Lead Faculty: Mr. Frank Montesonti
The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing offers students the opportunity to master advanced skills in carrying out independent and sustained activity in creative writing in the areas of fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry, and screenwriting. Guided development of each writers talents culminates in a final project, a publishable quality thesis in the area of specialty. This final project should demonstrate a critical application of specialist knowledge in the chosen specialty and should make an independent contribution to existing work in that area. This program is excellent preparation for a professional career in writing, working in the areas of publishing or filmmaking, and is the minimal academic qualification appropriate for those who desire to teach writing at the college or university level.
Faculty in the MFA in Creative Writing program maintain a strong commitment to scholarly value and the active support of students in their passion for literature, film and writing. Creative writing students are expected to make contributions to the publication of the student literary journal (GNU) and actively participate in seminars designed to foster creative and critical debate. Courses are directed to the refinement of creative practice and academic excellence. Faculty are experienced and published writers in their fields and offer supervision in the areas of fiction, poetry, literary nonfiction, and screenwriting. Career Development Opportunities A small number of pre-established internship positions will be available through National University, which may include: tutoring positions in the online Writing Center; and editorial positions on the Gnu, National University's literary journal. Positions outside of the University may include: organizing a reading series at a local library; teaching a series of writing workshops at a low-income housing center; or working for a small press or literary journal. Students interested in these opportunities should register for MCW620, Writing Internship. Students enrolled in MCW620 will have a chance to develop and implement an internship program appropriate to their specific interests.
Application Requirements
To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the University graduate admission requirements listed in the general information. In addition, applicants in creative writing should submit portfolios of their writing directly to: fmontesonti@nu.edu. The portfolio should include 20-30 pages of fiction or literary nonfiction (usually two to three short stories or essays), or 10-20 pages of poetry, an act of a screenplay, or a substantial sample of work in several forms.
Based on the portfolio, applicants may be advised to complete one or more of the following undergraduate courses prior to enrolling in the advanced writing workshops:
ENG 365 - Creative Writing
Prerequisite: ENG 100, and ENG 101
LIT 443 - World of the Short Story
Prerequisite: LIT 100
LIT 446 - Studies in Poetry
Prerequisite: LIT 100
LIT 450 - Studies in the Novel
Prerequisite: LIT 100
LIT 456 - Studies in Drama
Prerequisite: LIT 100
This program is available online.