About the Program
Program Highlights
- Two degrees earned over three years.
- Preparation for teaching creative writing, literature, and composition at the college level.
About the Dual Degree
Students enrolled in the dual-degree program take MFA and MAE courses concurrently for the first two years. Once the MFA course work is completed after the second academic year, students then complete the remainder of their MA courses. Students are enrolled full-time for the duration of their time in the program, and are eligible to be Graduate Assistants for each of their three years. Full-time status for GA eligibility is nine-credits each semester.
Please note that dual-degree students may only pursue the literary and critical studies in the MAE program. Because the MFA program requires a creative writing thesis, students may not complete a second creative writing thesis for the MAE program.
Admission Requirements
Dual degree applicants must complete all admission requirements for the MFA and MAE programs (see individual MFA and MA catalog entries for details). Dual-degree students are also eligible for the same financial aid opportunities as those in the MA and MFA programs.
However, applicants should not submit two separate applications. When filling out the online application, please make sure to select “MFA/MAE Dual-Degree.”
The following requirements must be met:
- A graduate application, including a personal statement, which should be completed online at www.arcadia.edu/gradapp.
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a recommended GPA of 3.0 or better. The undergraduate major should be in one of the traditional liberal arts or in a professional or pre-professional field and accompanied by strong undergraduate training in English.
- One official transcript from each college, university or professional school attended. Transfer credits included on a transcript must include grades earned; if not, an official transcript from the original school must be submitted. Transcripts must be sent from the issuing school in a sealed envelope and contain the appropriate signatures and seals to be considered official.
- Two letters of recommendation. The letters must be of a professional not personal nature. If the student has been out of school five years or less, at least one letter must come from a professor.
- A personal interview with either or both program directors, if so requested.
- Writing samples, as requested on the application. Additional samples may be requested before a decision is made.
- International applicants should visit www.arcadia.edu/international for detailed information on admission requirements and application procedures. Official results from the TOEFL or IELTS are required for all students for whom English is a second language or who have not earned degrees or diplomas from post-secondary institutions in English- speaking countries (e.g. the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand). A course-by-course evaluation of all transcripts by an independent evaluation service based in the United States also is required.
All application materials must be sent to the Office of Enrollment Management.
Deadline
The priority deadline for admission in the fall is March 1. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis after that, as space allows, through August 1. After August 1, all applications will be considered for the following fall.
Note: The MFA program begins with the first residency in mid-August, which is listed as the Summer III semester. MAE courses begin, and MFA courses continue, with the start of the fall semester.
Financial Aid
Graduate students who have been accepted into a degree program and are enrolled for at least 6 credits per semester are eligible to apply for financial aid. Please visit www.arcadia.edu/financialaid for information regarding required forms and documents, most of which can be submitted online.
Graduate assistantships are available to all students registered for at least 9 credits per semester, or 6 credits throughout the summer session. Students may apply for assistantships upon acceptance and registration. Questions regarding graduate assistantships should be directed to the Department of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies at 215-572-2925.
Federal Loans
Graduate students are eligible to borrow through the federal Stafford Loan and federal PLUS Loan programs. Arcadia University, in partnership with AES/PHEAA, offers the no-fee Arcadia University Preferred Stafford Loan Program, which provides students with benefits that include: Origination and guarantee fee waivers Interest rate reduction during repayment Superior administration and servicing
All financial aid paperwork not submitted online should be sent to the Office of Enrollment Management/Financial Aid. Please email finaid@arcadia.edu or call 1-877- ARCADIA (1-877-272-2342) with additional questions.
Transfer Credit
Students may transfer up to six graduate credits to count towards the MAE program with approval from the Director of the Graduate Program in English. Due to the nature of the MFA program, no transfer credits are accepted.
Note: Transfer credits cannot be part of a prior degree
Degree Requirements
Dual degree students complete all the required workshops, practicums, residencies, and craft courses for the MFA program (36 credits), as well as the required courses, including the foundation courses, of the MAE program (33 credits). Students will consult regularly with the director of each program in order to make sure they are on track to complete the dual degrees on time. Please see individual Creative Writing, M.F.A. and English, M.A.E. catalog listings for specific course offerings and descriptions.
First Year Course Sequence
Summer
- M.F.A.: Residency I (3 Credits)
Fall
- M.F.A.: Workshop I & Practicum I (6 Credits)
- M.A.: Critical Writing (3 Credits)
Spring
- M.F.A.: Workshop II & Practicum II (6 Credits)
- M.A.: Course of student’s choice (3 Credits)
Second Year Course Sequence
Summer
- M.F.A.: Craft course (3 Credits) & Residency II in Edinburgh (3 Credits)
- M.A.: Course of student’s choice (3 Credits)
Fall
- M.F.A.: Workshop III & Practicum III (6 Credits)
- M.A.: Course of student’s choice (3 Credits)
Spring
- M.F.A.: Residency III, Workshop IV, & Practicum IV (9 Credits)
- M.A.: Course of student’s choice (3 Credits)
Third Year
Summer
- M.A.: Courses of student’s choice (3 Credits)
Fall
- M.A.: Courses of student’s choice (9 Credits)
Spring
- M.A.: Courses of student’s choice (9 Credits)
Total credit hours: 69
The programs, if done separately, would require 75 credits.
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