mfa creative writing university of san francisco

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The San Francisco Giants: An Overview of the Team’s Best Players

The San Francisco Giants are one of the most successful Major League Baseball teams in history. With three World Series titles since 2010, the Giants have established themselves as a powerhouse in the National League. But what makes them so successful? It starts with their roster of talented players. Here’s an overview of some of the best players on the San Francisco Giants.

Madison Bumgarner

Madison Bumgarner is one of the most recognizable names in baseball. He has been a key part of the Giants’ success since he was drafted in 2007, winning three World Series championships and being named MVP in 2014. Bumgarner is known for his powerful pitching, having thrown two no-hitters and four shutouts in his career. He also has a reputation for being a clutch performer, having thrown eight scoreless innings in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series to clinch the championship for the Giants.

Buster Posey

Buster Posey is another key player for the Giants. He joined the team in 2010 and immediately made an impact, winning Rookie of the Year honors that season and helping lead them to their first World Series title since 1954. Posey is known for his consistent hitting and defensive prowess behind home plate, making him one of the best catchers in baseball today. He has also won three Silver Slugger awards and was named MVP in 2012.

Brandon Crawford

Brandon Crawford is another important member of the Giants’ roster. He joined the team in 2011 and has been a mainstay ever since, winning three Gold Glove awards at shortstop and helping lead them to two more World Series titles. Crawford is known for his strong defense up the middle, as well as his ability to hit for power from both sides of the plate. He also holds several franchise records, including most home runs by a shortstop and most RBIs by a left-handed hitter.

The San Francisco Giants have had tremendous success over the past decade thanks to their talented roster of players. Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey, and Brandon Crawford are just some of the standout performers who have helped lead them to three World Series titles since 2010. Each player brings something unique to the team that makes them one of baseball’s most formidable opponents year after year.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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• Program Overview

The two-year, 32-unit program begins each fall, with courses on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m. On Tuesdays, workshops in each genre (fiction, poetry, and nonfiction) focus on student manuscripts in a peer setting of supportive critique. On Thursdays, literature seminars focus on traditions, styles, craft elements and developments, and literary models.

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Program Timeline

Requirements include three workshops, four elective seminars, and two semesters of one-on-one thesis work.

Professional Opportunity

We create as many opportunities as possible for our students to connect with literary culture in the city of San Francisco and beyond. Opportunities include internships at literary journals such as Zyzzyva  and Zoetrope , at magazines such as Mother Jones  and Wired , at publishing houses such as City Lights and Chronicle Books, and at literacy organizations such as 826 Valencia and Streetside Stories. Students participate in literary and service organizations including Poets and Writers, Zoetrope, California Poets in the Schools, the Litquake literary festival, the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference, and the Bay Area Book festival. A seminar on teaching writing is offered for those interested in pursuing the profession, with teaching assistantships  available in undergraduate courses in English literature and creative writing.

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MFA Program

Poetry: D. A. Powell Fiction: Stephen Beachy, Lewis Buzbee, Laleh Khadivi, Nina Schuyler, K. M. Soehnlein, Susan Steinberg Creative Nonfiction: Dave Madden

Visiting Writers include Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Cristina García, Aya de Leon, and Monica West.

The program offers partial funding. Some teaching assistantships and fellowships are offered.

Invisible City

The program offers small workshop classes, one-on-one mentoring, professional development, a reading series with visiting writers, the Emerging Writers Festival, Life After the MFA symposia, and more.

Thomas Burke, Liza Campbell, Matthew D. Dalton, George Dohrmann, Kate Folk, Abeer Y. Hoque, Jen Larsen, Joshua Mohr, Courtney Moreno, Thomas Peele, Craig Santos Perez, Cynthia Robinson, Wendy Tokunaga

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Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Our two graduate programs differ in scope, distinguished by innovative classes. Both include seminars, workshops, opportunities for community projects and a thesis.

The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is a 54 unit program which consists of writing workshops as well as creative process and/or literature courses. It also requires a 12 unit correlative, a cluster of courses related to your special interests. The M.F.A. degree takes about three years for a full time student to complete; M.F.A. students can attend part time and have seven years in which to complete all the requirements for their degree. The M.F.A. is the terminal degree in creative writing. If your goal is to teach creative writing at the four year college or university level, you will need an M.F.A. degree in addition to book publication; now, many community colleges also hire M.F.A.s to teach in their English Programs. The M.F.A. will, like the M.A., prepare you for an English Ph.D. program.

Read more about our programs in our graduate program brochure (pdf) or our   graduate handbook  (pdf).   

View the bulletin page for the M.F.A. in Creative Writing

View the M.F.A. Advising Worksheet (pdf)

Please do not use the Degree Progress Report to track your degree progress. The DPR is not yet in use for our Graduate students at this time and may not be accurate.

Please email  [email protected]  with any questions!   

• Graduate Applications
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Deadlines for Fall 2024 Admission: 

Fall 2024 applications open October 1. The Creative Writing Department does not offer Spring admissions to the Graduate Programs in Creative Writing. 

• Round 1 Deadline: February 15th for Priority Consideration for Scholarships
• Round 2 Deadline: April 19th

All materials for the application are to be uploaded via the  Cal State Apply for Graduate Study  website. Creative Writing only has applications open once a year, however you can choose to defer your study for a single semester or to the following Fall semester if you are interested in starting at a later date. Applicants need a B.A. degree, or equivalent, and a 3.0 GPA or equivalent. 

Cal State Apply for graduate admission materials required for either the M.A. Creative Writing Degree Objective or the M.F.A. Creative Writing Degree Objective:

• Cal State Apply for Graduate Study
• Cal State Apply application fee; currently $75.
• One set of unofficial transcripts for  all  college and/or university coursework (If you are chosen for admission, official transcripts will be requested to finalize admission). Please note: If you previously attended SF State University, you do not need to submit an SF State transcript. All are submitted electronically by uploading as part of this complete application to  Cal State Apply for Graduate Study  
• Statement of purpose - briefly write (500 words) why you wish to study at the graduate level, what led you to choose creative writing, your experience writing and reading, etc.
• One manuscript in one of the following genres- creative nonfiction or fiction: 15-20 pages double-spaced, single-sided pages (either one or more stories, or 15-20 pages of a longer work); 15 poems;  1 play: either a finished play of any length, or 20-25 pages of dramatic writing (theater plays only! No Film scripts, no radio plays, nor television plays; they will not be considered); 10 pages of literary translation into English accompanied by 10 pages of the literature in the original language. Manuscripts must be legibly typed to be considered.
• Two letters of recommendation, preferably from an academic reference such as a former instructor, tutor, or someone who can speak of your writing skills from a position of knowledge. Creative Writing does not have a template for letter writers.  

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS: please reference  Cal State Apply for International Students  for the following:

• Academic requirements by  country .
• English language  requirements .
• Summary of CSU Application for Graduate Study  process .

FAQs for the Graduate Application

Please click on the following question to be taken to the answer on this page. If your question is not addressed on this page, please email Katherine Kwid at  [email protected] .

• I'm interested in a graduate degree in Creative Writing, but I'm not sure if the M.A. or the M.F.A. is right for me. What is the difference between the M.A. and the M.F.A. ?
• What do I need in order to qualify for a graduate degree in Creative Writing ?
• I'm about to send in my application materials that are requested by the Creative Writing Department, but am afraid I've forgotten something! What is supposed to be included ?
• I just got an email from the Division of Graduate Studies that told me I am missing items for my application. I'm not sure what items are missing. How can I find that out ?
• I'm not sure who to ask for my letters of recommendation. What is the Admissions Committee looking for ?
• How many students are admitted to the Graduate Program each year ?
• Can I apply for Spring Admission ?
• Is the GRE required for admission to the Creative Writing Graduate Programs ?
• I'm not sure how to finance my education. Does SF State offer any financial assistance ?
• How much does it cost to be an M.F.A. or an M.A. student in Creative Writing ?
• How do I establish residency ?
• I've been accepted to the M.F.A. (or M.A.), but something has come up. Can I defer my admission ?

I'm interested in a graduate degree in Creative Writing, but I'm not sure if the M.A. or the M.F.A. is right for me. What is the difference between the M.A. and the M.F.A.?

• The M.A. degree program is 30 semester units: 3-6 units (1-2 classes) of writing classes, 3-6 units of process classes, 3-6 units of special topic creative process courses, 9-12 units of teaching courses guided elective classes and a 3 unit thesis (written creative work); the time it takes to finish the M.A. program typically is two years, but you have up to seven years to complete the program. California community colleges typically want to hire people with an M.A. in English; this degree will increase your potential for obtaining a teaching position in 2 year colleges.
• The M.F.A. degree program is 54 semester units with a fair amount of latitude in your choice between workshop, seminar and literature seminar classes (there is a required minimum of 2 M.F.A. workshops and 2 M.F.A. seminars) and a 6 unit thesis (written creative work): the time it takes to finish the M.F.A. program typically is three to four years, but again, you have up to seven years to complete the program. Four year university creative writing departments typically hire adjunct and permanent faculty with this degree. BOTH degrees will prepare you for application to Ph.D. programs.
• One way of getting a feel for the program beyond our bulletin requirements, is to attend an event, either at the  SF State Poetry Center  or one of the many events listed on our public  Facebook page  (public - so you don't need to have a Facebook account to view all content, simply click on the "f" icon on the right-hand side of our webpage.)

What do I need in order to qualify for a graduate degree in Creative Writing?

•  A bachelor's degree or a recognized equivalent from a regionally accredited institution (See the Bulletin for information regarding Applicants from Institutions Without Regional Accreditation).
• A satisfactory scholastic average; a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0.
• In good academic standing at the last college or university attended.
• Complete the application process outlined on the Graduate Application section on this page.
• Completing these steps does not guarantee entry to the program. A formal offer of admission will be sent to you by mail by the Division of Graduate Study after the decisions have been made. 

I'm about to upload my supplementary application materials that are requested by the Department of Creative Writing, but am concerned I may have forgotten something! What is supposed to be included?

• One manuscript sample of your work (appropriate submissions are detailed on the  Graduate Applications  tab on this page).
• One 500 word statement of purpose.
• Two letters of recommendation.
• Unofficial transcripts for each institution attended.

I just got an email from the Division of Graduate Study that told me I am missing items for my application. I'm not sure what items are missing. How can I find that out?

• Open a browser (Internet Explorer is recommended for best function) to  sfsu.edu .
• Click the Login link at the top of the page.
• Click SF Gateway.
• Enter your SF State ID and your password. If you have forgotten your password, click the link below the login box. 
• Click on Academics, under STUDENT.
• Click on the Student Center "button" in the bottom of the box in the middle of the page.
• On the right hand side, there is a "To Do List". You will find the items that are missing listed under the "To Do List" .

I'm not sure who to ask for my letters of recommendations. What is the Admissions Committee looking for?

• Your options range widely, anywhere from a writer in the field of Creative Writing, to a teacher or professor of an unrelated subject who knows your study habits. People who can speak of your skills as a writer are preferred, but not necessary. If you cannot find someone who can speak of your writing, someone who can speak of you in a professional setting would be preferred. 

How many students apply to and are admitted to the Graduate Program each year?

• Our program adds between 30 and 50 Graduate students per year, and we get approximately 120 applications per year. Approximately 1/4 of the applied students are admitted to our MA program. 

Can I apply for Spring Admission?

• No. Our admission dates are from October 1st to February 15th for priority consideration for our entry scholarship, for the following Fall semester only. Students admitted for the fall semester may request to defer their admission for up to two semesters, if spring admission is desired.

Is the GRE required for admission to the Creative Writing Graduate Programs?

• No, the GRE is not required for the application to the Department of Creative Writing.

I'm not sure how to finance my education. Does SFSU offer any financial assistance? 

• New students in both graduate programs are automatically considered for our three scholarships for new students: The Joe Brainard Fellowship (two or more prizes, amount varies between $1000-$5000), the William Dickey Fellowship in poetry (two prizes; amount varies between $500 – $2000), Miriam Ylvisaker Fellowship in Fiction (one prize; amount varies between $500-$1000 scholarship)
• The Kathryn A. Manoogian Scholarship (one prize; amount varies between $500 - $2000) is awarded to one graduate student, new or continuing, based on merit and financial need. A call for applications will be posted to our students at the beginning of the fall semester.
• For information on applying for financial aid, please contact the financial aid office;  [email protected] . SF State Financial Aid Office website. Please be advised that it has come to our attention that California State University Grants, SUG, are available for only ONE graduate degree per student. If you have other questions about Financial Aid, including the SUG issue, you should call (415) 405-7000 or email [email protected] . The best way to get in touch with them would be to visit them in person at their desk in the One Stop Student Center . 
• The Federal Student Aid website has information for international applications about U.S. Financial Aid eligibility requirements.
• The Financial Aid Office at SF State also has more information about other scholarships .
• The University and national scholarships page is a resource web page that offers useful links, including information about how to make a one-on-one appointment with a fellowship advisor. Of special interest to graduate student is the Graduate Equity Fellowship.
• There are approximately 3-5 teaching positions available to graduate students per academic year. It is by application in the Spring semester, for the coming academic year; minimum qualifications are classified graduate standing in the SF State Creative Writing M.F.A., English; Creative Writing M.A. program or the M.A. in Creative Writing; suggested completion (grade B or better) of C W 860 Teaching Creative Writing. Successful completion of C W 859 Practicum in Teaching Creative Writing which is a course which offers Graduate Instructional Aides (you assist in a class under the mentorship of the instructor of record for credit) an opportunity to practice, reflect upon, and revise teaching choices and strategies is also helpful when applying to these positions. 

How much does it cost to be an M.F.A. or an M.A. student in Creative Writing?

Note:  Campus fees should be regarded as  estimates  that are subject to change upon approval by the President and/or Student Fee Committee, without notice.

CURRENT fees PER SEMESTER for graduate study at SF State:

More information about California resident fees can be found on the SF State Bursar website.

• Out of State/International, these fees are based on the California resident fees, plus $396 per unit: - 3 Units (1 course): $2,082 + $1,188 = $3,270 - 6 units (2 courses): $2,082 + $2,276 = $4,458 - 9 units (3 courses): $3,588 + $4,458 = $8,046 (3 units x $396 = $1188; 6 units x $396= $2276; 9 units x $396= $4458)

How do I establish residency?

You can find basic guidelines on how to establish residency and find out if you are eligible on the Division of Graduate Studies website . Because neither campus nor Chancellor's Office staff may give advice on the application of these laws, applicants are strongly urged to review the materials for themselves and perhaps consult with a legal advisor. 

Can I defer admission to the Graduate Program in Creative Writing?

You can defer your admission until the following spring or following fall semester to which you applied once you have accepted your seat in the program. You can do this, you would submit a Petition for Graduate Admission  selecting the option for "other" and stating that you wish to delay your start term to either Spring or Fall of the following year. Please email Katherine,  [email protected] , with any questions. 

Many organizations are interested in working at a distance with our students during this time. Early in my search for workable community engagement, quite a few organizations have stepped forward to express interest in CW 675 and 875 students:

These include Aunt Lute Books, Haight Ashbury Literary Journal, Omnidawn Publishing, Red light lit, Small Press Traffic, Mount Tamalpais College & the Milvia Street Journal, two different organizations that connect writers to incarcerated people, The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation (TAAF) and more.

Students will also be free to make their own connection for a writing projects that sustain us through COVID. Class meets at the beginning and end as a group; you do your community project in the middle and contribute through I-Learn to an ongoing discussion of your project. Email Anne Galjour, agaljour @sfsu.edu  if you want to get your own community project idea approved before the class.

CW 675/875 Community Projects in Literature is an opportunity to gain experience in the fields of publication, teaching, and arts administration, which will make valuable additions to your resume. Though each internship will be individually shaped, you will make a commitment of at least six hours a week for the length of the semester to earn three units credit.

Below is link to a list of organizations which you may use as a guide to finding a community project, or you can find one on your own. This list includes on-campus  opportunities, such as the Poetry Center. You also may create your own project as well; for example, teaching writing workshops in community, institution or school settings, or creating a reading series.

Typically, the organizations listed will ask you for a brief resume; try to give them some idea of the kinds of experience you already have.  For example, did you work on a campus journal, can you operate a computer, file, write clearly?

Community Projects Leads

Submitting your ATC and PCE Forms

If you are planning on enrolling in your thesis next semester, please review the following information.

There are two forms due the  semester before  enrollment in your thesis course. These are the Advancement To Candidacy (ATC) form and the Petition for Culminating Experience (PCE) form and can be found in step two and three of the  Steps to Graduation guidelines . These forms are due November 1 for the following Spring Thesis enrollment, or April 1 for Fall Thesis enrollment. There’s a helpful  deadline calendar  for all things graduation.

Petition for Culminating Experience ( PCE)

• Please select  893 Written Creative Work  to generate the appropriate petition.  
• The Petition for Culminating Experience proposes your thesis. The description needs to be at least 40 words, and we recommend keeping it vague if you think your thesis has the potential to change. The timeline asked for is a general guideline and not one you will be held to. Your thesis chairperson can help you come up with these dates and they are generally listed as reviewing sections of the thesis; first 4 chapters, first two acts, x number of poems, and so on.  
• Your thesis chairperson should be a tenured professor of your choosing. Please reach out to the professor to request that they be your thesis chairperson before the petition is submitted. Each professor has a limited number of thesis spots available and permission is required. The tenured faculty are listed at the top of the a dvising  page under faculty academic advisors. You will also need a second reader who is an informal position on your thesis committee. The second reader only signs the paperwork, and will not be working with you on your thesis . Please reach out to a tenure track professor to be the second reader. The only reason I’ve seen someone say no to this informal position is when they will be on leave the semester the thesis is completed. Once a first and second reader have agreed to work with you, please follow directions on this page to upload your 893 paperwork for processing and signatures;  Proposal for Culminating Experience (PCE) | Division of Graduate Studies . No third reader is needed. 

Advancement To Candidacy ( ATC )

• For the ATC form you will need to list the courses you are using to fulfill the degree requirement. You can determine which courses should be listed by filling out an advising worksheet for your degree which can be found on our  Advising  page. The courses listed on the ATC form will be the same ones you would use to complete the worksheet.  
• The class schedule for the Spring is not generally not yet available before the due dates for the ATC petition, so we ask you to guess which course you would like to use to complete your requirements if you have more than just the thesis course to complete. If the course you guess will be offered does not end up being offered next semester, you would then find an appropriate course to enroll in and submit an ATC substitution form on the  Grad Forms website  to amend the course list.   
• If you are using any coursework towards your degree, as approved by your faculty advisor, you will need to fill out an ATC substitution which you can do by following these procedures;  DocuSign .  
• Your graduate advisor should be a tenured professor of your choosing, and this signature is usually given by your thesis chairperson. We do not assign advisors, rather encourage you to reach out to a faculty member you would like to work with in your genre. Tenure track faculty are on the top of the  office hours page , or anyone with professor in their title on the  people page .  
• Once you have the form completed, please follow the submission guidelines for processing and approval available on the  Advancement to Candidacy Substitution Submission  website.

Please note that completion of these forms does not automatically enroll you in your C W 893 Thesis course. Please request a class number and a permit number from your thesis chairperson when registration begins for the semester of your thesis enrollment.

You can find examples of the petitions below.

• M.A. ATC Sample  (pdf)
• M.F.A. ATC Sample  (pdf)
• PCE Sample  (pdf)
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: (415) 338-1891

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• Academic Calendar

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Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Program learning outcomes.

• Creative Work:  Students will produce a publishable written creative work that demonstrates individual and universal vision and a high level of craft skills.
• Professional Preparation:  Students will demonstrate professional level skills in fields related to literature and/or creative writing, including publishing, writing, teaching, editing, book arts, and/or arts management.
• Literature: Students will read, discuss, and analyze the work of a broad range of writers from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, as well as explain how literature in general, and their own genre in particular, relates to larger human experience.
• Craft Elements: Students will write and revise creative nonfiction, fiction, plays, and/or poetry using the elements of craft as well as analyze and discuss craft elements in their peers’ creative work.

Admission to the Program

Students interested in this program must submit, via Cal State Apply a meaningful sample of their writing (15 to 20 pages of fiction or creative nonfiction, or 15 to 20 pages of literary translation, or a full-length stage play or two short plays, or 15 to 20 poems), two letters of recommendation, and transcripts. All application materials are to be uploaded by February 15 for consideration for our entry scholarships, or by May 10 th for admission to the following fall semester.

Applicants from creative writing programs at other colleges or universities may transfer nine units to the M.F.A. program, on review and recommendation of the Creative Writing Admissions Committee and approval of the Division of Graduate Studies. For further clarification, contact the Creative Writing Department.

Students in the Master of Arts in English with Concentration in Creative Writing at SF State who wish to enter the M.F.A. program are required to apply for admission and are subject to the same admission standards as are all other applicants. For students entering with an earned M.A. in English: Creative Writing from SF State, the M.F.A. is a 30 unit degree as described below.

Enrollment priority in M.F.A. classes is given to classified M.F.A. students accepted in the genre of the course.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Statement of purpose (500–1500 words) and writing sample (15 to 20 pages of fiction or creative nonfiction, or 15 to 20 pages of literary translation, or a full-length stage play or two short plays, or 15 to 20 poems) scored 8.0 or higher on a scale of one to 10 based on the following criteria:

• fluency and precision of expression;
• ability to embody and illustrate ideas creatively; and
• appropriateness of the applicant’s interests, life experiences and goals to the program.

Satisfactory completion of C W 893MFA on the following criteria: work deemed by two faculty readers to be publishable as a book and evaluated along the following criteria:

• ability to use the craft of the art form to illustrate ideas, vision, and imagination creatively, using fresh, precise language;
• ability to suggest, via the craft to the art form, a subtext and themes that display the writers’ complex relationship with her/his ideas, vision, imagination, and form (story, poem, dramatic monologue and/or play); and
• mastery of at least one genre form per the above.

Selected upper-division courses offered by the department may be used for the degree upon approval of a department advisor. Enrollment is not required in the semester of graduation.

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing  — Minimum 54 Units

Writing workshops at the m.f.a. level (6 units), m.a./m.f.a. level creative process directed writing/special study/writing workshops (12 units), creative process courses at the m.f.a. level. (6 units), literature or theatre arts courses or graduate creative process courses (12 units).

Upper-division/graduate (300 level and above) literature courses in the English or Comparative and World Literature or Theater Arts Departments, to be taken on advisement, with the consent of an M.F.A. advisor.

Theater Arts courses include:

Graduate Creative Writing process courses include:

Correlative courses related to the candidate's interests (12 Units)

To be taken upon advisement from an M.F.A. advisor. Sequences and patterns are especially appropriate. The English Department's certificate in the teaching of reading and composition is an option in this sequence. For students planning a culminating project in playwriting, the following courses in Theatre Arts are acceptable:

Other correlative tracks include careers in Creative Writing:

Book Arts (under development with the Art Department), and a different genre than the student’s own within the department. A poet, for instance, can have a fiction correlative. More specialized correlatives in other areas of study pertaining to the student’s interests as a writer can also be taken in consultation with an advisor.

Culminating Experience (6 units)

Priority in M.F.A. classes is given to classified M.F.A. students accepted in the genre of the course, with the exceptions of C W 854 , which is open to both M.A. and M.F.A. students whose emphasis is Poetry, as well as C W 855 , which is open to both M.A. and M.F.A. students whose emphasis is Playwriting.

 May be taken for six semesters of credit.

 May be taken for three semesters of credit.

 May be taken for two semesters of credit.

 May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

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CCA’s blend of theory and practice inspires students at every level to make work that matters. Select your status to learn about the application process, requirements, and deadlines, as well as contact information should you need any support along the way.

MFA Writing

Define your voice and explore your creative practice—fiction, nonfiction, and poetry—alongside writers, designers, and visual artists.

Writing at CCA is expansive

The future needs stories that depict and interrogate significantly different worlds, and there are few better pathways to realizing this than art that illuminates our shared future. Writing gives us freedom to live within and to interrogate. In MFA Writing, we’re deeply contemporary in our teaching—thinking and writing about climate change, as well as the writer’s role of articulating, with power and precision, their thoughts on shifting social and natural environments.

MFA writing professor Faith Adiele.

An exciting blend of the emergent and established

Our MFA Writing program recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary, and we embrace the rich literary history of the Bay Area, from the Beat poetry movement and the Language poets, to the annual Litquake literary festival, to the Slam/Spoken Word scene.

Follow MFA Writing

Huge thanks to Rebecca Foust for sharing her publishing wisdom today in the studio. Some takeaways:

Aim high—it’s better than the alternative.

Be like Tom Petty—study the person a step or two ahead of you and follow their lead.

Nothing’s ever finished, so you may as well send it out.

📝 Students who couldn’t make it, you are in luck! She shared some fantastic handouts and you can find extra copies in the studio.

Our first free all-program field trip takes us to City Arts & Lectures this Thursday to hear Leila Mottley talk about her new book Nightcrawling. We meet outside the Sidney Goldstein Theater at 7. See you there, MFAW.📚🤓

By popular demand, we're devoting next week's Tuesday Coffee Hour to a practical, in-depth conversation about getting published in literary magazines. On 10/4 from 3-4 pm Rebecca Foust, poet and assistant editor of fiction at Narrative Magazine, will join us in the garden to talk about specific submission strategies and answer your questions about the publishing process. This is for writers of all genres, so come one, come all!

October Happenings! Check out the fabulous upcoming events we’ve got lined up. ✍🏻📖💫

Join a top-ranking MFA Writing program

Study.com ranks our program among the top five in California. Located in one of the world’s creative capitals, we encourage MFA candidates to explore many different forms and incorporate visual art into their work.

View the list

Studios & Shops

Practice critique, readings, and performance.

MFA students are at home in the Humanities and Sciences Graduate Center on CCA’s main San Francisco campus. Outside the studio, we write and meet alongside redwood trees in our beautiful garden. Inside, we hold our workshops, readings, and craft talks. We also host our famed Tuesday Talks series in the Humanities and Sciences Graduate Center. Today’s most dynamic writers, including Hanif Abdurraqib, Camille Dungy, Andrew Sean Greer, R.O. Kwon, sam sax, and Tracy K. Smith, read and discuss new work and lead craft talks during masterclasses. There are endless opportunities to share your writing with peers, get constructive feedback, and nurture your craft.

Support to tell your stories

We help our students locate and tell their stories; we write what we want, how we want. We embrace all forms of writing, from literary novels and poetry to science fiction and mysteries. Our MFA Writing program is designed to make sure each student finds their voice. You can explore nonfiction, fiction, and poetry during supportive workshops that celebrate voice and form. We believe in grounding our work in craft so we emphasize close reading and individualized instruction.

Expand your creative practice

In addition to our vibrant writing workshops and dynamic seminars, we encourage graduate students to immerse themselves in our diverse art and design culture. Want to learn how to design beautiful publications, paint, or make a children’s book? Access CCA’s phenomenal resources, including Risograph printers for making broadsides, audio suites for recording podcasts, and a letterpress studio for making books and zines. You’ll work with top practitioners in their fields across the college’s faculty, grow as a writer, and learn to turn your research passions and written works into literal art objects.

Frame and finish your book

You’ll get regular feedback during writing workshops and meetings with full-time faculty who believe in meeting one on one—not as part of any requirement, but because personalized attention is how you grow as a writer. Close reading, editorial guidance, and individualized reading lists all push our writing students toward success. We teach you craft as well as how to establish and maintain a serious writing practice.

Your creative life at CCA and beyond

From studying one-on-one with faculty mentors to participating in craft workshops with visiting writers—among the best and brightest working today—you’ll be exposed to myriad forms. You’ll learn the elements of podcasting; how to make audio stories; how to prepare a full-length manuscript; and how to collaborate with painters, filmmakers, illustrators, photographers, and more.

Your community of mentors

• Memoirist and travel writer Faith Adiele
• Novelist Tom Barbash
• Novelist Rita Bullwinkel
• Novelist and memoirist Jasmin Darznik
• Poet Joseph Lease
• Poet and performer Trisha Low
• Poet and translator Denise Newman
• Novelist Aimee Phan
• Eco-memoirist Leslie Carol Roberts

More studios, shops, and labs

Access lithography presses and a range of bookbinding equipment at the San Francisco Center for the Book

The Black-and-White Darkroom has a range of enlarging stations and two print washers

Check out DSLR cameras, lighting kits, GoPros, and more from the San Francisco campus Media Center

Study with award-winning writers

The faculty of the MFA Writing program are not only well-known figures in American letters, but also committed teachers who have spent their careers teaching and advising emerging writers. They are experienced in working with a variety of different genres and encourage interdisciplinary work. This brings fresh voices and diverse experience to our community.

Jasmin Darznik, Chair of MFA Writing

Chair Jasmin Darznik is a New York Times- bestselling author of three books,  The Bohemians, Song of a Captive Bird , and The Good Daughter . Born in Iran, she immigrated to America as a child and is a first-generation college graduate. After receiving a Ph.D. in English from Princeton University, she obtained an MFA in fiction from Bennington College, broadening her academic scholarship to tell stories about women who've been left out or obscured from the historical record. Her forthcoming novel, American Goddess, takes on themes of celebrity, gender, and ethnic identity in Old Hollywood. 

MFA Writing Faculty

• Faith E Adiele
• Tom Barbash
• Rita Bullwinkel
• Jasmin Darznik
• Joseph Lease
• Denise Newman
• Leslie Carol Roberts
• Michael Wertz

View all MFA Writing faculty

Faculty stories

Two-year intensive program

Our two-year program follows the traditional MFA writing footprint, with workshops and craft seminars each semester. In addition, we engage in practica or labs in areas such as sound, printing, and screenplays. Electives across the arts and design, and one-on-one work with a faculty member, round out your schedule as you work toward a final written thesis manuscript. To get a feel for what awaits, view sample courses .

Year 1: Fall Semester

Year 1: spring semester, year 2: fall semester, year 2: spring semester.

Total 48.0 units

Publish your dream project

MFA in Writing program alumni have impressive success getting their work out in the world, publishing books across genres. Recent publications include:

• Tom Comitta, The Nature Book , Coffee House Press, 2023
• Dior Stephens, Cruel/Cruel , Nightboat, 2023
• Alka Joshi, The Perfumist of Paris, Harper Collins, 2023
• Sonja Swift, Echo Loba, Loba Echo , Rocky Mountain Press, 2023
• Jessamyn Violet, Secret Rules to Being a Rock Star , Three Rooms Press, 2023
• Alka Joshi, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur , Harper Collins, 2021
• Julie Lythcott-Haims, Your Turn: How to Be An Adult , Henry Holt, 2021
• Alka Joshi, The Henna Artist , Mira Publishing, a division of Harper Collins, 2019
• Rheea Mukherjee, The Body Myth , Unnamed Press, 2019
• Adam Nemett, We Can Save Us All , Unnamed Press, 2018
• Sonia Belasco, Speak of Me As I Am , Philomel Books, 2017
• Julie Lythcott-Haims, Real American , St. Martin’s Griffin, 2017
• Molly Prentiss, Tuesday Nights in 1980 , Simon & Schuster, 2017
• Catie Jarvis, The Peacock Room , Hyperborea, 2016
• Andrew Nicholson, A Lamp Brighter Than Foxfire , Colorado State, 2015
• LaTasha Nevada Diggs, TWerk , Belladonna Press, 2013

In addition to becoming published authors, our students find traction at established and emergent platforms like Medium , and also work as educators; performance artists; editors; and writers for newspapers, magazines, and marketing agencies.

Potential career paths

• Freelance writer
• Content strategist
• Arts administrator
• Social activist
• Technical writer
• Publication and production assistant
• Small press publisher

Learn about career development

News & Events

What’s happening for mfa writing students.

Reading and lecture series span disciplines

How to Apply

Make writing your top priority.

Our two-year program welcomes students of all ages, career profiles, and backgrounds, including law, advertising, tech, music, and academia. We focus on your writing sample and your letters of recommendation in making admissions decisions.

Start your application

You’ll apply to CCA and submit all required application materials via SlideRoom. Afterward, you may be contacted for an interview with a faculty member as part of the application process. Being selected for an interview doesn’t indicate applicant status or increase or decrease an applicant’s chances of being admitted into their desired graduate program. Interviews are conducted at the program’s discretion and are used to gain more insight into an application.

Create an account and start your application

MFA Writing application requirements

• Application and $70 nonrefundable application fee To be completed and submitted on SlideRoom.
• Resume/curriculum vitae Please outline your educational and professional background and relevant experiences and activities, including community work. Resumes/CVs must be in PDF document format.
• Two recommendation letters You’ll request two letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources in SlideRoom by entering the contact information for your recommenders/references. They will then receive an automated email from SlideRoom with instructions for uploading their letter of recommendation.
• Unofficial college transcripts You are required to provide your complete undergraduate academic history. Students who have already taken graduate courses are encouraged to submit those transcripts, too. For international applicants, all transcripts must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. Please provide an unofficial transcript from the college where you will receive or have received your bachelor’s degree, as well as unofficial transcripts for all other undergraduate coursework. Unofficial transcripts will be used for review purposes. Once you have been admitted and enrolled, all students will need to submit official, sealed transcripts showing the completion of a bachelor’s degree to our graduate admissions office by August 1 of the fall semester they begin enrollment at CCA.
• Proof of English proficiency (international applicants only) Review and plan to meet our English proficiency requirements for graduate students .
• Personal essay In a personal essay, submitted as a PDF, write 500 to 1,000 words about your writing experience, why you want to study writing at the graduate level, your educational objectives, and any critical influences on your work.
• Portfolio Your portfolio, submitted as one to two PDFs (up to 10 MB each), should consist of a selection of writing samples (totaling no more than 25 double-spaced pages) that reflect your main areas of interest. You may include poems, short stories, a section of a novel, text for performance (include video, if available), creative nonfiction, or writing for new genres. You’re welcome, but not required, to submit visual materials in support of your application, including book arts and videos. Please note: We do not accept co-written material.

For prospective student inquiries, including questions about the program or how to apply, please contact us

Graduate Admissions

+1 415-548-2271 (call, text)

Nurture your craft in a dynamic environment

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Creative Writing Graduate Programs in the San Francisco Bay Area

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University of San Francisco College of Arts and Sciences

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University of San Francisco •

University of San Francisco ,

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Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga, CA •

• • Rating 4.26 out of 5   34 reviews

Alum: As a former student at Saint Mary's College, I can confidently say that the best part of my experience was my exceptional education. The dedicated and supportive teachers fostered a stimulating learning environment, encouraging us to think critically and strive for academic excellence. The picturesque campus provided a tranquil setting for studying and reflection. Most importantly, the coursework was thoughtfully designed, balancing theoretical knowledge and practical application. However, what truly made my time at Saint Mary's memorable was the strong sense of camaraderie among students, creating a supportive and inclusive community. Overall, the education I received at Saint Mary's College was unparalleled and prepared me for future success in my career. ... Read 34 reviews

Blue checkmark.

MORAGA, CA ,

34 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says As a former student at Saint Mary's College, I can confidently say that the best part of my experience was my exceptional education. The dedicated and supportive teachers fostered a stimulating... .

Read 34 reviews.

Mills College at Northeastern University Graduate Programs

Oakland, CA •

Mills College at Northeastern University •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   2 reviews

Alum: I did a Post Baccalaureate in Pre-Medicine and the instructors and advisors were top-notch. I learned a lot and did very well. Highly recommend although they have been taken over by another school Northwestern they are still a great school and campus! ... Read 2 reviews

Mills College at Northeastern University ,

OAKLAND, CA ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says I did a Post Baccalaureate in Pre-Medicine and the instructors and advisors were top-notch. I learned a lot and did very well. Highly recommend although they have been taken over by another school... .

Read 2 reviews.

College of Liberal and Creative Arts - San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University •

Graduate School •

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Southern California Institute of Architecture

LOS ANGELES, CA

• • Rating 4.56 out of 5   9

College of Science and Engineering - San Francisco State University

College of Humanities and the Arts - San Jose State University

San Jose, CA •

San Jose State University •

San Jose State University ,

SAN JOSE, CA ,

California College of the Arts

• • Rating 4.5 out of 5   4 reviews

Graduate Student: CCA has been great- I highly recommend the MFA in Comics program! It's a low residency program where students are on campus in San Francisco for the month of July and can complete their other coursework online throughout the year. We are working on storytelling, drawing and inking skills, digital coloring, and comics history. Additionally, every student has a faculty mentor who works with them on their thesis assignments. ... Read 4 reviews

4 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.

Featured Review: Graduate Student says CCA has been great- I highly recommend the MFA in Comics program! It's a low residency program where students are on campus in San Francisco for the month of July and can complete their other... .

Read 4 reviews.

College of Arts and Sciences - Arcadia University

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GLENSIDE, PA

The New School

NEW YORK, NY

• • Rating 4.46 out of 5   35

School of Christian Leadership - William Jessup University

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