Creative Writing - Master of Fine Arts
The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing offers students the opportunity to master advanced skills in carrying out independent and sustained activity in creative writing in the areas of fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry, and screenwriting. Guided development of each writer's talents culminates in a final project, a publishable-quality thesis in the area of specialty. This final project should demonstrate a critical application of specialist knowledge in the chosen specialty and should make an independent contribution to existing work in that area. This program is excellent preparation for a professional career in writing, working in the areas of publishing or filmmaking, and is the minimal academic qualification appropriate for those who desire to teach writing at the college or university level.

Faculty in the MFA in Creative Writing program maintain a strong commitment to scholarly value and the active support of students in their passion for literature, film and writing. Creative writing students are expected to make important contributions to the publication of the student literary journal (GNU) and actively participate in seminars designed to foster creative and critical debate. Courses are directed to the refinement of creative practice and academic excellence. Faculty are experienced and published writers in their fields and offer supervision in the areas of fiction, poetry, literary nonfiction, and screenwriting.

Upon completion of the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, graduates will demonstrate the following proficiencies:

• Expertise in the various aesthetic theories pertaining to specialty (fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry, or screenwriting)
• Expertise in the practical and theoretical models of teaching and learning the writing of fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry and screenwriting
• Expertise in recognizing and commenting critically on specific works of literature and screenwriting
• Expertise in the development of publishable-quality writing in area of specialty (fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry, or screenwriting)
• Ability to communicate effectively and knowledgeably on such matters as plot, characterization, style, point of view, narrative technique, language, and other issues of fiction
• Ability to communicative effectively and knowledgeably on such matters as voice, plot, characterization, style, point of view, narrative technique, language, and other issues of literary nonfiction
• Ability to communicate effectively and knowledgeably on such matters as language, style, themes, technique, rhythm, form, and other issues of poetry
• Ability to communicate effectively and knowledgeably on such matters as plot, characterization, style, point of view, narrative technique, language, form, dialogue, and other issues of screenwriting

National University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).