Creative Writing Courses

Creative Writing includes classes in Fiction and Non-Fiction Writing, Screenplays, Memoir, The Graphic Novel and more. The Mount St. Mary's College Los Angeles graduate writing program's emphasis in our MA Humanities Program is designed for those who wish to hone their writing skills under the tutelage of faculty who are published authors in the genres of the novel, screen plays, poetry, and more.

HUM 229CW Children's Literature (3)
This class studies and produces literature for children, ranging from writing texts for picture books to drafting short stories and longer fiction for young adult readers. Focus will be determined by the instructor. May be repeated as topic varies.

HUM 230CW Fiction (3)
Through both reading and writing, this class delves into considerations of elements of "style," and "voice," exploring character development, plot, dialogue, time, place, stream of consciousness, and suspension of disbelief. Type of writing ranges from short pieces of fiction to chapters for novels. Method of instruction also varies with the instructor and may include "workshop" in which each student's writing is read by the rest of the class for constructive criticism.

HUM 231CW Poetry (3)
In this workshop students will write their own poems with guidance, prompts and forms given by the instructor. They will share their work with classmates for constructive criticism. Expect wondrous things to happen!

HUM 232CW Writing for Screen and Television (3)
An introduction to the craft of script writing for an original motion-picture screenplay or teleplay, with emphasis on story structure, character, and the language of film. Students study produced screenplay's and pilots; write exercises in character development, scene construction, dialogue, and description. Expected to complete first act of an original screenplay or a treatment and two acts of an original television pilot.

HUM 233CW Non-Fiction Writing (3)
A form of non-fiction, essay writing, was considered high art in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Today, it's nearly a lost art. Students are re-introduced to the essay and other non-fiction for that include memoirs, journals, and letters.

HUM 238CW Feature Film (3)
An introduction to the craft of script writing for an original motion-picture screenplay or teleplay, with emphasis on story structure, character, and the language of film. Students study produced screenplay's and pilots; write exercises in character development, scene construction, dialogue, and description. Expected to complete first act of an original screenplay or a treatment and two acts of an original television pilot. Prerequisite: HUM 232CW or permission of the instructor.

HUM 246CW Playwriting (3)
An introduction to the craft of writing for the stage, based on the elements of the traditional stage. Students will draw upon classical forms to create plays that are suitable for the modern theatre of today.

HUM 247CW Advanced Playwriting (3)
Students are expected to have some knowledge of the history and elements of classical and traditional drama. They will draw upon those forms to create plays that are marketable in today's more open and flexible theatre. Prerequisite: HUM 246CW or permission of the instructor.

HUM 248CW Special Topics in Creative Writing (3)
May be repeated as topic varies.