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Creative Writing
Request InformationDEGREES
Master of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Arts
CAREER IDEAS
Book Editor, Broadcast News Analyst, Copy Writer, Fund Raiser, Lobbyist, Newspaper Editor, Novelist, Poet, Public Relations Practitioner, Reporter, Screenwriter, Speech Writer, Writer/Author
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS
Nada Halloway, Department Chair
Lori Soderlind, Program Director
1 (914) 323-5239
soderlindl@mville.edu
Jeff W. Bens, Program Director
(914) 323-7137
jeff.bens@mville.edu
Undergraduate creative writers hone their craft in workshop courses and contribute to the campus literary magazine, Graffiti, and the campus newspaper, Touchstone. Graduate writers can work at their own pace to build upon their already strong ability to write and think critically.
Undergraduate
Students read broadly and deeply, in both published and peer work, and write extensively across genre and form. Classes examine character development, diction, genre, narrative, point of view, structure, voice. Emphases are on generating new work, critical reasoning and analysis, oral communication and revision. The program provides a foundation of critical study, written and oral communication, and self-expression. Classes are small, supportive and taught by working writers.
Classes are offered in: Fiction, Advanced Fiction, Journalism, Advanced Journalism, Narrative Studies, Poetry, Screenwriting, Advanced Screenwriting, Playwriting and Writing for the Media. Students' undergraduate studies culminate in the Senior Writing Project, under the mentorship of the CPW director.
Each fall and spring, the CPW program hosts a faculty-student reading and each spring the English Department awards the Eileen O'Gorman Undergraduate Prize in Fiction, the Robert O'Clair Undergraduate Prize in Poetry, the Sr. Margaret Williams Prize for Literary Criticism, the Dan Masterson Prize for Screenwriting, and the William K. Everson Prize for Writing on Film.
The College also offers an accelerated BA in English/MFA in Creative Writing program jointly with Manhattanville's MFA Creative Writing Program. Students apply for the accelerated program in their junior year.
Graduate
Manhattanville’s 36-credit Master of Fine Arts in creative writing program is open to graduates of accredited colleges and universities who demonstrate a strong potential in writing and critical thinking. Students are admitted to the program primarily on the strength of the writing they submit as part of the application process. Writing will be judged according to its literary merit and its indication of the applicant’s readiness to study writing and literature at the graduate level. Courses are scheduled in the evenings in order to meet the needs of working adults. The program can be completed in two years, though students may work at their own pace, beginning in either the fall or spring semester — or with Summer Writers’ Week, a comprehensive week-long program that consists of writing workshops in the mornings and special events in the afternoons. Writers’ Week is offered annually at the end of June.
Whether you want to earn an MFA or simply attend public readings, open mic nights, or other special events, Manhattanville welcomes writers and aspiring writers to join its dynamic literary community.
MFA Program Director Lori Soderlind, from Manhattanville's MFA department, provides an overview of the department, job opportunities, classes, and more!
Requirements
Current information about degree program requirements can be found in the official College Catalogs.
Program Directors
Jeff Bens, Undergraduate Creative Writing
Lori Soderlind, Graduate
Undergraduate Faculty
Jeff Bens
Mark Nowak
Affiliated Faculty
Adjunct Faculty
Sally Bliumis-Dunn
Paul Levitz
Bryce Bauer
Tyler Wetherall
David Gerrard
Graduate Faculty
Jeff Bens
Fatin Abbas
Annapurna Potluri