Curriculum and Specializations
Please see the academic catalog for additional information regarding the curriculum. Current students should refer to curriculum requirements in place at time of entry into the program.
Fiction Specialization
Students enrolled in the fiction specialization will take workshops solely in fiction and continue to develop their creative and technical skills as both writers and readers. By the end of their coursework, students will have produced a strong body of new work or comprehensively revised a preexisting body of work.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Four units of MCW 413 Fiction Writing Workshops
Two graduate-level literature courses
These literature courses may be taken from LIT, ENGLISH, COMP_LIT, or other departments of literary study.
Three graduate-level course electives
May include independent study (not to exceed one unit of independent study), a cross-genre course (not to exceed one unit of cross-genre), MCW 570 Seminar on Teaching Creative Writing, MCW 575 The Publishing Industry: Literary Presses and Journals, MCW 579 Practicum in Teaching Creative Writing, MCW 580 Practicum in Publishing, any Publishing and Professional Development course, any graduate-level literature course, or any MCW 490 elective course.
MCW 590 Capstone Writing and Revision
(one unit)
Nonfiction Specialization
Students enrolled in the nonfiction specialization will take workshops solely in nonfiction and continue to develop their creative and technical skills as both writers and readers. By the end of their coursework, students will have produced a strong body of new work or comprehensively revised a preexisting body of work.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Four Units of MCW 461 Nonfiction Writing Workshops
Two graduate-level literature courses
These literature courses may be taken from LIT, ENGLISH, COMP LIT, or other departments of literary study.
Three graduate-level course electives
May include independent study (not to exceed one unit of independent study), a cross-genre course (not to exceed one unit of cross-genre), MCW 570 Seminar on Teaching Creative Writing, MCW 575 The Publishing Industry: Literary Presses and Journals, MCW 579 Practicum in Teaching Creative Writing, MCW 580 Practicum in Publishing, any Publishing and Professional Development course, any graduate-level literature course, or any MCW 490 elective course.
MCW 590 Capstone Writing and Revision
(one unit)
Poetry Specialization
Students enrolled in the poetry specialization will take workshops solely in poetry and continue to develop their creative and technical skills as both writers and readers. By the end of their coursework, students will have produced a strong body of new work or comprehensively revised a preexisting body of work.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Four Units of MCW 411 Poetry Writing Workshops
Two graduate-level literature courses
These literature courses may be taken from LIT, ENGLISH, COMP_LIT, or other departments of literary study.
Three graduate-level course electives
May include independent study (not to exceed one unit of independent study), a cross-genre course (not to exceed one unit of cross-genre), MCW 570 Seminar on Teaching Creative Writing, MCW 575 The Publishing Industry: Literary Presses and Journals, MCW 579 Practicum in Teaching Creative Writing, MCW 580 Practicum in Publishing, any Publishing and Professional Development course, any graduate-level literature course, or any MCW 490 elective course.
MCW 590 Capstone Writing and Revision
(one unit)
Popular Fiction Specialization
Students enrolled in the popular fiction specialization will have the opportunity to take workshops in popular and literary fiction and continue to develop their creative and technical skills as both writers and readers. By the end of their coursework, students will have produced a strong body of new work or comprehensively revised a preexisting body of work.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Four Units of MCW Popular Fiction Writing Workshops
(one workshop may include an MCW 413 Fiction Writing Workshop.Two graduate-level literature courses
These literature courses may be taken from LIT, ENGLISH, COMP_LIT, or other departments of literary study.Three graduate-level course electives
May include independent study (not to exceed one unit of independent study), a cross-genre course (not to exceed one unit of cross-genre), MCW 570 Seminar on Teaching Creative Writing, MCW 575 The Publishing Industry: Literary Presses and Journals, MCW 579 Practicum in Teaching Creative Writing, MCW 580 Practicum in Publishing, any Publishing and Professional Development course, any graduate-level literature course, or any MCW 490 elective course.MCW 590 Capstone Writing and Revision
(one unit)Dual-Genre Specialization
Students enrolled in the dual-genre specialization will take workshops in two specific genres, for example, fiction and nonfiction, nonfiction and poetry, poetry and popular fiction, thus enabling their ongoing creative and technical development as writers in two distinct genres.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Four Units of Workshops
(two workshops in each genre)Two graduate-level literature courses
These literature courses may be taken from LIT, ENGLISH, COMP_LIT, or other departments of literary study.Three graduate-level course electives
May include independent study (not to exceed one unit of independent study), a cross-genre course (not to exceed one unit of cross-genre), MCW 570 Seminar on Teaching Creative Writing, MCW 575 The Publishing Industry: Literary Presses and Journals, MCW 579 Practicum in Teaching Creative Writing, MCW 580 Practicum in Publishing, any Publishing and Professional Development course, any graduate-level literature course, or any MCW 490 elective course.MCW 590 Capstone Writing and Revision
(one unit)Publishing and Professional Development Specialization
Students enrolled in the publishing and professional development specialization will pursue studies designed to immerse them in the milieu of contemporary literary publishing where artistic and commercial exigencies are sometimes at odds. Courses are taught by faculty with hands-on, professional experience in the book industry.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Three Units of Writing Workshops
(any genre)Three Publishing and Professional Development courses
May include MCW 575 The Publishing Industry: Literary Presses and Journals, MCW 579 Practicum in Teaching Creative Writing, MCW 580 Practicum in Publishing or any other related courses identified by the SPS Graduate Office.Two graduate-level literature courses
These literature courses may be taken from LIT, ENGLISH, COMP_LIT, or other departments of literary study.One graduate-level course elective
May include independent study (not to exceed one), any Publishing and Professional Development course, any graduate literature course, or any MCW 490 elective course.MCW 590 Capstone Writing and Revision
(one unit)