New School Creative Writing MFA program theses
Online Access
Available digital items: https://digital.archives.newschool.edu/index.php/Detail/collections/NS020404.
Abstract
This record group contains theses in print and electronic formats submitted to the MFA Writing Program as part of graduation requirements. The program's four concentrations -- fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and writing for children -- are represented. Many of the theses consist of two parts, a work in the student's concentration and a project for which the student conducted scholarly research. Electronic theses begin with the class of 2015.
Dates
- 1998 - 2015
- Majority of material found within 2006 - 2011
Creator
- New School (New York, N.Y.). Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program (Degree grantor, Organization)
Extent
27.4 Cubic Feet (21 records cartons)
.19 Gigabytes
Scope and Content of Collection
This record group is comprised of theses in print and electronic formats submitted to the MFA Writing Program as part of graduation requirements. The program's four concentrations -- fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and writing for children -- are represented. Many of the theses consist of two parts, a work reflecting the student's concentration and a "literature project" for which the student conducted scholarly, analytical research.
While printed and bound theses date back to 1998, only the years 2006 and 2008 through 2011 are well-represented in print theses. Some information may be incomplete as thesis cover pages may be unsigned by the advisor, or the advisor's signature is illegible. The collection inventory should not be considered a definitive list of all program graduates for a particular year. For confirmation of graduation, it is necessary to verify with the university's Office of the Registrar. As of 2015, The New School Archives staff has not reconciled this guide's inventory with official graduation rosters. Please alert the New School Archives to any inaccuracies.
Electronic theses begin with the class of 2015. These theses were submitted directly by students to The New School Archives. Some students chose not to place their thesis with The New School Archives. Therefore, even more current years should not be considered a complete roster of all graduating student work.
Language of Materials
All theses are in English.
Access Restrictions
Most of the collection is open for research use. Please contact archivist@newschool.edu for appointment. In certain instances for 2015 theses, authors have requested that their theses not be made available online for one year after the date of submission, but have indicated that their theses may be viewed onsite in the New School Archives. In other instances, authors have opted to make their theses unavailable for viewing until one year from the date of submission.
Use Restrictions
In accordance with The New School's Intellectual Property Rights Policy, copyright is held by each thesis' respective author. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the user.
Historical Note
The New School established a Master's in Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing in 1996, after six decades of offering non-credit writing workshops. The Graduate Writing Program, as it was called in promotional material distributed by The New School, was situated in the Schools of Public Engagement, formerly known as the Adult Division, the "founding" division of the New School for Social Research as it was conceived in 1919.
Robert Polito was the first director of the Graduate Writing Program, who joined the Adult Division faculty of The New School in 1989. Designed as a full-time, four semester program, the MFA in Creative Writing was largely modeled on the workshop method of instruction, in which a teacher who was also a prominent professional writer would work closely with students on their individual manuscripts, rather than give lengthy lectures. Courses in literature, as well as writing forums, which existed as part of the New School’s special events and reading series, would complete the program curriculum.
The initial program offered four writing concentrations: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Writing for Children (after 2017, Writing for Children and Young Adults). As of Fall 2024, a fifth concentration was added in Arts Writing. Also included in the curriculum as of 2025 are literary readings sponsored by organizations such as the Cave Canem Foundation, The Story Prize, National Book Foundation (presenters of the National Book Awards), National Book Critics Circle, Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP), PEN America, Academy of American Poets, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Poetry Society of America, and Publishing Triangle.
As of 2025, the Creative Writing Program is directed by John Reed, and the MFA Writing chairs are: Laura Cronk, Poetry; Caron Levis, Writing for Children and Young Adults, Coordinator; Helen Schulman, Fiction; and Margaret Rhee, Arts Writing.
References
Course Catalogs, New School Course Catalog Collection, 1919-2017, The New School Archives Digital Collections, New York, New York.
“Creative Writing Program.” The New School. Accessed May 20, 2025. https://www.newschool.edu/writing/.
Dickey, Elizabeth. “New School MFA Writing Program Proposal with Accompanying Memorandum to New School Provost Judith Walzer.” January 11, 1995. The New School Schools of Public Engagement Executive Dean's Office Records, NS.02.01.04, The New School Archives Digital Collections, New York, New York.
Organization and Arrangement
Theses are organized chronologically by year of completion, and within each year by specialization. Within each specialization, theses are arranged in alphabetical order by author surname.
Custodial History
Prior to transfer to the New School Archives, program administrators collected print theses and housed them in the offices of The New School Writing Program.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Theses in printed, bound format transferred from The New School Writing Program offices to The New School Archives and Special Collections, 2015. Theses in electronic format submitted directly by students to The New School Archives and Special Collections.
Accruals
Further accruals expected.
Processing Information
Author and advisor names, titles, and dates herein have been copied directly as they appear on spine labels and title pages of theses submitted on paper. Researchers are cautioned that dates on the spine labels may not accurately reflect the year of graduation, and should not be used as definitive proof of completion of graduation requirements.
Students provided all information for theses submitted electronically to the New School Archives.
- Children's literature -- Authorship (Subject) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Creative writing -- Study and teaching (Subject) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fiction -- Study and teaching (Subject) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Masters theses (Type of Material) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Poetry -- Study and teaching (Subject) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Guide to the New School Creative Writing (MFA) Program theses
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- New School Archives and Special Collections Staff
- Date
- January 9, 2017
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Revision Statements
- February 5, 2020: New School Archives staff updated collection inventory and extent to reflect deaccessioning of thesis upon student request.
- May 5, 2025: Jenny Swadosh updated Related Materials note to include the discontinuation of the chapbook publishing program and the publication of a finding aid for a thesis readings recordings collections..