Although this is an English Department program, students in all fields of interest are eligible, regardless of the type of baccalaureate degree they hold or the area of writing they wish to pursue. Required courses have been kept to a minimum, allowing each student to tailor a program which exactly suits his or her individual needs. Students may be able to transfer up to six hours of graduate credit from another institution, with approval from the program director. Students may be able to apply for up to six hours of credit by proficiency for past professional experience which essentially duplicates the materials of a course in the program. Students may include a maximum of two courses from other NLU programs or departments when designing their degree.
All courses meet in the evening, once a week for ten consecutive weeks.
A minimum of two years is usually required to complete the program, with many students preferring to take somewhat longer. Transfer credit or credit by proficiency can shorten this time. Application for the program includes a brief impromptu essay which can be scheduled at the student's convenience. It will soon be available at the NLU academic center in Tampa, Florida.