Children's Literature + Children's Literature: Writing for Children

Students in class

Compose the literary future

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, 16 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 to bring excellent literature into the hands of young people. 

Why Get a Dual Degree That Combines an MA in Children’s Literature and MFA in Writing for Children?

Our MA/MFA 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, 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.
  • Create two original manuscripts under 1-1 professional guidance in our mentorship program.

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 HornBook.

Also, our students have interned at renowned local libraries including Boston Public Library and Cambridge Public Library. Students have pursued internships in literary agencies, such as Aevitas Creative.

Boston also offers many exciting cultural activities and events. From P.E.N. New England Discovery Night to the Boston Book Festival, participate in today’s literary heritage as you create tomorrow’s books.

Degree Requirements (56 credits)

Graduate students in the MA/MFA dual degree program typically carry between eight and ten credits in the fall, spring, and summer semesters after their first semester of eight credits. Students considering registering for more than 10 credits per term must consult with the graduate program director.


MA/MFA Required Courses (36 credits)

 

CHL401 Criticism of Literature for Children 4
CHL403 The Picturebook 4
CHL413 Contemporary Realistic Fiction for Young Adults 4
CHL414 Fantasy and Science Fiction 4
CHL421 Children's Book Publishing 4
CHL430 Writing for Children I 4
CHL431 Writing for Children II 4
CHL441 MFA Mentorship I 4
CHL442 MFA Mentorship II 4

MA/MFA Elective Requirements (20 credits)

 

CHL4XX

History elective/s

Coursework in the history of children's literature, selected from courses with a chronological focus.

To total 4 credits

CHL 4XX

Coursework in children's of children's and/ or young adult literature

To total 4 credits

Freely chosen elective coursework

Freely chosen elective coursework selected from the variety of 2- and 4-credit courses offered each semester 

To total 12 credits 

Take advantage of internships and research opportunities in Boston and beyond, building your skills and resume while learning from mentors in their fields. Our students have interned at publishing houses such as Delacorte, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Charlesbridge, Candlewick, Scholastic, Penguin, David Godine, and St. Martin's; at a variety of literary agencies in Boston and New York; and at advocacy groups, such as Reach Out and Read and the Boston Book Festival. You also may choose to seek out professional internships with local schools and libraries.

You will work with two mentors to advance your creative work toward publication. Authors, literary agents, and editors serve as mentors. Recent mentors have come from:

  • Candlewick Press
  • Charlesbridge Books
  • Scholastic Books
  • Tu Books
  • Walden Media;
  • Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency

Alumni of the MFA program have served as Boston Public Library Children’s Writers-in-Residence and St Botolph Club Emerging Artists. Recent MFA alumnae/i have been contracted by Simon and Schuster, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and HarperCollins. Two graduates received the P.E.N. New England Children’s Book Caucus Discovery Award.

Programs at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

All Children’s Literature degree and dual degree programs are offered on the Boston campus. In addition, the MA in Children’s Literature, MFA in Writing for Children, the dual degree MA/MFA are also offered at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst. Students can complete the MA in Children’s Literature/MS in Library Science with MA courses at the Carle and LIS courses on the Greenfield Community College campus. Founded by Eric Carle, the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the Carle is the first full-scale museum in this country devoted to national and international picture book art.

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

In collaboration with The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Simmons offers all four graduate programs in Children's Literature onsite at The Carle. This includes our M.A. in Children's Literature, M.F.A. in Writing for Children, M.A. in Children's Literature/M.F.A. dual degree, and M.A. in Children's Literature/M.S. in Library Science dual degree offered in collaboration with Simmons's School of Library and Information Science program at Greenfield Community College. Founded in part by Eric Carle, the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is the first full-scale museum in this country devoted to national and international picture book art. The Carle is located in Amherst, in the heart of the Five Colleges area of Western Massachusetts. Learn more about the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

All applicants are considered for a range of university scholarships, including endowed and departmental awards; new and returning students may apply for selective fellowships to help fund their degrees. Students who have completed at least eight credits are eligible to apply for teaching assistantships to gain experience in the classroom and help finance their degree. Additionally, Simmons is proud to offer teachers, librarians, affiliates of partner organizations, and Simmons alumnae/i reduced tuition and other benefits.

Learn more about scholarships, fellowships, professional and partner discounts, and other funding sources.

Spotlight on Children's Literature Students and Alums

Breanna J. McDaniel wearing a long gold dress

The Story Listener

Breanna J. McDaniel ’14MA is the author of four acclaimed picturebooks and the recipient of the 2025 Ezra Jack Keats Writer Award. On July 26, McDaniel will present a presentation with author-illustrator Vashti Harrison at the Summer Children's Literature Institute at Simmons University.


An illustration of Gregory Maguire holding a quill pen with images from Wicked in the background

Gregory Maguire ’78MA Defying Gravity

Gregory Maguire '78MA, best-selling author of Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, reflects on his time as one of the first graduates of the Master of Arts in Children’s Literature program at Simmons, now celebrating its 50th anniversary.


Shelves full of children's books. Photo by Zoshua Colah on Unsplash.

Alumnae/i Receive Awards from American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) announced winners of the 2025 Youth Media Awards, including Breanna J. McDaniel ’14MA, Gabe Cole Novoa ’19MFA, Stephanie Seales ’09MA, and Sacha Lamb ’20MS/MA.


Horn Book creator Bertha Mahoney and a poster celebrating 100 years of the Horn Book magazine

Blowing the Horn for Children’s Literature: One Hundred Years of The Horn Book Magazine

In October of 1924, the first issue of The Horn Book magazine appeared. It began as a newsletter from the Bookshop for Boys and Girls, one of the first children’s book shops in the United States, established in 1916 by...


Side by side book covers: Jumper by Jessica Lanan and Big Cat, Little Cat by Elisha Cooper

Simmons Alum Mentors MFA Students in Children’s Publishing

Emily Feinberg ’11, who earned dual Master’s degrees in Children’s Literature and English Literature at Simmons, is now the Executive Editor at Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.


Book covers for Immortal Dark and It Came from the Trees

Literary Agent Alumna Shares Passion for Children’s Literature

Paige Terlip ’18MA/MFA reflects on how Simmons prepared her to shepherd authors through the publishing process — and how it felt to get one of those books on the New York Times Bestsellers list.


A gallery in the Eric Carle Museum

Children’s Literature Alumna Receives Mentor Award at 2024 Carle Honors

On September 26, Elissa Gershowitz ’00MA, Editor-in-Chief of The Horn Book, received a Mentor Award at the Carle Honors ceremony in New York City. Bestowed by The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art these annual awards celebrate individuals and organizations who have elevated the art of children’s picture-book making.


The logo of The Boston Globe Horn Book Awards

Simmons Children’s Lit Alum on Judging the Horn Book Awards

Rodney Fierce ’12MA, a Humanities Teacher at Sonoma Academy, shares what led him to study children’s literature, his work at the Academy, and his recent experience on the Horn Book Awards Committee.