The low-residency MFA in Creative Writing Program is the best training
a student writer can get. The low-residency model mirrors the student
writer’s post-college life—the self-discipline and routine of writing
as a daily activity as well as creating work to a deadline, all without
the interruption of attending classes and workshops. The
advisor/advisee relationship is a focused and direct exchange that
emulates the future writer/editor relationship. Student writers in
Goddard's MFA in Creative Writing Program produce work without too much
outside influence, ensuring that each voice is idiosyncratic, fresh,
and true to the writer who generated it. Students leave the program
with a complete draft of a creative manuscript that has gone through a
number of revisions, as well as a deep connection with a group of
writing peers, many of whom will continue to sustain them once the
degree is in their hands and the work of writing continues.
The core of a student’s MFA study is the creative work. Strengthening and supporting the creative work are literature studies, critical studies, and a teaching practicum. Each component is described briefly below. Additional details are available in the MFA in Creative Writing Handbook Addendum.
Creative Work
Creative writing is the backbone of the MFA in Creative Writing Program. Students are expected to engage actively in creative writing during each semester and may experiment with different genres and methods. During the first three semesters, students’ writing will consist of new work and revision. Semester four is spent producing a unified creative manuscript. Students are encouraged to share their work at informal and formal readings throughout the residencies and will read from their creative manuscripts at the Graduating Student Readings that happens during the Commencement Residency.
Literature Component
Students are expected to be reading and thinking about their reading, and applying that thinking to their own writing throughout their studies. Sometimes this process will be reported on in the form of annotations, sometimes in the form of critical papers. Students build their reading lists in a thoughtful way, taking their previous background and reading into account and paying attention to issues of period, gender, genre, and multiculturalism.
Critical Work
Critical writing is an essential component of the program and is incorporated into a student’s studies organically. For instance, if a student writing a novel from a child's point of view is struggling with perspective and narrative voice, the student could examine how another author handles these issues in the text. Or, if the struggle is with voice and dialogue, the student can identify texts with strong voice/dialogue and explore how other authors address this element of their narratives.
Annotations are brief (approximately two-page), focused, critical responses to selected texts on a student’s reading list. Students are required to complete between forty-five and sixty annotations prior to graduation.
In addition to annotations, students must complete two short (5 pages) and one long (20 pages) critical papers. In the long critical paper, students are expected to use at least two secondary sources, to closely examine one or more literary texts, and to develop their topic over the course of several drafts shared with their advisor.
Teaching Practicum
The MFA in Creative Writing is often sought as a teaching credential for faculty positions in higher education. To better prepare our graduates to teach, Goddard includes a Teaching Practicum as part of the program‘s degree requirements. Teaching, like any other skill, requires practice. Learning some of the ways to teach under the guidance of skilled teachers helps to create new teachers who are confident and well trained. The practicum also gives experienced teachers a chance to experiment with new teaching techniques or new curriculum ideas in an environment where they can consult with a mentor.
The practicum includes a minimum of 15 hours of supervised teaching of writing, a teaching essay, and the compilation of a teaching packet. Teaching practica can take place in a broad range of settings from community colleges and four-year institutions to libraries, senior centers, youth groups, retreat centers, community organizations, prisons, etc.
Students electing to pursue Vermont teacher licensure are also required to participate in supervised student teaching under the auspices of Goddard‘s Education and Licensure Program.
