Artist in the City: New York City Mayterm
This English/Theatre Arts Mayterm immerses students in the dynamic and creative landscape of New York City, combining artistic exploration with professional development and urban engagement. This interdisciplinary program offers both major/minor and GE credit. Students will not only create, perform, and interact with arts professionals, but also engage with the city as a living, breathing artistic space.
This 8-credit Mayterm program is designed to draw English and Theatre Arts Majors and Minors; Writing Minors; and students interested in the arts (music, visual art, culinary arts, theatre, writing, etc). English and PE courses provide GE credit with limited prerequisites, making this program accessible to a variety of students. Through a Creative Writing Workshop (ENG 141) and Theatre Arts Special Topics: Exploring Careers in the Arts (TA 195), students refine their craft while gaining insight into artistic vocations. The Health and Fitness in the City (PEA 041) course integrates well-being with city living.
- Class standing
- GPA (minimum 2.3 GPA) and no student life sanctions
- Application essays
- Interviews with Dr. Fanton and/or Professor Jordan
- Faculty and personal recommendations
Criteria
In addition to the general qualifications above, the following are requirements that must be met, with or without reasonable accommodation, in order to complete all essential elements of the program. All participants must be able to:
- Navigate multiple irregular surfaces, flights of stairs, public transportation, and walk up to 6 miles a day with the group
- Navigate carrying personal items including suitcase and/or backpack without assistance.
- Anticipate having sufficient emotional wellness to fully participate in the program safely and successfully despite the limited availability of frequent access to psychological services.
- Anticipate at least double occupancy accommodations in all locations.
- ENG 141: Creative Writing (Fiction, Nonfiction, and Drama) - 4 Units (Writing/Speech Intensive; serves as an elective for English Major and Writing Minor)
- TA 195: Special Topics Seminar: Exploring Careers in the Arts - 3 Units (Elective Credit/ Upper division elective for Theatre Arts Major and Minor)
- PEA 041: Fitness in the City - 1 Unit (GE met by course PEA)
A program fee of approximately $8,950, which includes tuition, room, board, and entrance fees, and activities. Students are responsible for securing their own round trip airfare.
Meet the Team
Anna Jordan is an Assistant Professor of English. A Westmont alumna, she earned her MFA in Creative Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She teaches creative writing, composition, and dystopian literature. Prof. Jordan is passionate about experiential learning, both on and off campus. In 2025, she led From the Plate to the Page: Food Systems and Food Writing, an off-campus Mayterm through Iceland, France, and Italy. Prof. Jordan is currently a teaching faculty member for the new semester-long program, Westmont Global Semester, and is accompanying the students to Egypt, Greece, and Poland. Her essays and short fiction have appeared in Cup of Jo, Verily Magazine, Literary Mama, and Flash Fiction Magazine. Formerly Director of Creativity for Coffee+Crumbs, she was a contributing writer in the popular anthology, The Magic of Motherhood (Zondervan, 2017).
Dr. Madeline Fanton studied acting at UC Irvine before completing a Master’s degree in Theater Studies at California State University, Northridge. In 2024, she received her Ph.D. in Theater and Performance Studies from UC Santa Barbara where her research examined the relationship between performance, memory, and nationalism in the United States during the period between the World Wars. At Westmont, Dr. Fanton teaches Great Literature of the Stage, Theater History, Race and Gender on the American Stage, and Modern and Contemporary Drama. On the Westmont stage, Dr. Fanton has directed Poor Clare by Chiara Atik and curated the Interdisciplinary Play Reading Series. She will be directing Little Women by Lauren Hamill on the Westmont main stage in Spring 2026.
How to apply:
For more info about how to apply, please contact ocp@westmont.edu. For more info about the program, contact Professor Jordan at ajordan@westmont.edu or Dr. Fanton at mfanton@westmont.edu.