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College of Arts & Sciences Department of English & Writing: Basalt Low Residency Master of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing

Admission Requirements 

The Master of Fine Arts degree requires two types of admission: (a) Admission to the MFA program; and (b) Admission to Eastern Oregon University with “Graduate Student” status. Both applications should be submitted concurrently. Details are as follows:

Admission requirements for the MS program:

1. Grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0, calculated on either of the following two
options:

(a) Last 60 quarter hours completed of undergraduate upper-division coursework;

or

(b) 15 quarter hours of approved graduate-level coursework.

Two letters of professional reference attesting to the applicant’s ability to be successful in a graduate program.

A short (2 pp) essay explaining your reasons for wishing to pursue the MFA in Creative Writing.

4. Creative Portfolio (10-15 pp of poetry; 15-20 pp of fiction or non-fiction)

5. Admission to Eastern Oregon University with “Graduate Student” status.

Transfer Credits

[The MFA Program allows a limit of 15 graded graduate-level credits (quarter hours) to be transferred from another accredited graduate-level institution.] 

All graduate-level courses taken prior to program admission, and all graduate-level transfer courses, will be reviewed for appropriateness of transfer into the MFA program. Courses will not be accepted that are not appropriate to the MFA degree requirements.

Courses completed prior to seven academic years before admission will be reviewed for appropriateness of transfer into the MFA program, but are not guaranteed to be accepted.

Steps in Applying for the MFA Program

Step 1: Submit both the MFA Program Application and the EOU Graduate Admission application, along with all required supporting documents, and official transcripts.

Step 2: Enclose all admissions materials in one envelope and mail to:

Basalt Low Residency MFA Program Admissions
Eastern Oregon University
College of Arts & Science 154 Loso Hall
One University Blvd.
La Grande OR 97850

Special note regarding admission to EOU. 

All MFA students are required to be fully admitted to the MFA program and EOU in order to complete the MFA degree. However, some students may desire to enroll in Focus Area courses or Elective courses on a part-time/non-admitted status. (Enrollment in writing workshops requires full MFA program and EOU graduate student admission.) Part-time and/or non-admitted course enrollment is allowed, but with the following important exceptions:

(1) Graduate student admission to EOU is required if a student will be registering for more than eight credits in any given term.

  1. Graduate student admission to EOU, and MFA Program admission is required, regardless of the number of registered credits per term, in order to receive financial aid.

Financial aid is available both for full-time and part-time graduate students. Contact the EOU Financial Aid office at 541-962-3550 for information regarding submission of the FAFSA form and application procedures.

Remember: All MFA students must be fully admitted both to EOU and the MFA program in order to enroll in any of the writing workshops and to receive the MFA degree. Students are strongly encouraged to apply for admission early in the program.

Please contact our office (541-962-XXXX) for assistance with any application items.