MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN CREATIVE WRITING

MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN CREATIVE WRITING

Program Overview

The MFA in Creative Writing program is designed to help students who are committed to honing their craft further and become productive creative writers through a grounding in the theoretical and practical aspects of writing. This includes the prospects and possibilities of publication and performance and an intensive examination and evaluation of the students’ works under the guidance of experienced writers.

 

Instruction is conducted mostly by workshops, including weekend off-campus sessions. These workshops give the students the opportunity to discuss and produce original writing in the company of experienced professionals.

 

Curriculum

Course Requirements          

Major Courses	21 units
Cognates	6 units
Electives	3 units
Thesis	6 units
Total	36 units

 

Major Courses

CRW691M	Fiction Writing Techniques
CRW801M	Fiction Writing Workshop
CRW692M	Poetry Writing Techniques
CRW802M	Poetry Writing Workshop
CRW693M	Playwriting Techniques
CRW803M	Playwriting Workshop
CRW672M	Creative Nonfiction Techniques (or CRW675M Introduction to Professional Editing)

 

Cognates

CRW660M/LIT660M                                Literary Theory and Criticism CRW680M/LIT680M                                Literary Translation

 

Thesis

CRW851M (onwards)                                  Thesis Writing

 

Elective

One literature elective to be chosen from the MA-level Literature Programs or the students may opt to enroll in a 3-unit Cognate course offered by other departments in the College of Liberal Arts relevant to their Thesis.

 

Course Description

MAJOR COURSES

 

Fiction Writing Techniques (CRW691M)
3 units
An in-depth study of the fundamentals of prose fiction beyond the undergraduate level; includes frequent writing exercises in the elements of description, characterization, dialogue, narrative viewpoint, the writing of short fiction, and peer analysis of these exercises.

 

Fiction Writing Workshop (CRW801M)
3 units

Actual writing of fiction with focus on a work of substantial length, such as a short novel or novella, or a collection of short stories. The bulk of the course content is composed of the fictional works done by the students, and the workshop process is meant to prepare these works for publication.

 

Poetry Writing Techniques (CRW692M)
3 units
An intensive study of the techniques in writing poetry, including discussion and critical evaluation of the works of contemporary poets in conjunction with a workshop concentrating on the students’ own output.

Poetry Writing Workshop (CRW802M)
3 units
Actual writing of poetry with focus on the exploration and practice of various styles; each student works on an individual project. The bulk of the course content is composed of the poetry done by the students, and the workshop process is meant to prepare these works for publication.

 

Playwriting Techniques (CRW693M)
3 units
An in-depth study of the principles and techniques, of playwriting for stage, radio, TV, and screen; writing exercises leading to the creation of short scripts.

 

Playwriting Workshop (CRW803M)
3 units
Actual writing of plays with emphasis on characterization, motivation, plot, etc., the student must present a completed script for stage, radio, or screen. The bulk of the course content is composed of the dramatic works done by the students, and the workshop process is meant to prepare these works for performance.

 

Creative Non-Fiction Writing Techniques (CRW672M)
3 units
A study of the craft of writing biographies and autobiographies and other forms of creative non-fiction; exercises in writing short biographies of literary figures based on research and interviews, and on writing about one’s own life.

            or

Introduction to Professional Editing (CRW675M)
3 units
A study of the editing process, from substantive editing to the nature of the editor-writer relationship; manuscript reading, author queries, copy-editing, rewrite and style; editing awareness and skills are developed by working on varied writing examples.

 

COGNATE COURSES

Literary Theory and Criticism (CRW660M/LIT660M)
3 units
A study of theories, principles, and techniques of literary criticism, from antiquity to the later twentieth century, with emphasis on major schools of criticism, such as Romanticism, New Criticism, Formalism, Structuralism, Marxism, Feminist Criticism, and Post-Structuralism.

 

Literary Translation (CRW680M/LIT680M)
3 units
A study of the theories, principles, strategies, and problems in literary translation; output is a translation into English or Filipino of a literary text originally written in a Philippine vernacular.

 

ELECTIVE

3 units

Depending on the thesis topic, a student chooses one elective from the MA-level Literature programs or a CLA cognate course.

SAMPLE ELECTIVES

Poetry and Philosophy (CRW371M)

The course explores the relations between poetry and philosophy as complementary, though at times antithetical, discourses. It inquires into selected issues drawn from philosophy of literature, philosophy of poetry, and philosophy of language, such as truth in/and poetry, metaphorical meaning, and lyric philosophy.

 

Women’s Literature (LIT331M)

Close reading of the fiction, poetry, and plays of selected women writers; examines their resolution to the question of the narrative voice, the image of women and women writing reflected in the works and the manner in which the self is presented.

 

Literature and Environment (LIT345M)

This three-unit interdisciplinary course introduces students to the evolving nature of literature and environment studies.

 

Pathography: Writing Illness to Wellness (LIT370M)

This course is an elective interdisciplinary seminar course on the intersections of Literature and Medicine, and focuses on Pathography: Narratives of Illness, Recovery, and Death. The texts for study in the course are literary pathographic texts as well as medical theories on pain and literary theories on narrative.

 

Gender, Sexuality and Literature (LIT763M)

A study of literature from the optic lens of genders and sexualities. Includes a survey of feminist and antihomophobic discourse/theories; an examination of the representations of the female and the homosexual subject in literature; and an interrogation of the identity politics of the writers/texts.

 

Performance Studies (LIT769M)

This course takes up performance both as object of study and as a mode of critical inquiry in the humanities and social sciences. It explores various understandings of performance, performance studies, and performance research, with a special attention to practices of performance in the Philippines.

 

Literature Seminar (LIT800M)

Special topics in interdisciplinary studies, such as Literature and Psychoanalysis, Literature and Marxism, Literature and Linguistics, and Literature and Historiography.

 

THESIS

Thesis (CRW851M onwards)

6 units
The application of the skills and knowledge gained in course work with research supervision by a mentor at the department whose interest and expertise of creative-critical practice match the nature, focus, or trajectory of the student’s book project.

 

FACULTY MEMBERS AND AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

 

Marian Amor Romina T. Abuan, MFA Creative Writing, De La Salle University

Poetry; Playwriting; Screenplay; Performance Studies; Women’s Literature

 

Vijae Alquisola, MFA Creative Writing, De La Salle University

Poetry; Children’s Literature; Literary Studies; Indigeneity

 

Mesandel V. Arguelles, PhD Literature, De La Salle University

Contemporary Poetry; Contemporary Art; Conceptual Writing; Translation Studies

 

Genevieve L. Asenjo, PhD Literature, De La Salle University

Creative Writing: Poetry and Fiction; Regional Literature (Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a); Ecocriticism

 

Eros Atalia, MA Philippine Studies, De La Salle University

Fiction; Creative Nonfiction

 

Anne Richie G. Balgos, PhD Applied Linguistics, De La Salle University

Educational Theatre; Drama Pedagogy; Applied Linguistics; Language and Literature Teaching

 

David Jonathan Y. Bayot, PhD Literature, De La Salle University

Theory and Criticism; Philippine Kritika; Translation Studies; Art Studies; Literary Research; Critical Writing

 

Ronald Baytan, PhD English Studies (Creative Writing), University of the Philippines-Diliman

Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction and Poetry; LGBTQI Studies; Philippine Literature in English; Philippine Cinema

 

Ernesto V. Carandang II, DFA Creative Writing, De La Salle University

Creative Writing: Fiction, Poetry & Creative Nonfiction; Drama and Theatre Production; Arts Management; Philippine Arts and Heritage (focusing on Music, Architecture, Sacred Arts, Furniture, and Food)

 

Genaro Gojo R. Cruz, MA Philippine Studies, De La Salle University

Children’s Literature; Creative Writing: Nonfiction

 

Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr., Professor Emeritus, PhD Communication Studies (Film), University of Iowa

Media Studies; Philippine Cinema; Creative Writing: Screenwriting; Film Directing; Film Archiving

 

Noelle Leslie dela Cruz, PhD Philosophy, De La Salle University

Philosophy of Literature; Poetry and Philosophy; Science Fiction and Philosophy; Existential Phenomenology; Feminist Philosophy

 

Mary Jessel Duque, MA, University of the Philippines-Diliman

Popular Culture; Art Studies; Creative Writing: Fiction; TV Studies

 

Johann Vladimir Espiritu, PhD Literature, De La Salle University

Queer Studies; Music and Popular Culture; Creative Writing: Fiction

 

Marjorie Evasco-Pernia, Professor Emeritus, PhD Literature, De La Salle University

Creative Writing:  Poetry and Nonfiction; Pathography; Cebuano Literature; Literary Translation; Ekphrasis; Women’s Literature; Ecocriticism

 

Ivar Nicholas-Fojas, PhD Music, Fred Fox School of Music, University of Arizona

Classical Guitar; Music Studies

 

Mark Adrian Ho, MFA Creative Writing, De La Salle University

Theater; Media Studies; Creative Writing: Drama, Poetry, and Nonfiction

 

Farida P. Kabayao, MA Language and Literature, De La Salle University

Music Studies; Theater; Art Studies

 

Jazmin B. Llana, PhD Performance Studies, University of Wales

Performance Studies; Philippine Drama; Theater and Theater Studies; Bikol Literature; Performance Research

 

Shirley O. Lua, PhD Literature, De La Salle University

Philippine Critical Tradition; Film & Media Criticism; Diaspora Studies; Chinese-Philippine Literature; Literary and Cultural Research; Heritage Studies

 

Clarissa V. Militante, PhD Literature, De La Salle University

Narrative Studies; Philippine Novel; Creative Writing: Fiction; Journalism

 

Timothy Montes, MA English (Creative Writing), Silliman University

Philippine Literature; Creative Writing: Fiction

 

Cris Barbra Pe, PhD Literature (candidate), De La Salle University

Biography and Creative Nonfiction; Teaching Literature

 

Carlos M. Piocos, III, PhD Comparative Literature, University of Hong Kong

Critical Theory; Migration and Diaspora Studies; Mobility Studies; Postcolonial Studies; Creative Writing: Poetry; Southeast Asian Studies; Cultural Research

 

Dinah Roma, PhD Literature, De La Salle University

Diaspora Studies; Travel Writing/Theory; Creative Writing: Poetry; Southeast Asian Literary Studies

 

Josephine Roque, MFA Creative Writing, De La Salle University

Creative Nonfiction; Art Studies; Philippine Literature; Travel Writing

 

Anne Frances N. Sangil, PhD Literature, De La Salle University

Popular Culture; Film Studies; Philippine Cinema

 

Tanya Sevilla Simon, MFA Creative Writing, De La Salle University

Creative Nonfiction; Children’s Literature; Graphic Literature

 

Antonette Talaue-Arogo, PhD Literature, De La Salle University

Theory and Criticism; Postcolonialism and Cosmopolitanism; Decoloniality; Gender Studies

 

Neslie Carol C. Tan-Tolentino, PhD Arts (candidate), University of Melbourne

Performance Studies; Disability Studies; English Language Teaching

 

John Iremil E. Teodoro, PhD Literature, De La Salle University

Visayan Literature; Creative Writing: Fiction, Drama, Poetry, Nonfiction; Environmental Writing; Archipelagic Studies; Translations; Philippine Gay Culture

 

Jose Victor Torres, PhD History, University of Santo Tomas

Philippine History; Philippine Theater; Creative Writing: Drama; Heritage Studies