Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Catalog | 2022-2023 
    
Graduate Catalog | 2022-2023 Previous Edition

English, M.A., and Creative Writing, M.F.A., Dual Degree


The Department of English, in partnership with Kingston University London (KUL), offers a dual degree program in which a student may earn an M.A. in English with a Concentration in Creative Writing from UNC Charlotte and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from KUL. The program aims to enable students to develop as creative writers through practice in more than one genre and through the creatively engaged study of literature, as well as to prepare students for professional advancement in fields such as writing, editing, publishing, or teaching on the secondary or college levels.

Admission Requirements


Students must have a B.A. in English or substantial coursework in English courses; some creative writing courses are desirable but not required. 

Applications must be submitted online through the Graduate School at gradadmissions.charlotte.edu/apply by February 1.  Materials to include:

  • Application and fee
  • Transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended
  • Three academic letters of recommendation (preferably from instructors who can address the student’s writing achievements and potential)
  • Statement of purpose (750 words maximum) tailored to the dual degree program, addressing whether the student is applying in poetry or fiction, their interests in writing and ambitions, their background and reasons for applying for this program, and how they are suited to handle an intensive program with an accelerated pace
  • Creative writing sample (in PDF format) demonstrating highest quality recent work (for details, see the Department of English website at english.uncc.edu/graduate-program-information/mamfa-dual-degree-program)

Note: Standardized test scores (e.g., GRE, GMAT, MAT) are not required.

Please note that students admitted to the UNC Charlotte M.A. program are conditionally admitted to the KU M.F.A. provided the student meets all UNC Charlotte requirements during the first year. They must perform satisfactorily, and complete all 24 credit hours, at UNC Charlotte before continuing on to KU to complete the M.F.A. requirements.  This is a full-time residency program; part-time status or online courses are not options.  Fall admission only.

Degree Requirements


This is a 36 credit hour program in which students earn 24 credit hours at UNC Charlotte in their first year, and spend one year at Kingston University London (KUL) to earn the additional 12 credit hours required for the M.A.  Students take additional modules at KUL to meet the requirements for the M.F.A.  This program requires a thesis to be written while at KUL that also satisfies the research portion of the UNC Charlotte degree.  

UNC Charlotte Courses (24 credit hours)


Students spend their first academic year at UNC Charlotte and take the following:

Core Course (3 credit hours)


Elective Poetry Writing Course (3 credit hours)


Select one of the following:

Elective Creative Writing Courses (6 credit hours)


Elective Literature Courses (6 credit hours)


Select two of the following, one of which must be in modern and/or contemporary literature:

Unrestricted Elective Course (3 credit hours)


Select any graduate ENGL course:

  • ENGL 5XXX - English Elective Course (3)
  • ENGL 6XXX - English Elective Course (3)

KUL Courses (12 credit hours)


In the second year of the program at KUL, students take the following modules:

  • Advanced writers workshop
  • Teaching creative writing
  • Reading for writers
  • Visiting speakers
  • Research presentations
  • Advanced dissertation project

12 credit hours of thesis taken at KUL is applied to the UNC Charlotte M.A. in English as M.A. project hours (ENGL 6895 ).  In both semesters of the second year, students also register for the following UNC Charlotte placeholder course (no credit hours, no fees):

  • ENGL 6777 - UNCC-ENGLMFA (0)

Students in good standing who are unable to proceed to KUL in their second year may opt to continue in the M.A. in English  at UNC Charlotte.

Dual Degree Total = 36 Credit Hours


Grade Requirements


All courses counted toward the degree must be taken with grades of A or B received.  A course in which a graduate student receives a grade of C is not allowable as part of the 36 required credit hours.  Students earning C grades in their first year will be ineligible for the KUL M.F.A. but may opt to continue in the M.A. in English  at UNC Charlotte.