Master of Fine Arts in Writing

at University of New Hampshire - Durham Campus USA

Women's and gender studies provides students with an understanding of the status of women in various cultures and historical eras, in the nexus of race, class, sexuality, religious and disability studies. Students learn the use of gender as a category of analysis and increase their knowledge of women's contributions to many fields. Women's and gender studies courses offer students critical perspectives on such basic questions of the social order as assumptions about gender roles and gender identity.

As a relatively small department in the College of Liberal Arts, we provide students with a sense of community and opportunities to contribute directly to changing the campus climate. In a rigorous academic environment, women's and gender studies offers students a springboard for activism. Our internship program enables students to gain first-hand work experience across many fields.

A major in women's and gender studies prepares students for careers where the changing roles of women are having a perceptible impact. Women's and gender studies graduates go on to law school and graduate school in a variety of disciplines. Some have taken positions with social change or family service agencies, while others have found work in such fields as health care, journalism, education, human rights, social and environmental justice, and the arts.

Candidates interested in passing on their love of theatre to future generations will find that the secondary theatre education option offers practical and theoretical training for teachers. As one of a few programs in the country, UNH’s Secondary Theatre Education option boasts a robust offering with six courses specifically focused on how to teach theatre. Through comprehensive course and laboratory work, students obtain hands-on theatre teaching experience, so that by the time they reach graduation, they have spent significant hours working with the K-12 age group. Students are provided with extensive training and practical teaching experience specifically geared towards the goal of being a theatre teacher, either in a traditional classroom or as a teaching artist. Whether pursuing the fifth year graduate certification program or entering the professional theatre education world directly after the undergraduate degree, students can expect to leave UNH prepared for the rigorous task of teaching.

The Option in Information Systems and Business Analytics will appeal to students who wish to learn how to take advantage of contemporary technologies to solve complex business problems. Pivotal contributors to the success of any venture, Information Systems and Business Analysts must be able to understand and communicate both the business needs as well as the technical details of solutions. The option prepares students for a career in a wide range of industries by helping them master the fundamentals of information systems, as well as the ability to implement solutions or provide leading-edge, analytics-based solutions to real business problems. Students work on real-world industry projects and apply concepts and problem-solving skills learned in the classroom. 

All students in the option develop functional knowledge and skills in information systems and business analytics. Beyond the required courses in the option, students choose between an emphasis in Information Systems or an emphasis in Business Analytics. 

Neuropsychology is the study of the human brain and its relation to behavior. The UNH Manchester program focuses on the biological basis of human functioning in both normal and pathological states (e.g., dementia, depression) and therefore, prepares students for careers working with individuals with various mental health and neurological conditions. This interdisciplinary program offers a concentration of core and advanced courses in psychology and biology while providing sufficient flexibility for students to customize their education in order to meet specific requirements for their chosen career path, including the health professions.

The neuropsychology program prepares students for a variety of careers within the field of neuroscience, including bachelor-level positions and graduate training in research and health professions. At the bachelor-level, students are prepared for positions in healthcare (e.g., clinical laboratory technologist, psychometrician) and biomedical research (research assistant). The program is also designed to provide the flexibility needed to prepare students for graduate training in the health professions, such as being a physician, physician assistant, psychologist, neuropsychologist, or occupational therapist. Students interested in medical school are able to complete premedical requirements within four years.

The MFA Program in Writing at the University of New Hampshire has a clear and abiding focus: to help you shape your gifts and passion for the art, and to prepare you for the opportunities and demands that all writers will experience in a long professional career. Over the years, the graduate writing program has launched the careers of hundreds of poets, novelists, storywriters, essayists and memoirists. This is a small, highly-ranked, and selective program. We emphasize one-on-one contact between a nationally recognized faculty and talented students. Students typically complete the program in two to three years.

The Option in Accounting prepares students for careers in accounting and the qualifications to obtain certifications, such as certified public accountant (CPA), certified management accountant (CMA), and certified internal auditor (CIA). Accounting is called "the first language" of business for good reason: the fate of many products and marketing campaigns hinges on the financial officer's final analysis. For this reason, successful accounting professionals often assume leadership roles within their companies. 

Further, this option provides students with opportunities in a variety of fields, including internal audit, external audit, tax preparation and planning, and consulting. Demand for accountants is consistently strong. Students may also take advantage of the four-one (5 year) program to earn a M.S. in accounting at Paul College. Obtaining a master's degree aids in preparation and eligibility for the CPA exam and is recommended for future career progression.

The Bachelor of Arts in mathematics degree program offers students a combination of rigorous mathematical training with the flexibility of a liberal arts education. The B.A. offers the same core requirements as the B.S. program but offers more choices in mathematics and free electives. The flexibility offered by this degree program makes it an excellent choice for students pursuing dual majors or double majors in other fields.

The Russian program provides students with an opportunity to study one of the world's most important languages, its literature and its culture. In addition to the intrinsic value of Russian language, literature and culture as a liberal arts experience, majoring in Russian leads to a number of careers, such as teaching, translation and interpreting, government and the Foreign Service. The knowledge of the language and cultural proficiency is also a valuable asset in preparing you for careers in law, economics and international trade. All Russian majors are strongly encouraged to double major or include a relevant minor in their studies.

The Department of Political Science at UNH offers the Master of Arts in Political Science. The program provides advanced study in international relations and American and comparative politics. The program serves students interested in working in government, public service, nonprofit management, electoral politics, education and research, and in preparing for Ph.D. programs. It gives students the flexibility to tailor their coursework to individual interests within a curriculum that ensures a strong foundation in international and domestic politics, research methods, and analysis. Faculty engage in teaching and research activities encompassing the fields of international and comparative politics, American politics, and political thought.

Students in the Ecosystem Science option typically have a strong background in environmental science, earth science, ecology, or related fields. Areas of interest include the ecology, microbiology and biogeochemistry of soils, groundwaters, and surface waters, with an emphasis on how the different components of an ecosystem interact to produce system-level responses to management, global change, and other perturbations. Understanding controls on carbon storage, nutrient transformations, water quality, soil health and greenhouse gas emissions is central to much of the research conducted by students in this option.