MFA Questionnaire

I. Genre

Your studies at WestConn will focus on two genres: a primary genre and a second genre. In order to meet the needs of the program, we will conduct part of our faculty hiring based on your fields of interest. In order to gauge your interest, we ask that you complete this form and return it with your application packet. This is the only way we can ensure that your fields of interest are addressed.

You will select one creative genre (for instance: poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, drama, screenwriting, YA fiction, etc.) and one practical genre (for instance: journalism, investigative reporting, technical writing, science writing, medical writing, public relations, marketing, advertising copy, historical biography, etc.). These are only examples, and we encourage you to list others if your real interest lies outside the genres we have suggested.

Your primary genre may be a creative genre or a practical genre; if your primary genre is creative, your second genre must be practical, and vice versa. 

If you are undecided about your primary and second genres, it is very important that you list at the bottom of this page your fields of potential interest, both creative and practical. 

II. Schedule

You have three schedule options for completing the program: 2-year, 3-year, and 4-year.

Please note that the Coordinator can also work out other schedule plans – including plans for part-time study.

In the 2-year program, you will complete the program in four successive semesters of study.

In the 3-year program, most students will complete the program with one year of two-semester study and two years of one-semester study. It helps us if you can designate these semesters at application time (see below*); your schedule can be adjusted later, if necessary.

In the 4-year program, most students will complete the program with four years of one-semester study. It helps us if you can designate these semesters at application time (see below*); your schedule can be adjusted later, if necessary.

Note also that you are required to attend four residencies; unless you opt for the campus workshop option (see Program Description and Degree Requirements sheet). Finally, please note that due to program dynamics and the need to orient students and faculty, students who prefer to begin the program in the Fall semester (August residency) may be given preference over students who prefer to begin the program in the Spring semester (January residency).

It is essential that you complete the following schedule request. Our admissions process requires that we know the following information so that we can align student scheduling requirements.