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Creative Writing and Literature

  • Program Overview

    Creative Writing and Literature

    The Creative Writing and Literature program at Stony Brook Southampton emphasizes creative work in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. However, the program also extends its emphasis beyond the familiar categories of creative expression to treat all forms of writing as equally relevant to understanding and mastering a world constructed out of words. Students are free to take workshops in all genres, in the belief that writing outside the lines informs their primary areas of interest.

    Courses are taught by a full-time core faculty of three, joined by a part-time faculty of distinguished visiting writers whose teaching and lecturing assignments rotate among the fall, spring, and summer sessions. These distinguished visitors provide creative breadth to the writing program, offering coverage in areas of writing that are essential in contemporary society, in particular fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scriptwriting, and writing for children.

    The MFA in Creative Writing and Literature

    The 46 academic credits for the MFA program is divided among required courses that introduce students to the profession and discipline of writing and the skills necessary to teach writing to others; advanced writing workshops in a variety of writing genres; seminars designed to focus closely on an issue or type of contemporary writing; graduate-level literature courses; and an MFA thesis intended to be a publishable, book-length work. The program is offered in two academic semesters, two six-week summer sessions, and a credit-bearing writers conference.

    The Advanced Certificate in Creative Writing

    Designed for working adults who have completed a BA and who are interested in master’s level instruction, the Certificate Program in Creative Writing is distinguished by the fact that it allows students flexibility in choice of courses and genres. The Advanced Certificate is a sixteen credit hour concentration available upon successful application to degree-seeking students who have been admitted to any Stony Brook University graduate program, as well as to non-degree seeking students who meet the requirements outlined by the Graduate School.

    The Advanced Certificate in Children's Literature

    The Advanced Certificate in Children’s Literature accepts up to12 serious children’s book writers each year for a part-time, year-long, 16-credit course of instruction that is customized, affordable, comprehensive, and professionally useful. Certificate students work independently with outstanding faculty mentors in spring and fall terms. During summer and winter terms, they come together as a cohort, in July at the Southampton Writers Conference and in January for a special Children’s Literature Publishing and Editing Practicum. The Advanced Certificate in Children’s Literature is unique in its design, suited for the types of writers who are interested in children’s books—librarians, educators, and parents with young children. These student writers are not able to take time off or relocate to enroll in a full-time MFA program. Unlike the few children’s literature MFA programs throughout the country and in the New York metropolitan area, the Stony Brook Advanced Certificate in Children’s Literature is a flexible but coherent pathway to completion of a creative project, in only one year.

    Special Programs

    SOUTHAMPTON WRITERS CONFERENCE

    The MFA in Writing and Literature sponsors the Southampton Writers Conference, an intensive program of three-credit workshops in contemporary writing that includes lectures, readings, workshops, and panels featuring nationally distinguished authors who join the department's summer faculty. Graduate students in the program will assist in planning and running the Conference, and will have the option of taking a Conference workshop for credit. The Writers Conference also encourages participation by visiting students – new writers, established writers, teachers of writing and editors – who will be admitted by application and may receive academic credit upon request.

    MANHATTAN

    MFA courses are regularly taught in the fall and spring semester at the Stony Brook Manhattan Center for Creative Writing and Film 535 8th Avenue (between 36th and 37th Streets), 5th Floor, New York, NY 10018The campus is easy to reach by bus, train, and subway. A block north of Penn Station.

    THE SOUTHAMPTON REVIEW

    The Southampton Review (TSR), sponsored by the MFA Program in Writing and Literature at Stony Brook Southampton, is a carefully-edited, beautifully-designed journal dedicated to publishing fine fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art. TSR focuses on work by students and graduates of the MFA program and from the Southampton Writers Conference, but we do open our pages to writers from across the globe whose work is compelling. Our pages are equally devoted to writers whose voices are fresh as well as to those whose are well-established.

    Creative Writing and Literature Program

    Lichtenstein Center

    Director
    TBD, Southampton, Chancellors Hall 238 (631) 632-5016

    Associate Director
    Christian McLean, Southampton, Chancellors Hall 244 (631) 632-5007

    Program Coordinator
    Margaret Grigonis, Southampton, Chancellors Hall 238 (631) 632-5028

    Director of the Manhattan Center for Creative Writing & Film
    Scott Sullivan (646) 472-2025

    Degree Awarded
    MFA in Creative Writing and Literature

    Advanced Graduate Certificate Awarded
    Advanced Certificate in Creative Writing; Advanced Certificate in Children’s Literature

    Website: www.stonybrook.edu/mfa

    Application: https://graduateadmissions.stonybrook.edu/apply/

     

  • Admissions

    Admission requirements of Creative Writing and Literature Program

    Application for admission to the Graduate School is made to a specific program for a specific degree. For the MFA in Creative Writing and Literature, applicants must fulfill both the Graduate School admission requirements and the specific requirements for the MFA in Creative Writing and Literature. See sections I and II for details on these requirements. Application forms may be found on line at http://www.grad.sunysb.edu./prospective/applying/ index.shtml. Please note that applications for Admission to the MFA in Creative Writing and Literature are made to MFA in Creative Writing and Literature Program and not to the Graduate School.

    Electronic official transcripts from any undergraduate and graduate institutions you have attended should be sent to the Office of Graduate and Health Sciences Admissions, at gradadmissions@stonybrook.edu. 

    Or snail-mailed directly to the graduate school:

    Office of Graduate and Health Sciences Admissions
    Stony Brook University
    Health Sciences Tower, Level 2 - Rm. 271
    Stony Brook, NY 11794-8276

    For questions, please call Margaret Grigonis at (631) 632-5028

    Admission to the MFA in Writing and Literature

    Applicants for the MFA program in Writing and Literature must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. The program accepts applications from candidates whose undergraduate degrees were taken in areas other than the humanities.

    Admission to the program is based on the evaluation of a portfolio of the applicant’s writing, made in conjunction with a review of the candidate’s entire academic career, and letters of recommendation. The portfolio may include works in any written form including fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, scripting, or other genre. Results from the Graduate Record Examination are encouraged, but not required.

    In addition to the Graduate School Admission requirements, the MFA in Writing and Literature requires the following:

    • Letters of recommendation from three instructors or writing professionals familiar with your written work.

    • A statement discussing your reasons for graduate study (1-2 pp, submitted with the online application)

    • A writing sample consisting of up to 10 pages of poetry, single-spaced, or 30 pages of prose, double-spaced (submitted with the online application). Your name should appear on the writing sample.

    • A single sheet listing your address, phone number, email address, and title(s) of submission(s).

    • A copy of your résumé or c.v. (submitted with the online application)

    Any deficiencies in these or the Graduate School admission requirements shall not automatically bar admission, but it is understood that inadequacies in undergraduate preparation normally will require the student to take additional work, the amount to be determined by the appropriate graduate advisory committee. Additional work may not be used to fulfill MFA degree requirements.

     

    Admission to the Advanced Certificate in Creative Writing

    Admission to the Advanced Certificate in Creative Writing is competitive. Students who are eligible to apply include those enrolled in a graduate degree-granting program at Stony Brook University and to students who have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university who meet the admissions criteria.

    For applicants already admitted to the University, admission involves completing a “Permission to Enroll in a Secondary Certificate” form. Students also need to submit a statement of purpose and a writing sample (details below). Students are required to have an earned bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4-point scale. The following must be submitted to the Creative Writing and Literature Program:

    • A statement discussing the student’s reasons for graduate study (1-2 pp, submitted with the online application)

    • A writing sample consisting of up to 10 pages of poetry (single-spaced) or 30 pages of prose (double-spaced), with the student’s name on the writing sample.

     

    Admission to the Advanced Certificate in Children's Literature

    Admission to the Advanced Certificate in Children’s Literature is highly competitive. Students who are eligible to apply include those enrolled in a graduate degree-granting program at Stony Brook University and to students who have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university who meet the admissions criteria.

    For applicants already admitted to the University, admission involves completing a “Permission to Enroll in a Secondary Certificate” form. Students also need to submit a statement of purpose and a writing sample (details below). Students are required to have an earned bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4-point scale. The Children’s Literature program considers only applicants for admission in Spring term. The following must be submitted to the Creative Writing and Literature Program by December 1:

    • A statement discussing the student’s reasons for graduate study (1-2 pp, submitted with the online application)
    • A writing sample consisting of up to 10 pages of creative writing for picture book or 25 pages for chapter, middle grade or young adult.

    • Letters of recommendation from three instructors or writing professionals familiar with your creative work.

  • Degree Requirements

    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.

  • Facilities

    Facilities

    The Lichtenstein Center operates within an unique three campus model, with its core hub in Stony Brook Southampton, a bucolic campus overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, an ideal location for writers looking for a quiet, area of great natural beauty to pursue writing as art. Facilities include: The Avram Theatre, Duke Lecture Hall, Rakoff Studio Theater, Melissa Bank Patio, The Radio Lounge, The Southampton Library, Writers Speak, and the esteemed Summer Writers Conference. 

    Additionally, our Manhattan writers attend courses at the Stony Brook Manhattan Center for Creative Writing & Film which features the Manhattan Writers Speak reading series. 

    And, our TAs teach at Stony Brook West Campus, a thriving campus of over 25,000 graduate and undergraduate students. One of the State University of New York's flagship universities.

  • Faculty

    Faculty Lichtenstein Center of Creative Writing and Literature Program

    Full Professor

    Hempel, Amy. 

    Associate Professors & Associate Professors of Practice

    Harding, Paul. B.A., 1992,University of Massachusetts Amherst, M.F.A., 2000, University of Iowa 

    Kitano, Christine. B.A., 2007, UC Riverside, M.F.A. 2010, Syracuse University, Ph.D. 2015 Texas Tech University

    Lopez, Robert.

    Merrell, Susan Scarf. M.F.A., 2009, The Bennington College Writing Seminars: Fiction.

    Reeves, Robert, Director. B.A., 1973, M.A., 1977, Harvard University

    Sheehan, Julie. B.A., Yale University; M.F.A., 2000, Columbia University

    Walker, Lou Ann, B.A., 1976, Harvard University

    Assistant Professors

    Crane, Genevieve. M.F.A., 2012 Stony Brook University

    Gaudry, Molly. B.A., 2006, University of Cincinnati; M.A., 2008, University of Cincinnati; M.F.A., 2013, George Mason University; Ph.D., 2020, University of Utah

    Writers

    Bender, Karen E . B.A. 1986, U.C.L.A., M.F.A., 1991, University of Iowa

    Caglioti, Carla . D.A., 2012, St. John's University

    Chandler, William H. B.A. 1982 , UC SD

    Collins, William. Ph.D., 1971, University of California-Riverside: Poetry

    Crace, Robert. M.F.A., 2022, Stony Brook University

    Hamilton, Emma Walton. M.F.A. 2021, Stony Brook University 

    Jones, Kaylie, M.F.A., 1988, Columbia University: Novel, Russian Literature

    Klam, Matthew. M.A., 1992, Hollins College: Creative Nonfiction

    Levien, Marissa. BFA, New York University, December 2008. MFA, Stony Brook University, December 2019

    Marx, Patricia. B.A., 1975, Harvard University: Fiction, Humor

    McLean, Christian. M.F.A. 2022. Stony Brook University

    Minot, Susan. B.A., 1978 Brown University. M.F.A. 1983, Columbia University

    Plett, Casey. MFA, 2012, Columbia University

    Thompson, L.B. B.A. 1997, Sarah Lawrence College, M.F.A., 2000, New York University.

    Wolitzer, Meg. B.A., 1981, Brown University: Fiction.

     

  • Contact

    Creative Writing and Literature Program

    Lichtenstein Center

    Director
    TBD, Southampton, Chancellors Hall 238 (631) 632-5016

    Associate Director
    Christian McLean, Southampton, Chancellors Hall 244 (631) 632-5007

    Program Coordinator
    Margaret Grigonis, Southampton, Chancellors Hall 238 (631) 632-5028

    Director of the Manhattan Center for Creative Writing & Film
    Scott Sullivan (646) 472-2025

    Degree Awarded
    MFA in Creative Writing and Literature

    Advanced Graduate Certificate Awarded
    Advanced Certificate in Creative Writing; Advanced Certificate in Children’s Literature

    Website: www.stonybrook.edu/mfa

    Application: https://graduateadmissions.stonybrook.edu/apply/