Applicants to the Literary Reportage must have a project either in mind or underway. The bulk of the application consists of a description of the project, and writing samples that evidence an aptitude for it. Literary Reportage students develop a body of work over the four semesters they attend NYU. The workshoping model is used in most Literary Reportage courses. Students make several thesis presentations in Introduction to Literary Reportage in their first semester. They continue their work in Writing, Research, Reporting I, II and Portfolio, and summarize it in the Master's Thesis seminar during the final semester.
The M.F.A. in Literary Reportage requires the completion of 38 points of course work. The following courses are required: Writing, Research and Reporting I, JOUR-GA 1021, Writing, Research and Reporting II, JOUR-GA 1022, Portfolio I, JOUR-GA 1044, Introduction to Literary Reportage, JOUR-GA 2048, Introduction to Audio Reportage, JOUR-GA 1193, Master’s Thesis, JOUR-GA 2090, and Fieldwork in Journalism, JOUR-GA 1290. The capstone project for the Literary Reportage concentration is a significantly reported, publishable master’s thesis of up to 10,000 words in length (or a similarly substantial work of audio journalism). The student completes work on the project while enrolled in the Master’s Thesis, JOUR-GA 2090.