Overview

Key features

The Creative Writing MFA program from San Francisco State University offers extended experience in small seminars and individual instruction with faculty. It also develops the student's understanding of the history and theory of literature and incorporates correlative patterns of study in elective areas such as other cultures, other arts, technical studies, and/or the teaching of writing.

Program Learning Outcomes

Creative Work: Students will produce a publishable written creative work.

Professional Preparation for fields related to literature and/or creative writing: Includes skills in publishing, writing, teaching, editing, book arts, and arts management.

Literature: Students will understand and appreciate work of a broad range of writers, develop an awareness of literature in general, and his/her own genre in particular as it relates to larger human experience.

Craft Elements: Students will have a working knowledge of the major elements in the craft of creative nonfiction, fiction, literary translation, playwriting, and/or poetry and consciously incorporate these elements in the revisions of their work and be able to discuss craft elements in written responses to their peers’ work.

Career paths

The career goal is to train and encourage writers of creative nonfiction, fiction, literary translation, plays, and poetry. Many celebrated and distinguished writers are graduates of the department. In the job market, good writers are hard to find. The skills developed in creative writing translate well into corporate editing, publishing, teaching, and working for arts organizations.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Novel Writing

Contemporary World Poetry

Fourteen Hills Literary Magazine

Craft of Translation
Writers on Writing

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-05-10 00:00:00

Language

English

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

54 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

San Francisco, United States

Disciplines

Creative Writing View 385 other Masters in Creative Writing in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Sample of writing (15-20 pages or fiction or non-fiction, poems, literary translation, stage play or two short plays)

Three letters of recommendation

Unofficial transcripts

English language proficiency (international students)

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

9870 USD / year

≈ 9870 USD / year
Out-of-State

9870 USD / year

≈ 9870 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

9870 USD / year

≈ 9870 USD / year

Additional Details

Out-of-State and International students must pay $444.00 PER UNIT in addition to the tuition fees

Living costs

San Francisco

United States

2206 - 4119 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

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Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Creative Writing.

Available Scholarships

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On this page

About

Overview

Key features

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Additional Details

Living costs

San Francisco

Financing

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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