How to Get a Master's Degree in Writing Take a lifelong love of reading and writing to a graduate level with a master's degree in writing. With a master's in writing, you choose among professional and artistic training to learn more about the profession that fascinates you. How to Earn a Master's Degree in Writing Whether you're looking for a creative writing MFA or a professional technical writing MA or MATC, it's important to take some time to research potential schools. The research process is essential for you as a potential student; it gives you a chance to learn more about writing schools across the country, shape your own preferences, and ultimately guide your application process.

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How to Get a Master's Degree in Writing

Take a lifelong love of reading and writing to a graduate level with a master's degree in writing. With a master's in writing, you choose among professional and artistic training to learn more about the profession that fascinates you. How to Earn a Master's Degree in Writing Whether you're looking for a creative writing MFA or a professional technical writing MA or MATC, it's important to take some time to research potential schools. The research process is essential for you as a potential student; it gives you a chance to learn more about writing schools across the country, shape your own preferences, and ultimately guide your application process.

Step 1: Consider Different Types of Writing Degrees

As a prospective writing master's degree student, you have a lot of options in terms of your future degree. From professional writing degrees to studio-based workshop study to theory and research, your interests should guide your degree choice. Consider the different degree types you can earn:

• Master of Arts (MA): Students of MA programs in writing typically mix writing practice with theory and research. The MA is not considered a terminal degree, and graduates often go on to earn a PhD before teaching in higher education.
• Master of Fine Arts (MFA): The studio-based MFA degree offers workshops and instruction on the art of writing. The MFA is still considered a terminal degree by many colleges and universities, though the rising popularity of the PhD in creative writing is changing the way some hiring managers in community colleges and universities view the MFA among applicants.
• Master of Professional Writing (MPW): A relatively new addition to writing degrees, the MPW teaches art and craft with an emphasis on working as a professional in the field after graduation. Forms like screenwriting, literary non-fiction, fiction, and poetry are stressed in an interdisciplinary approach.
• Master of Technical Communication (MATC): This professional degree prepares students to work in technical writing fields. Theories of rhetoric, composition, and information technology applications are emphasized.

Because no one degree is superior to the rest, you should pick the degree or degrees that work best with your career goals and personal interests. Note that MPW and MATC degrees are a somewhat rare distinction, and may be bundled into MFA or MA programs. Learn more about writing majors in general with WorldWideLearn.com's guide to writing majors.

Step 2: Think About Writing Master's Degree Specializations

After you've considered the different degrees you can pursue, it's time to research the specializations you'll find within a writing master's degree. Here are a few of the most popular specializations found within a writing MA, MFA, MPW, or MATC:

• Fiction
• Literary Non-Fiction
• Poetry
• Screenwriting
• Playwriting
• Technical Writing
• Children's Writing
• Professional Writing
• Food Writing

Whether you're interested in working as a restaurant reviewer, a freelance music critic, a novelist, or another type of writer, you can explore and expand your concept of the craft and the profession with a master's degree. Narrow your focus with a specialization, or keep your options broad and learn more about the career as a whole. With a master's degree in writing, the choice is yours.

Step 3: Consider Different Course Delivery Methods

No two writing master's degree programs are alike. The differences start in the way you can earn the degree itself. While the thought of a master's degree might have you picturing hours in a classroom, today's master's degree programs offer a range of options to students. Take a look at a few popular writing master's degree course delivery methods:

• Online master's degree in writing: Earn a master's degree online and complete your course of study from anywhere in the world. Students who like to work independently, working adults, and those who travel frequently enjoy this learning method.
• Low-residency master's degree in writing: The low-residency master's degree in writing, typically offered with an MFA, gives students a chance to come together for a focused course of study, spending a few weeks or months together with peers and professors over the year before returning home to work and study independently.
• Campus-based master's degree in writing: This traditional model requires classroom attendance and features face-to-face interaction with fellow students and faculty. Students enjoy workshops and the community aspect of a campus-based degree program.

Again, your preferences as a student help dictate the type of course delivery method you enjoy best. Learn more about individual programs and you can create a picture of the type of writing master's degree you hope to earn. Learn more about online education using WorldWideLearn.com's E-learning essentials page.

Step 4: Compile a List of Potential Writing Master's Degree Programs

When you've looked at course delivery methods and determined your basic needs as a student, you can begin to compile a list of preferred master's degree programs in writing. Your initial list should have a range of schools and might include both campus-based and online master's degree programs. Use these resources to get started:

• WorldWideLearn.com maintains two listings for master's degrees in writing: online writing master's degrees, and campus-based writing master's degrees. Specializations include technical writing, creative writing, and children's book writing, with both MA and MFA writing options.
• Poets & Writers maintains a list of the top fifty MFA program rankings. Schools are ranked by votes, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, funding, selectivity, and postgraduate placement.
• See more MFA writing programs offered by Poets & Writers. Rankings are created by a voting system and may not fully represent a program's quality or fit with individual students.
• The Society for Technical Communication maintains an academic programs database, searchable by degree level, country, and state. You can restrict your search to technical writing degree programs offering only online degrees.

These potential programs all offer different options for you as a student. After you've confirmed the accreditation of each school on your list, you can begin to narrow down your options to the strongest schools.

Step 5: Determine Master's Degree Program Accreditation Status

Now that you've established a list of potential writing master's degree programs, it's time to confirm the current accreditation status of each school on your list. Accreditation is the process by which a third-party agency measures a school for quality. Accreditation agencies measure schools by examining:

• Financial records
• Hiring practices
• Academic records
• Faculty quality

If a school passes this process and becomes accredited, it is recognized as a quality source of education. Both campus-based and online master's degree programs are subject to accreditation, which gives you the power to control your education's quality. Make sure each school on your list is accredited and you'll enjoy a range of benefits:

• Eligibility for federal financial aid, including grants and loans
• Confidence that your degree is recognized by hiring managers and schools
• Quality education recognized by the U.S. Department of Education

Confirming accreditation is essential. Fortunately, it's simple to check every school on your list. Use the U.S. Department of Education's searchable database to look up schools by name or location. For more information on accreditation, see WorldWideLearn.com's accreditation answers page.

Step 6: Focus Your List of Writing Master's Degree Programs

At this point, you should have confirmed the accreditation status of each school on your list. Now, you can narrow down your options for writing master's degree programs. Consider your long list in terms of a few simple categories, and your preferences as a student will emerge. Use these categories to personalize your list of potential schools:

• Application: Every writing degree program comes with its own application requirements. You may need to provide undergraduate transcripts, GRE and TOEFL test scores, professional recommendation letters, a resume, and more. Organize your applications to meet each deadline.
• Rankings: Program rankings, like those published by Poets & Writers, are one way to begin your writing program search. As your search continues, remember that rankings aren't the final word on a school's quality. Think about program rankings along with elements like application, location, cost, faculty, and your personal preferences.
• Aesthetic: When it comes to MFA writing programs, each school has its own personal aesthetic for writers. Look for schools that feature coursework, faculty publications, or graduate publications that appeal to you, and seek out a program with a style that matches your own.
• Cost: Elements like cost of living, tuition, and fees can make your master's degree add up. Consider financial aid options such as loans, grants, stipends, and scholarships. One school could offer a teaching stipend and training, while another might waive out-of-state tuition. Think about the expenses involved with each program and look for a school that offers you an attractive financial aid package.
• Faculty: Learn about the professors who will help shape your writing master's degree. Read faculty publications in order to learn more about faculty members in your writing program. In technical writing programs, check out faculty biographies and professional publications. Overall, try to choose strong departments instead of basing your interest on a single faculty member who might go on a writing sabbatical or leave entirely.
• Other Perks: After considering the essential categories, think about the extras offered by each writing department. You might be tempted with especially interesting coursework, teacher training, internships, and other perks. This last category may help you weed out a few programs, leaving the strongest on your list.

Personalize your writing degree to your needs as a student. This step of the process takes time and research, but it's essential to your happiness as a student. After you've thought about different elements within each writing program, you'll have learned more about each school on your list as well as enhanced your own preferences. Use this knowledge to begin the application process.

Step 7: Apply for Writing Master's Degree Programs

By now, you should be ready to send applications to the top writing programs on your list. You've completed the research process and learned more about each school and your individual preferences. As you complete your applications, keeping the following in mind:

• Personalization: Think about each school as you write your application letters. Some writing programs place a heavier weight on graduate test scores like the GRE, while others are more interested in your writing sample and goals. Let your multifaceted strengths shine by varying your application letter for each school.
• Preferences: Just as you have your own preferences for master's degree programs in writing, writing programs themselves are likely to have a preference. Some MFA programs may prefer traditional writers, while others lean toward experimental work. Recognize that a school's preferences for students does not reflect on your quality as a writer.
• Deadlines: Keep up with important deadlines throughout the application process. Each school may have different deadlines for application packets, transcripts, and test scores. Use a calendar to keep track of the deadlines and stay on top of the detailed process.

In your search for the best writing master's degree programs, the research process takes time. You'll find the rewards of your work when you enroll in an MA, MFA, MATC, or MPW program that inspires you as a writer and truly suits your personality.

Sources

• 2010 MFA Rankings: The Additional 88 Programs Poets & Writers
• 2010 MFA Rankings: The Top Fifty Poets & Writers
• Academic Database Society for Technical Communication
• Accreditation Search U.S. Department of Education
• MA in Technical Communication Texas State University
• MPA: Who We Are University of Southern California

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