Jerome Said:

What can I do with a PhD in creative writing?

We Answered:

If you devote your life's work to the thing you are most passionate about, it doesn't matter what the "job market" is like, you will be successful. You may not become financially wealthy, but you will be HAPPY, which is far more important - and valuable.

EDIT @ Jasmine
I didn't say "follow your dreams." People who "dream" about the things they want rarely get them. I said WORK, and when you work for what you want, and you persevere, you get it. I'm guessing you're a 20-something little twit who hasn't achieved much of anything in her own life, but thinks she knows it all. I know plenty of people who chose to get an education for a "practical" career, and now they're stuck doing something they hate with a mountain of debt in school loans. When you love what you do, it's not work. Assuming you even have a job, I'm sure you'd be one of masses who live for the weekend, long for Friday, and dread Mondays. I've hired plenty of losers like you.

(BTW, before you call someone "stupid" learn how to use proper vocabulary. The correct term is "It's YOUR life", not "it's you're life." 'You're' is a contraction of you and are. You should have learned this in fourth grade.)

Freddie Said:

Masters/PhD in Creative Writing...What is a MFA?

We Answered:

There are very few schools that offer a PhD in creative writing because the two aren't really very compatible. The same is true of studio art, theater, and music performance.

A PhD is a research degree that requires an original contribution to knowledge in the field. Creative Writing is an art that requires original works creation but of an aesthetic nature - not academic. In other words, do you want to write about creative writing or do you want to create some creative writing? The PhD is about the former, an MFA is about creating your art.

An MFA (Master of Fine Arts) is the terminal degree in the studio arts fields. This includes most of the visual arts (painting, sculpture, photography) as well as the writing arts and particularly fiction.

You can seek tenured positions in a university with the terminal degree in your field and, in creative writing, that's the MFA. But, you'll be seeking positions as a teacher of creative writing, not English or literature. For the latter you'd need a PhD in Literature. The two areas are different.

A Master of Fine Arts degree is usually three-four years after the bachelor's degree and culminates in presentation of a creative work. For writers it's usually a publication quality (or published) book.

A PhD in English or Literature is usually about 3 years above the master's degree (1.5 years past the bachelor's) and culminates in a dissertation (publication quality research about literature).

The MA (Master of Arts) is a lower degree level than is the MFA in that an MA is not usually the terminal degree in a field. With an MA in English (or that MFA with 18 grad hours in English) you can seek instructor appointments at the community college level in English and Literature.

If you want to see what is really required in order to get hired (it's not always a PhD) you want to look at actual job opening announcements. The Chronicle of Higher Education is the place to look at those. http://chronicle.com/section/Jobs/61/

Right now there are four positions that come up with a search on "creative writing". Not a good sign that's a great path to follow for college teaching. The reason there are so few is that creative writing is rarely an undergraduate major - there just isn't a high demand for teachers and those that have the job tend not to quit.

Wayne State ( http://chronicle.com/jobs/0000624051-01 ) has one for example that wants: "Completed MFA or PhD required for appointment at rank of Assistant Professor" -- Asst Professor is a tenure track appointment.

There are far more opportunities for PhD English holders but there are also a lot of people with that degree who want the job.

Gordon Said:

Impressions of the PhD Creative Writing Program (poetry) at the University of Denver?

We Answered:

Ivy league schools are for contacts for help in the future and name professors, hopefully that really know what they are talking about and can teach it. The real secret is in the information now coming out about the role of intuition and emotional intelligence in all genius and the greats in every field throughout history. Seems genius in a mindset, level of consciousness. There's info under my favorites and this video. Either we break out of our mindset into higher consciousness or a lower one. Good for husbands too. lol

George Said:

Does a person have to get an MFA in order to get a PhD in Creative Writing?

We Answered:

You don't NEED to get an MFA first, but it might help you stand out. Work experience in the field, and getting published will also help you stand out.