Low Residency MFA in Creative Writing

Three students studying in a room with laptops

Our Low Residency Creative Writing MFA Program

Develop your creative routine and become a self-motivated writer. Write at home throughout the academic year and engage in intensive 10-day residencies in Portland in the summer and winter. This model offers flexibility for working professionals or those who are unable to relocate full-time. The program welcomes writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, literary translation, and cross-genre work.

Why choose a low residency MFA in creative writing program at Pacific Northwest College of Art?

One-on-one mentorship. Students are paired with a professional writer who will offer guidance and support throughout the year.
Learn on your schedule. The low-residency model allows you to create work at your own pace and develop a writing practice that fits into your life.
A strong writing community. During the residencies, students can engage with Portland’s thriving literary scene – from local presses and bookstores to literary events.

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Student Success

R. Stranger MFA '24 has created a signature creative writing style by treating writing as visual art and taking a multimedia approach. By using different mediums, they have discovered a way to communicate their ideas and experience.

R. Stanger's Story

R. Stranger MFA’24 combines creative writing and visual arts in their multimedia approach to art

Because PNCA emphasizes multidisciplinary creative work, there are opportunities for artists like R. Stranger to experiment and develop their voice. Having access to a personal studio space as well as every lab, tool, and resource on campus fueled their creative exploration.

View Story

Multiple opportunities to show their work helped R. Stranger build their confidence and gain professional experience -- from presenting zines at the Symposium to displaying photography at Lightbox Photographic Gallery's New Visionaries exhibit.

Alumni Stories

Graduates of our creative writing program have gone on to publish unique and powerful works. They’ve built on the creative practice they developed as a student and continued to experiment with their writing. With a terminal degree, they have gone on to have an impact in the arts world and beyond.

Alumni Stories

Diana Oropeza MFA '23

Diana Oropeza is a writer and performer based in Portland, Oregon. She studied journalism and media at UC Berkeley and earned an MFA in creative writing from the Pacific Northwest College of Art. She performs spoken word in two musical projects, The Social Stomach and CHIBI, and is also a member of Yelling Choir. In 2020, she self-published a poetry chapbook titled Origin Story. Her latest work, An Incomplete Catalog of Disappearance, is set to be released by Future Tense Books in October 2024.

Introducing Some of Our Faculty

Our faculty is made up of accomplished writers who have won a variety of awards for their work. Each faculty member brings a unique perspective and style, allowing us to pair students with mentors who suit their own needs. We also invite writers and speakers from the Portland community and beyond to host talks and offer critiques.

Alejandro de Acosta
Stephanie Adams-Santos
Jess Arndt
Jennifer S. Cheng
Matt Hart
Sara Jaffe
Megan Milks
Poupeh Missaghi
Lara Mimosa Montes
Vi Khi Nao
Jay Ponteri
Emilly Prado
Alison C Rollins
Brandon Shimoda
Dao Strom
Asiya Wadud

Curriculum

Throughout the year, students work under the guidance of a mentor to experiment and create compelling work. Every three weeks, students submit work to faculty mentors in addition to brief essays on forms and methods, an ongoing reading list, and a letter addressing their writing process and responding to substantive feedback from the mentors. During the summer and winter residencies, students engage in focused writing and critique sessions.

Low Residency Creative Writing Courses

Grass Roots Publishing

Writers can learn how to make books with specific instructions in letterpress printing, zine making, book design, various kinds of binding, and printmaking. We can also help with internships at small presses.
Conferences

Our program will have a presence at the AWP Conference, at both onsite recruitment and offsite reading/performance events. We encourage students to attend events like AWP and MLA.
Residency

At each residency, faculty mentors, guest artists, and students give readings and presentations of their work. Residencies include talks and workshops about the various ways writers can perform their work for others.

Program Requirements

The Low Residency MFA in Creative Writing program requires a residency course be taken each semester, in addition to a combination of Creative Writing Studio and Forms & Methods courses. The program culminates in a Creative Writing Thesis and a final residency for thesis presentation and graduation. The residencies provide intensive workshops and mentorship, while the studio and methods courses focus on developing writing skills and understanding literary forms.

Program Requirements

Admissions

Students gathering around a table smiling and chatting with people projected on a projection screen

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Hallie Ford School of Graduate Studies offers renewable Merit Scholarships to students who demonstrate aptitude in their areas of creative practice. Merit scholarships are assessed based on the strength of the student’s application. In awarding merit scholarships we consider each student’s portfolio (if applying to a studio-based program), personal history of scholastic achievement, as well as their contributions to culture and community. No separate application is required to be considered for merit scholarships.

Financial Aid

Tuition and Fees