Brown University

Rhode Island, United States

Residential program

Students take nine courses over the 2 years: 4 writing courses, 4 elective, and 2 half-credit pedagogy courses. This arrangement allows maximum time for writing.

Students ordinarily enroll in a workshop in their track for each of the first 3 semesters and in their last semester complete a thesis under the direction of a particular faculty writer. The thesis must be an original manuscript: a novel or substantial part of a novel, a collection of stories or poems, a substantial cross-disciplinary or digital language arts project. Each student will, over the two years, have worked with at least two different members of the writing faculty, probably with three.

Many, though by no means all, recipients of this degree have gone into teaching or, less often, publishing. The academic setting of the program and the possibility of actual teaching experience suggest this. But the program is not specifically oriented toward these careers. The emphasis is on the writing itself - writing as an art. The four elective courses allow flexibility and individual direction. Students most often take courses in literature and languages, but many turn to studio or performing art courses.

A rather small percentage of applicants can be accepted, since the aim each year is for a class of 12. Applicants must submit samples of writing in a particular track – poetry, fiction, cross-disciplinary/digital language art. This sample is the most important part of the application. GRE test scores are not required. Interviews are optional with applicants.

For further information, contact the Graduate Program in Literary Arts.

Contact Information

Box 1923
Literary Arts Program
Providence
Rhode Island, United States
02912
Phone: (401) 863-3265
Email: gale_nelson@brown.edu
http://brown.edu/Departments/Literary_Arts/graduate_program.htm



DEGREE PROGRAMS

Undergraduate Program Director

Gale Nelson
Academic Program Director
Box 1923
Providence
Rhode Island, United States
02912
Email: pgn@brown.edu

The undergraduate concentration in Literary Arts at Brown is designed to allow student writers to develop their skills in one or more genres while deepening their understanding of the craft of writing. Concentration requirements are intended to balance creative and critical concerns.\nWe also offer a digital writing degree--there was no category for this in #6

Largest Class Size: 17
Smallest Class Size: 6
Genres: Fiction, Poetry, Screenwriting, Professional Writing (technical writing, PR, etc.)
Tuition 40000
Unit of Measure: Credits
Criticism and Theory: 1
Total Units for Degree: 30

Graduate Program Director

John Cayley
Box 1923
Literary Arts Program
Providence
Rhode Island, United States
02912
Email: john_cayley@brown.edu

Students take 8 courses over the 2 years: 4 writing courses and 4 electives. This arrangement allows maximum time for writing.

Students ordinarily enroll in a workshop in their genre for each of the first 3 semesters and in their last semester complete a thesis under the direction of a particular faculty writer. The thesis must be an original manuscript: a novel or substantial part of a novel, a collection of stories or poems, a full-length play or group of one-acts, etc. Each student will, over the 2 years, have worked with at least 2 different members of the writing faculty, probably with 3.

Many, though by no means all, recipients of this degree have gone into teaching or, less often, publishing. The academic setting of the program and the possibility of actual teaching experience suggest this. But the program is not specifically oriented towards these careers. The emphasis is on the writing itself - writing as an art. The 4 elective courses allow flexibility and individual direction. Students most often take courses in literature and languages, but many turn to studio or performing art courses.

A rather small percentage of applicants can be accepted, since the aim each year is for a class of 15 or fewer. Applicants must submit samples of writing in a particular genre - poetry, fiction, electronic, playwriting. This sample is the most important part of the application. GRE test scores are not required. Interviews are optional with applicants.

For further information, contact the Graduate Program in Literary Arts.

Type of Program: Studio/Research
Largest Class Size: 10
Smallest Class Size: 10
Genres: Fiction, Poetry, Playwriting, Professional Writing (technical writing, PR, etc.)
Tuition 30000
Unit of Measure: Hours
Workshop: 9
Thesis: 3
Total Units for Degree: 24
Application Requirements: Transcripts, Writing Sample, Application Form, Letters of Recommendation, Other

Graduate Program Director

John Cayley
Box 1923
Literary Arts Program
Providence
Rhode Island, United States
02912
Email: john_cayley@brown.edu




FACULTY

Lori Baker

The Glass Ocean Crash & Tell; Crazy Water

https://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/faculty/faculty


John Cayley

Ink Bamboo, Image Generation, http://thereaderproject.org

http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Literary_Arts/faculty_bios/biocayley.htm


Colin Channer

Providential, The Girl With the Golden Shoes, Passing Through Waiting in Vain

https://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/faculty/faculty


Andrew Colarusso

The Sovereign

https://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/faculty/faculty


Laura Colella

Breakfast with Curtis, Tax Day, Stay Until Tomorrow

https://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/faculty/faculty


Thalia Field

Experimental Animals (A Reality Fiction), Point & Line; Incarnate Story: Material, Bird Lovers Backyard, Ululu (Clown Shrapnel)

https://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/faculty/faculty


Erica Hunt

Arcade, Local History, Piece Logic, Time Slips Right Before Your Eyes

https://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/faculty/faculty


Laird Hunt

Kind One, The Evening Road, In the House in the Dark of the Woods

https://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/faculty/faculty


Karan Mahajan

Family Planning, The Association of Small Bombs

https://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/faculty/faculty


Carole Maso

Ghost Dance, The Art Lover, AVA, The American Woman in the Chinese Hat, Defiance, Mother & Child

http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Literary_Arts/faculty_bios/biomaso.htm


Sawako Nakayasu

The Ants, Mouth: Eats Color – Sagawa Chika Translations, Anti-Translations & Originals, Costume en Face,

https://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/faculty/faculty


Gale Nelson

This is What Happens When Talk Ends, Stare Decisis, Ceteris Paribus

https://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/faculty/faculty


Eleni Sikelianos

The Book of Jon, You Animal Machine, Make Yourself Happy

https://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/faculty/faculty


Cole Swensen

Landscapes on a Train, Gravesend, Noise That Stays Noise, Numen, Goest

https://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/faculty/faculty





COMMUNITY

Writers on Writing & Contemporary Writers (https://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/events)