NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with a focus on social justice will be offered through the Graduate School at The College of New Rochelle starting in Fall 2016. Inspired by the Ursuline motto Serviam (“I will serve”), the program offers writers the opportunity to refine their craft and exercise literary citizenship while drawing attention to often-overlooked human experiences.
The core of the program is found in its mission, which states in part, “…we believe that writing can be a noble vocation, and a cultural practice uniquely positioned to foster empathy and give voice to the voiceless.” The program’s literature electives stress themes of social integration of classes, races, religions, and lifestyles. Through a capstone experience, “Literary Citizenship,” students will serve local communities by applying their skills as artists and educators to writing service projects devised over the previous three semesters.
The 36-credit MFA features concentrations in fiction and creative nonfiction, with small class sizes, flexible schedules, and affordable tuition. Rigorous craft, workshop, and literature courses will be taught by CNR’s nationally recognized faculty of writers and scholars, as well as visiting instructors. Scholarships and teaching fellowships are available, and the New Rochelle campus provides easy access to New York City agents, editors, and publishers.
Further distinctive aspects of the program include three semesters of the course “The Writer at Work,” which provides an immersive experience in either craft or professional development, with instruction delivered by noted writers, scholars, or publishing industry specialists.
Co-created by faculty members Dr. Nick Smart of the School of Arts & Sciences and Steven Hobbs of the School of New Resources, the MFA is a model of institutional collaboration at the College. “This program aligns the College mission and our strong faculty resources with the call for distinctive and diverse approaches to the MFA,” said Dr. David Donnelly, interim dean of the Graduate School. “It’s a great addition to our graduate offerings.”
Hobbs added, “We want to cultivate a community of skilled and compassionate writers dedicated to the transformative power of storytelling.”
Applications are now being accepted for the Fall 2016 semester. For more information, visit the MFA website www.cnr.edu/mfa. For questions regarding the program, contact Steven Hobbs at shobbs@cnr.edu or (718) 320-0300 FREE. For admissions and application information, contact Michael Petri at (914) 654-5256 FREE or mpetri@cnr.edu.
