Detailed Information
Program of Study
The New School has been a vital center for writing and writing instruction since 1931, when Gorham Munson, a Manhattan editor and influential member of Alfred Stieglitz’s circle, introduced his workshop in creative writing. Since 1996, The New School has offered a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in creative writing, with concentrations in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and writing for children. Founded by poet and biographer Robert Polito, the M.F.A. program marks the latest transformation in the University’s commitment to creative writing. Both in the classroom and through the participation of distinguished visitors, the Graduate Writing Program aims to help students fully engage with the vibrant, diverse world of writing in New York City and beyond.
The M.F.A. program is a full-time course of study balancing writing workshops with seminars in the reading of literature. The program is designed to be completed in four semesters. During each of their first three terms, students enroll in one writing workshop (4 credits) in their area of concentration and one literature seminar (4 credits) and must participate in the Writer’s Life Colloquium (1 credit). During their final term of residence, students continue to participate in the Writer’s Life Colloquium but no longer enroll in writing workshops or literature seminars. Instead, they work closely with one or more New School writer-teacher advisers in independent study leading to the creation of a writing thesis (4 credits) and a literature project (4 credits), both within their area of concentration. Because of the intensive nature of the Graduate Writing Program, transfer credits are not accepted.
Research Facilities
The Raymond Fogelman Library contains books, standard references, pamphlets, and periodicals used by graduate students in all programs. Graduate students also have access to facilities of the Research Library Association of South Manhattan, which includes Cooper Union and New York University. It is one of the largest interuniversity library consortia in the country. Beyond the consortium are the rich resources of New York City, including 250 METRO member libraries and the public library system of the five boroughs. The University Computing Center is also available to students for their research and writing.
Financial Aid
M.F.A. students are eligible for state and federal grants and loans, and departmental scholarships are awarded to new and continuing students. The committee considers both merit and need in granting available funds. A University scholars’ fund also allocates grants to incoming students from underrepresented groups. The University offers an extended payment plan that involves monthly billing throughout the year.
Cost of Study
Tuition for the 2009–10 academic year is $1220 per credit. A University services fee of $100 and a $15 student activities fee are charged each term. For more information, students should visit http://www.newschool.edu/tuition.
Living and Housing Costs
The University Housing Office maintains a comprehensive resource center with apartment listings. University-run apartments and residence halls are also available. The cost of housing, food, transportation, books, and living expenses averages $17,000 annually. For more information, students can visit http://www.newschool.edu/studentservices.
Student Group
M.F.A. students bring to the program a variety of academic backgrounds and types of professional experience. Many continue to work while attending the program. Sixty percent of the students are women; 23 percent are from underrepresented groups. The average age is 26 years. The program currently enrolls approximately 200 students.
Location
The New School writing program reflects the diversity and breadth of the writer’s life in New York City. All writing workshops and literature seminar instructors are themselves published writers and experienced teachers, and guests from the city’s vast publishing industry–including magazine and book editors, publishers, literary agents, and prominent teachers of writing–are invited to speak at dozens of events organized each semester.
The University
The New School is a leading university in New York City, offering distinguished programs in design, liberal arts, the performing arts, and social and political science, leading to seventy graduate and undergraduate degrees. To learn more, students should visit http://www.newschool.edu/degreeprograms. A privately supported institution, The New School is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and chartered as a university by the Regents of the State of New York.
The eight schools that make up The New School are The New School for General Studies, The New School for Social Research, Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy, Parsons The New School for Design, Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts, Mannes College The New School for Music, The New School for Drama, and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.
Applying
The Graduate Writing Program welcomes applications from aspiring writers of diverse academic backgrounds and life experiences. They must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Applications are reviewed by an admissions committee consisting of the director of the writing program and members of the faculty. The writing sample is the most important factor in this review, but letters of recommendation, academic transcripts, and the student’s statement of purpose are all carefully evaluated. The deadline for fall admission is January 15. For more information and an application, students can visit http://www.writing.newschool.edu, attend an information session at The New School, or contact the Office of Admissions and Student Services.
The Faculty
- Many of America’s most important poets, novelists, literary critics, and editors have been part of The New School’s writing faculty, including Robert Frost, W. H. Auden, Robert Lowell, LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka), Frank O’Hara, Kenneth Koch, Kay Boyle, Marguerite Young, and Alfred Kazin.
- Along with Robert Polito, director, and David Lehman, the current M.F.A. faculty includes Jeffery Renard Allen, Jonathan Ames, Susan Bell, Mark Bibbins, Susan Cheever, Jonathan Dee, Elaine Equi, David Gates, Vivian Gornick, Shelley Jackson, Zia Jaffrey, Joyce Johnson, Hettie Jones, James Lasdun, David Lehman, Suzannah Lessard, Philip Lopate, Honor Moore, Maggie Nelson, Sigrid Nunez, Dale Peck, Francine Prose, Liam Rector, Helen Schulman, Tor Seidler, Dani Shapiro, Prageeta Sharma, Laurie Sheck, Darcey Steinke, Benjamin Taylor, Abigail Thomas, Paul Violi, Sarah Weeks, Susan Wheeler, and Stephen Wright.
- For a complete list of faculty members and courses, students should visit http://www.writing.newschool.edu/writing.
Correspondence and Information
The New School
Graduate Writing Program
Office of Admissions and Student Services
66 West 12th Street, Room 401
New York, New York 10011
Telephone:
212-229-5630
Email:
nsadmissions@newschool.edu
