Master of Fine Arts in Writing: The Curriculum

The Introductory Course

  • MFA - 600 The First Person: Autobiographical Writing
The Fiction Concentration Courses
  • MFA - 651 Developments in the Novel
  • MFA - 655 The Architecture of Prose
  • MFA - 661 Evolution of the Short Story
  • MFA - 662 Contemporary Experiments in Fiction
  • MFA - 671 The Techniques of Long Fiction
  • MFA - 672 The Craft of Short Fiction
  • MFA - 680 Style in Fiction
  • MFA - 687 Point of View and Characterization
  • MFA - 688 Finding Form: Novellas and Story Cycles
The Nonfiction Concentration Courses
  • MFA - 653 Research for Writing
  • MFA - 683 The Art of the Essay
  • MFA - 684 Narrating Nonfiction
  • MFA - 690 Special Topics
The Poetry Concentration Courses
  • MFA - 654 American Poetry and Poetics
  • MFA - 664 Poetry International
  • MFA - 674 Prosody: The Meaning of Poetic Form
  • MFA - 686 Visionary Poetics
  • MFA - 690 Special Topics
Cross Genre Courses
  • MFA - 650 Word for Word: The Texture of Language
  • MFA - 663 Ethical Issues in Writing
  • MFA - 670 Intention and Design in Prose
  • MFA - 681 Blurred Boundaries: Writing Beyond Genre
  • MFA - 675 Teaching Creative Writing
  • MFA - 690 Special Topics
Workshops
  • MFA - 612 Writing Workshop I
  • MFA - 622 Writing Workshop II
  • MFA - 632 Writing Workshop III
  • MFA - 642 Writing Workshop IV
Thesis
  • MFA - 689 Thesis I
  • MFA - 699 Thesis II
Learning Goals for the M.F.A. in Writing Program
    • Students will demonstrate a working knowledge of the fundamentals of artistic composition and craft.
    • Students will able to read as writers, analyzing in works by published authors the ways in which literary meaning is made.
    • Students will be able to evaluate and analyze the techniques and intentions of literary manuscripts and to participate in constructive critical discussion of such works.
    • Students are prepared for entry into the public life of literature, which includes locating their own work in the context of contemporary literary practice, preparing their work according to professional standards, teaching creative writing, and participating in diverse literary communities.