Graduate School Bulletin

Requirements for the M.F.A. Degree in Creative Writing and Literature Program

The MFA in Writing and Literature degree requires 40 credits of course work and a six credit thesis for a total of 46 credits. Following are the specific requirements.

A. Required Introduction to the M.F.A. Program (4 credits)

CWL 500 Introduction to Graduate Writing

B. Six of the following writing workshops (24 credits)

Students select six writing workshops from the following. Individual courses under each category will be labeled according to the content of the course. Although courses may be repeated for credit, students are strongly encouraged to experiment among the disciplines.

CWL 510 Forms of Fiction

Individual courses within the fiction category will be labeled according to the form covered. For example, Short Story Collections, Beginning the Novel, Advancing the Novel, etc.

CWL 520 Forms of Poetry

Individual courses within the poetry category will be labeled according to the form covered. For example, Prose Poems.

CWL 530 Forms of Scriptwriting

Individual courses within the scriptwriting category will be labeled according to the form covered. For example, Screenplay, Playwriting, etc.

CWL 535 Writing in Multiple Genres

Individual courses within the scriptwriting category will be labeled according to the genres covered.

CWL 540 Forms of Creative Nonfiction

Individual courses within the nonfiction category will be labeled according to the form covered. For example, Creative Nonfiction, Memoir, etc.

CWL 550 Forms of Professional and Scientific Writing

Individual courses within the professional and scientific writing category will be labeled according to the form covered. For example, Speech Writing, Writing in the Digital World, Writing about Science, etc.

CWL 570 Advanced Writing Workshop

This course is for manuscripts in progress across writing disciplines and is strongly recommended for students preparing to take the thesis.

CWL 575 Writers Conference

C. Two or more of the following special topic writing and literature seminars (8 Credits)*

CWL 560 Topics in Literature for Writers

CWL 565 Special Topics in Writing

CWL 588 Independent Study

*With the approval of the Writing Program director, this requirement may be filled through taking the following graduate English Literature courses offered at Stony Brook University: EGL 501 Studies in Chaucer, EGL 502 Studies in Shakespeare, EGL 503 Studies in Milton, EGL 503 Studies in Genre, EGL 520 Studies in Renaissance, EGL 525 17th-Century Literature, EGL 530 Studies in Restoration Literature, EGL 535 Studies in Neoclassicism, EGL 540 Studies in Romanticism, EGL 545 Studies in Victorian Literature, EGL 547 Late 19th-Century British Literature, EGL 550 20th-Century British Literature, EGL 555 Studies in Irish Literature, EGL 560 Studies in Early American Literature, EGL 565 19th-Century American Literature, EGL 570 20th-Century American Literature, EGL 575 British and American Literature, EGL 584 Topics in Genre Studies

D. One or more of the following practicums (4 credits)*

*With the permission of the director, a course in writing or literature may be substituted in place of the practicum requirement.

CWL 580 Practicum in Arts Administration

CWL 581 Practicum in Teaching Writing

CWL 582 Practicum in Publishing and Editing

E. MFA Thesis (6 credits)

CWL 599 Thesis

 

Requirements for the Advanced Certificate in Creative Writing

The Advanced Certificate in Creative Writing requires 16 credits of coursework. Following are the specific requirements.

A. Required Introduction to the MFA Program (4 Credits)

CWL 500 Introduction to Graduate Writing

B. Three or more of the following writing workshops or topics courses (12 Credits)

CWL 510 Forms of Fiction, 4 credits

CWL 520 Forms of Poetry, 4 credits

CWL 530 Forms of Scriptwriting, 4 credits

CWL 540 Forms of Creative Nonfiction, 4 credits

CWL 550 Forms of Professional and Scientific Writing, 4 credits

CWL 565 Special Topics in Writing, 4 credits

CWL 575 Writers Conferences, 1-6 credits

CWL 570 Advanced Writing Workshop, 4 credits

Students select three or more writing workshops or topics courses totaling 12 credits of course work. Individual topics under each category will be labeled according to the content of the course. Although courses may be repeated for credit, students are strongly encouraged to experiment among the genres.

 

Requirements for the Advanced Certificate in Children's Literature

The Advanced Certificate in Children’s Literature requires the following 16-credit sequence of four courses, two long-distance tutorials alternating with two residential courses in an intensive conference format:
CWL 510 (4 credits): Forms of Fiction

CWL 575 (4 credits): Writers Conference

CWL 570 (4 credits): Advanced Writing

CWL 582 (4 credits): Publishing & Editing Practicum in Children's Lit

These courses must be taken in sequence, starting in Spring term.