The Writing program leads to the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Writing. This is a two-year program that requires satisfactory completion of 42 credit units, a thesis, and an oral examination dealing principally with the thesis. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Courses
Of the 42 credit units required, 24 consist of the graduate nonfiction, fiction, or poetry workshop taken every semester. The remainder are primarily literature and craft courses from the English department. However, in consultation with the director of the program, graduate-level courses from any department that will enrich the student's writing are acceptable as long as the student has the appropriate preparation and the permission of the instructor.
During their first year, students enroll for 24 units: the graduate workshop in their genre (6 units) plus two additional 3-unit courses each semester. During their second year, while participating in the mentored teaching experience, students typically take a total of 18 units: the workshop each semester (12 units), thesis hours (3 units), and an additional course.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Writing 520 | Fiction Workshop | 3 |
| Writing 522 | Poetry Workshop | 6 |
| Writing 523 | Creative Nonfiction Workshop | 6 |
| Writing 591 | Directed Writing: Thesis: Fiction | 3 |
| Writing 592 | Directed Writing: Thesis: Poetry | 3 |
| Writing 593 | Directed Writing: Thesis: Creative Nonfiction | 3 |
Thesis Requirements
The required work for the MFA culminates in a thesis, which may take different forms but is usually a volume (or most of a volume) of poems, stories, or essays; a novel (or most of a novel); or a memoir or other long-form creative nonfiction work (or most of one).
Oral Examination
Near the end of the second year, after the thesis has been submitted in its final form, the program will schedule an oral examination that deals principally with the thesis.