Thus, at any given moment a typical student's load might look something like this: two workshops (meant to be complementary--for example, in fiction one might require work in revision, with the other asking for a finished story every three or four weeks), a class in, let us say, the novel, and one more, perhaps taught by Elie Wiesel, for a total of no more than four courses per semester. I'm happy to point out that such distinguished faculty as Christopher Ricks, and his courses are regularly attended by our students.

May a student take a workshop in more than one genre, or add a workshop in place of a fourth academic course? The answer is yes--if the respective workshop leader has the room and approves your submitted material. In addition to completing the eight courses, the student must submit an M.F.A. thesis--a portfolio of perhaps ninety pages of fiction, thirty-five pages of poetry, or a full-length play. Lastly, there is a foreign language requirement, which will ask you to demonstrate moderate proficiency in one of the nationally-standardized SAT II qualifying language tests, or two years of intermediate level coursework as an undergraduate, or to receive a passing grade in Rosanna Warren’s excellent Translation Seminar, a course so stimulating for creative writers that many choose to take it for its intrinsic worth. (Students may also opt to take a semester-long course on reading French, German, or Spanish; or take a one-hour translation exam, though these are the least favored options.) Somehow or other, everyone passes this requirement.