Master of Fine Arts

West Virginia Wesleyan College offers a low-residency Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program designed for writers seeking to deepen their craft in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. This two-year, 49-credit hour program combines intensive on-campus residencies with off-site mentorship. The program emphasizes craft and technique, grounding students in significant literary works while fostering a supportive writing community. The low-residency model allows students to pursue their graduate studies while maintaining their professional and personal lives. It consists of five ten-day residencies held on campus in January and July, interspersed with four semesters of independent study. During these semesters, students work closely with faculty mentors through a structured correspondence, developing their manuscript toward publication quality.

Curriculum

The MFA program is a two-year, 49-credit hour course of study, structured around five on-campus residencies and four off-campus semesters. Students begin their studies in either the summer or winter residency. Each residency is ten days long and includes craft seminars, workshops, and readings. The off-campus semesters involve independent study through a mentored apprenticeship, with regular communication via email, mail, telephone, or Zoom.

1. Year 1
   • Craft Seminars, Workshops, and Readings
   • Semester Project Proposal and Apprenticeship (Semesters 1 & 2)
2. Year 2
   • Craft Seminars, Workshops, and Readings
   • Critical Essay and Thesis Manuscript Development (Semesters 3 & 4)
   • Fifth Residency: Thesis Interview, Reading, and Teaching Seminar