The two-and-a-half year program begins in the summer with a six-week intensive in first-person writing. Study proceeds, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., on a semester basis for two years. During the second and third summers, students work one-on-one with an instructor towards completing their books (known as the thesis).
On Tuesday evenings, workshops in each genre (fiction, poetry, and nonfiction) focus on student manuscripts in a peer setting of supportive critique. On Wednesday evenings, literature seminars focus on traditions, styles, craft elements and developments, and literary models. In the thesis summers, students meet with instructors four times to discuss and refine their work.
Creativity in writing is fostered, but so too is the craft and discipline needed to bring a writing project to fruition. Students read as extensively as they write; they work in community with one another, but they also work independently with mentors. Because writers thrive in the company of other writers, we create as many opportunities as possible for our students to meet together in classes and outside of them. At the same time, we recognize a writer's need for time and privacy, and we therefore allocate two full summers to independent thesis study in which each student works with an adviser of his or her choice.
A bi-weekly newsletter alerts students to ongoing literary events, readings, colloquia, publishing opportunities, and awards. Lone Mountain Readings brings acclaimed writers to campus to read from their work and discuss contemporary issues in writing. A teaching writing course is offered for those interested in pursuing the profession, with TAships available in conjunction with undergraduate courses. The program hosts the online literary journal Switchback, located at www.swback.com, entirely run by students and alumni. Alumni events are open to writers who have graduated from the program.
Program of Study
All courses are taken within the MFA program, with classes of 3 units each, for a total of 33 units. These include the First Person summer intensive (3 units), four workshops (12 units), four seminars (12 units), and two summers of thesis study (6 units). Students may pursue the genre of their choice, and there is flexibility for them to pursue genres outside of their major interest. The thesis may be a novel, a collection of stories, a poetry collection, a collection of creative nonfiction, or a purposeful combination of these genres.
Apply for the program.
