West Virginia Wesleyan College

Programme overview

West Virginia Wesleyan College offers a two-year, 49-credit low-residency Master of Fine Arts in writing, with concentrations in fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry. The program combines five intensive ten-day on-campus residencies with four semesters of independent, mentor-led work completed off-site; students may begin in either summer or winter.

What you'll study

The curriculum emphasizes craft, technique, and sustained mentorship aimed at producing a publishable-quality manuscript. Core features include:

• Five residencies (held early July and early January) that include morning interdisciplinary craft seminars, afternoon genre-specific two-hour workshops, readings, and panels.
• Four semesters of independent Semester Project work conducted one-on-one with a core or visiting faculty mentor through exchanged writing packets (five packets per semester) and a final portfolio.
• A third-semester 20–25-page Critical Essay exploring a craft element central to the student’s writing.
• A fourth-semester focus on completing the Thesis Manuscript, culminating in a fifth residency with a Thesis Interview, a public reading from the manuscript, and a student-taught seminar.
• A faculty/student ratio of no greater than 1:4 and an expectation that students dedicate about 25 hours per week to semester projects.

Entry requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Required application materials are an online application, current CV, official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework, and a writing sample in the applicant’s chosen genre: 15 poems for poets, or 20 double-spaced pages for fiction and creative nonfiction. Applicants apply to a primary genre; those interested in adding a secondary genre may request that after one year. Application deadlines are October 15 for the winter residency and April 15 for the summer residency.

Career prospects

The program is oriented toward developing a sustained writing life and producing a manuscript of publishable quality rather than primarily preparing educators. Graduates typically pursue careers as professional authors, freelance writers, or continue in literary publishing; the program also offers a postgraduate teaching fellowship for those who wish to gain teaching experience.

Scholarships & funding angle

Financial specifics are not listed on the course page, but the program does offer a postgraduate teaching fellowship. Students may audit residencies if they wish to participate without earning the degree. During on-campus residencies, optional meal plans and campus housing (private room, shared suite bathroom) are available; vegetarian dining is provided if a meal plan is chosen.