Creative Writing, M.F.A.

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For further information: CreativeWritingGrad@southernct.edu

Application Deadline

For applicants wishing to be considered for funding, applications are due by March 1. Otherwise, we accept applications year round.

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Degree

The M.F.A. in Creative Writing at Southern is a full-residency, terminal-degree program, preparing students for careers as writers, teachers, editors, and professionals in the publishing world. With its main focus on the writing workshop and the creative thesis, the M.F.A. also requires students to study literature at the graduate level and provides opportunities for students to train for teaching collegiate-level writing. Admission to the M.F.A. program is competitive, with roughly six poets and six fiction-writers admitted each year. For applicants wishing to be considered for funding, applications are due March 1. Otherwise, applications are accepted year round. Applicants will be notified of their status as early as possible.

Admission Procedures

Candidates for any graduate degree or certification program in English should make certain that they have all materials on file with the School of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Prospective degree candidates may register as part-time non-matricualted students in graduate courses. Up to nine credits of non-matricualted course work may be applied toward the degree if the student is admitted to a program.

To be accepted into the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program, candidates must:

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

The graduate teaching assistantship in English Composition offers graduate students the opportunity to observe and teach in the college classroom. Applicants must either be matriculated graduate students in English who have completed 6 credits or more in graduate English courses with at least a 3.5 average in those classes or newly admitted students whose GPA in undergraduate English courses is strong enough to warrant consideration. Those who receive the award, a stipend of approximately $4,800, intern in English composition during the fall semester and are mentored by the Director of Composition or a departmental designee. They may also be given the opportunity to teach one composition course the following spring, depending on course availability. Past teaching assistants have found the assistantship valuable in discovering a call to teach, securing part-time work, preparing for doctoral or additional graduate-level study, and attaining positions in secondary schools. Two to three awards are given each year. Applications are due in March and selection occurs in April for the following fall. Application materials are available in the English Department office and at the English Department website:
(www.SouthernCT.edu/academics/schools/arts/departments/english/graduateprograms/graduateteachingassistantships.html).

Program Sequence (Fiction) - 48 Credits

As sequencing changes, it is highly recommended that students meet with their program advisor to finalize a list of requirements for graduation.  

Four workshop classes in major genre (12 credits)
ENG 502: Prose Fiction Writing I - 3 credits
ENG 503: Prose Fiction Writing II (note: this course may be repeated for credit) - 3 credits
One workshop class in minor genre (3 Credits):

Five classes in literature or literary theory (15 credits):

Twelve elective credits (minimum of 6 in the English Dept) (12 credits) (Note: all courses listed above, in addition to those listed immediately below, may be used as elective credits):

Thesis: book-length manuscript of original fiction
ENG 590: English Thesis - 3 credits (6 credits required) 

Note: six credits of undergraduate courses in the 300- and 400-level (ENG 402 among them) may be applied to the MFA requirements.

Program Sequence (Poetry) - 48 Credits

As sequencing changes, it is highly recommended that students meet with their program advisor to finalize a list of requirements for graduation.  

Four workshop classes in major genre (12 credits)
ENG 506: The Writing of Poetry I - 3 credits
ENG 507: The Writing of Poetry II (note: this course may be repeated for credits)
One workshop class in minor genre (3 Credits):

Five classes in literature or literary theory (15 credits):

Twelve elective credits (minimum of 6 in the English Dept) (12 credits) (Note: all courses listed above, in addition to those listed immediately below, may be used as elective credits):

Thesis: book-length manuscript of original fiction
ENG 590: English Thesis - 3 credits (6 credits required) 

Note: six credits of undergraduate courses in the 300- and 400-level (ENG 402 among them) may be applied to the MFA requirements.