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Creative Writing Hero

How to Apply

Are you ready to explore your passion for writing fiction or poetry? Do you want to learn from exemplary authors and interact with award-winning faculty members? Students in the Creative Writing Program study the craft of writing, nurture their imagination and intuition, and develop critical thinking skills—all while creating a portfolio of original work.

Students sitting at desk

Graduate Program

The MFA in creative writing is a rigorous and highly competitive two-year residency based on the studio concept. Each year, we admit only five students in fiction and five in poetry. Our program emphasizes writing workshops, integrating concentrated time for writing with craft seminars and individualized reading tutorials. Past MFA graduates have included PEN-Hemingway Award winner Chang-rae Lee, Yale Younger Poet winner Brigit Pegeen Kelly, and National Poetry Prize winner Eugene Gloria, among many others.

Linguistics: Incoming Students

Incoming Students

Unlock your creativity and self-expression with a minor in creative writing. At the University of Oregon, you’ll learn about the craft by critically examining literary works and honing your writing skills through brief writing exercises under the guidance of award-winning authors and poets. Within our renowned program, you’ll experience a broad range of approaches to writing through introductory, intermediate, and advanced writing courses in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.

Current UO Students

Current UO Students

Take advantage of one of the nation’s oldest creative writing programs by complementing your major with a minor in creative writing. Our undergraduate students represent a variety of majors, including journalism, public relations, English, art history, sociology, psychology, and political science. 

You’ll develop valuable critical thinking and interpretive skills while unleashing your imagination and honing your writing abilities. You can also workshop your works in progress in a studio environment through the Walter and Nancy Kidd Creative Writing Workshops, which are available to all UO students.

Scholarships and Funding

Need help funding your education? Apply for undergraduate scholarships from a variety of sources and learn more about funding options to support your graduate studies.

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http://crwr.uoregon.edu

Jason Brown, Program Director 541-346-0510 208 Alder Building 5243 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon 97403-5243

Daniel Anderson, professor (poetry). BA, 1987, Cincinnati; MA, 1989, Johns Hopkins. (2010)

Jason Brown, associate professor (fiction). BA, 1991, Bowdoin; MFA, 1995, Cornell. (2011)

Marjorie Celona, associate professor (fiction). BA, 2006, Victoria; MFA, 2009, Iowa. (2015)

Geri Doran, professor (poetry). BA, 1986, Vassar; MFA, 1995, Florida. (2007)

Garrett K. Hongo, College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor (poetry). BA, 1973, Pomona; MFA, 1980, California, Irvine. (1989)

Mat Johnson, Philip H. Knight Chair of the Humanities, professor (fiction), BA, 1993, Earlham College; MFA, 1999, Columbia. (2018)

Brian Trapp, Kidd Program Director, career instructor (fiction), BA, 2005, Ohio University; PhD, 2015, Cincinnati. (2015) 

Karen Thompson Walker, assistant professor (fiction). BA, 2002, California, Los Angeles; MFA, 2006, Columbia. (2017)

Richard M. Lyons, professor emeritus. BA, 1957, Brooklyn; MFA, 1962, Iowa. (1969)

The date in parentheses at the end of each entry is the first year on the University of Oregon faculty.

Undergraduate Program

Graduate program, major - master's degree.

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