Children’s Literature + Children’s Literature: Writing for Children

Simmons University's Children's Literature (MA) + Children's Literature: Writing for Children (MFA) dual degree program invites you to study literature for young people while you also create it. 

Immerse yourself in transformative works from classic materials to current prizewinners as a rich context for your emerging voice. From picturebooks to young adult literature, fantasy to realism, humor to horror, you’ll consider structure, the challenges of the audience, and the cultural work of literature as it engages questions of power and justice. 

In small, interactive classes (12 students in writing courses, 15 in core courses), you’ll participate in animated seminar discussions. You'll build strong networks, and form deep connections with peers and faculty. Faculty bring expertise as scholars, writers, and publishers.

The faculty pride themselves on offering advising, support, and guidance. They will help you fine-tune your career goals as you develop skills of critical inquiry, writing, and communicating your passion. 

Why get a dual degree that combines an MA in Children’s Literature and MFA in Writing for Children?

The hallmark of the MAMFA program is the personalization of two one-on-one mentorships over the course of your program. You’ll work with a professional to develop two new manuscripts, one in “Mentorship I” and the other in “Mentorship II.” The mentorship sequence offers discipline, insider advice, and the strategies to move a creative project from start to finish.

Our MAMFA graduate program helps you make a difference in literature for young people. It combines critical analysis, creative practice, and cultural studies. You’ll:

• Develop your critical reading and writing skills through rigorous academic study in literature for children and young adults.
• Study across genres, such as picturebooks, verse novels, metafiction, informational texts, speculative fiction, fantasy, realism, folk and fairy tales, and graphic novels.
• Consider the past, present, and future of texts for young readers as cultural products that reflect and innovate
• Attend the ways children’s literature invokes questions of social justice, power, and constructions of childhood.
• Participate in cross-disciplinary and cross-professional conversations that center multiple traditions and practices.
• Become part of a vibrant community that reads widely, thinks deeply, and engages with colleagues who share your passion.
• Develop a deep understanding of the craft as you write, revise, and polish your manuscripts.
• Put your scholarly and craft knowledge into practice as you engage in critiques of creative projects in development.

Enrich your experience beyond the classroom

• Access over 4,000 newly published titles annually through our BookNook
• Take part in programs like the Children’s Literature Summer Institute and Horn Book at Simmons
• Build connections with partners such as The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
• Join an expansive, welcoming alumnae/i network working in teaching, librarianship, publishing, doctoral study, and more

Join the vibrant literary world of Boston

The City of Boston offers myriad opportunities to grow professionally in the field. Our graduate students have completed internships in publishing at Candlewick, Charlesbridge, Barefoot Books locally and virtually at Penguin Random House, and Aevitas Creative Agency. 

Also, our students have interned at renowned local libraries including Boston Public Library and Cambridge Public Library. Boston also offers many exciting cultural activities, such as the Boston Book Festival and events at Trident Bookstore, Porter Square Books, and Frugal Bookstore. Participate in today’s literary heritage as you create tomorrow’s books.