Creative Writing: About the MFA

Program Snapshot

Genres: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, travel writing, screenwriting, or a dual genre
Faculty Mentorship: Personalized one-on-one guidance from published authors
Residencies: Three 15-day summer residencies in Dublin, Barcelona, and Vienna
Distance Learning: Asynchronous online learning during the fall and spring semesters
Cohort Experience: Progress through the program with the same classmates
Speaking Series: Monthly virtual seminars featuring award-winning guest speakers
Duration: Complete in 2-3 years
Total Credits: 50 (Full-time, 18 credits per year)

Immersive Residencies & Personalized Mentorship

Residencies consist of workshops, seminars, field experiences, and face-to-face classroom instruction from faculty. From September through May, students work individually with a faculty member in continual online communication, creating and submitting work, and receiving feedback.

Primary Program Goals

During this program, you will:

Prepare for each European residencies through focused reading and research
Produce and receive feedback on up to 600 pages of prose/screenwriting or 240 pages of poetry
Complete three immersive residencies featuring workshops, seminars, and field experiences
Produce a final manuscript (book or screenplay) as your creative thesis, along with a critical essay on your genre’s craft

What Sets Us Apart

Convenient low-residency requirements. Study in Europe during summer residencies, then spend the remainder of the year participating in writing mentorships online, on your own time, all with the same cohort.

Europe as your classroom. Experience the first graduate-level writer’s program offered by an American college that includes exclusive European residencies.

Award-winning, internationally acclaimed faculty-writers. Gain insight and instruction from highly acclaimed faculty-writers, published in poetry, nonfiction, fiction, screenplays, radio plays, oratorios, libretti, and collaborative projects.

From place to page. Go beyond traditional genre-specific workshops and draw creative inspiration from the stories, culture, and character of each European residency.

Why Writers Choose Cedar Crest

Genre-specific workshops and craft seminars
International residencies rooted in local culture and history
Lectures and field experiences with authors and scholars
Writing inspired by the people, places, and traditions of each destination
Cross-genre seminars that encourage experimentation and creative growth

By exploring multiple forms and perspectives, students expand their artistic practice, discover new techniques, and develop a more versatile writing voice.

Our Mission

The Cedar Crest College MFA in Creative Writing will assist you in:

Producing publishable-quality work in one or more genres of writing
Strengthening your ability to critique and revise creative work
Broadening your understanding of literature, history, and the arts across cultures
Exploring the influence of place on writing
Preparing for careers in writing, publishing, teaching, and related fields

Program Timeframe

Beginning with a
summer residency:

Year One 

Initial 15-day summer residency in Europe—Dublin, Barcelona, or Vienna (location rotates yearly, allowing students to experience all three during the program)
Two consecutive semesters of distance mentorship (September-December and February-May)

Year Two

15-day summer residency in Europe
Two more semesters of distance mentorship
Program ends in the third summer with a 15-day graduating residency and the presentation of both a creative thesis and a critical essay

Beginning with a
fall/spring semester distance mentorship: