MA in writing
Whether your passion lies in creative writing, publishing or professional communication, you can take your writing skills to the next level with Rowan’s master’s degree in writing.
Why choose Rowan’s writing program?
Writing isn’t just about words on a page; it’s about shaping stories and ideas that can influence and impact your audience. Rowan University’s Master of Arts (MA) in writing degree gives you the flexibility to design a program that fits your interests.
In this interdisciplinary degree program, explore areas such as creative writing, publishing and editing, writing studies and pedagogy, or you can blend them into one course of study that reflects your goals. Along the way, you’ll build a portfolio that demonstrates your versatility and gain real-world experience through internships, our Teaching Experience Program and more.
Because writing is central to many fields, the MA in writing degree program prepares you for a wide range of career paths and advanced study. Some students pursue roles in publishing, professional or technical communication or digital media, while others go on to teach or undergo doctoral work. By completing the program, you’ll learn how to expand your knowledge across genres and discover the impact writing can have in your community and career.
Key considerations
Quick Facts
Semesters To Complete
Credits
Application Deadlines
Fall Early Decision
Fall Entry Term
Spring Entry Term
Studying writing at Rowan
What You’ll Learn
In Rowan’s master’s in writing degree program, you’ll take 10 courses over 30 credit hours and four semesters. The curriculum includes four required courses that cover writing theory, research methods and two seminar capstone experiences.
Your six elective classes give you the freedom to experiment across genres and contexts. You might study a poetry collection in one semester and explore writing fiction in the next. Throughout each course, you’ll deepen your critical reading and research skills and learn how to adapt your writing to different audiences and purposes. This versatility makes the program a great fit for aspiring authors, editors, educators and any professional looking to elevate their communication abilities.
Writing key courses
- Core I: Theories and Techniques of Writing
- Core II: Research Methods for Writers
- Seminar I
- Seminar II
Note: The course information above is not official and is subject to change. For an official list of available courses, please review the Rowan University Academic Catalog.
Graduate certificates in writing
Rowan University offers three nine-credit Certificates of Graduate Study (COGS) in:
- Creative Writing
- Editing and Publishing for Writers
- Writing Composition and Rhetoric
Note: Students can apply credits from a graduate certificate program to their Master of Arts in writing degree.
Accelerated Dual Degree
How You'll Learn
Discover the many opportunities you’ll have at Rowan to apply course topics in real-world environments and relevant projects.
- Internships: Build industry experience through internships with Glassworks, Rowan’s internationally circulated literary magazine, or Singularity Press, a nonprofit publishing house within our Writing Arts Department. You can also explore external placements with area publishers, nonprofits and other organizations.
- Tutoring Positions: Apply to work as a tutor in the Rowan Writing Center, where you’ll support fellow students, sharpen your own skills and earn competitive hourly pay.
- Capstone Experience: In the Seminar I and II sequence, you’ll design and complete a major project of your choice in the genre that best fits your goals. The outcome of the capstone experience is a polished portfolio piece that will stand out during your job search.
- Small Classes & Faculty Mentorship: Class sizes average six to 15 students, which means you can work closely with your peers and professors.
Teaching Experience Program
If you’re considering teaching as part of your career path, Rowan’s Teaching Experience Program (TEP) gives you the opportunity to step into the classroom while completing your MA in writing degree program. Through TEP, you can apply to teach first-year college composition courses at Rowan as a paid adjunct instructor, earning income at the same rate and biweekly schedule as other adjuncts. To prepare, you’ll complete a four-week, online “mini course” and attend a three-day summer orientation. Not only does participating in TEP help offset tuition costs, but it also provides invaluable teaching experience.
Admission Requirements
Join our community of storytellers by completing these admission requirements. Once you apply, someone from the Rowan University Office of Admissions will contact you to confirm your application status or request any missing items. There may be additional actions or materials required for admission to the program.
- Completed application
- $65 nonrefundable application fee
- Bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited institution of higher learning
- Recommended minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended (regardless of number of credits earned)
- Current professional résumé
- Two letters of recommendation
- Letters of recommendation should be from professional administrators and include information that attests to your ability to pursue a graduate degree. If you have graduated in the past five years, one letter must be from a professor.
- Essay
- Submit a statement of purpose essay of approximately 500 words that answers the following: What is your mission or calling as a writer, and how do you see our program helping you move closer to living out your goals? In answering this question, you might:
- Place your objectives within a context that includes your past experience.
- Provide details about the kind of writing you see yourself doing in the future, either personally or in your professional life.
- Discuss how you hope to grow as a writer through graduate study.
- Include your educational goals beyond the master’s level, if relevant.
- Use the statement as an opportunity to craft an essay that demonstrates your writing skills and voice.
- Submit a statement of purpose essay of approximately 500 words that answers the following: What is your mission or calling as a writer, and how do you see our program helping you move closer to living out your goals? In answering this question, you might:
- Writing sample
- Submission must be 8-10 pages that demonstrate your writing ability in at least two of the following: creative writing, composition studies, professional writing, multimedia or multimodal composition or academic writing.
Tuition and Aid
Rowan is committed to affordability and access. Financial aid options are available to help you succeed.
Learn more about financial assistance for Rowan's graduate programs.
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