Program Description

The Master of Arts in Writing and Publishing program offers advanced training in the art and craft of writing poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. The program is specifically designed for students interested in careers in creative and literary writing, publishing, and editing, as well as for those seeking to expand their knowledge of writing for the purpose of teaching.

The primary emphasis of the MA in Writing and Publishing is the production of quality, publishable writing. The centerpiece of the curriculum is the writing workshop, and students may choose workshops that focus on one or more of the following genres: poetry, fiction, and various forms of creative nonfiction (such as travel, magazine, memoir, science writing, the personal essay, the literature of sports, and the like). These workshops immerse students in the art of writing, helping them develop strong skills in narration, description, and exposition, along with the ability to generate and explore productive ideas, to research subjects, and to respond to the conventions of genre. An important byproduct of these workshops is the knowledge students gain in marketing their own writing to magazines, journals, publishers, and the Internet.

Supplementing the writing workshops and allied courses are internship programs in writing and publishing and in teaching English in two-year colleges. In addition, the program brings to campus established writers and editors who help connect students with the larger literary and publishing community.

The MA in Writing and Publishing seeks to meet the needs of a wide range of students, including:

• Students with interests and/or experience in creative and literary writing, including fiction, poetry, and a variety of nonfiction genres.
• Professional writers, including freelance writers and staff writers for general and trade publications or the Internet.
• Feature writers for daily, weekly, or monthly newspapers.
• General and specialized editors employed by publishing houses, magazines, and corporations.
• Working professionals for whom high-quality writing is an essential component of their jobs.
• Current and prospective teachers of English and/or writing at the secondary or post-secondary level.
• Students seeking a master's level foundation for further graduate work in creative writing, English, teaching, or related fields.

Courses in the Master of Arts in Writing and Publishing are offered at DePaul's Lincoln Park and Naperville campuses. Students may complete their degree requirements with courses taken at either location. Classes meet weekday evenings or on Saturdays, thus allowing working students to complete their degrees without interrupting their daytime schedules.