4+1 Proposal
The Wilkes University “4+1” program would allow the undergraduate student at Wilkes to take our first-semester graduate courses in creative writing during their senior year of college and therefore (if afterwards accepted into our program) save on the total time and cost of an MA or MFA in Creative Writing. The two credits of graduate courses (6 credits) would be co-listed as two elective undergraduate courses (6 credits).
MA in Creative Writing 30 credits, 3 semesters would become 21 credits, 2 semesters with the 4+1.
MFA in Creative Writing 48 credits, 5 semesters would become 40 credits in 4 semesters with the 4+1
Program Outline and Features
Qualifications/Application
Interested undergraduates should …
- send a letter of interest (via email) to the Program Director at david.hicks@wilkes.edu;
- include a recommendation letter from a member of the undergraduate faculty testifying to the student’s writing abilities and work ethic;
- send a 10-15 page writing sample in any genre.
Prerequisites: At least one undergraduate creative writing courses (which may include one internship or independent study) with a grade of B+ or better.
Enrollment and Attendance
Upon acceptance to the 4+1 Program, students would audit a January or June week-long Wilkes Creative Writing residency course, CW 501R: Foundations of Creative Writing (3 credits), and register for any two of the following semester CW “Foundation” courses—all online during the fall and spring (15-week) semesters:
CW 502: Writing Fiction (3 credits)
CW 503: Writing Poetry (3 credits)
CW 504: Writing Plays (3 credits)
CW 505: Writing Screenplays (3 credits)
CW 506: Writing Nonfiction (3 credits)
Wilkes 4+1 students would attend these three classes (the residency and two semester-long classes) with our full-time graduate students, during their senior year of undergraduate studies. The two semester classes (CW 502-506) would “double-count” as undergraduate electives.
Sample Schedule A:
June 2024:
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- CW 501R: Foundations of Creative Writing (Residency), 3 cr,. June 18-26, Wilkes U campus
Fall Semester 2024
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- CW 502: Writing Fiction (3 credits), online, Wilkes U
- 12 credits undergraduate curriculum (major requirements, electives, etc.)
Spring Semester 2025
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- CW 505: Writing Screenplays (3 credits), online, Wilkes U
- 12 credits undergraduate curriculum (major requirements, electives, etc.)
May 2025
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- Acceptance into Wilkes Creative Writing MA Program with one semester transfer credit (only two more semesters required for an MA; four more for an MFA).
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