Graduate School Bulletin

Spring 2024

CWL: Creative Writing and Literature

CWL 500: Introduction to Graduate Writing

A seminar that introduces students to one another, the faculty, the program in Writing and Literature, and to issues in contemporary writing. Offered in conjunction with the Writers Reading Series. Students will attend the regular series of readings sponsored by the Writing program and meet at weekly intervals under the direction of a faculty advisor to discuss and write about topics raised in the lecture series, as well as issues generated from seminar discussions.

Offered Fall, Spring, 3-4 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

CWL 510: Forms of Fiction

Regular submission, discussion, and analysis of students' work in one or more of the modes of fiction, including the short story, the novella, and the novel. Writing assignments may include exercises, imitations, responses, and original work. Students will examine relevant works that illustrate point of view, character development, dialogue, plot, setting, theme, motif, and other aspects of fiction. Specific mode or topic to be studied will be announced in the course schedule.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and/or departmental consent

Offered Fall, Spring, 3-4 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

May be repeated for credit.

CWL 520: Forms of Poetry

Regular submission, discussion, and analysis of students' work in one or more of the modes of poetry. Writing assignments may include exercises, imitations, responses, and original work. Students will examine relevant works that illustrate structural principles, metrical and syntactical rhythm, sound and rhyme, formal and stanzaic organization, the use of figurative language, and other aspects of poetry.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and/or Program Director

Offered Fall, Spring, 3-4 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

May be repeated for credit.

CWL 530: Forms of Scriptwriting

Regular submission, discussion, and analysis of students' work in one or more of the contemporary modes of scriptwriting, including writing for film, theater, radio, and television. Writing assignments may include exercises, imitations, responses, and original work. Students will examine relevant works that illustrate point of view, character development, dialogue, plot, setting, and other techniques vital to scriptwriting. Specific mode or topic to be studied will be announced in the course schedule.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and/or departmental consent

Offered Fall, Spring, 3-4 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

May be repeated for credit.

CWL 535: Writing in Multiple Genres

Regular submission, discussion, and analysis of students' work in two or more genres of creative writing. Topics include Truth and Humor; Three Characters in Search of an Author; Imagining What You Know; What We Write About When We Write About Love; Fiction, Fact and the Heart of the Story; Writing about Place; Writing Everything; and Writing on Location. Semesters Offered: Fall & Spring Campus: Manhattan & Southampton

3-4 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

May be repeated for credit.

CWL 540: Forms of Creative Nonfiction

Regular submission, discussion, and analysis of students' work in one or more of the contemporary fields of non-fiction writing, including biography, autobiography, memoir, expository writing, and social commentary. Writing assignments may include exercises, imitations, responses, and original work. Students will examine relevant works that illustrate the methods and techniques available to the non-fiction writer. Specific mode or topic to be studied will be announced in the course schedule.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and/or departmental consent

Spring, 3-4 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

May be repeated for credit.

CWL 550: Forms of Professional and Scientific Writing

Regular submission, discussion, and analysis of students' work in one or more of the contemporary modes of professional writing, including technological writing, writing about science, and writing for advertising, business, and public relations, as well as for governmental, educational, and professional organizations. Writing assignments may include exercises, imitations, responses, and original work. Students will examine relevant works that illustrate the strategies available in modern professional communication. Specific mode or topic to be studied will be announced in the course schedule.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and/or departmental consent

Offered Fall, Spring, 3-4 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

May be repeated for credit.

CWL 560: Topics in Literature for Writers

A seminar for writers concentrating on the study of one area of literary study, to be announced in the course schedule. The course may examine a contemporary or historical trend in literature, the rise of a specific genre, a social issue expressed in literature, an issue in literary theory, or any other topic of relevance and concern to students of writing. The emphasis will be on scholarly analysis.

Offered Fall, Spring, 3-4 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

May be repeated for credit.

CWL 565: Special Topics in Writing

A seminar concentrating on a specific topic or concern in writing. The particular theme of the course will be announced in the course schedule. Topics may include, among others, studies of character development, the uses of humor, writing about place, finding one's voice, and narrative style. Written work will be supported by the reading of related texts.

Offered Fall, Spring, 3-4 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

May be repeated for credit.

CWL 570: Advanced Writing Workshop

The focus is on work in progress and the extension of the manuscript. The workshop is open to students interested in any form of writing. Students are encouraged to pursue their own writing interests while simultaneously being exposed to the work of others in varying genres. Regular writing is required, and vigorous analysis and discussion are encouraged. Strongly recommended for students preparing for the thesis.

Offered Fall, Spring, 3-4 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

May be repeated for credit.

CWL 575: Writers Conference

The Southampton Writers Conference is an intensive program of 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 will also encourage 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.

1-6 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

May be repeated for credit.

CWL 580: Practicum in Arts Administration

Practicum in Arts Administration Under the guidance of a faculty advisor, students will learn the essentials of Arts administration. This may include assisting in the coordination of reading and lecture series, conference organization, or other writing and arts administration activities. 1-4 Credits. May be repeated for credit Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and program director SEMESTER: On Demand

1-4 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

May be repeated for credit.

CWL 581: Practicum in Teaching Writing

Students take the seminar in conjunction with teaching a section of first year composition. This course provides hands-on experience and instruction in the basics of writing pedagogy, including designing writing assignments, sequencing assignments, motivating writing, writing skill development and evaluating writing. Students will also be given a preliminary overview of the major theories driving composition pedagogy. 3 Credits. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and program director SEMESTER: On Demand

1-4 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

May be repeated for credit.

CWL 582: Practicum in Publishing and Editing

Under the guidance of the faculty advisor, students will be exposed to the hands-on process of editing and publishing a literary journal.

Offered Fall, Spring, 1-4 credits, Letter graded (A, A-, B+, etc.)

May be repeated for credit.

CWL 588: Independent Study

Independent studies in topics chosen by the student are arranged through an individual instructor.

1-6 credits, S/U grading

May be repeated for credit.

CWL 599: Thesis

CWL 599 Thesis Every student in the M.F.A. program in Creative Writing and Literature must complete a thesis that is a publishable, book-length work. It may be fiction, nonfiction, poetry, a series of related short pieces, or some other creative writing project. The thesis is judged solely on the quality of its intelligence and its writing. Every student will propose a thesis project and upon approval will work independently under the guidance of faculty mentors. Additional resources such as meetings with faculty, editors, or agents will be equally available to students. Thesis study culminates will a group reading and submission of a bound copy of the thesis to the program. 1 - 9 Credits. Prerequisites: Permission of program SEMESTER: Every Semester

1-9 credits, S/U grading

May be repeated for credit.

CWL 600: Post MFA Creative Writing Fellow

CWL 600 provides students who have successfully completed the MFA in Creative Writing and Literature degree requirements access to an intellectual community of writers. Participants will be allowed to participate in one workshop or course per semester on a space available basis. The program office will communicate with enrollees prior to the start of the semester the workshops and courses available.

S/U grading

May be repeated for credit.

CWL 800: Summer/Winter Research

Independent reading, writing, research on topics or problems related to work on the MFA Thesis.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and/or program director

Summer, S/U grading

May be repeated for credit.