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Course of Study
Degree Requirements for the M.F.A. in Creative Writing
36 credit hours of graduate study, encompassing:
4 Creative Writing Workshops (12 credits)
We currently accept students in two major genres: Poetry and Prose (Fiction or Creative Non-Fiction). Workshops in Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Non-Fiction are offered almost every semester. Workshops in specialized genres or topics, such as Novel Writing, Playwriting, Chapbooks, and Children's writing are offered less frequently as opportunities for our students to supplement their work in the major Poetry and Prose workshops.
3 Literature Courses (9 credits)
Students select from a wide range of literature courses, which provide the opportunity to explore literary traditions and where they, as writers, fit into these traditions and movements. You cannot be an effective writer without first being a reader, and our literature courses help our students develop their own unique styles and voices by studying the styles and voices of those authors who have come before them.
4 Electives (12 credits)
Students may choose their electives from:
- Non-workshop writing courses, such as Magazine Writing and Writing Entertainment Reviews.
- Additional literature courses
- Interdisciplinary courses, which use other facets of the arts to speak to the process of writing, such as Visual Literary: The Language of Image and Acting for Writers.
- "Special Topics" courses that focus on aspects of the writing life not covered in workshops, such as Surviving as a Writer.
- Publishing and design courses from Rosemont's acclaimed Master's degree program in English & Publishing, such as Working with Agents and Editors, Marketing of the Book, and Foundations of Web Design.
Thesis (3 credits)
The thesis project is in the production of an in-depth, publishable work in the genre of the student's choice, such as a novel, a memoir, a poetry chapbook, or a collection of short stories. Please see the thesis page for more information.