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University of Southern California Masters in Professional Writing

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Program Description

The Masters in Professional Writing program at USC combines five disciplines: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and writing for stage and screen, taught in small workshops. As a student, you will have a one-on-one mentorship with professional writers. There are also frequent guest lectures by important members from the entertainment, publishing and writing fields. The focus of the program is both on craft and well how to actually make a living as a writer.

Average Student Ratings

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Student Reviews

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Excellent post! I might aaltcluy even listen to what you’re saying.In general your whole blog is a plus. I’m digging it.

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Excellent post! I might aaltcluy even listen to what you’re saying.In general your whole blog is a plus. I’m digging…

February 10, 2012 | 0 of 0 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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ykuwofxLAWQwnLF | '1954

Hey Rachel! I'm petrty sure you asked me about india on my own blogger a couple months ago and I never responded... I'm sorry, the word to describe my life is CHAOS. Lol... It's like, Hi, my name is Casey and my life is crazy. I spent the summer in India working with an anti sex trafficking organization called Bombay Teen Challenge. Every day I taught classes (Jesus classes, health classes, etc) and just got to build relationships with the girls. It absolutely changed my life. I can't remember if you told me you liked India or were going there? I am going to live there eventually. I am currently a senior at Liberty University and I'm majoring in Health Promotion, so that I can go into villages in India sharing information on hygiene and safe sex (etc) and share the gospel. After I graduate in May, I'm actually moving to Las Vegas to plant a church with a group of people, where I'm going to get a job in a health setting, but do outreach in brothels and on the strip reaching out to sex workers. So yeah, my life is busy, but man is God faithful. I think google connect gives you my gmail, but if you wanted to talk to me about India or anything, the email address that I check CONSTANTLY is ctomlin@liberty.edu. Be blessed Rachel! smile

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Hey Rachel! I'm petrty sure you asked me about india on my own blogger a couple months ago and I…

February 09, 2012 | 0 of 0 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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mmFIMyhfgHIYIhrY | '2009

Know who you are and what you want

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I went into this program to get a degree for something I was already doing -- writing a nonfiction book.…

March 20, 2009 | 13 of 21 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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Andrea Wilson Woods | '2008

Writing Can Only Be HONED - not taught.

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The program works if a) you're a natural writer, b) you're motivated, c) you don't make excuses and you work…

March 20, 2009 | 8 of 14 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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Chabala | '2008

No program anywhere is perfect; you get what you put into it.

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First, I'd note that I attended under previous administration. From what I can see as a very distant overseas alumnus,…

March 19, 2009 | 10 of 19 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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Lyle Skains | '2005

It was eye-opening, and I learned a lot.

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I am aware that a lot of stuff in the program was (allegedly) lacking. However, I found great professors, wonderful…

March 19, 2009 | 16 of 28 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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Bryan Maldonado | '2008

Changed my life and made me a better writer

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I can't imagine a better experience than I had at USC, even despite that major administrative changes began the semester…

March 19, 2009 | 16 of 26 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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Will Entrekin | '2008

Interdisciplinary bliss.

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My biggest problem in this program is that there are so many doors opening that I can't decide which one…

March 19, 2009 | 14 of 25 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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April Davila | '2010

California Pulp

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I began the program in 2005 before the administration changed. I witnessed some bad things about the program: bad teachers…

March 18, 2009 | 17 of 28 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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LA | '2007

I thought the program was fine

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There's a lot of truth in some of the criticism. In my 3 years in the program (graduated 2008), I…

March 18, 2009 | 9 of 15 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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Lisa | '2008

The program is a mixed bag, but the real problem is the students.

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There are some great professors and some weak ones, there are ways in which the program is good, and ways…

March 18, 2009 | 11 of 20 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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Dante | '2008

You Get Out What You Put In

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When I started in the MPW program in 2005-2006, I had no expectations. I believed myself to be a decent…

March 18, 2009 | 14 of 20 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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Bill McConnell | '2008

You got to give some..to get some.

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Second semester in and the truth is I've had my doubts and I've also had my moments of creative overflow.…

March 18, 2009 | 9 of 15 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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Shideh Etaat | '2010

Wonderful Community

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I was in MPW long before most of the reviewers (thus far), so my experience is vastly different.

March 18, 2009 | 14 of 25 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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Hippie Chick | '1993

The Good, The Bad, and The Enh..

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My first semester in the program proved to be a prediction for my overall experience. I had Mel Shavelson for…

March 18, 2009 | 8 of 16 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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WriterGal | '2007

Not worth it.

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As one of the few poetry "majors" in the program, I felt that I learned nothing during my time at…

March 17, 2009 | 24 of 36 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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LWM | '2008

Only as good as you are.

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It's getting better now as USC is paying greater attention to the program. The faculty is excellent overall with accomplished…

March 17, 2009 | 8 of 14 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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L.A. Writer | '2007

A Mixed Bag

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MPW is a mixed bag, but it's getting better. They're gradually taking out the coffee-flavored bits and replacing them with…

March 17, 2009 | 19 of 31 people found this review useful | Report as offensive

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Jimbo | '2008

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Contact

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Los Angeles, California
West

Admissions

Full-time: Yes

Part-time: Yes

Length of Program: 2 Years

Low Residency: No

Student Body

Genre

Fiction
Poetry
Creative Non-fiction
Screenwriting
Playwriting