Department of English: Creative Writing and Literature

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Introduction

MIU’s Department of English teaches writing from a basis of consciousness and creativity. Courses focus on the writer and the creative process alongside the creative product. What is most unique about our programs is that we incorporate Transcendental Meditation as a tool to develop the creative imagination. Transcendental Meditation is an evidence-based technique that reduces stress, enhances clear thinking, and heightens creativity, helping writers tap the deepest layers of themselves and bring fresh inspiration to all of their creative work.

Our highly credentialed faculty are working creatives with backgrounds in creative writing or literature. We take mentorship to heart; it’s our passion to bring out the best in our students. We believe that an inclusive and socially aware learning environment is essential to learning. We hold a safe space to help our students discover their authentic voices. Our classrooms are creative laboratories where students have the freedom to unabashedly experiment with subject matter and craft, to try new approaches without fear of making mistakes. This is how writers break boundaries, discover new frontiers, and get energized with the possibilities and power of creation.

All of our programs emphasize real-world adaptation and professional preparation. We invite local authors and publishers into our classrooms to speak to our students about creativity and the writing life. We offer a course called “Writing to Publish” that helps our students break into print.

As faculty members, we do our utmost to support our students to become successful poets and writers who thrive creatively, professionally, and personally and warmly welcome all prospective students who want to cultivate their creative abilities within our unique and dynamic literary community.

Special Features:

Highly Credentialed Faculty
Faculty are working creatives with advanced degrees in creative writing or literature, passionate about mentoring students.

Creative Learning Community
Students thrive in an inclusive and socially aware learning environment, a safe space that is essential to discovering their authentic voices. Classrooms are creative laboratories where students have the freedom to unabashedly experiment with subject matter and craft, try new approaches without fear of making mistakes, break boundaries, discover new frontiers, and come away energized with the possibilities and power of creation.

Small Class Sizes for Individual Mentorship
The Creative Writing department fosters a unique sense of community, with limited class sizes that enable faculty to give each student individualized attention.

Focus on Professional Development
MIU Creative Writing programs take a pragmatic approach to the writing life, emphasizing professional skills that will help students see themselves as writers in the world and prepare them for career success. Courses go beyond simple reading and writing assignments, offering techniques and mentorship designed support students as they grow in skill and self-confidence and, ultimately, develop the healthy, sustainable routine of the professional writer.

Programs Offered

The Department of English: Creative Writing and Literature offers a variety of undergraduate programs on-campus and/or online. The terminal MFA in Creative Writing degree can be completed entirely online. The department also offers advanced genre-specific mentorships and individual courses essential to a writer’s professional development.

Degree Programs

• Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
• BAAS Specialization in Creative Writing
• Minor in Creative Writing
• Minor in Literature
• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Creative Writing Mentorships and Courses

• Advanced Creative Writing Mentorships
  • Mentorship in Poetry
  • Mentorship in Fiction
  • Mentorship in Creative Nonfiction
• Individual Courses:
  • Writing Pedagogy: The Theory of Teaching Creative Writing
  • The Writer in the World: Professional Development, Publication, and Presentation
  • The Writer Online: Social Media Marketing Strategies for Writers

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