Question:
I am researching low residency Master in Fine Arts programs with an emphasis in fiction. I want a program which would offer supportive guidance in independant learning, as I am new to this type of education. My main goal is to learn as much as possible about the craft of writing and, hopefully, to discover a community of writers to share my work with. Yet, I am also interested in using this MFA to teach at a community college or four year university. I am concerned that my distance learning masters degree might not be respected by mainstream academia. Any comments???
Answer:
Some years ago, I was enrolled in something like that in the Vermont College of Norwich University (it was actually an MA in Creative Writing) The primary Creative Writing program at V.C. is an M.F.A., not an M.A. One can get an M.A. in Creative Writing, but that would be through the Graduate Program, not the M.F.A. program.
[There are several low-residency programs at V.C., all of which are separate - the M.A. Program (in which one can major in any field), the M.F.A. in Writing, the M.F.A. in Visual Art, the M.F.A. in Performance Art, the Master of Art Therapy, New College, and the Adult Degree Program (which has both weekend and cycle options). Norwich University, which was establishedd in 1819 and is accredited by the New England Association, has over 2,000 students on two campuses, and the V.C. campus in Montpelier is now devoted to adult and low-residency students. According to an update released this week, the university awarded 666 degrees during the period of June 1997 through May 1998: 42 A.S., 78 B.A., 140 B.S. - all residential; 72 B.A. in the ADO cycle, 99 B.A. in the ADP weekend option, 103 M.A. (Graduate Program), 18 M.A.Th., 58 M.F.A. Writing, and 35 M.F.A. Visual Art. The M.F.A. Performance Art and New College programs are new and have not yet had a graduating class.]
Several years ago, the M.A. program was one that did not grant partial credit, nor did they issue a transcript until the program was completed. At that time, though one registered by the quarter, it was a 30-semester hour degree, and the program was viewed as one cohesive unit - there was no partial credit given. Thus, if you only did part of the program or dropped out before completion, you would have received neither credit nor a transcript.
