Department of English Programs

The MFA in Creative Writing at Southern Connecticut State University is a flexible full-residency, terminal-degree program that prepares students for careers as publishing writers, teachers, editors, and professionals in the publishing world. We work with students who attend full-time and students who attend part-time, and we are committed to working with the student’s needs in mind.

Our curriculum focuses on the development of the writer through experiences in the writing workshops and the creative thesis, but writers also need to be readers and study literature, so our students study literature from ancient world lit to contemporary lit with experts in each field. Other courses focus on literary theory, composition and rhetoric, and teaching collegiate-level writing. In some cases, MFA students may also teach their own courses.

Our MFA Program in Creative Writing is designed to graduate fiction writers and poets who

• have the skills and experience to become publishing writers;
• have the experience and depth of knowledge to become university instructors of creative and expository writing;
• have a comprehensive foundation in intensive literary study, literary analysis, literary theory, and critical writing;
• become versatile critical thinkers and perceptive, able communicators, prepared for the post- graduate job market, in positions such as freelance writers, editors, grant writers, teachers, technical writers, proofreaders, copyeditors, publicists, media and marketing associates, freelance reporters, and administrators in arts organizations.

In addition to publishing poems and stories in national literary journals, our students have published novels, collections of stories, memoirs, and collections of poems. We celebrate these writers by bringing them back to campus for a public reading of their work.

As an English major pursuing the Bachelor of Science in English secondary education (Grades 7-12), you’ll prepare for a career as a middle- or high-school teacher of literature and writing.

In addition to the core English language and literature courses for the major, you’ll take a range of professional education and teaching methods courses both from our own English Education faculty and those in Southern’s College of Education. You will learn to link your background in literary analysis and British, American, and multi-ethnic literature to the writing and reading needs of students.

These courses will also give you the opportunity to experience a variety of 7-12 classroom settings through a series of field placements that culminate in your semester-long student teaching internship. Successful completion of the degree leads to certification to teach in the state of Connecticut.

The English Department Post-Baccalaureate program leads to certification to teach English Language Arts for grades 7-12 in Connecticut. The certificate program is designed specifically for students with a bachelor's degree in English who want to teach at the secondary level. Candidates will complete courses in education and English methods, along with regular fieldwork in a variety of settings, to prepare for student teaching during the culminating semester of study.

English methods courses are directed by English professors who have extensive experience as secondary teachers and in teacher preparation. They will also supervise your fieldwork, including student teaching. These courses and experiences prepare you for teaching grammar, literacy, literature, writing, and digital learning, along with pedagogical strategies, culturally responsive pedagogy, and the pursuit of social justice through education.

Our graduates teach in urban and suburban settings and often return to SCSU for master's degrees in English or related fields, such as Special Education, TESOL, or Reading.a

As an English major specializing in Creative Writing, you’ll take the foundation courses for the major – in literary analysis, American and British literature, and multi-ethnic literature and critical theory – along with four additional courses in Creative Writing.  

The Creative Writing concentration includes beginning, intermediate, and advanced courses in the writing of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry, with the option of completing a creative thesis in your final year. Workshops focus on sharing your work with peers and learning how to give and receive constructive feedback that will challenge you to revise and discover your vision as a writer. You may also become an editor of SCSU’s literary and art annual, FOLIO.

Your courses also introduce you to a vibrant writing community at Southern with a long history of graduates who have won national prizes, published books with renowned presses, and have gone on to successful MFA programs and careers as editors, high-school teachers, journalists, and founders of literary periodicals.

As an English Major specializing in Literature you’ll take the foundation courses for the major – in literary analysis, American and British literature, and multi-ethnic literature and critical theory – along with four additional courses in special topics, authors, and periods of Literature.

The Literature concentration includes small seminars and focused classes that help you specialize in the history of poetry, fiction and drama beyond an introductory survey. Subject areas include Romanticism, Shakespeare’s contemporaries, graphic novels, YA literature, and more, with the option to complete electives for the specialization abroad (Liverpool, Rome, etc.).  

These reading- and writing-intensive courses prepare you for a range of careers in the public humanities (grant-writing, libraries, law, etc.) where textual analysis and strong communication skills are required. The Literature concentration is particularly appropriate for those hoping to become teachers or to pursue graduate studies in English.

As an English major specializing in Professional Writing, you’ll take the foundation courses of the major – in literary analysis, American and British literature, and multi-ethnic literature and critical theory – along with four additional courses in Professional Writing (business writing, tech writing, writing for the web, etc.).

The Professional Writing concentration specifically focuses on preparing you for a career as a writer in business, non-profit, and technical fields (medical writing, science, communications, etc.). You will learn to design and write information that meets professional needs, from reports and proposals to social media and user manuals.

These professional writing classes will also challenge you to write for both experts and public audiences. Even more important than learning what standard workplace documents look like, you will learn how to judge the informational and instructional needs of today’s print and digital world.

As a student in the Master of Arts (M.A.) in English, you’ll be a part of a graduate program defined by small, in-person seminars, one-on-one mentorship with publishing faculty, and a serious commitment to literature, ideas, and conversation. The M.A. is particularly appropriate for those who are looking to develop an advanced knowledge of literature, research, and writing for a career in the humanities professions (e.g., publishing, grant-writing, arts management) or a bridge to the Ph.D.

Rather than offer a quick or surface-level graduate certificate, at Southern, we train you to play a meaningful part in the professional and academic world of English studies. The 36-credit degree takes four semesters to complete full-time (9 credits per term), though it can be finished more quickly through a mixture of summer and winter classes, or more slowly part-time at your own pace.

Over the course of the master's degree, you will:

• Learn advanced approaches to English research and contemporary theory through our introductory seminars (ENG 517 and ENG 508)
• Take a wide-range of courses in American, British, and global literature, including the origins of English language and literature
• Have the option to specialize in African-American Literature (9 credits)
• Be eligible to teach your own college-level class through one of our Graduate Teaching Assistantship
• Have access to funding to present your creative or scholarly work at academic conferences
• Show the expertise you gained from your coursework or independent research through one of two final capstones: the Master's Comprehensive Exam or Master's Thesis
• Discover professional opportunities through a graduate internship or apprenticeship in one of New Haven’s arts, humanities, or educational organizations (e.g., research libraries, grant-writing, etc.) 
   

Upon acceptance to the program, you will meet with the Graduate Coordinator to develop a planned program of study, choose classes, and strategize how to meet your academic and career goals in the above areas. See the English Graduate Admissions page for how to apply.

As a student in the Master of Science (M.S.) in English, you’ll be a part of a graduate program defined by small, in-person seminars, one-on-one mentorship with publishing faculty, and a serious commitment to literature, ideas, and conversation. The M.S. is particularly appropriate for those who want to combine advanced training literary studies with courses in a related field – e.g., education, psychology, Women’s Studies, etc. Many secondary educators pursue the M.S. for this reason, though either master's degree is appropriate for in-service teachers. 

Rather than offer a quick or surface-level graduate certificate, at Southern, we train you to play a meaningful part in the professional and academic world of English studies. The 36-credit degree takes four semesters to complete full-time (9 credits per term), though it can be finished more quickly through a mixture of summer and winter classes, or more slowly part-time at your own pace.

Over the course of the master's degree, you will:

• Learn advanced approaches to English research and contemporary theory through our introductory seminars (ENG 517 and ENG 508)
• Take a wide-range of courses in American, British, and global literature, including the origins of English language and literature
• Have the option to specialize in African-American literature (9 credits)
• Be eligible to teach your own college-level class through one of our Graduate Teaching Assistantship 
• Have access to funding to present your creative or scholarly work at academic conferences 
• Show the expertise you gained from your coursework or independent research through one of two final capstones: the Master's Comprehensive Exam or Master's Thesis  
• Discover professional opportunities through a graduate internship or apprenticeship in one of New Haven’s arts, humanities, or educational organizations (e.g., research libraries, grant-writing, etc.)  

Upon acceptance to the program, you will meet with the Graduate Coordinator to develop a planned program of study, choose classes, and strategize how to meet your academic and career goals in the above areas. See the English Graduate Admissions page for how to apply.

Being an English minor at Southern is all about discovering your voice in the global, professional, and academic community of readers and writers, in a shorter, more concentrated course of study suitable for coupling with other majors or minors. English studies provide a pathway to careers in teaching, law, publishing, professional writing, management, advertising, web design, and many other fields. Employers have increasingly cited a strong background in literature, writing, and the humanities as a valued commodity in the professions. An English minor fosters strong writing, reading, and communication skills, as well as a deep awareness of the varieties of human motives, social interactions, and cultures.

In the Creative Writing minor, you will join a close, vital writing community with a long history that include graduates who have won national prizes, published books with national presses, and who have become professors of creative writing, editors, high-school teachers, journalists and founders of literary periodicals. In addition to courses in literary analysis and contemporary literature, you will take beginning, intermediate, and advanced courses in the writing of fiction and poetry. You will share your work with peers, learning how to give and receive constructive feedback that will challenge you to revise and discover your vision as a writer. You may also become an editor of SCSU’s literary and art annual, Folio.

Being an English minor at Southern is all about discovering your voice in the global, professional, and academic community of readers and writers, in a shorter, more concentrated course of study suitable for coupling with other majors or minors. English studies provide a pathway to careers in teaching, law, publishing, professional writing, management, advertising, web design, and many other fields. Employers have increasingly cited a strong background in literature, writing, and the humanities as a valued commodity in the professions. An English minor fosters strong writing, reading, and communication skills, as well as a deep awareness of the varieties of human motives, social interactions, and cultures.

Education majors who wish to minor in English can select the Language, Literature, and Writing minor, which prepares future teachers in the English Language Arts with a combination of grammar, literary analysis, young adult literature, rhetorical writing, and choices in creative writing and literature.

Being an English minor at Southern is all about discovering your voice in the global, professional, and academic community of readers and writers, in a shorter, more concentrated course of study suitable for coupling with other majors or minors. English studies provide a pathway to careers in teaching, law, publishing, professional writing, management, advertising, web design, and many other fields. Employers have increasingly cited a strong background in literature, writing, and the humanities as a valued commodity in the professions. An English minor fosters strong writing, reading, and communication skills, as well as a deep awareness of the varieties of human motives, social interactions, and cultures.

The Literature minor offers students the opportunity to supplement courses in literary analysis and multicultural literature with further choices in a broad range of literary studies courses in English- language and world literatures.

Being an English minor at Southern is all about discovering your voice in the global, professional, and academic community of readers and writers, in a shorter, more concentrated course of study suitable for coupling with other majors or minors. English studies provide a pathway to careers in teaching, law, publishing, professional writing, management, advertising, web design, and many other fields. Employers have increasingly cited a strong background in literature, writing, and the humanities as a valued commodity in the professions. An English minor fosters strong writing, reading, and communication skills, as well as a deep awareness of the varieties of human motives, social interactions, and cultures.

The Professional Writing minor offers, in more concentrated form than the major, preparation for a career in writing. You will learn to design and write information that meets professional needs, from reports and proposals, to social media and user manuals. Professional writing classes will challenge you to write for both experts and public audiences. Even more important than learning what standard workplace documents look like, you will learn how to judge the informational and instructional needs of a workplace audience. You will also have opportunity to supplement your professional writing studies with additional courses in journalism and media studies, as well as internships in the field.