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Course Requirements
To earn a Master of Arts in Writing degree, students must complete nine courses. Course requirement depend on a student's concentration, as listed below: Degree Requirements by Concentration
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS BY CONCENTRATIONFictionFiction students complete the following nine courses:
Fiction Courses
Fiction Electives (three required)
* Film & Screenwriting and Drama & Playwriting usually are open only to Fiction students who have completed the Fiction Techniques core course. Consult the fiction advisor for more information. Core courses: Fiction students should complete both core courses before enrolling in workshops of any kind, and fiction students are urged (but not required) to complete the core courses before taking any other courses. For exceptions to the core course rule, see the Student Handbook section on Waivers. Scheduling and Planning Tip: Fiction Techniques and Contemporary American Writers usually are offered each Fall and Spring term in Washington . In Baltimore , Fiction Techniques usually is offered only in the Fall and Contemporary American Writers only in the Spring. Fiction core courses usually are not offered in the summer term. Workshops: Fiction students can meet their workshop requirements by enrolling in a general Fiction Workshop, Writing the Novel Workshop, or Experimental Fiction Workshop. Any combination of those courses is acceptable as long as a total of three are taken. Students usually must complete at least one Fiction Workshop before enrolling in Writing the Novel Workshop. Consult the fiction advisor. Fiction students can submit short stories or, at times, novel chapters, in a Fiction Workshop. However, students working on novels are encouraged to enroll in Writing the Novel if it is offered at their home campus. All other fiction courses are electives and cannot count as workshops. Fiction students may take only one workshop per term. General Fiction Workshops usually have three course numbers during an academic year to specify the term in which the workshop was offered. However, workshop course numbers are irrelevant to degree requirements; students can take any combination of workshops — with the same or different course numbers. Electives: Fiction students do not need to complete core courses to enroll in an elective unless the elective specifically requires such prerequisites. Fiction students are expected to take most of their electives from the fiction concentration, but non-concentration electives may be considered with the fiction advisor's permission. Enrollment in cross-concentration courses does not require advisor permission. Students may count an additional workshop toward their elective requirement. Thesis: Students must complete all eight degree-level courses — two core courses, three workshops, and three electives — before enrolling in the thesis course. Students who must take a second course for financial aid purposes can take a second course during the thesis term only if the course is additional to degree requirements and only with an advisor's permission. For more courses of possible interest to fiction writers, see Cross-Concentration Courses, Independent Study, and Advanced Workshops in this handbook.
NonfictionNonfiction students complete the following nine courses:
* Students are urged to take Nonfiction Techniques before Contemporary Nonfiction, although they can be taken in the same term. Nonfiction Courses
Nonfiction Electives (two or three required, depending on cores taken)
Core Courses: Students in this concentration are required to take Nonfiction Techniques and Contemporary Nonfiction before enrolling in any writing workshop. For more information about a possible waiver of the core courses, see the Student Handbook. Students who want a stronger background in journalistic skills should consider taking Principles of Journalism as an additional core course to help meet their broader creative writing goals. Principles of Journalism also can be an elective. Special Tips: Students are urged to take Nonfiction Techniques first, before Contemporary Nonfiction, although it is permissible to take both in the same term. Nonfiction students are urged (but not required) to complete the core courses first, before taking other courses. Scheduling of Courses: Nonfiction Techniques and Contemporary Nonfiction usually are both offered each Fall and Spring term in Washington . In Baltimore , the nonfiction core courses are offered once a year: Techniques in the Fall and Contemporary in the Spring. Nonfiction core courses usually are not offered in the summer term. Workshops: Nonfiction students may complete their workshop requirements by taking regular Nonfiction Workshops or various specialized workshops. The Nonfiction concentration has the program's largest number of specialized workshops. All other nonfiction courses are electives and cannot count as workshops. Students may take only one workshop per term. General writing workshops usually have three course numbers during an academic year to specify the term in which the workshop was offered. However, workshop course numbers are irrelevant to degree requirements; students can take any combination of workshops — with the same or different course numbers. Electives: Nonfiction students do not need to complete the core courses to enroll in an elective unless the elective specifically requires the cores as a prerequisite. Nonfiction students are expected to take electives from the nonfiction concentration, but electives from outside the concentration may be considered with advisor permission. Enrollment in cross-concentration courses does not require advisor permission. An additional workshop can count toward the elective requirement. Thesis: Nonfiction students must complete all eight degree-level courses — core courses, workshops, and electives — before enrolling in the thesis course. Thesis students who must take a second course for financial aid purposes can take a second course only if the course is additional to degree requirements and only with an advisor's permission. For more courses of possible interest to nonfiction writers, see Cross-Concentration Courses, Independent Study, and Advanced Workshops later in this handbook. With an advisor's permission, nonfiction students may consider a course in another concentration.
PoetryPoetry students complete the following nine courses:
Poetry Courses
Electives (three required)
Electives of Interest from Fiction
Electives of Interest from Nonfiction or Science-Medical Writing
Special note for Poetry Students: The requirements above are new for 2005-06. Students admitted to the poetry program before Sept. 1, 2005 , may follow previous degree requirements or the one described above. Students admitted after Sept. 1, 2005, must follow the above requirements. Core Courses: Poetry students must complete Contemporary American Writers and Poetry Techniques. Unlike students in other concentrations, poets may enroll in a Poetry Workshop without completing the core courses — with the poetry advisor's permission. However, students are urged to complete Contemporary American Writers and / or Poetry Techniques before taking a workshop — if possible. Scheduling of Poetry Courses: Because poetry is one of the program's smaller concentrations, only one or two courses are offered at a time. The program aims to offer one poetry course at each campus, each Fall and Spring term. Summer offerings will depend on enrollment. Poets should carefully plan their studies so they can take the core courses when they are offered. Contemporary American Writers is offered each Fall and Spring in Washington and each Spring in Baltimore ; Poetry Techniques will be offered on a regular schedule at each campus. Other poetry courses will be offered on a schedule that is announced to students two to three terms in advance. Workshops: Poets spend many hours each week creating new poems and/or revising previous work to be submitted to a workshop. However, students should not submit poems from a previous workshop without instructor permission. General writing workshops usually have three course numbers during an academic year to specify the term in which the workshop was offered. However, workshop course numbers are irrelevant to degree requirements; students can take any combination of workshops — with the same or different course numbers. Electives: As of 2005, four poetry electives were offered: Readings in Modern Poetry, Advanced Poetry Form and Meter, and Development of Poetry and Poetics I & II. The poetics courses cover poetry in the 20 th Century (I) and before the 20 th Century (II); student do not have to take them in order. Poets may consider courses in fiction and other concentrations for elective credit. Enrollment in cross-concentration courses does not require advisor permission. Thesis: Poetry students must complete all eight degree-level courses — core courses, workshops, and electives — before enrolling in thesis. Students who must take a second course for financial aid purposes can take a second course during the thesis term only if the course is additional to degree requirements and only with an advisor's permission. For more courses of interest to poetry students, see Cross-Concentration Courses, Independent Study, and Advanced Workshops later in this handbook. With an advisor's permission, poetry students may consider a course in another concentration. Writing Program students also may consider courses in other AAP graduate programs, but permission of the Writing Program associate chair is required to register for such courses.
Science-Medical WritingScience-Medical Writing students complete the following nine courses to earn an M.A. degree:
Science-Medical Courses Workshops (three required) Two workshops must be from this list:
One workshop may come from this group, or a third workshop may come from the list above
With advisor permission, advanced students close to thesis may propose an Independent Study in place of a third workshop. Independent Studies are granted competitively each term based on proposals from students in all concentrations Electives (two or three required, depending on number of cores taken) One must be from this group:
One must be from this group:
*Medicine in Action counts as either a workshop or an elective. Nonfiction Electives and Other Electives of Interest
Scheduling of Courses: Science-Medical Writing is a smaller concentration, so the program offers one or two courses in the area each term. The program aims to offer at least one Science-Medical Writing course at each campus, each Fall and Spring term. Summer offerings will depend on enrollment. The Science-Medical Writing faculty advisor can inform students of upcoming course offerings. Science-medical writers should arrange their studies so they can take the science-medical writing courses when they are offered. Science-Medical Writing students are expected to write at least one concentration-specific essay or article if they enroll in a Nonfiction Workshop or a specialized workshop such as Profile & Biography Workshop or Viewpoint Journalism Workshop. Core Courses: Students in this concentration take Techniques of Science-Medical Writing and Contemporary Nonfiction as their core courses. Science-medical writers who want a stronger background in journalistic skills should consider Principles of Journalism as an additional core. The program will recommend this course for some students. Workshops: Instructors focus on the specialized research and reporting skills needed for science writing, in addition to the qualities of good writing. As mentioned above, students also may satisfy some workshop requirements by writing about science, health, medicine, technology, or the environment in general or specialized nonfiction workshops. Electives: Science-Medical writing offers four electives, and most students will be able to choose one other elective. Students should consult their advisor to make sure they are taking the right mix of courses to complete their degree in Science-Medical Writing. Thesis: Science-Medical Writing students must complete all eight degree-level courses before enrolling in thesis. Students who must take a second course during the thesis term can do so only if the course is in addition to degree requirements and only with the program's permission. OTHER COURSE OPTIONS
Cross-Concentration CoursesThe program offers several courses that might be of interest to students in several or all concentrations. These popular courses count as electives and usually do not require advisor permission before enrolling:
Independent StudyIndependent Studies are proposed by advanced students on topics not already covered in the curriculum. The number of Independent Studies approved for any given term is limited, and only advanced students may apply. See Materials for Current Students for more information, or consult your advisor. InternshipsThe program occasionally approves internships for select advanced students when the proposed work directly relates to the student's development as a writer. Advanced WorkshopsAt times, the program offers Advanced Workshops in one or more concentrations. These special workshops meet the workshop requirements for a degree, but they often require competitive registration reviews. That means students usually must submit new writing samples or meet other special requirements before enrolling; not all applicants can be accepted. See the Course Schedule for more information.
Dual-Concentration StudentsIn certain rare circumstances, students are accepted into the Writing Program in two concentrations. Such students must arrange a hybrid plan of study that allows sufficient coursework in two areas. Dual-concentration students are required to take at least two and as many as four additional courses, meaning they must take a minimum of eleven courses instead of the nine required for a single-concentration Master of Arts in Writing. The coursework usually must include two electives and two workshops in each concentration, plus core courses and additional courses as specified. Before beginning their studies, dual-concentration students should consult the associate program chair and the faculty advisors in the appropriate concentrations. For more information, consult Materials for Current Students.
Courses from Outside the Writing ProgramWriting Program students may consider enrolling in Hopkins courses outside the Writing Program, but enrollment in such courses is only occasionally approved. Approval will be granted on a case-by-case basis and depends on the student's performance in Writing Program courses. Tuition for such courses is based on the home program, not the Writing Program. For more information about the Writing Program curriculum, see the Student Catalog. For course descriptions, see the link at left on this web page.
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