Children’s Literature M.A. & M.F.A.
Summer 2015: June 22 – July 31
Hollins offers a graduate program devoted exclusively to the study and writing of children’s literature, leading to an M.A. or M.F.A. degree, earned over the course of three to five summers, during six-week sessions. Hollins also offers an M.F.A. in Children’s Book Writing & Illustrating and a graduate-level Certificate in Children’s Book Illustration. Students work with Hollins writers and professors. They also interact with a diverse group of scholars from the children’s literature field.
Degrees Offered
Children's Literature M.A.
The M.A. degree requires 40 credits. M.A. students focus their concentration on the study of children’s literature as a genre. Or, they may take up to half their credits in creative writing.
Children's Literature M.F.A.
The M.F.A. degree requires 48 credits. M.F.A. students ground their creative work in the scholarly study of children’s literature. Any literature scholar benefits from the experience of writing. And, any serious student of writing must study the best works of others.
Certificate Program
There is also a Certificate in Children’s Book Illustration available at the graduate level.
Children's Literature Writer-in-Residence
Terri Windling is the author of books for both children and adults, as well as an editor, artist, and essayist. She has won nine World Fantasy Awards, the Mythopoeic Award (for The Wood Wife), and the Bram Stoker Award. She received the Solstice Award in 2010, which honors “individuals with a significant impact on the speculative fiction field.” Her essays on myth, folklore, fantasy literature, and mythic arts have appeared in magazines, art books, and anthologies.
Children’s Literature Journal
Children’s Literature is the annual journal of the Modern Language Association Division on Children’s Literature and of the Children’s Literature Association. It was founded in 1972 by the late Francelia Butler and is now edited at Hollins by Amanda Cockrell, with R.H.W. Dillard serving as editor-in-chief.
Students in the Hollins graduate program in children’s literature have the opportunity to work closely with the editors, who are both members of our faculty.
Visit the Children’s Literature Association website.
Our Faculty
Our graduate professors don’t just teach — they do. That’s why we have several children’s and young adult authors and illustrators to guide you through continued education.
You’ll also enjoy the advantages to guest lectures from accomplished authors. Previous speakers have included:
Perry Nodelman, author of Words About Pictures and The Pleasures of Children’s Literature
Nancy Willard, Newbery Medal winner for A Visit to William Blake’s Inn
Leonard Marcus, author of Minder of Make-Believe and the Margaret Wise Brown biography Awakened by the Moon
Diane Muldrow, editorial director of Golden Books at Random House
Our Scholar-in-Residence, William A. Senior is an editorial board member and former editor of the Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts. He served numerous terms as president of the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts, and is an assistant professor of English at Broward College.
Recent News
Ashleigh Gill, who is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree in children’s literature at Hollins University, has been named co-winner of the first-ever Manchester Writing for Children Prize.
Cost & Applying
Tuition: $798 per credit hour
Fees
- New student nonrefundable deposit: $400
- Returning student nonrefundable deposit: $200
- Housing: $1,080
- Technology fee: $85/summer
- Health services: $30
M.F.A. applicants must send 10-20 pages of their best creative work. M.A. applicants may also send scholarly work. You’ll need to provide three letters of recommendation. GRE scores aren’t required, but may be submitted. Undergraduate transcript must be submitted.
The Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Scholarship (PDF) is a yearly competitive award worth $1,000. Other student scholarships are available. To apply for these, students must complete the FAFSA annually.
Find out more details on applying
Want to Know More?
Program Director Amanda Cockrell is happy to answer your questions.
Connect
