Creative Writing

Robert H. Brinkmeyer

Department Chair of English

333 Kimpel Hall

479-575-4301

Donald Hays

Director

333 Kimpel Hall

479-575-4301

E-mail: dhays@uark.edu

Web: http://www.uark.edu/depts/english/PCWT.html/

See English for faculty list.

Degree Conferred:

M.F.A. (CRWR)

The program leading to the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing provides graduate level training in creative writing and in the study of literature.

Required Courses: A minimum of 42 hours for a candidate with an M.A. degree in English or of 60 hours for candidate with no M.A. Candidates with a B.A. degree that does not include a major in English may be required to take additional courses.

1. Writing and Theory Courses

a. Writing Workshop (15 to 24 semester hours)

b. Form and Theory of Fiction or Poetry (9 hours total:
6 hours in student’s genre; 3 hours in second genre)

c. Contemporary Fiction and Poetry (6 hours in student’s genre;
3 hours in second genre)

d. Readings in Modern or Contemporary Literature (6 hours)

2. Additional Courses, 12 to 24 hours of English at the advanced level.

Comprehensive Examination: A six-hour written examination covering critical terms, theories, and readings in the candidate’s genre.

Thesis: An M.F.A. thesis may be either a collection of poems or stories or a novel. It should be of the quality of those works currently published by national magazines, by literary journals, and by legitimate book publishers. The degree will be withheld from any student failing to produce a suitable body of work.

Three hours of credit may be given for a thesis, or six hours of credit to a candidate who has 21 hours of workshop or less.

Final Examination: A two-hour oral examination on the thesis.

All students working toward the degree will plan their specific programs in consultation with their advisers. All degree requirements must be completed within six consecutive calendar years from the date of first enrollment.

Through an agreement with the Academic Common Market, residents of certain Southern states may qualify for graduate enrollment in creative writing as in-state students for fee purposes. See Appendix A for details.