Write the stories you’re passionate about. Your admittance into the program is based on your genre of choice: poetry, nonfiction, or fiction. Focus on your genre during your required workshops and thesis, and explore different genres along the way through your elective courses.
Writing Workshop Courses (20 Credits Required)
Poetry Workshops
Number | Course | Credits |
---|---|---|
WR 605 | *Poetry Workshop | 4 |
WR 610 | Form in Poetry | 4 |
Nonfiction Workshops
Number | Course | Credits |
---|---|---|
WR 613 | *Nonfiction Workshop | 4 |
WR 655 | Writing the Nonfiction Book | 4 |
PB 687 | Column Writing | 4 |
PB 676 | Magazine Writing | 4 |
WR 515 | Topics in Nonfiction (summer offering) | 4 |
Fiction Workshops
Number | Course | Credits |
---|---|---|
WR 606 | *Fiction Workshop | 4 |
WR 608 | Special Topics in Fiction | 4 |
WR 652 | Novel Workshop | 4 |
*Genre Workshops may be taken more than once
Electives Course Sampling (12 credits)
Number | Course | Credits |
---|---|---|
PB 679 | The Editor/Writer Relationship | 4 |
WR 652 | Novel Workshop | 4 |
PB 676 | Magazine Writing | 4 |
PB 683 | Book Publishing Overview | 4 |
Literature Course Sampling (12 credits)
Number | Course | Credits |
---|---|---|
LI 615 | Topics in Multiple Genres and Hybrid Forms: Cities and Citizenry: Writing the City of the Present | 4 |
LI 625 | Topics in Fiction: Comedy, Humor, and Craft in Contemporary Fiction and Nonfiction | 4 |
LI 635 | Travel Literature | 4 |
LI 637 | Construction of Taste | 4 |
MFA Thesis (4 credits)
Number | Course | Credits |
---|---|---|
WR 699 | MFA Thesis | 4 |
Elective Alternative: Focus in Translation*
Translation / Global Engagement Focus, 8 credits
You can fulfill elective requirements by taking two classes from the following options:
- A class offered at the Emerson campus, such as the Translation Seminar or the Translating Cultures course (both listed under the Topics LI 615 number)
- A course from one of the Global Pathways Programs
- Directed study. You will complete a required translation project as part of this focus; You can do so as part of the work in one of the classes and options listed above.
*Approval from the Graduate Program Director is required for this focus
Elective Alternative: Teaching College Composition*
4 credits
Each year, a select number of graduate students in Writing, Literature, and Publishing learn to teach writing at the undergraduate level.
Teaching College Composition is a 4-credit, one-semester course that prepares you to teach at Emerson and other institutions after graduation.
Although taking the course does not guarantee a part-time teaching position at Emerson, students who have completed the course are interviewed by faculty and may be offered appointments. Many students find this elective as a valuable tool when pursuing jobs after graduation.
MFA Thesis
At the conclusion of your coursework, you will submit and defend a “near publishable” manuscript in one genre to be approved by a thesis committee. You must complete at least 16 credits (four courses) of the required 20 credits of workshops in the genre of your thesis.
Your thesis may consist of a collection of poems, short stories, essays, a novel, a novel excerpt, or a nonfiction book or excerpt. Minimum required lengths for MFA theses vary according to genre.
Sample Curriculum Map
Our Creative Writing MFA can be completed full-time in 3 years, or part-time over 4-6 years. This sample curriculum map is designed to give you an idea of your course load as a full-time student over 3 years. For full course information review our Course Catalog.
Full-time Sample Curriculum Map
Program Start - September
Fall Semester 1 (8 credits)
- Writing Workshop in Chosen Genre
- Literature Course
Spring Semester 1 (8 credits)
- Writing Workshop in Chosen Genre
- Literature Course
Fall Semester 2 (8 credits)
- Writing Workshop in Chosen Genre
- Literature Course
Spring Semester 2 (8 credits)
- Writing Workshop in Chosen Genre
- Elective Course
Fall Semester 3 (8 credits)
- Writing Workshop - Any Genre
- Elective Course
Spring Semester 3 (8 credits)
- Master’s Thesis
- Elective Course