Whats the difference between an M.A. and the MFA degree?
The M.A. may complete a student’s graduate education or lead to doctoral studies, and it allows comparative freedom in choosing from a variety of courses. It is bound by the University requirements for all M.A. degrees, such as the foreign language requirement. The MFA is classified as a professional degree program—as are the MBA or MLS—and is focused on writing seminars and workshops, with less latitude in coursework. Although it does not preclude continuing on to doctoral study, the MFA is considered a terminal degree. While teaching jobs in creative writing prefer an MFA, positions in literature and composition/rhetoric favor the M.A. or Ph.D. There is crossover in applicants for both, however.
