A low-residency program (or limited residency program) is a form of education, normally at the university level, which involves some amount of distance education and brief on-campus or specific-site residencies—residencies may be one weekend or several weeks. These programs are most frequently offered by colleges and universities that also teach standard full-time courses on campus. There are numerous Master's degree programs in a wide range of content areas; one of the most popular limited residency degree programs is the Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. The first such program was developed by Evalyn Bates and launched in 1963 at Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont.
There are many low-residency MFA programs in creative writing and Master of Arts programs in a wide range of content areas, and a few schools that offer limited residency undergraduate options: Goddard College, Prescott College, Lesley University, New Hampshire Institute of Art, and Union Institute & University.
Programs vary, but in the intensive low-residency model requires students to come to campus every six months for 1-2 weeks, during which time students engage in a variety of activities and lectures during the day, and create detailed study plans. During the non-residency semester periods, students study independently, sending in "packets" to their faculty mentors every month or so. The content of the packets varies with each individual, but focuses on research, writing, and reflection related to each student's individualized study plan. A few schools, such as Western State Colorado University, actually conduct live online classes via Skype each week during the non-residency periods as well as having instructors reading students' work and provide written feedback weekly.
Antioch University Los Angeles, MFA in Creative WritingAntioch University, Ph.D. in Leadership and ChangeArcadia University, MFA in Creative WritingAshland UniversityMFA PoetryMFA Creative Non-FictionMFA InterdisciplinaryAugsburg College, MFA in Creative WritingBastyr University MS in MidwiferyBennington CollegeMFA in WritingMA in Teaching a Second Language (MATSL)Boston Architectural CollegeMaster of Architecture, DIstanceMaster of Architecture, Sustainable DesignMaster of Design Studies, Historic PreservationMaster of Design Studies, Design for Human HealthBurlington College, Independent Degree ProgramCalifornia College of the Arts, MFA in ComicsCarlow University, MFA in Creative writingChatham University, MFA creative writingCollege of Saint Elizabeth (Morristown, New Jersey), M.A. in TheologyConverse College (Spartanburg, South Carolina) MFA in Creative WritingDrew University (Madison, New Jersey), MFA in PoetryEastern Kentucky University (Richmond, Kentucky) MFA in Creative WritingFairleigh Dickinson University, MFA in Creative WritingFairfield University, MFA in Creative WritingGoddard CollegeMFA Creative WritingMFA Interdisciplinary ArtsBFA Creative WritingMA & BA Individualized StudiesMA & BA EducationMA & BA Psychology & CounselingBA & MA Health Arts & SciencesBA in SustainabilityGoucher CollegeMFA in Creative NonfictionMaster of Arts in Cultural Sustainability (MACS)Master of Arts in Historic PreservationMaster of Arts in Arts AdministrationHamline University, MFA in Writing for Children and Young AdultsJacksonville UniversityMFA in ChoreographyMFA in Visual ArtsLesley UniversityMaster of Science Ecological Teaching and LearningMaster of Arts Expressive TherapiesMFA in Creative WritingMFA in Visual ArtsMaine College of Art, MFA in Studio ArtsMarylhurst University (Portland, Oregon), B.A. in English Literature & New MediaMarywood University, MFA in Graphic Design or IllustrationMassachusetts College of Art and Design, MFA in Studio ArtsMills College, MFA in TranslationMontclair State University, MFA in DanceMurray State University, MFA in Creative WritingNaropa University, MFA in Creative WritingNew England CollegeMFA Program in PoetryMs in Sport & Recreation ManagementNew Hampshire Institute of ArtMFA in PhotographyMFA in Visual ArtsMFA in Creative WritingMFA in Writing for Stage and ScreenOklahoma City University, Red Earth MFA in Creative WritingPacific Lutheran University, Rainier Writing WorkshopPacific Northwest College of Art, MFA in Visual StudiesPacific University, MFA in Creative WritingPennsylvania Academy of the Fine ArtsPine Manor College, Solstice Low-Residency MFA ProgramMFA in Fiction WritingMFA in Creative nonfictionMFA in PoetryMFA in Writing for Children & Young AdultsMFA in Comics & Graphic NarrativesApplied Track in PedagogyPrescott CollegePh.D. in Sustainability EducationMaster of Arts in HumanitiesMaster of Arts in Environmental StudiesMaster of Arts in Adventure EducationMaster of Arts in Counseling PsychologyMaster of Arts in EducationBachelor of Arts in EducationBachelor of Arts in Human DevelopmentBachelor of Arts in Arts and CultureBachelor of Arts in Sustainability and Environmental StudiesQueens University of CharlotteSchool of the Art Institute of ChicagoMFA in StudioMFA in WritingSeattle Pacific University, MFA in creative writingSeton Hill University, MFA in Writing of Popular FictionSierra Nevada CollegeMFA in Creative WritingMFA in Interdisciplinary ArtsSkidmore College, Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS)Sofia University (formerly the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology)MA in Spiritual GuidanceMA in Women's SpiritualityMA in Counseling PsychologySouthern New Hampshire University, Low-Residency MFA in Fiction and NonfictionSpalding University, MFA in Creative WritingSIT Graduate Institute, Masters in International EducationTransart InstituteMFA in Creative Practice (Studio)PhD in Studio Art (Practice-based PhD)University of Alaska Anchorage, MFA in creative writingUniversity of California, Riverside: Palm Desert Graduate Center, MFA in creative writingUniversity of Illinois: MS in Library and Information ScienceUniversity of Nebraska, MFA in creative writingUniversity of New Orleans, creative writingUniversity of Pennsylvania, MA in Applied Positive PsychologyUniversity of Southern Maine, Stonecoast MFA Program in Creative WritingUniversity of Tampa, MFA in Creative WritingUniversity of Texas-El Paso, MFA in Creative WritingVermont College of Fine ArtsMFA in WritingMFA in Writing for Children and Young AdultsMFA in Visual ArtsMFA in Graphic DesignMFA in Music CompositionWestern New England University, MFA in Creative WritingWarren Wilson College MFA Program for Writers, MFA in Creative WritingWest Virginia Wesleyan College, MFA in Creative WritingWestern Connecticut State University, MFA in Creative and Professional WritingWestern State Colorado UniversityMFA in Genre FictionMFA in PoetryMFA in Screen and Television WritingMFA in PublishingWilkes University, MFA in Creative WritingUniversity of British Columbia, MFA Creative WritingBath Spa University (Bath, England) PhD in Creative Writing [1]European Graduate School (Saas-Fee, Switzerland, and Valletta, Malta), MA and PhDEuropean Humanities University (Lithuania)Kingston University, London (Kingston upon Thames, England), MFA/MA Low Residency in Creative WritingCity University of Hong Kong MFA Creative Writing