Creative Writing (MFA)

Summary

The MFA program in Creative Writing meets the needs of students who want to strike a balance between the development of individual creative talent and the close study of literature and language. Candidates in the program will find it appropriate training for careers in freelance writing, college-level teaching, editing and publishing, arts administration, and several other areas.AdmissionThe application deadline for graduate-assistantship consideration is February 1. Applicants must submit a writing portfolio (10 pages of poetry or 20 pages of prose) and a one to two-page personal statement directly to the Department of English, Creative Writing Program. To enter the program without deficiency, candidates must have the equivalent of at least a minor in English (18 semester credits in language, literature, linguistics). Students who enter with a small number of deficiencies may be allowed to make them up within their graduate program. Candidates whose native language is not English must have a TOEFL score of 550 or above. The GRE is not required for this program.
Catalog Year

2020-2021

Degree

Master of Fine Arts

Total Credits

48

Locations

Mankato

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Program Requirements

Common Core

Form and Technique and Contemporary Genre courses/Research course/Capstone course. - Choose 22 Credit(s). The form and technique course in one's genre is generally taken in the first year. English 672 is generally taken one's first year. Thesis is taken for 4 credits.

Study of the underpinnings of creative nonfiction.

Prerequisites: none

Study of the underpinnings of fiction.

Prerequisites: none

Study of the technical underpinnings of poetry.

Prerequisites: none

Study and analysis of selected works in fiction and nonfiction since 1945.

Prerequisites: none

Study and analysis of poetry since 1945.

Prerequisites: none

Exploration of the business of creative writing and the tools for writing and research in the field.

Prerequisites: none

Independent capstone experience, guidelines of which are determined by the requirements of a particular program option.

Prerequisites: none

Restricted Electives

Writing Seminars/Workshops - Choose 12 Credit(s). 549 and 594 are acceptable in this category when offered as writing workshops. Courses are repeatable with new content.

Topics in Creative Writing Form and Technique will be a variable-title course that explores special topics relating to the technical mastery of one or more creative genres, or the technical achievement of one or more practitioners. May be repeated with different topics.

Prerequisites: none

Specialized workshops in topics such as computer-assisted writing, teaching the writing of poetry in the secondary school, or discipline specific writing.

Prerequisites: none

Workshop in writing personal essays and literary journalism.

Prerequisites: none

Workshop in fiction writing.

Prerequisites: none

Workshop in poetry writing.

Prerequisites: none

Topics relating to creative writing. May be repeated with different subject matter.

Prerequisites: none

Career-related - Choose 6 Credit(s). (Other courses acceptable with consent of advisor)

Analysis and training focused on concepts and practices of visual design as they relate to technical and professional communication.

Prerequisites: none

Editing the content, organization, format, style, and mechanics of documents; managing the production cycle of documents, and discovering and learning microcomputer and software applications for technical editing tasks.

Prerequisites: none

Continued workshop in composition pedagogy for first-year teaching assistants.

Prerequisites: none

Introduction to the major theories of the nature of composition and their pedagogical application.

Prerequisites: none

Exploration of second language literacy as a situated social practice. Current second language literacy theories and practices are studied and applied to a variety of second language reading and writing instructional contexts.

Prerequisites: none

This course familiarizes students with various approaches and strategies to the teaching of creative writing. Discussions of classroom practices and pedagogical theories as well as teaching demonstrations prepare students to plan and develop an introductory-level creative writing course.

Prerequisites: none

Topics relating to creative writing. May be repeated with different subject matter.

Prerequisites: none

This course will examine current instructional practices used to teach writing in academic settings. The grade-level focus of the course (middle/high school, or college) will change each time it is offered.

Prerequisites: none

This course will explore the theoretical and practical implications of integrating literature into the composition classroom.

Prerequisites: none

Advanced study of theories of literature and its production and use.

Prerequisites: none

Examination of instructional design principles and models, including research in theory and practice of instructional design for technical communicators in academic and industry settings.

Prerequisites: none

Theory and practice in the development and production of proposals, focusing on the researching, writing, and management of proposals by technical communicators.

Prerequisites: none

On-site field experience, the nature of which is determined by the specific needs of the student's program option.

Prerequisites: none

Trends in film theory and criticism. Practice in critical analysis.

Prerequisites: none

Unrestricted Electives

Additional English courses - Choose 8 Credit(s). Select an additional 8 credits from any category above or from the broader English offerings.

Other Graduation Requirements

All courses must be in English with the exception of those specifically approved by the Graduate Committee in English; 75% of all coursework must be taken at the 600-level. Students also are required to present a reading/oral defense as part of their thesis project, a book-length collection of writing in the student's chosen genre.