English, Creative Writing Concentration, MA

Department: English

This concentration provides students the opportunity for advanced study of the art and craft of creative writing. Students who intend to pursue an MFA in creative writing, teach at the college or high school level, or pursue a career in editing, journalism, or professional writing may find this option particularly beneficial.

Learning Outcomes

Admission Requirements

Once students have completed 12 credits for the MA in English, including ENGL 500 , they may elect a concentration in creative writing for their electives.

Program of Study

Required courses (18 credits)

Complete the core courses as identified in the English, MA .

Concentration courses (9 credits)

Note: A course taken to fulfill the MA in English core, specifically the course requirement in linguistics/creative writing/composition-rhetoric, can NOT be double-counted for the creative writing concentration.

Required concentration course

Concentrators must take at least three credits in one of the following workshops:

Concentration electives

Select two additional courses from the following:

ENGL 503 - Directed Study (maximum 3 credits)
ENGL 555 - International Study and Travel (with a creative writing focus)
ENGL 570 - Topics in American Literature *
ENGL 580 - Topics in British Literature *
ENGL 590 - Topics in World and Comparative Literature *
ENGL 591 - Topics in the Craft of Creative Writing (repeatable with different topics)
ENGL 592 - Fiction Writing Workshop (repeatable)
ENGL 593 - Poetry Writing Workshop (repeatable)
ENGL 595 - Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop (repeatable)
ENGL 599 - Internship (maximum of 3 credits)
*Only one course in literary studies will be applicable to the Creative Writing Concentration.

Exit requirement (6 credits)

Complete one of the following culminating experiences:

Thesis option

Students who choose this option will research and write a thesis, a work of independent scholarship or creative writing. Those who choose to write a thesis should select a thesis director and committee and submit a thesis proposal to the graduate school for approval. The completed thesis must be approved by the thesis director and thesis committee. While a six-credit thesis is the norm, a three-credit thesis may be elected for a project developed out of and expanding prior course work. If a student chooses a three-credit thesis, then an additional three-credit elective (any 500-level ENGL course) is required to fulfill the exit requirement. Theses in creative writing must also include a 10-15 page essay situating the craft of the creative work in relation to scholarship relevant to the genre, style or thematic concerns.

ENGL 502 - Graduate Thesis (six-credit thesis; or three-credit thesis, plus one additional three-credit elective in English selected from the list of concentration courses above) The thesis, whether three or six credits, must be in the concentration area.

Non-thesis option

Students who choose not to write a thesis must fulfill the following requirements:

Two additional electives (six credits) selected from the list of concentration courses above.
Electronic submission of portfolio of revised writing produced in course work. Students must submit two research papers of 10-15 pages each and two presentations or projects; concentrators in creative writing should also submit samples of their creative work. The graduate committee will evaluate portfolios to assess if the student has demonstrated proficiency in the skills outlined in the program’s learning outcomes. If the portfolio is deemed inadequate, students will be required to take a three-credit ENGL 503 - Directed Study to revise the portfolio with faculty mentoring.

Total minimum credits: 33*

*For students who completed a graduate English course for undergraduate credit (with a minimum grade of “B”) at Bridgewater State, one course may be waived with approval of the DGCE Chair (Graduate Coordinator) to reduce the minimum number of credits to 30.