The New School has been a vital forum for writing since 1931, when Gorham Munson, a member of the Stieglitz circle, on impulse initiated a workshop in creative writing. In the early 1950s, critic Maxwell Geismar stated that "The New School has become the richest center of new fiction among all our colleges and universities." Our writing instructors are all published writers and experienced teachers, and many of our students go on to publish or enter graduate writing programs.
Workshop Method
The New School offers a wide variety of writing workshops and events. The workshop method of teaching writing involves a professional writer working closely with serious-minded students who are willing to write regularly and participate actively in class discussion of their own and classmates' work. Instead of lecturing extensively, the writer-teacher provides guidance by focusing on student manuscripts. The writers who teach here try to establish a supportive yet demanding atmosphere. Enrollment is limited, so early registration is recommended for the course of your choice. If you have not had a college course in composition, you are encouraged to enroll in one of the Fundamentals courses before taking any other workshop.
The Riggio Honors Program: Writing and Democracy
This innovative sequence of writing workshops and close-reading seminars offers gifted undergraduate writers a balanced and substantial literary education. Tuition assistance is available for students who undertake to complete the curriculum as part of their bachelor's degree requirements. For more information, visit the Riggio Honors Program website or consult your academic advisor.
Design Your Own Course of Study in Writing
Any undergraduate student in The New School for Public Engagement who is interested in developing the craft of writing in the context of reading literature can work with their advisor to design a course of study. We recommend five writing workshops, at least three of the five in a single genre (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, writing for children, or journalism), and at least three literature courses that complement the student's writing emphasis. Literature studies should start with a foundation course and include at least one course devoted to literature written before the 20th century.
Robert Polito, Director
Luis Jaramillo, Associate Chair
Writing Program Highlight: The Summer Writers Colony is your opportunity to discover the writer's life in New York City. Each June, over the course of three weeks, students participate in intensive workshops and literary salons with New School faculty members and visiting authors. Undergraduates who successfully complete the colony curriculum earn six (6) credits.