M.F.A. IN CREATIVE WRITING
CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTS
(48 CREDITS TOTAL)
Current as of 5/2005

Writing Workshops (12 or more credits): Select 12 or more credits from the list below. Students may meet this requirement by taking multiple sections of a single course—any of these courses is repeatable with new content—or by combining different courses.

_____ 642 (3) Prose Nonfiction Writing Seminar
_____ 643 (3) Fiction Writing Seminar
_____ 644 (3) Poetry Writing Seminar
_____ 649 (3) Topics in CW: Autobiography
_____ 649 (3) Topics in CW: Screenwriting
_____ 649 (3) Topics in CW: Writing for Children

_____ 542 (4) Advanced Prose Nonfiction Writing
_____ 543 (4) Advanced Fiction Writing
_____ 544 (4) Advanced Poetry Writing
_____ 594 (1-6) English Workshop (selected sections only)

Form & Technique Courses (6 credits):
_____ 640 (3) Form & Technique in Prose
_____ 641 (3) Form & Technique in Poetry

Contemporary Genre Courses (6 credits):
_____ 646 (3) Contemporary Prose
_____ 647 (3) Contemporary Poetry

Career-Related Courses (9 or more credits):
_____ 672 (3) Research and Publication in Creative Writing (This course is required.)

The following offers a sampling of career-related courses appropriate for this category. Select 6 or more credits from the following or from any alternatives in English approved by your advisor. Alternatives outside of English require approval by your advisor and the Creative Writing Committee.

_____ 516 (4) Film Criticism
_____ 541 (4) Literary Criticism

_____ 574 (4) Researching and Writing Technical Reports
_____ 575 (4) Editing Technical Publications
_____ 674 (3) Topics in Technical Communication
_____ 680 (1-3) Topics in Computer-Assisted Writing

_____ 687 (3) Theory and Practice of Translation
_____ 625 (3) College Composition Theory
_____ 621 (1-2) Intro. Workshop for Teaching Assistants
_____ 622 (1-2) Workshop for Teaching Assistants

_____ 649 (3) Topics in CW: Teaching Creative Writing
_____ 698 (1-6) Internship

Additional English Courses (0-11 credits): Select 0-11 credits in courses (such as literature) that do not fit the Writing Workshops or Career-Related categories above.
_____
_____
_____
_____

Thesis (4 credits):

_____ 699 (1-4) Thesis (credits may be taken together or separately, for a total of four)

NOTES:

• Under normal circumstances, English 640 or 641 (depending on your focus) should be taken during the first year.
• Under normal circumstances, English 672 should be taken during the first spring term in residence.
• At least 75% of your total credits should be at the 600-level.
• No more than 3 independent writing credits will be allowed as part of your program.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION:

• Before completing 32 credits, filing your Plan of Study with the College of Graduate Studies.
• At least one term before taking the comprehensive exam, putting on file with the department’s Graduate Director and Creative Writing Committee the names of those authors, works, and questions you intend to discuss.
• At least one term before graduation, submitting your thesis proposal to the College of Graduate Studies.
• At least two weeks before your thesis reading, notifying the English Graduate Director and advertising according to program guidelines.

This list summarizes the most important program, department, and College of Graduate Studies requirements. See Steven Stoynoff (English Graduate Director) or Richard Robbins (Creative Writing Program Director) for more information, and be sure to follow the College of Graduate Studies’ own checklist of requirements.