By Jennifer Brown
Once upon a time, long, long ago, when I was applying to MFA programs (ok, just last year, but it feels like a million years ago), one of the things I was really curious about was what classes new students actually take. I thought we could all comment with our fall class schedule so that those applying could get a sense of what is taken at our schools. . . remember to name your school!
I am starting at George Mason this fall with 1) Forms of Fiction, 2) Setting, and 3) a Mark Twain lit class.
ReplyDeleteNoticeably absent is workshop --- we don't start workshop until second semester. But I hear there will be plenty of writing for Forms of Fiction!
I'm taking the poetry workshop and the literary journal editing class (Meridian) at UVA this fall. Very excited that the lit journal is a class instead of an extracurricular thing.
ReplyDeleteVCFA doesn't exactly have classes. During the initial 10-day residency, students attend lectures and readings daily. We also participate in several workshop sessions. Throughout the semester students will complete "packets," which are comprised primarily of original writing as well as some critical analysis. An individual adviser gives feedback on both critical and creative work, and offers guidance on a self-determined running bibliography.
ReplyDeleteAt Penn State I'm taking a required Intro to Graduate Study, Poetry Workshop, and The Writer in the Community (described on the website as "a course for the teaching and practice of writing in non-university settings to increase student understanding for uses of writing among diverse groups of people"). And a one-hour Teaching Colloquium that guides all new grad students through their first semester of teaching composition.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what I'm taking yet. I find out when I get there and see which workshop classes are available.
ReplyDeleteAt OSU, I am taking the graduate poetry workshop, a class on postcolonial literature and theory, and a teaching colloquium similar to what Emily is taking.
ReplyDeleteI'm on a couple of wait lists so my schedule isn't fully solidified yet.
ReplyDeleteFor sure I'm taking a graduate teaching practicum and a poetry writing workshop.
The 3rd class will most likely be either writers on writing which is a poetics class or intro. to composition theory.
I'm starting an MA at Utah State University. I'm not technically finished with my undergrad yet, so I have to take a final upper level undergrad Shakespeare class (my last undergrad course), then I'm taking a graduate fiction workshop and a Graduate Instructor Practicum course where we prepare and learn about teaching english 101 (I'm teaching two sessions). I'm getting hooked up, because I ought to have to finish this semester as an undergrad, taking my one stupid class, and waiting till fall of 2010 to start the MA. My professors pulled strings and got me into the grad program AND got me the Graduate Instructorship and the $9,000 stipend/insurance that comes with it.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I think Utah State University is an excellent option for creative nonfiction writers, but they only have an MA. I really, really, mean it - the faculty here rock my brains out.
I'm also hired by the Watershed Science Department of USU to work as an editor for a professor of Climatology, editing his articles and peer reviews etc. Plus, I just finished my first freelance copywriting project for a client across the country who found my website through google ads! I made 50 bucks for the 2 hour project, writing a couple web pages for an information technology company (who helps corporations outsource jobs! -funny, because I'm like bitterly anti-corporate) so, well, hell yeah, since I have no previous clients.
feels good to sell a little piece of my soul...
ReplyDeleteLike Denis I haven't scheduled either but I know I want to take either a nonfiction or poetry workshop, the grad tutorial, and a lit class.
ReplyDeleteAt The New School, I have a workshop with Ann Hood and a short fiction seminar with Bejamin Taylor this fall. I also have a requirement to go to at least 8 readings/literary events per semester. I'm looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteHi gang! At Maryland this fall, I'm taking Intro to Teaching Composition (required course for grad assistants to teach); The Long Harlem Renaissance; and the Fiction workshop with William Henry Lewis. I'm super excited!
ReplyDeleteHi. GCSU's program that is a little different. Since I already have a Master's degree, I will be completing my MFA work in two years. (A nice reward, I think!). I'll be taking a poetry workshop, Theories of Composition and Literature, and thesis hours.
ReplyDeleteHey everyone! All of your classes/schedules sound so so interesting. JayTee, I LOVE that the lit journal is a class at UVA. Why don't more schools do that?! Tory, I envy you that postcolonial lit class ; ) Lakiesha, The Long Harlem Renaissance sounds awesome!
ReplyDeleteMy first semester at U Minnesota: Fiction workshop, Reading Across the Genres (all incoming MFA students take this class together), MFA teaching practicum (everyone who's teaching a section of Intro to Creative Writing takes this), and an English teaching practicum (all incoming MFAers take this together.)
PS---Great post, Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteI'm at UNCG, and I'll be taking 3 classes this fall: Poetry workshop, Structure of Fiction, and Teaching Composition. I'll be taking some sort of editing tutorial (created to deal with budget cuts and loss of class time). I'm also an Instructional Assistant for an undergrad contemporary poetry course.
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