Graduate Programs

MFA in Writing & Literature

The MFA program in Writing and Literature at Stony Brook Southampton emphasizes creative work in fiction, poetry, and scriptwriting. However, the program also extends its emphasis beyond the familiar categories of creative expression to treat all forms of writing as equally relevant to understanding and mastering a world constructed out of words. In particular, the program broadens its interest to include forms of scientific writing – environmental, medical, technological – to draw benefits from the university’s well-established strength in science.

The 42 academic credits for the MFA program is divided among required courses that introduce students to the profession and discipline of writing and the skills necessary to teach writing to others; advanced writing workshops in a variety of writing genres; seminars designed to focus closely on an issue or type of contemporary writing; graduate-level English literature courses; and an MFA thesis intended to be a publishable, book-length work. The program is offered in two academic semesters, two six-week summer sessions, and a credit-bearing writers conference.

Courses are taught by a full-time core faculty of three, joined by a part-time faculty of ten distinguished visiting writers whose teaching and lecturing assignments rotate among the fall, spring, and summer sessions. These distinguished visitors provide creative breadth to the writing program, offering coverage in areas of writing that are essential in contemporary society, in particular fiction, non-fiction, scriptwriting, scientific writing, and writing for the media.

For more information:
Phone: (631) 632-5030 or (631) 632-5016
Fax: (631) 632-2576
southamptonwriters@notes.cc.sunysb.edu

School of Professional Development

The School of Professional Development (SPD) provides part-time graduate education opportunities for working adults. Its diverse offerings include programs for teacher training, human resource management, and the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MA/LS), which is the University's most popular graduate degree program.

SPD is also the largest provider of professional education certification for school administrators (SDL, SBL, SDBL) in New York State. Classes in its 17 degree and certificate programs are scheduled in the evenings, on Saturdays, at Southampton and online to accommodate the needs of busy professionals.

SPD is scheduling select graduate courses in Southampton beginning with the Fall 2007 term. Students who choose to matriculate in the MA/LS degree program may combine courses scheduled at Southampton with those offered online to complete their degree.

Non-matriculating students may choose to take individual courses for personal enrichment or to advance their careers.