About This Program

Robert Johnson, Ph.D., Program Director Bonnie Culver, Ph.D. and J. Michael Lennon, Ph.D., Program Co-Founders Master of Arts in Creative Writing (low residency or weekend version) Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (low residency) Accreditation In October 2004, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Middle States Association of Schools and Universities approved the Wilkes proposal for the M.A. program. The University graduated its first class in June 2006. In September 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education approved the addition of the Master of Fine Arts to the graduate creative writing degree offerings at Wilkes University. Admission Students will be accepted into the Master of Arts in Creative Writing based almost entirely upon the application essay and creative writing sample. Students applying to this program should hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; however, students without a bachelor’s degree may apply. (Such applicants must provide a very strong writing sample and writing history.) No GREs are required. Applicants must submit the following for consideration: Completed online graduate application $35 non-refundable application fee. Official transcript of all college work, undergraduate and graduate. Two letters of recommendation Creative writing sample.(a 15-25 page writing sample from any genre or genres of published/unpublished work that best demonstrates your creative ability) Essay response...A 3-10 page...

Degree Requirements

Total Credits

30 credits

First Residency

Code	Course Title	Credits
CW 501	R. Foundations of Creative Writing	3

First Project Semester:

The First Residency (a combination of workshops, craft lessons, panels, and readings) is followed by the First Project Semester: Students select any two of the following foundation courses, delivered online by faculty from each genre. Students should choose the genre in which they expect to write their thesis along with a second genre of their choice. Those who expect to enter the publishing track may select from any two of the five foundations courses before specializing in Publishing courses in their second and third semesters.

Code	Course Title	Credits
CW 502	Writing Fiction	3
CW 503	Writing Poetry	3
CW 504	Writing Screenplays	3
CW 505	Writing Plays	3
CW 506	Writing Creative Non-Fiction	3
Total		6 credits

Second Residency

Code	Course Title	Credits
CW 501	R. Foundations of Creative Writing	3

Second Project Semester:

Prior to this residency, each student will select which genre they are pursuing, request three mentors in that genre, and be assigned one of those mentors. They will then meet with their mentors during the residency to form a study plan for the upcoming semester. The Second Residency is followed by the Second Project Semester: Students will be registered in two of the courses listed below according to their chosen area of study: CW 512, a reading-intensive course, and CW 514, a writing-intensive course:

Code	Course Title	Credits
CW 512F	Genre and Context in Fiction	3
CW 512P	Genre and Context in Poetry	3
CW 512S	Genre and Context in Screenwriting	3
CW 512L	Genre and Context in Playwriting	3
CW 512N	Genre and Context in Nonfiction.	3
CW 512U	Genre and Context in Publishing.	3
CW 514F	Drafting Project in Fiction	3
CW 514P	Drafting Project in Poetry	3
CW 514S	Drafting Project in Screenwriting	3
CW 514L	Drafting Project in Playwriting	3
CW 514N	Drafting Project in Nonfiction	3
CW 514U	Drafting Project in Publishing	3
Total		6 credits

Third Residency

Code	Course Title	Credits
CW 516	R. Project/Thesis Plan	3

Third Project Semester:

FINAL WRITING TERM-STUDENTS SELECT COURSE BY AREA OF STUDY (6 credit courses):

Code	Course Title	Credits
CW 520F	Final Project/Fiction Thesis	6
CW 520P	Final Project/Poetry Thesis	6
CW 520S	Final Project/Screenwriting Thesis	6
CW 520L	Final Project/Playwriting Thesis	6
CW 520N	Final Project/Nonfiction Thesis	6
CW 520U	Final Project/Publishing Thesis	6
Total		6 credits

Fourth Residency

All students present capstone projects by area of study

Code	Course Title	Credits
CW 525	R. Masters Capstone	3
Total Fourth Residency		3 credits

Click a course code or title to read the full course description.

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