Master of Fine Arts – Creative Writing (M.F.A.) | Catalog 2023-24

253.535.7221	www.plu.edu/mfa/	mfa@plu.edu
Rick Barot, M.F.A., Director

M.F.A. Degree Requirements

44 semester hours

- M.F.A. Summer Residency

An intensive ten-day residency during which students attend workshops, lectures, mini-courses in writing and design an independent course of study with a mentor for the upcoming year. Faculty will include distinguished writers, editors and literary agents. (4 credits per residency, 16 semester hours required for graduation)

- M.F.A. Writing Mentorship

One-on-one correspondence with a professional mentor in a genre or genres of choice. Each student spends approximately 15 hours per week on creative and critical writing. At the completion of the program, the students will produce a critical paper plus a book-length thesis. First year – 8 mailings. Second year – 5 mailings plus field experience. Third year – 6 mailings, critical paper, plus thesis. (4 to 12 semester hours per year, total of 28 semester hours required for graduation)

- Field Experience

An outside experience to introduce students to varied aspects of the writing life, to ongoing opportunities for community service and professional development, to voices and approaches other than those of our faculty, to an independent writing life. May include residencies at arts colonies and summer workshops, study abroad, community service projects, teaching or appropriate internships. (100 hours. Required for graduation)

- Graduation Residency

Special pre-graduation session leading to awarding of degree. Four semester hours. Required.

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (M.F.A.) - English (ENGL) - Graduate Courses

ENGL 504 : Summer Residency I

16 hours of required workshops. 20 additional hours of lectures and mini-courses (topics in genre/topics in craft), readings. Design an independent course of study with a mentor for the upcoming year. (4)

ENGL 505 : Summer Residency II

ENGL 506 : Summer Residency III

16 hours of required workshops, 20 additional hours of lectures and mini-courses (topics in genre/topics in craft), readings. Design an independent course of study with a mentor for the upcoming year. (4)

ENGL 507 : Summer Residency IV

Teaching a class based on critical paper or outside experience. Public reading from creative thesis. Participation in workshops and classes. Graduation. (4)

ENGL 511 : Writing Mentorship I

One-on-one correspondence with a professional mentor in a genre or genres of choice. Approximately 15 hours of work per week on creative and critical writing. 8 mailings. Emphasis on original work. 24 required texts with approximately 40 pages of critical writing. (4 credits fall, 4 credits spring)

ENGL 512 : Writing Mentorship II

One-on-one correspondence with a professional mentor in a genre or genres of choice. Approximately 15 hours of work per week on creative and critical writing. 5 mailings. Continued emphasis on original work. 15 required texts with approximately 25 pages of critical writing. Implementation of a field experience (approximately 100 hours) to be set up in collaboration with the director of the program, who will act as advisor on the project. (4 credits fall, 4 credits spring)

ENGL 513 : Writing Mentorship III

One-on-one correspondence with a professional mentor in a genre or genres of choice. Approximately 15 hours of work per week on creative and critical writing. 3 mailings. Emphasis on critical paper (20-40 pages). (4)

ENGL 591 : Independent Study

To provide individual graduate students graduate-level study not available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as IS: followed by the specific title designated by the student. (1 to 4)

ENGL 595 : Internship

To permit graduate students to relate theory and practice in a work situation. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as Intern: followed by the specific title designated by the instructor in consultation with the student. (1 to 12)

ENGL 598 : Non-thesis Research Project

To provide graduate students with graduate-level non-thesis research opportunities. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as Project: followed by the specific title designated by the student. (1 to 4)

ENGL 599 : Thesis

One-on-one correspondence with a professional mentor in a genre of genres of choice. 3 mailings. Emphasis on organization of creative thesis (book-length manuscript), final revision, planning for public presentation (class or lecture). (8)