The MFA in Writing and Literature degree requires 33 credits of course work and a nine-credit thesis for a total of 42 credits. Following are the specific requirements:
Required Introduction to the MFA Program (3 Credits)
CRW 500 - Introduction to Graduate Writing
Six of the following writing workshops (18 Credits):
Students select six writing workshops from the following. Individual courses under each category will be labeled according to the content of the course. Although courses may be repeated for credit, students are strongly encouraged to experiment among the disciplines.
CRW 510 - Forms of Fiction
Individual courses within the fiction category will be labeled according to the form covered. For example, Short Story Collections, Beginning the Novel, Advancing the Novel, etc.
CRW 520 - Forms of Poetry
Individual courses within the poetry category will be labeled according to the form covered. For example, Prose Poems.
CRW 530 - Forms of Scriptwriting
Individual courses within the scriptwriting category will be labeled according to the form covered. For example, Screenplay, Playwriting, etc.
CRW 540 - Forms of Creative Nonfiction
Individual courses within the nonfiction category will be labeled according to the form covered. For example, Creative Nonfiction, Memoir, etc.
CRW 550 - Forms of Professional and Scientific Writing
Individual courses within the professional and scientific writing category will be labeled according to the form covered. For example, Speech Writing, Writing in the Digital World, Writing about Science, etc.
CRW 600 - Writers Conference
CRW 675 - Advanced Writing Workshop
This course is for manuscripts in progress across writing disciplines and is strongly recommended for students preparing to take the thesis.
Three of the following special topic writing and literature seminars (9 Credits)*
CRW 570 - Topics in Literature for Writers
CRW 670 - Special Topics in Writing
CRW 588 - Independent Study
*With the approval of the Writing Program director, this requirement may be filled through taking the following graduate English Literature courses offered at Stony Brook University: EGL 501 Studies in Chaucer, EGL 502 Studies in Shakespeare, EGL 503 Studies in Milton, EGL 503 Studies in Genre, EGL 520 Studies in Renaissance, EGL 525 17th-Century Literature, EGL 530 Studies in Restoration Literature, EGL 535 Studies in Neoclassicism, EGL 540 Studies in Romanticism, EGL 545 Studies in Victorian Literature, EGL 547 Late 19th-Century British Literature, EGL 550 20th-Century British Literature, EGL 555 Studies in Irish Literature, EGL 560 Studies in Early American Literature, EGL 565 19th-Century American Literature, EGL 570 20th-Century American Literature, EGL 575 British and American Literature, EGL 584 Topics in Genre Studies
One of the following practicums (3 credits)*
With the permission of the director, a course in writing or literature may be substituted in place of the practicum requirement.
CRW 680 - Practicum in Arts Administration (Writers Conference and Lecture Series)
CRW 681/EGL 698 - Practicum in Teaching Writing
CRW 682 - Practicum in Publishing and Editing (Literary Magazine)
MFA Thesis (9 credits)
CRW 699 Thesis