CCA News
Prestigious Schaeffer Fellowship in Poetry Awarded to MFA Writing Student
Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2008, by Jim Norrena
Congratulations to Andy Nicholson, 2006 graduate of CCA's MFA Program in Writing, who is a recipient of the Schaeffer Fellowship in poetry. This fall he began the PhD in English program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
UNLV's PhD in English with a creative dissertation focuses on English and American literature with the goal of preparing students to pursue writing careers—be they instructional at the college or university level or based in editing or publishing. The Atlantic heralded the program as among the top five in the nation.
Initiated in 2001, the highly competitive Schaeffer Fellowship is disbursed over a three-year period. It includes a $50,000 stipend, $25,000 for graduate teaching assistance, and 100 percent tuition remission. The cumulative net worth amounts to $87,000.
The university awards two Schaeffer Fellowships each year: one in poetry, the other in fiction. Each is intended "to support emerging writers of promise." (Review where past Schaeffer Fellows have had their work published.)
As a requirement, candidates for the PhD in English with a creative dissertation must hold an MA in English or MFA in creative writing. Additionally, only Schaeffer Fellowship awardees are admitted to the PhD program. The fellowship is designed to help students build on their existing literary education by having them further explore distinct areas of study: historical, genres, major figures, as well as various subjects in creative writing.
Read the complete description (PDF) of the PhD in English with a creative dissertation program, including requirements for admission.
Read about the MFA in Writing Program, including the impressive lineup of authors who will lecture at CCA as part of the program's Writers' Series.