Creative Writing

Overview

It assumes that, as in music or the visual arts, the best education for the artist includes: training in the history and traditions associated with the student's discipline, training in theoretical and formal approaches to the craft, and extensive practice with critique of student work by peers and faculty writers. 

The Creative Writing MFA program from California State University, Fresno combines studio and academic approaches, providing the student with substantial critical workshop experience and a solid background in theory and literature. In addition to a traditional literature based course of study, we offer the Emphasis in Publishing and Editing for those students who wish to gain professional training and experience in the field.

The core of the English major consists of four basic kinds of courses in the upper division: literary history courses, literary genre courses, literacy seminars, and writing courses. The masterpiece courses apply to the minor and may meet General Education requirements. The department also offers courses in mythology and folklore, methods of research, film, and women's studies.

Career Development 

English is a general major or minor designed to give proficiency in skills that traditionally have been among the most highly prized by society: 

• an ability to read with comprehension and critical judgment; 

• to communicate accurately and clearly both orally and in writing; to grasp difficult ideas and think logically; 

• to do research and organize materials; 

• to make ethical and moral judgments from an historical and humanistic framework;  

• to appreciate literature and the arts.