Hollins University
Hollins is a small, private, four-year university located on a beautiful 475-acre campus in Roanoke, Virginia. Students enjoy Hollins' challenging and supportive academic environment and our focus on individualized learning. Hollins' historic and beautiful campus is minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail. Although the setting is decidedly pastoral, it is also minutes from the small city of Roanoke (230,000 in the metro area), offering many of the cultural amenities people enjoy.
Master of Arts in Children's Literature
Master of Fine Art in Children's Literature
Hollins offers unique summer MFA and MA programs in both the scholarly study and the writing of children's and adolescent literature, in which you will have the opportunity to be part of a uniquely diverse group of scholars, writers, and teachers.
It is Hollins' belief that any serious student of writing must study closely the best works of others, and any scholar of literature benefits from the experience of writing. Thus, the MFA leads to a master of fine arts in the writing of work for children and adolescents, from picture books to young adult novels, through a program which also includes scholarly study of the genre. On the other hand, in the MA program, you may concentrate solely on the study of children's and young adult literature as a genre which has received far too little scholarly attention in the past, or you may do up to half your coursework in creative writing, or choose a balance somewhere in between, depending on your goals.
Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting
The Hollins MFA program in playwriting is designed for those interested in playwriting as well as those who want an academic study of theatre with the playscript as the central foundation. Our unique summer program, with its emphasis on both scholarly research and creative writing, will enable graduates of the program to:
- Produce dramatic works of the highest quality.
- Write and articulate clear, perceptive, and informed analyses of dramatic texts.
- Pursue careers in such professions as dramatic writing, dramaturgy, literary management, and arts instruction.
Hollins offers an intensive, supportive and challenging atmosphere that encourages academic excellence, a spirit of independent inquiry, a free exchange of ideas and a love of learning. Our faculty of productive scholars and visiting faculty of established artists work together to help you achieve your academic, professional and artistic goals.
You'll work closely with Hollins' visiting professional faculty, artists-in-residence and guest speakers to develop the kind of personal and professional relationships that can lead to reading and production credits before graduation--an advantage few other programs offer.
Master of Arts in Screenwriting and Film Studies
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting and Film Studies
We believe that theory and practice are mutually beneficial. Thus the graduate program in screenwriting and film studies is designed both for students who wish to study screenwriting intensively and for those whose primary interest is the academic study of film. For both groups, and for a majority of students whose interests lie somewhere in between, the program offers significant advantages. Aside from classes, students benefit from an exciting series of visiting screenwriters, filmmakers, and film scholars during each summer term, as well as a regular series of film screenings and discussions. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Marleen Gorris, Tom Noonan, Les Blank, and Candida Royalle have been among recent visitors to the program.
At Hollins you have the opportunity to become part of a supportive community of screenwriters, filmmakers, and scholars who share a love of the art of film. Class sizes are small and you will enjoy regular interaction with a distinguished faculty from Hollins as well as institutions across the country and around the world.
You may choose a program concentrating solely on the study of film history, criticism, and theory, or a program in which you may do up to half your work in screenwriting. In three to five summers (depending on how you structure your program) you can complete your degree in a stimulating academic community where the art of film is both enjoyed and seriously examined.