If a Graduate Liberal Studies student wishes to concentrate in writing, two options are available. The MFA program is geared toward those aiming to be professional writers who seek to hone their craft to the highest level of publishable literary quality. The MFA is, therefore, a lengthier program of highly disciplined study. In contrast, most other graduate writing programs require that students declare a genre and remain within it for the duration of study. The writing faculty are practicing, award-winning writers who are committed and generous teachers.
Thematic courses encourage matching subject to form.
Students read great contemporary literature from world cultures, consider the bond between reader and writer, grapple with the issues of the day, and debate the creative process. In so doing, students gain keen insight into the content of their writing as well as the precision involved in shaping it. First-tier writing courses are open to MFA students and those MALS students who have successfully completed two writing courses. Second-tier writing courses are reserved for MFA students. Writing students in the MALS program have two options.