Doctor of Philosophy in English - Creative Writing

Consistently ranked among the top writing programs in the country, Florida State University's Creative Writing Program has an internationally recognized reputation of excellence. Among our faculty are winners of the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, and the National Poetry Series. Our faculty is not only dedicated to the craft of their own writing, but is also widely known for strong mentorship and committed teaching.
Our students are respected as some of the strongest emerging and established voices in writing today, frequently going on to meaningful careers in academia, and publishing their work with some of the most respected presses in the country. Located in the heart of Tallahassee, a capital city with Southern charm, our program offers a thriving community to all writers who are looking to strengthen their craft while building life-long relationships in writing.
The Graduate Program in English offers the Masters of Arts (M.A.), Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. Students in the M.A. program emphasize one of two tracks: (1) Literature, Media, and Culture, (2) Rhetoric and Composition. M.F.A. students emphasize Creative Writing. Students pursuing an M.A. in Literature, Media, and Culture must complete the Capstone Course in Professional Writing (ENG 5971). See the Graduate Handbook for description. Students in Rhetoric and Composition may write a thesis or take a portfolio examination. Creative Writing students present a body of creative work for the thesis. All Ph.D. students satisfy core requirements in literature, language study, and literary theory. Students then take comprehensive examinations and write dissertations in fields such as Medieval and Early Modern British Literary and Cultural Studies (through 1660), British and Irish Literary and Cultural Studies: 1660-1900, Post-1900 Literary and Cultural Studies (American, British, Irish), American Literary and Cultural Studies to 1900, African-American Literary and Cultural Studies, History of Text Technologies, Feminism, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Colonial, Postcolonial, and Transnational Literary and Cultural Studies, and Publishing and Editing.

A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while enrolled as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor's degree
Statement of Purpose
250-500 words describing the applicant's academic and professional experience and goals
Students applying for the MFA or PhD in Creative Writing should specify intended genre (poetry, fiction, non-fiction) within their statement of purpose
2. R'sum/Curriculum Vita
3. Writing Sample
4. Unofficial Transcripts
5. At least three letters of recommendation through the electronic application
Official transcripts
Internet based TOEFL (IBTOEFL): 80
Paper based TOEFL (TOEFL): 550
International English Language Testing System (Academic IELTS): 6.5