Writing, M.A.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the program will be able to:
- Create various forms and genres of writing, evidencing artistic, literary, and stylistic merit.
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the conventions and terminology of creative writing within literary texts.
- Collaborate in editorial and publishing processes through campus publications for external audiences.
- Perform advanced creative work to formal audiences, demonstrating strategies for audience engagement and oral communication of written work.
- [For Pedagogy Concentration Only] Teach using composition theory and pedagogy in the composition classroom.
MA in Writing Admissions Requirements
- Students must upload a writing sample of creative writing, a statement of purpose/cover letter, a CV/resume, official transcripts, and letters of recommendation in their application.
- Students must grade a sample student essay and discuss their grading feedback in an interview with the program lead to assess their capacity to teach and tutor.
- Students’ readiness for graduate study must be confirmed by the writing faculty based on their writing sample and interview with the program lead.
4+1 MA in Writing Admissions Requirements
- Students must have completed WRI 2020.
- Students must have taken a minimum of two additional writing courses between WRI 3021, WRI 3022, and WRI 3023.
- Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.000 in those three writing courses.
- Students’ readiness for graduate study must be confirmed by the writing faculty (assessed by writing sample and interview with program lead).
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| WRI 6020 | Writing Across the Genres | 3 |
| WRI 6060 | Literary Editing and Publishing | 3 |
| WRI 6400 | Advanced Workshop | 3 |
| WRI 6500 | Masters Thesis | 3 |
| Choose two (2) Writing Genre Courses: | 6 | |
| Poetry Workshop | ||
| Fiction Workshop | ||
| Nonfiction Workshop | ||
| Scriptwriting Workshop | ||
| Special Topic in Writing | ||
| Choose two (2) Literature Courses: | 6 | |
| American Literature to 1900 | ||
| American Literature Since 1900 | ||
| Medieval Literature | ||
| 17th Century English Literature | ||
| Romantic Literature | ||
| Victorian Literature | ||
| Postcolonial Classics and Theory | ||
| The Novel | ||
| Shakespeare | ||
| Seminar in Literature | ||
| Peninsular Literature Before 1800 | ||
| Peninsular Literature Since 1800 | ||
| Mexican American Literature and Culture | ||
| Latin American Literature Before 1910 | ||
| Latin American Literature Since 1910 | ||
| Genre/Period Studies in Hispanic Literature or Film | ||
| Choose two (2) additional courses from Writing Genres and/or Literature listed above | 6 | |
| Total Units | 30 | |
Pedagogy Concentration for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| WRI 6001 | Composition Pedagogy I | 3 |
| WRI 6002 | Composition Pedagogy II | 3 |
| Total Units | 6 | |
- 1
WRI 6001 and WRI 6002 can only be taken by Graduate TAs in the MA in Writing program, and not by 4+1 students.
Total MA in Writing with a Pedagogy Concentration for GTAs: 36 units
4+1 Master of Arts in Writing
PLNU undergraduate students can apply to enter the 4+1 MA in Writing program at the end of their sophomore year. Once accepted into the 4+1 program, students can take undergrad/graduate cross-listed courses for up to 15 units of graduate level courses to account for their undergraduate degree, and receive graduate credit up to the first year of their MA in Writing degree (15 units of the 30 required for the degree). These 15 units will account for WRI 5020/WRI 6020 - Writing Across the Genres (3 units) which should be taken before any graduate cross-listed writing workshops, including two genre workshops between WRI 5021/WRI 6021, WRI 5022/WRI 6022, WRI 5023/WRI 6023, and WRI 5024/WRI 6024 (6 units), and two literature courses (6 units).
4+1 MA in Writing Courses
Students in the 4+1 MA in Writing program may take up to 15 units of the following during their baccalaureate degree:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| WRI 5020 | Writing Across the Genres | 3 |
| Choose two (2) Literature courses from the following: | 6 | |
| American Literature to 1900 | ||
| American Literature Since 1900 | ||
| Medieval Literature | ||
| 17th Century English Literature | ||
| Romantic Literature | ||
| Victorian Literature | ||
| Postcolonial Classics and Theory | ||
| The Novel | ||
| Shakespeare | ||
| Seminar in Literature | ||
| Peninsular Literature Before 1800 | ||
| Mexican American Literature and Culture | ||
| Latin American Literature Before 1910 | ||
| Latin American Literature Since 1910 | ||
| Genre/Period Studies in Hispanic Literature or Film | ||
| Choose two (2) Writing Genre courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Poetry Workshop | ||
| Fiction Workshop | ||
| Nonfiction Workshop | ||
| Scriptwriting Workshop | ||
| Special Topic in Writing | ||
| Post-Baccalaureate Finishing Courses | ||
| WRI 6060 | Literary Editing and Publishing | 3 |
| WRI 6400 | Advanced Workshop | 3 |
| WRI 6500 | Masters Thesis | 3 |
| Choose six (6) additional 6000-level units from Literature or Writing Genres | 6 | |
| Total Units | 30 | |
Note(s):
- 5000-level courses listed above can be taken for dual undergrad/graduate credit as a part of the Master’s in Writing 4+1 track if the student applies and is accepted into the MA in Writing 4+1 program at the end of their sophomore year.
- 4+1 students cannot enroll in the Pedagogy Concentration courses WRI 6001 and WRI 6002. These courses are only for Graduate TAs enrolled in the MA in Writing program.