San Jose State University : Department of English & Comparative Literature

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M.F.A. Thesis Guidelines

 

Steps to follow for a Creative Writing thesis:

  1. Speak with a faculty member who writes in your genre. If the faculty member agrees to direct your project, draft a thesis proposal with that faculty members' advice. Once the faculty member agrees to direct your project, let the MFA advisor know who your proposed thesis director is. Your thesis director and two additional readers must be approved by the Graduate Committee.
  2. Complete a thesis proposal following the MFA Thesis Proposal Form. You can print the form out or obtain this form from the MFA advisor or the English Department office.
  3. On the proposal form, be sure to fill out the names of proposed thesis director, and proposed second and third readers.
  4. Include in your proposal a description or synopsis of the manuscript that you will complete. On the proposal form be sure to fill out the genre of your manuscript, approximate number of pages of your preface, and the number of pages of the creative work itself.
  5. Include in your proposal a paragraph or two describing the major influences (writers and/or works) on your thesis. You will expand this section of the proposal into a 2,000 - 3,000 word prefatory essay introducing your creative work.
  6. Attach to the proposal form a sample of work that you will include in your thesis-5 to 10 pages of poems (no more than 10 poems total) or 10 to 15 pages of prose or of a play or screenplay. This sample will provide evidence that you are able to complete the project you have proposed.
  7. Edit and proof read the proposal very carefully. Careless errors can be at best misread, and at worst demonstrate that you are not prepared to write the proposed creative work.
  8. Make six copies of the MFA Thesis Proposal Form, and put them and the original in the MFA Advisor's box.