Writing Studies M.A.
Saint Joseph’s MA in Writing Studies offers a flexible, creative, and literature-rich program that prepares students for diverse writing careers. Courses span fiction, poetry, professional writing, and more—culminating in a thesis and real-world writing experience.
Overview
The graduate writing studies program combines a traditional literature-based master's degree with a creative writing program by offering a wide variety of courses and providing students with a highly flexible, unique academic experience. At Saint Joseph’s University, writing studies students engage in diverse styles of writing, including short story, poetry, press releases, reflections on teaching writing, plays, adolescent literature, autobiography, biography, personal essays, and grant proposals.
Current Course Offerings
Spring 2027
Mondays, 6:30-9:15 pm, Online/Synchronous
ENG 668: Creative Nonfiction Workshop
Instructor: Dr. Melissa A. Goldthwaite
CRN: 12288
Creative Nonfiction Workshop will explore literary diaries and journals, memoir, the personal essay, cultural criticism, and literary journalism. We’ll analyze and practice different forms of creative nonfiction with attention to both student and professional writing. This class will provide a context in which students can learn the conventions of the genre—from finding a topic to creating a structure, from scene making to fact finding and more. Together, we will participate in the process of discovery and research: we will work with others in crafting, drafting, revising, and seeking a larger audience through publication. Assignments include discussion of assigned readings, crafting and participating in weekly writing exercises, and writing, workshopping, and revising short (2-3-pages), medium (5-7 pages), and longer (12-15 pages) creative nonfiction pieces.
Tuesdays6:30-9:15 pm, Online/Synchronous
ENG 673: Screenwriting Workshop
Instructor: Jonathan Rocks
CRN: 12866
Screenwriting Workshop will introduce students to the fundamentals of writing for the screen, including screenplay format, story structure, industry standards and the elements that make a script work both on the page and on screen. We’ll look at produced screenplays alongside corresponding examples from film and television to understand how the words on the page translate to the screen. Students will also develop their own work, with opportunities to revise and share that work with the class. Our meetings will combine lessons in craft with discussion of readings and feedback on student writing.
Wednesdays 6:30-9:15 pm, Online/Synchronous
ENG 619: Reading and Writing the Young Adult Novel
Instructor: Dr. April Lindner
CRN: 12748
What is Young Adult fiction and why is everybody reading it? In this class you will explore the professional concerns of the YA writer as you work on your own young adult novel. You will spend much of our in-class time workshopping each other’s writing with the goal of revising chapters for your final portfolio. To further explore the possibilities of the YA novel, we will read books and a graphic novel. You also will choose a book that takes a similar approach to your own project and present on it to the class. Finally, you’ll keep a journal in which you respond to your reading.
All classes will take place online. If you have questions, please contact Dr. Melissa Goldthwaite at mgoldthw@sju.edu. Thanks.
Thesis Resources
Starting your Thesis
Thesis Guide: Use this document as a guide to help you through the thesis registration and completion process.
Thesis Advisor List: Use this list to assist you in making your choice. The list is not absolute - reach out to any of your professors to discuss your thesis project.
Thesis Checklist: Common questions regarding format, font and printing can be found here.
Thesis Completion Form: To be completed when you are ready to register for credits involved in your thesis project. Please review this form with your thesis mentor.
Thesis Completion
Refer to the thesis checklist for help with this process. You will also need to complete a title page and get the required signatures for your thesis.
Thesis Title Page Template: Assists you in creating your title page for the finished project. This page will require the director's signature as well as your mentor’s signature.
An electronic copy of your thesis will be required for submission to ProQuest for inclusion in the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global database. There is no charge for submitting to ProQuest, which is done electronically, and the SJU community has access to their work via the ProQuest database. This fulfills the requirement to submit a copy of your thesis to the library. Instructions for submitting your thesis to ProQuest can be found here.
One paper copy should be submitted to the English department for inclusion in their collection. The copy should be three-hole punched and single-sided. Make sure to include the title page with signatures. The department will provide a binder for the display cabinet.
Questions? Contact Heather Foster at hfoster@sju.edu.