MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults
The first MFA in the country to focus exclusively on writing for young readers, the Writing for Children & Young Adults program is a diverse and dynamic community of writers.
Residencies
Winter: January 11–20, 2023
Summer: July 22–30, 2023
Twice-yearly residencies are a vibrant whirlwind of workshops, lectures, panels, discussions, and readings. Students and faculty share space and find plenty of opportunities to connect and collaborate.
Who is it for?
The program is ideal for those who want to take an active role in shaping their own education in a model that balances rigorous academic critique with nurturing aesthetic support. At VCFA, you’ll develop a strong network of personal and professional connections with fellow students, alumnx, faculty, publishers, agents, and more.
How will your practice develop?
Faculty and alumnx from the MFA in WCYA program are New York Times-bestselling authors, National Book Award winners, and finalists for the Caldecott Medal and Coretta Scott King Award. Our faculty are invested in strengthening your writing practice for the next two years and the rest of your life.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Residencies take place twice yearly, with an optional residency abroad in Oxford and Bath, England. Each residency is followed by a rigorous, self-designed semester supported by our award-winning faculty.
We teach every form written for young audiences, from picture books to mature young adult novels, and the diversity of faculty expertise reflects this breadth and depth of instruction. The 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensures personal attention, while the low-residency model closely approximates and prepares students for the life of a professional author.