Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

at EDUCO - Seattle Pacific University USA

The low-residency MFA at SPU is a creative writing program for apprentice writers — both Christians and those of other faith traditions — who not only want to pursue excellence in the craft of writing but also place their work within the larger context of world literature by writers of faith.

The spiritual dimension of this program is not intended to produce didactic, sectarian, or sentimental literature. On the contrary, this program seeks to extend what our faculty understand to be a longstanding conversation that comprises much of world literature, a conversation in which the highest levels of art, an open-eyed exploration of human experience, and a respect for mystery are all held in a proper balance.

Our models are Augustine and Dante, Saint Ephraim the Syrian and Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, the Pearl poet and Sor Juana de la Cruz, George Herbert and John Milton, Gerard Manley Hopkins and Emily Dickinson, Fyodor Dostoevsky and Alexandros Papadiamandis, T.S. Eliot and Flannery O’Connor, Walker Percy and James Baldwin, Annie Dillard and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We believe that our program will appeal to writers for whom matters of faith are central. We also intend to cultivate reading and writing as spiritual disciplines. We are convinced that writers flourish best when they engage in a sustained dialogue with the great literature that has come before them. Therefore, our program maintains a strong emphasis on reading classic works from the writers of faith, and responding to them in a series of critical papers.

The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Psychology majors are rigorous yet flexible programs designed to meet the American Psychological Association Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology major while also fulfilling SPU’s mission to provide students with a transformative and holistic experience grounded in Christian faith.

As such, these programs prepare you with extensive knowledge of the field; scientific and critical thinking skills; an awareness of diversity, ethics in practice, and social responsibility; effective oral and written communication skills; and professional-level training and experiences (e.g., research and internship opportunities) for both careers and graduate school in psychology.

Psychology (BA)

The BA in Psychology is designed for students with a broad range of career and graduate school interests such as, but not limited to, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, marriage and family therapy, social work, school counseling, and industrial and organizational psychology.

Clinical Counseling Psychology: For students interested in working within a therapeutic context, this track focuses information and experiences relevant to clinical psychology, counseling psychology, marriage and family therapy, as well as related graduate programs or jobs providing or researching the effectiveness of therapy or counseling.

The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Psychology majors are rigorous yet flexible programs designed to meet the American Psychological Association Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology major while also fulfilling SPU’s mission to provide students with a transformative and holistic experience grounded in Christian faith.

As such, these programs prepare you with extensive knowledge of the field; scientific and critical thinking skills; an awareness of diversity, ethics in practice, and social responsibility; effective oral and written communication skills; and professional-level training and experiences (e.g., research and internship opportunities) for both careers and graduate school in psychology.

Psychology (BA)

The BA in Psychology is designed for students with a broad range of career and graduate school interests such as, but not limited to, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, marriage and family therapy, social work, school counseling, and industrial and organizational psychology.

Community Psychology and Behavioral Mental Health: Focuses on social justice, community development, and social services for students wanting to pursue further training or work in social work, nonprofit, community development, social justice, public health, community behavioral health.

When you major in Exercise Science at SPU, you build a strong foundation to serve in a variety of fields in which you can promote healthy lifestyles for people of all ages. Whether you plan to become a strength and conditioning trainer, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, or any other type of health care or fitness professional, an Exercise Science degree from Seattle Pacific gives you the skills and knowledge base you need.

 As an SPU Exercise Science major, you examine the health and fitness benefits of physical activity and exercise using a science-based approach. This approach combines:

• Classroom learning, including chemistry
• Laboratory work
• An internship in a Seattle-area professional setting

Whether you plan to enter the workforce after graduation or attend graduate school for an advanced degree or certification, an Exercise Science degree provides you with a solid foundation.

Choosing to major in Theatre with a Performance emphasis offers you many benefits, including the following:

• You will be prepared for dramatic performance as an actor, director, or other performing artist through intensive work in sensory awareness, observation skills, and selective imagination.
• You will grow in your mastery of stage movement through work in physical flexibility, balancing, circus techniques, hand-to-hand combat, and use of theatrical masks for performance.
• You will develop vocal skills of support, projection, and articulation.
• Through your studies and your participation in theatre productions, you will be exposed to a wide range of theatrical forms and styles.

Chemistry forms a foundation for the study of a wide variety of scientific disciplines. It is concerned primarily with matter, energy, and their interactions. Chemists are both creators and problem-solvers who do everything from create new substances to analyze criminal evidence. They are at the forefront of efforts to make sure that technology serves people, rather than the reverse. And at Seattle Pacific University, chemists and chemistry are informed and influenced by a Christian worldview.

Benefits
Seattle Pacific University’s location will benefit you in many ways. You’ll have plenty of opportunities for internships in a variety of biomedical, biotechnological, environmental, analytical, and industrial laboratories. You’ll also hear from world-class researchers who regularly visit campus to give lectures on their work.

SPU graduates with degrees in chemistry and biochemistry have many options. Our chemistry and biochemistry alumni are working at places such as:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Washington State Patrol Forensic Lab
• Los Alamos National Laboratories
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
• Bristol-Meyer/Squibb
• Seattle Biomedical Research Institute
• Cardinal Health
• Rapigene
• Mayo Clinic
• Public and private schools
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• EvergreenHealth Medical Center
• Juno Therapeutics
• Amazon
• Boeing

Many alumni have also entered medical school or other graduate programs at such renowned institutions as the University of Washington, Johns Hopkins University, Harvard, Yale School of Medicine, and Georgetown University

Majoring in Sociology engages you in the scientific study of social behavior and social actions, that allows for a deeper understanding of the inner workings of social systems and structures. 

SPU graduates with degrees in Sociology have gone on to careers in law, social work and counseling, and social-policy fields. Sociology graduates also work in government, business, industry, and private research agencies. Others find careers in religious organizations, law enforcement agencies, and many other settings.

As a student in the Economics major in the School of Business, Government, and Economics at SPU, you will study many vital issues that affect human flourishing while emphasizing a Christian perspective on individual and society's decisions about how to organize the production and distribution of goods and services.

About the Economics Major

Economics is the study of human decision making, interconnectedness, and the distribution and allocation of scarce resources. This major emphasizes development and financial economics, with a focus on decision making, resource stewardship, and public policy.

Our program prepares students with industry experience through our SBGE internship program. Our students have held internships at leading local businesses and industries such as Safeco, Morgan Stanley, Starbucks, and Nordstrom.

Students pursuing graduate study are encouraged to complete our 15 credit calculus series. Our graduates have gone on to study at top institutions such as Notre Dame, Baylor, and the University of Washington.

The General concentration provides you the opportunity to custom tailor your educational experience with the Economics courses that most interest you.

The Business Administration major in the School of Business, Government, and Economics at SPU allows you to develop essential business skills in a uniquely Christian environment that emphasizes values, ethics, and an understanding of business as a means to serve.

The Business Administration major provides you with a broad-based education in the fundamental theories, principles, and practices of modern business. You will learn standards of professional and ethical behavior, along with the technical expertise and leadership attributes necessary to attain a variety of positions in business.

As part of the Business Administration major, students also gain vital industry experience by participating in our SBGE internship program. Our students have held internships at leading local businesses and companies such as Starbucks, Boeing, Microsoft, the Seattle Mariners, and Merrill Lynch.

The Public Policy & Business concentration focuses on coursework in Political Science and Economics to help prepare you to work at the intersection of commerce and government.

The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Psychology majors are rigorous yet flexible programs designed to meet the American Psychological Association Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology major while also fulfilling SPU’s mission to provide students with a transformative and holistic experience grounded in Christian faith.

As such, these programs prepare you with extensive knowledge of the field; scientific and critical thinking skills; an awareness of diversity, ethics in practice, and social responsibility; effective oral and written communication skills; and professional-level training and experiences (e.g., research and internship opportunities) for both careers and graduate school in psychology.

Psychology (BA)

The BA in Psychology is designed for students with a broad range of career and graduate school interests such as, but not limited to, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, marriage and family therapy, social work, school counseling, and industrial and organizational psychology.

Developmental Psychology: Coursework and experiences focus on change across the lifetime; best prepares students for graduate education and jobs in related areas such as early child life specialist.