Nonfiction (MFA)
Time to degree: Three years (38 credits)
Part-time options are available
As a student in the Nonfiction MFA program at Columbia College Chicago, you’ll explore the world of nonfiction writing, from autobiographies and essays to memoirs and travel writing—and you’ll explore it on your own terms. This growing genre and its many styles and forms blur the line between the journalistic and the literary. With guidance and encouragement from faculty members who understand the nuances of creative nonfiction writing, you’ll experiment with different forms and styles.
By developing effective reading, writing, editing, and critical thinking strategies, you’ll make your own work even stronger and establish a foundation for creating original nonfiction.
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In the Classroom
While studying various forms of nonfiction, you’ll have opportunities for cross-genre collaboration, working with students and faculty members in both Fiction and Poetry.
As you finish your MFA program, you’ll build on your work from previous classes to create a substantial thesis with the help of a faculty member.
But there’s so much more:
- Teach as a graduate student instructor or teaching assistant.
- Increase your exposure to a variety of professional opportunities through an internship.
- Participate in the student-run 33 Reading Series, which features readings by MFA students in Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry.
- Create reading series, journals, or presses of your own.
Faculty
In Columbia College Chicago’s Nonfiction MFA program, you’ll foster close working relationships with our award-winning faculty members. These practicing, publishing writers serve as artistic role models who inspire you to take creative risks and guide you as you share your work with the broader literary community.
Associate Professor Jenny Boully
Our faculty includes award-winning, experimental nonfiction writers:
- Jenny Boully
- Aviya Kushner
- David Lazar
- Patricia Ann McNair
- Sam Weller
Opportunities for Graduate Students
Columbia College Chicago offers several opportunities for graduate students, including scholarships, assistantships, and instructing opportunities.
Alumni
Chicago: A City of Writers
Chicago offers a diverse range of literary styles and genres as well as a welcoming environment for new writers. From live lit readings and local printing presses to internships at global companies, you’ll enjoy a world of opportunities as a Nonfiction MFA candidate at Columbia College Chicago.
Creative Writing Reading Series
As a graduate student in the Nonfiction MFA program, you’ll have a front row seat to these shows and may even get an opportunity to read your own work.