Unique to the Red Earth MFA are the professional writing and pedagogy strands. It may be helpful for prospective students to think of the strands as "minors."
Students may elect to study with our faculty mentors—teachers, editors, and professional writers—during the semester to learn about professional communications, and teaching writing, both composition and creative writing. With approval of the program director and their faculty mentor, students can also elect to do individual study with their faculty mentor in the professional writing or pedagogy strands.
Students who elect to concentrate in the professional writing or pedagogy strands must take a minimum of six credit hours in each strand. Students are not required to participate in strands; they can choose to focus exclusively on their creative writing.