Master of Arts in Writing
Write by the Beach
Our Master of Arts in Writing provides project-based learning supported by an academic press, an acclaimed literary journal, and opportunities to teach college composition classes.
The Master of Arts in Writing is a 33-credit-hour program that offers courses in creative writing, composition and rhetoric, editing and publishing, professional writing, literature, and linguistics.
The program is ideal for students who want graduate-level training in the craft of writing—be it with an eye toward an MFA program in fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction; a PhD program in Composition and Rhetoric; or a writing-intensive job in a variety of fields, from the private sector to government to nonprofit positions. Our program is a proven bridge to the terminal degree. Our alums have gone on to MFA programs at University of Oregon, University of Alabama, George Mason University, UNC Greensboro, University of Central Florida, and Warren Wilson College, as well as Comp / Rhet and Professional / Technical Writing PhD programs at University of South Carolina, Clemson University, University of New Hampshire, Iowa State University, and Virginia Tech.
The MAW is committed to providing its graduate students with support in the form of teaching assistantships that pay in excess of the full cost of tuition and come with the opportunity to teach first-year writing classes, assist faculty with teaching and research, and tutor students in the writing center. CCU’s campus is located just 7 miles away from sensational beaches, stretching uninterrupted for 60 miles. Our students truly can “Write by the Beach.”
More Information
- Application Deadline:
January 31
November 15 - Request Information
- Contact:
Kate Oestreich
MAW Coordinator
koestrei@coastal.edu
843-349-6602
A Diverse, Flexible Curriculum
Students in Coastal Carolina's M.A. in Writing program take:
- Two core courses selected from options in editing and publishing, forms of creative writing, and composition and rhetoric;
- Three workshops selected from options in creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, professional and technical writing, and composition and rhetoric;
- Two courses in literature and/or linguistics;
- Three elective courses that may include additional workshops in creative writing;
- Three hours of portfolio research.
The curriculum’s diversity and flexibility allow students to study extensively in one genre (creative writing, composition, rhetoric, oe editing and publishing) while also broadening their educational range through coursework in additional genres. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for a range of professional opportunities after school or for continued study in M.F.A. or Ph.D. programs.
Professional Experience
The program offers a wide range of opportunities for students to gain experience in writing, editing, and teaching in professional contexts. An on-campus literary journal and available graduate assistantships in teaching and research make the MAW program a professional training arena for writers and scholars.
Find out more in Beyond the Classroom »
Late Application Deadline
Students may begin the program in either the fall or spring semester. The deadline for the spring semester is November 15. Students interested in beginning the program in the fall semester should know that to ensure full consideration for a fall graduate assistantship, we strongly encourage you to complete your application by January 31. However, we will accept fall applications on a rolling basis throughout the spring and summer.
