Catalog 73 - National University

College of Letters and Sciencesfor those who desire to teach writing at the college or universitylevel.Faculty in the MFA in Creative Writing program maintain a strongcommitment to scholarly value and the active support of students intheir passion for literature, film and writing. Creative writingstudents are expected to make important contributions to thepublication of the student literary journal (GNU) and activelyparticipate in seminars designed to foster creative and critical debate.Courses are directed to the refinement of creative practice andacademic excellence. Faculty are experienced and published writersin their fields and offer supervision in the areas of fiction, poetry,literary nonfiction, and screenwriting.Program Learning OutcomesUpon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:• Evaluate various aesthetic theories pertaining to specialty(fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry, or screenwriting).• Formulate practical and theoretical models of teaching andlearning the writing of fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry andscreenwriting• Criticize and evaluate specific works of literature andscreenwriting.• Develop publishable-quality writing in area of specialty (fiction,literary nonfiction, poetry, or screenwriting).• Evaluate different literary formats, e.g., narrative, exposition,critical analysis, and to implement MLA format.• Implement craft principles such as plot, characterization, style,point of view, narrative technique, and language in the creationof fiction.• Implement craft principles such as plot, characterization, style,point of view, narrative technique, and language in the creationof literary nonfiction.• Implement craft principles such as language, style, themes,technique, rhythm, and form in the creation of poetry.• Implement craft principles such as plot, characterization, style,point of view, narrative technique, language, form, dialogue, andother issues of screenwriting.Application RequirementsTo be considered for admission, applicants must meet theUniversity graduate admission requirements listed in the generalinformation. In addition, applicants in creative writing shouldsubmit portfolios of their writing directly to: fmontesonti@nu.eduThe portfolio should include 20-40 pages of fiction or literarynonfiction (usually two to three short stories or essays), or 10-20pages of poetry, or a completed screenplay, or a substantial sample ofwork in several forms.Based on the portfolio, applicants may be advised to complete one ormore of the following undergraduate courses prior to enrolling in theadvanced writing workshops:ENG 365LIT 443LIT 446LIT 450LIT 456Creative Writing(Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)World of the Short Story(Prerequisite: LIT 100)Studies in Poetry(Prerequisite: LIT 100)Studies in the Novel(Prerequisite: LIT 100)Studies in Drama(Prerequisite: LIT 100)Career Development OpportunitiesA number of career development opportunities are available fordegree candidates who plan to teach, work in film, or pursue careers126in writing or publishing. A small number of pre-establishedinternship positions will be available through National University,which may include: tutoring positions in the online Writing Center;teaching assistantships in the Composition program; editorialpositions on the Gnu, National University’s literary journal;coordinating positions for an annual Writing and LiteraryConference. Other pre-established positions, outside of theUniversity, may include: organizing a reading series at a local library;teaching a series of writing workshops at a low-income housingcenter; or working for a small press or literary journal. Studentsinterested in these opportunities should register for MCW620,Writing Internship, and will be eligible to apply for the preestablishedpositions. All students enrolled in MCW620 will have achance to develop and implement an internship program appropriateto their specific interests.Degree Requirements(10 courses; 45 quarter units)To receive the MFA in Creative Writing, students must complete atleast 45-quarter units; a total of 4.5 quarter units may be granted forequivalent work completed at another institution, as it applies to thisdegree, and provided the units were not used in earning anotheradvanced degree. Students should refer to the General Catalogsection on graduate admission requirements for specific informationregarding admission and evaluation.Core Requirements(4 courses; 18 quarter units)Students are required to take MCW 600, one seminar in their chosenspecialty, and two additional courses of their choice in differentareas.MCW 600Pedagogy of Creative Writingand choose three of the following courses:MCW 620 Writing InternshipMCW 630 Seminar in Fiction WritingMCW 645 Seminar in Poetry WritingMCW 650 Seminar in Creative NonfictionMCW 685 Basics of ScreenwritingMCW 600 is four weeks; all other writing workshops and seminarsare eight weeks in duration.Specialized Study(2 courses; 9 quarter units)(Prerequisite for advanced workshops: approval of Application Portfolio)Students are expected to take a minimum of two seminars in theirspecialty. All advanced creative writing courses are conducted byteachers who are accomplished creative writers sensitive to theefforts of writing. Classes are conducted as workshops, with studentwork comprising much of the text for the course.MCW 630A Advanced Workshop in Fiction I(Prerequisite: MCW 630)andMCW 630B Advanced Workshop in Fiction II(Prerequisite: MCW 630)orMCW 640A Advanced Workshop in Poetry I(Prerequisite: MCW 645)andMCW 640B Advanced Workshop in Poetry II(Prerequisite: MCW 645)orMCW 650A Adv Workshop in Lit Nonfiction(Prerequisite: MCW 650)and