IV. Degree Regulations

Master of Fine Art (Creative Writing)

Master's Examination

The Creative Writing MFA examination committee normally consists of three members appointed by the department Chair:

• A member of the regular graduate faculty of the school who is not a member of the advisory committee, and who acts as chair of the master's examination committee and makes arrangements for the oral examination (normally, the SETS director or SETS graduate coordinator);

• a member of the candidate's advisory committee (normally, the advisor);

• a member of the associated graduate faculty or of the graduate faculty who may be a member of the advisory committee (normally, the second reader).

At the time of the defence, the Creative Writing MFA candidate will be expected successfully to complete a final oral examination devoted chiefly to the creative thesis: the candidate should display a sophisticated critical awareness of his or her own creative practice.

The examination is open to the public; members of the audience may question the candidate only upon invitation of the chair (program director) of the committee.

The program director is responsible for notifying the Dean of the composition of the committee, and for reporting to the Dean the outcome of the examination.

The examination is passed and the creative thesis approved if there is no more than one negative vote. An abstention is regarded as a negative vote. The report to the Dean of Graduate Studies will record the decision as unsatisfactory or satisfactory. If unsatisfactory, the candidate may be given the opportunity of a second attempt. A second unsatisfactory result constitutes a recommendation to the Board of Graduate Studies that the student be required to withdraw (see Unsatisfactory Progress and Appeals of Decisions.