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Creative Nonfiction Writing MFA Program FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

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How is the no-residency MFA program set up?

The no-residency MFA program at Bay Path is a 39-credit, two-year program consisting of five semesters of online coursework. In keeping with our mission of graduate education that bends to the shape of our students’ lives, we require no on-campus residencies or travel.

The first three semesters of the program involve working closely with accomplished faculty mentors in mentorship seminars and labs, alongside coursework in literary craft and special topics. Students will also begin to develop material for their capstone project: a 150-page creative nonfiction thesis (a memoir, collection of personal essays or articles, or work of narrative journalism).

The final two semesters of the MFA are devoted to the master’s thesis, electives (including an optional international field seminar), and professional tracks in publishing or teaching.

What are the distinctive features of the program?

The Bay Path MFA is one of the first no-residency programs in the country and the only one to focus solely on the rich and varied genre of creative nonfiction. Courses on craft and theory are balanced with in-depth, specialized courses on the art of the memoir, biography, contemporary women’s stories, the spiritual journey, food and travel writing, and cultural reporting.

The program also offers professional tracks that help prepare graduates to explore careers in the literary world after graduation.

What is the Publishing Track?

Bay Path offers a two-course track on the process of getting published taught by a veteran of the publishing industry. The first course, “Introduction to Publishing,” examines the steps necessary to generate agent/editor interest; the structure of the publishing industry (including digital publishing); the roles played by agent, editor, publicist, sales representatives, and other key figures; and the all-important work an author can do after publication to give his or her book the best chances for commercial success. The second course, “Working in the Industry,” will provide first-hand experience in the publishing world via a semester-long internship at a publishing house, an independent bookstore, in an editor’s office, or at a literary agency.

What is the Teaching Creative Writing Track?

A second two-course track is teaching creative writing. “Learning to Teach” focuses on the pedagogy and practice of teaching creative writing. “Teaching to Learn” involves an actual teaching practicum. Students will have a teacher-training experience arranged at a location near the home of the student, which can include facilitating a non-credit community-based class to an underserved population, such as new citizens or residents of shelters, housing projects, nursing homes, and hospitals.

How much time does the program require?

It varies. Generally, full-time students should expect to spend at least 15-25 hours per week in the fall and spring semesters, and somewhat less during the summer term. Depending on individual learning styles, some students may put in slightly more or less time. Like any other program, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. The Bay Path MFA program is designed to be rigorous but also to give students the flexibility to pursue their writing and education without disrupting other aspects of their lives. The majority of students enrolled in online graduate programs at Bay Path University have jobs and family responsibilities outside of their studies, and they typically graduate within two years. Part-time students may take a semester or two longer.

What type of student participates in the MFA program? Will I fit in?

As a no-residency program that focuses on self-reflection, literary study, and personal stories, the Bay Path MFA has broad appeal. Students may range in age from their 20s to their 60s and beyond. Parents, working women and men, mid-career professionals, and recent graduates alike benefit from the flexibility of the program and Bay Path’s reputation as a leader in innovative graduate education. The common denominator is a passion for writing and a desire to tell powerful stories drawn from lived experience.

I thought Bay Path was a women's university. Can men apply to the MFA program?

Yes. Our traditional undergraduate program is women-only—in keeping with our long history of educating and empowering women—but our 20-plus graduate programs and certificates admit both men and women. The MFA welcomes any and all interested writers with a background in creative writing.

Who are the faculty?

Our award-winning MFA faculty are accomplished memoirists, journalists, food and travel writers, editors, and publishers with a wealth of real-world expertise. Their books, short stories, and essays have won prestigious awards and recognition including the Pushcart Prize, Best American Spiritual Writing Award, New York Times Editor’s Choice, New England Book Award, Paul Bowles Award for Short Fiction, New England Associated Press News Award, Steinbeck Award, Frank O’Connor Award, Hennessy Award for New Irish Writing, PEN/New England Discovery Prize in Nonfiction, M.F.K. Fisher Award, Barnes and Noble Discover New Writers program, IndieNext and Book Sense lists, and many more. Publications that have featured their work include The New York Times, Boston Globe, Creative Nonfiction, Yankee Magazine, Harvard Review, Saveur, Washington Post, Tin House, Ploughshares, The Paris Review, Bellevue Literary Review, O: the Oprah Magazine, and The Republican, among many others.

What distinguishes our faculty, in addition to their literary achievements, is a shared dedication to teaching. Our instructors have years of experience working with promising writers to help take their work to the next level. They are caring mentors who not only know what good writing is, but know what it takes to get there. To see individual bios of our MFA faculty, please Click Here.

How much is the program?

Click Here for tuition

Is financial aid available?

Yes. All students taking 6 credits or more a semester may qualify for Title IV financial assistance in the form of a Federal Stafford Loan, obtained by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Visit our financial aid page for more information.

What are the requirements for admission?

Please see our admissions requirements.

Is there a part-time option?

Yes. Students who enroll in the fall may begin by taking one or two required core courses per semester and add electives and other courses later in the program. Students who join the program in January or May are eligible to take electives only (up to two per semester) before beginning the series of core courses in the fall. The program director can advise you if you are interested in the part-time option. Please note that part-time students must be taking 6 credits or more in order to qualify for financial aid.

How does online learning work? How do I know if I am right for it?

The Bay Path online learning platform, Canvas, is designed so that anyone can use it; you do not need any specialized knowledge or background. What you do need is self-motivation and an ability to make your learning a priority. The system itself is flexible, interactive, and easy to learn. Before the program begins, every student participates in an online orientation course, which walks you through each step of using Canvas. We also have an online learning support team available to assist you 24/7. Bottom line: If you use email, you can learn online.

What is the "workshop" approach and how does it work in an online program?

A workshop approach, common to MFA programs, involves one student submitting a piece of writing to the entire class for feedback. Generally, this takes place as a live discussion facilitated by the instructor, and there are clear guidelines for supportive and helpful feedback.

In our online format, the workshop format works very much the same way. A student posts a piece of writing within Canvas, our online learning platform, for the instructor and members of the class to read. Each student reads the piece and posts a thoughtful response, either in writing or as an audio or video recording. The instructor typically summarizes student comments, asks clarifying questions, and provides his or her own detailed feedback on the student writing.

This approach allows students to:

Receive multiple perspectives on their work
Learn from others’ writing
Incorporate feedback that can improve their work

What should I expect out of the MFA degree? What are my career options?

The MFA program will help you develop your unique voice as writer, learn the essentials of strong and compelling writing, and become knowledgeable about the writers, works, history, and practices of outstanding nonfiction literature. It will help you hone writing skills that are applicable to a number of professions, and also start you on the process of completing a book-length manuscript of publishable quality.

Career options for MFA graduates broadly include working in the publishing industry; teaching writing in schools and other venues; working in public relations, fundraising, marketing, or communications; freelancing as a blogger, magazine or news writer; book reviewing; or writing books full-time. There are endless variations within each of these, but they all require an understanding that building a writing career takes time. Some students choose to pursue a solely literary career after graduation; others prefer to use their writing skills to help them advance in education, nonprofit, technology, or business careers.

All students find that an intense focus on writing for two years gives them a deeper awareness of self and a strong sense of their unique voice and creative abilities. If you have the patience and tenacity to work hard at it, and the flexibility to forge a unique path for yourself, the MFA might be the program for you.

What about diversity? Do students from all backgrounds feel welcome?

As a progressive liberal arts institution, Bay Path is committed to promoting diversity in every sense of the word. We actively seek and welcome students from all backgrounds and provide an educational environment based on tolerance, respect, and cultural sensitivity.

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