Admission to the College of Arts & Sciences

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MA in Communication

Admission Requirements

The MA in Communication program welcomes students from all academic and professional backgrounds. Students who hold a bachelor's degree in any field from a regionally accredited college or university (or the international equivalent) are encouraged to apply. Applicants may also be required to participate in an interview as part of the admission process. If required, candidates will be contacted by the program director to schedule an appointment.

Admission Deadline

Rolling for fall, spring, and summer admission.

Admission Procedures

Students seeking admission must complete the following procedure. Submit:

  • A Completed application (Apply Now).
  • A Non-refundable $65 Application fee (paid online).
  • A Professional Resume. Applicants are required to submit a current resume that includes employment and education history.
  • A Personal Statement where you briefly introduce yourself, discuss your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in Communication, and detail your goals following graduation. Please discuss why you are interested in Fairfield’s program specifically (e.g., fit with faculty & courses). This should be about 2 pages.
  • Official Transcripts from all universities and colleges attended.All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an approved evaluating service.
  • Two Recommendation Letters from a current employer, supervisor, or professor. The Recommendations are completed online. At the time of application you will need to provide your two recommender's names and e-mail addresses.
  • GPA, A minimum of a 3.0 overall GPA is desired; those falling under that with compelling personal statements and experiences may be considered for conditional admittance.

MFA in Creative Writing

Admission Requirements

Applications are reviewed by the Graduate Admission Committee.

Admission Deadline

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

For the Winter Residency, please apply for the spring semester.
For the Summer Residency, please apply for the fall semester.

Admission Procedures

Students seeking admission must complete the following procedure.

  • A Completed application (Apply Now).
  • A Non-refundable $65 Application fee (paid online).
  • Official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended. (All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an approved evaluating service.) Mail to the University at the address below.
  • Two Recommendation Forms and Letters, one of which must be, preferably, from a current employer or supervisor. The recommendations are completed online. At the time of application you will need to provide your two Recommender's names and e-mail addresses.
  • Interviews. Applicants may be required to participate in an interview as part of the admission process. If required, candidates will be contacted by the program director to schedule an appointment.
  • A Sample Portfolio. Students will submit online a sample of their work (20-30 pages of fiction, non-fiction, or screenwriting or 6-8 poems).
  • A Personal Statement. Students should describe why they want to be a writer and emphasize their commitment to their craft. While students in the program can work in more than one genre, they should specify which of the three genres they are applying for in their personal statement. Submit online.

Special Admission Options

Learn More

Special Admission Options

Prior Learning Assessment

Our Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) option offers highly qualified students the opportunity to receive up to one full semester credit for the work they have already written or published.  Students receiving the PLA can finish the MFA in three semesters instead of four. 

Some of our very best students come to our program after years of working as writers.  They have advanced skills in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or screen writing.  Some have significant publications or have worked as professional writers.  The PLA concept is intended to give academic credit (up to one full semester or 15 credits in the Fairfield MFA) to creative writers for significant prior learning experience, i.e. both for previous formal creative writing training in an MFA or MA in creative writing program, or a sustained, high level of skill in writing poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction or screen-writing.  The following are some of the examples of work that would be considered for PLA: 

  • Successful completion of one full semester of graduate-level creative writing in an MFA or MA program
  • Significant publications (for example, a book of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, or a screenplay/play that has been produced, or significant individual publications in literary journals)
  • Prizes or awards received for creative writing work already written
  • Unpublished work in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or screen writing that, in the opinion of Fairfield’s MFA review board, demonstrates work that is of publishable quality.

A student interested in applying for PLA for up to 15 credits must complete the following: 

  1. Apply to the MFA program.
  2. Upload a copy or copies of published work, or an extended piece of highly polished unpublished work (90 pages; or the equivalent of one semester of one-on-one work in the MFA).
  3. Write and upload a 3-5 page analysis of how your prior learning experience developed your ability as a writer.

Visit our Admission page for standard application guidelines 

Fairfield’s MFA Admission Committee will review applicants seeking PLA consideration and make the decision to award prior learning credit to the student, up to 15 academic credits (i.e., one semester in the MFA program).  Students will be notified at the time of admission about PLA credits.

Accelerated MFA in Creative Writing
(For Fairfield University Undergraduates)

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) has created an accelerated pathway for current, high achieving undergraduate students who are interested in transitioning directly into one of our Master's programs.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

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Scholarships & Financial Aid

The $5,000 MFA Fellowship

The prestigious $5,000 MFA Fellowship will be awarded to the most promising writer in each residency applicant pool. To be considered for this one-time tuition-based award, you must have a complete application (including personal statement and writing sample) filed by the following priority deadlines:

Priority Deadline and Notification Dates

October 15 for December Residency and November 15 notification
April 15 for July Residency and May 1 notification

For further information or questions, please contact Marianne Gumpper, Director of Graduate Admission.

Teaching Assistant Positions

Three to four paid part-time Teaching Assistant (TA) positions are available every year for students who live in the Fairfield area. Hiring for the TA positions takes place in March for the next academic year. Please contact Sonya Huber for current position descriptions and to apply

College of Arts & Sciences Graduate Veterans Fellowships

The College of Arts and Sciences takes pride in serving our veterans, just as they take pride in having served our country. As part of our commitment to helping these individuals attain their educational goals, The College is proud to offer a number of graduate level veterans fellowships to former servicemen and servicewomen interested in pursuing an MFA or MPA from Fairfield University. Each of the fellowships range from $3,000 to $10,000 and are available to veterans enrolled in the MFA or MPA Programs who have exhausted all or a portion of their GI Bill® educational benefits. Visit our Veterans Financial Aid page for details on how to apply.

Veterans Pride Program

Fairfield University is grateful to all veterans for their service and is dedicated to helping that attain their educational goals. Many veterans have earned their MFA through our program and received additional support through the Yellow Ribbon program. Visit our Veterans Financial Aid page for details on how to apply.

MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Admission Requirements

Applicants for the MS in IO Psychology must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or the international equivalent) and give promise of meeting the standards set by the University.

Admission Deadline

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Admission Procedures

Students seeking admission must complete the following procedure. Submit:

  • A Completed Application (Apply Now).
  • A Non-refundable $65 Application fee (paid online).
  • A Professional Resume. Applicants are required to submit a current resume that includes employment and education history (submitted online).
  • A Personal Statement. Students should describe why they want to undertake graduate studies in IO Psychology (submitted online).
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended demonstrating a cumulative GPA of at least 2.67 (or receive a GPA waiver from the department, available on a case by case basis). You must hold a bachelor's degree with an approved subject major or interdisciplinary major. All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an approved evaluating service.
  • Two Recommendation Forms and Letters, one of which must be, preferably, from a current employer or supervisor. The recommendations are completed online. At the time of application, you will need to provide your two recommenders’ names and e-mail addresses.
  • Participation in an Admission interview.

International Students

Students from non-English speaking countries are required to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report. A TOEFL composite score of 550 for the paper test, 213 for the computer-based, or 84 on the Internet-based test (iBT) with a minimum score of 21 in reading and 23 in writing is strongly recommended for admission. Fairfield's ETS code code is 3390.

Interview Process

Applicants who meet the above criteria will be invited in for an Admission interview.

For additional information, contact the Office of Graduate Admission at Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824-5195; (203) 254-4184.

MA in Interior Design

Admission Requirements

Applications are reviewed by the Graduate Admission Committee.

Admission Deadline

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. 

Admission Procedures

Students seeking admission must complete the following procedure. Submit:

  • A Completed application (Apply Now)
  • A Non-refundable $65 Application fee (paid online).
  • A Professional Resume. Applicants are required to submit a current resume that includes employment and education history.
  • A Personal Statement of self-evaluation of work experience and career objectives.
  • Official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended. (All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an approved evaluating service.)
  • Two Recommendation Forms and Letters from a current employer, supervisor, or professor. The Recommendations are completed online. At the time of application you will need to provide your two Recommender's names and e-mail addresses.
  • Interviews. Applicants may be required to participate in an interview as part of the admission process. If required, candidates will be contacted by the program director to schedule an appointment.

Interview Process

Applicants who meet the above criteria may be invited in for an Admission interview.

For additional information, contact the Office of Graduate Admission at Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824-5195; (203) 254-4184.

MS in Mathematics

Admission Requirements

Applications are reviewed by the Graduate Admission Committee.

Admission Deadline

Applications are considered on a rolling basis for classes until July 1.

Admission Procedures

Students seeking admission must complete the following procedure. Submit:

  • A Completed application (Apply Now).
  • A Non-refundable $65 Application fee (paid online).
  • A Professional Resume. Applicants are required to submit a current resume that includes employment and education history. (Submit Online)
  • A Personal Statement of self-evaluation of work experience and career objectives. (Submit Online)
  • Official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended. (All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an approved evaluating service.)
  • Two Recommendation Forms and Letters, one of which must be, preferably, from a current employer or supervisor. The Recommendations are completed online. At the time of application you will need to provide your two Recommender's names and e-mail addresses.
  • Interviews. Applicants may be required to participate in an interview as part of the admission process. If required, candidates will be contacted by the program director to schedule an appointment.
  • Credit transfer form (PDF). This form is applicable if the students wishes to count a course taken outside the Fairfield Mathematics program towards their degree.

International Students

Students from non-English speaking countries are required to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report. A TOEFL composite score of 550 for the paper test, 213 for the computer-based, or 84 on the Internet-based test (iBT) with a minimum score of 21 in reading and 23 in writing is strongly recommended for admission. Fairfield's ETS code code is 3390.

Interview Process

Applicants who meet the above criteria may be invited in for an Admission interview.

For additional information, contact the Office of Graduate Admission at Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824-5195; (203) 254-4184.

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Admission Requirements

Applications are reviewed by the Graduate Admission Committee.

Admission Deadline

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Admission Procedures

Students seeking admission must complete the following procedure. Submit:

  • A Completed application (Apply Now).
  • A Non-refundable $65 Application fee (paid online).
  • A Professional Resume. Applicants are required to submit a current resume that includes employment and education history.
  • A Personal Statement of self-evaluation of work experience and career objectives.
  • Official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended. (All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an approved evaluating service.)
  • Two Recommendation Forms and Letters from a current employer, supervisor, or professor. The Recommendations are completed online. At the time of application you will need to provide your two Recommender's names and email addresses.
  • Interviews. Applicants may be required to participate in an interview as part of the admission process. If required, candidates will be contacted by the program director to schedule an appointment.

Interview Process

Applicants who meet the above criteria may be invited in for an Admission interview.

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