Degree
Requirements for the Master of Fine Arts Degree
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete twenty one semester hours in one or more of the following writing workshops, including guided study (ENGL 544): 1 | 21 | |
| Workshop in Poetry Writing | ||
| Workshop in Fiction Writing | ||
| Workshop in Creative Non-Fiction | ||
| Workshop in Playwriting/Screenwriting | ||
| Guided Study (offered as 3 or 6 credit hours) | ||
| Complete nine semester hours in genre craft or literature courses covering multiple traditions and literary periods including guided study (ENGL 544) 1 | 9 | |
| ENGL 599 | Thesis 1, 2 | 6 |
| Total Semester Hours | 36 | |
- 1
No course with a grade lower than B- may be applied toward a degree.
- 2
Master of Fine Arts candidates must complete a thesis, work on which may begin at any time after the thirty hours of required coursework has been completed. Working closely with an advisor, students complete a manuscript of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or dramatic writing. This is a substantial creative manuscript: a novel or sustained nonfiction narrative, a collection of short stories or essays, or a collection of poems. The length of the thesis may be anywhere from 80 to 200 pages of prose or 40 to 50 pages of poetry.
Learning Outcomes for Master of Fine Arts Program
- Demonstrate an understanding of literary styles, forms, and techniques in traditional and contemporary poetry, fiction, or nonfiction.
- Effectively incorporate literary styles, forms, and techniques into original works of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction.
- Give and receive critical feedback on artistic works using discipline-specific terminology.
- Produce a substantive body of creative writing that demonstrates sustained attention over time, a deep engagement with the chosen genre, and a firm grasp of the revision process.