Our Programs
San Francisco State University’s Creative Writing programs foster artistic expression, critical reading, and professional development across a range of literary forms.
The undergraduate major and minor emphasize hands-on practice in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and playwriting, supported by close mentorship from active, publishing faculty and engagement with diverse literary traditions. Graduate programs—including the Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts—further develop students’ writing practice while preparing them for careers in teaching, publishing, editing, and the broader literary arts.
Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing
Develop your voice and bring your stories to life through hands-on writing across fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and more. Build a strong foundation in literary craft while engaging with diverse voices and perspectives that shape the human experience. Along the way, gain practical skills for careers in writing, publishing, teaching, and the broader literary arts.
Minor in Creative Writing
The minor in Creative Writing provides students with a chance to pursue their passion for creative writing while engaging with a wide range of texts, ideas and cultural works. In Creative Writing classes, students work with an active, publishing faculty. They learn by vigorous practice; by focused studies of craft; and by extensive reading, analysis and discussion of their work, as well as that of published authors.
Graduate Programs
Master of Arts in Creative Writing
The Master of Arts in Creative Writing is a two-year program with a focus on developing a writing practice as well as preparing students to teach creative writing.
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
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.