The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is a studio/academic program designed to assist talented students in developing their skills as poets or fiction writers. While an MFA is the accepted credential for teachers of creative writing, this program gives primary emphasis to the development of students as writers. The fundamental elements of the program are writing workshops, in which students read and critique the writing of their peers under the guidance of a faculty writer; intensive tutorial work with the thesis director on the student's writing; and the study of the traditions, forms, and theories of literature from a writer's stance. The faculty (three poets, three fiction writers, and one literary non-fiction writer) work closely with the students, and insure that each student will have exposure to a variety of styles and personalities, from traditional to experimental.
The small program size--four poets and four fiction writers are accepted each year--provides an excellent student to teacher ratio, and encourages both formal and informal apprenticeship and tutorial relationships. While no academic program can promise to create writers, the MFA program in Creative Writing strives to provide committed, talented writers the guidance, instruction, support, and community that will help them produce their best work.
The Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing requires satisfactory completion of 48 semester hours,. MFA students may elect to focus their studies either in fiction or poetry, in a combination of the two genres, or a combination of either with literary non-fiction.
 |
|
Last
Updated: 12 February 2000--DB |