Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing
MFA in Creative Writing Admission Requirements
Program Description
The MFA in Creative Writing Program is a 36-unit interdisciplinary course of study that culminates in a terminal degree. The coursework includes fifteen semester hours in creative writing workshops; twelve semester hours in Humanities electives, three hours in professional development courses, and six hours thesis.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet the minimum college requirements for graduate study. An undergraduate major in English, History, or Cultural Studies is desirable, but applications from candidates who have majored in related fields will be considered. Admission is based on samples of previous creative writing in the student’s chosen genre (10-20 pages), academic record, and three letters of recommendation, one of which must come from a creative writing instructor or professional writer.
Description
The MFA in Creative Writing is a 36-unit terminal degree program that qualifies the holder to teach at the college level.
The course of study leading to the degree is comprised of three components:
- Creative Writing: Workshop Classes
- Academic: Humanities classes in English, Cultural Studies, and History.
- Professional: Internships and Teaching Assistantships that will assist students to prepare for the rigors of the marketplace. The open forum readings, as well as the writers’ conference offer additional opportunities for professional development.
Requirements—36 units total
1) Completion of fifteen semester hours in creative writing workshops
2) Completion of twelve semester hours of Humanities electives
3) Professional development: CRW 299A teaching assistantships; CRW 299B editorial or community engagement mentoring internships; or CRW 299C publishing seminar.
4) Thesis CRW 296A/CRW 296B (6 units)
Students will participate in a graduate writing workshop each semester and take additional courses for credit, at least one each in English, history, or Cultural Studies. Typically, the student will take two courses per semester.
Thesis
Completion of the MFA in Creative Writing degree requires the submission of a publication-ready, 100-page manuscript in one genre – fiction, creative non-fiction, screen play or teleplay; or 50 pages of poetry – closely reviewed, edited and refined under the guidance of the student’s Thesis Committee.
Degree Requirements
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (minimum of 36 units required)
Description
The master of fine arts in creative writing degree provides aspiring, practicing, and published writers with a terminal degree that allows them to teach and write at the college level. A cross-genre focus that offers workshops in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screenwriting and playwriting allows students to explore more than one creative writing path. Students have the opportunity to create a model for the life of a professional writer and/or instructor by participation in community and campus internships, teaching internships, writer’s conferences, open forum readings, and the Mount literary journal, the Dry River Review.
The MFA in Creative Writing is a 36-unit terminal degree program. Students will participate in a graduate creative writing workshop each semester and take additional academic courses for credit. Typically, the student will take two courses per semester.
The course of study leading to the degree is comprised of four major elements:
a) Creative Writing: Workshop Classes (15 Units).
b) Academic: Humanities classes in English, Cultural Studies, and History (12 Units).
c) Professional: Internships and Teaching Assistantships that prepare students for the demands of the marketplace. These may include participation in campus events such as the open forum readings, writers’ conference, and the online publication of the Dry River Review (3 Units).
d) Thesis (6 Units).
Requirements – 36 Units Total
Degree Requirements
Creative Writing Workshop (15 units)
| CRW 229 | Children's Literature | 1.0-3.0 |
| CRW 230 | Fiction | 1.0-3.0 |
| CRW 231 | Poetry | 1.0-3.0 |
| CRW 232 | Writing for Screen and Television | 1.0-3.0 |
| CRW 233 | Creative Non-Fiction Writing | 1.0-3.0 |
| CRW 234 | Advanced Writing for Screen and Television | 1.0-3.0 |
| CRW 246 | Playwriting | 1.0-3.0 |
| CRW 248 | Special Topics in Creative Writing | 1.0-3.0 |
Humanities Electives (12 units)
Students will take additional Humanities courses for credit, at least one each in English, History or Cultural Studies. See Master of Humanities courses.
Professional Development Workshops (3 units)
Creative Writing Thesis (6 units)
Required for completion of the degree is submission of a publication-ready, 100-page manuscript in one genre – fiction, creative nonfiction, play, screen play or teleplay; or 50 pages of poetry – closely reviewed, edited and refined with the assistance of the student’s Thesis Committee. For more information on the Thesis proposal and approval process, contact the MFA in Creative Writing Program office.
MA Humanities and MFA Creative Writing Articulation
Mount Saint Mary’s University Graduate Division
Upon the approval of the MA HUM and MFA Creative Writing faculty, students currently enrolled in the MA Hum Program who have successfully completed a minimum of 1 semester with a GPA of 3.0 or above and whom the faculty deem to have demonstrated aptitude and skill in creative writing may be allowed to enter the MFA Creative Writing program with all applicable MSMU credits toward the MFA Creative Writing Degree, if approved by the faculty and Graduate Dean, under this MA HUM and MFA/Creative Writing Articulation Agreement. Students must withdraw from the MA HUM program, and then submit an application to the MFA Creative Writing Program to the Graduate Admissions Office, and be accepted into the MFA program by the faculty and Graduate Dean. (Students may submit an academic petition for waiver of transcripts, application fee, and letters of recommendation since these are already on file with the University).
Upon the approval of the MFA Creative Writing and MA HUM faculty, students currently enrolled in the MFA Creative Writing Program who have successfully completed a minimum of 1 semester with a GPA of 3.0 or above and whom the faculty deem to have demonstrated aptitude and skill in the study of the Humanities may be allowed to enter the MA HUM program with all applicable MSMU credits toward the MA HUM Degree, if approved by the faculty and Graduate Dean, under this MA HUM Program/MFA/Creative Writing Program Articulation Agreement. Students must withdraw from the MFA program, and then submit an application to the HUM Program to the Graduate Admissions Office, and be accepted into the HUM program by the faculty and Graduate Dean. (Students may submit an academic petition for waiver of transcripts, application fee, and letters of recommendation since they are already on file with the University.)
Concurrent enrollment in both the MA HUM and MFA Creative Writing Programs is not permitted; dual degrees will not be granted; and work presented for one degree may not subsequently be counted toward the other, except as allowed under the section on Second Master's Degree in the MSMU Graduate Division Policy and Procedures Handbook.