to established writers, a variety of community professionals employed in various relevant settings will provide instruction and guidance.

Program Structure

This program is flexible enough to fit the schedule of anyone, whether entering directly from an undergraduate program, in mid-career, or considering a career change. Courses are held in the evenings for the convenience of working students. The length of time to complete this program varies based on class load and the scheduling of classes. The program can be completed on average in two years or can be taken at a pace conducive to the student’s schedule.

Admission Requirements

Candidates for admission to the Master of Arts in Writing program must meet the following criteria:

1. Submit official transcripts from all colleges attended demonstrating successful or pending completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Minimum cumulative GPA is a 2.7;
2. Submit an official copy of either the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or the GRE (unless Career Admission Track applies). Minimum MAT score is a 390; minimum GRE scores are Verbal 147, Quantitative 147, and Analytical Writing 3.5;
3. If Career Admission Track applies, or if the applicant meets one of the other criteria for waiving the standardized test score, submit one letter of professional recommendation through the online application;
4. Submit a writing sample clearly articulating goals and life experiences that have impacted the student’s decision to pursue a graduate degree in Writing;
5. A resume or portfolio highlighting the applicant’s experience or body of work;
6. Submit a CV or Resume;
7. Be available for an interview upon request.
8. The admissions committee determines admissions decisions based on the whole application and reserves the right to admit, provisionally admit, waitlist, or deny applicants on this policy.