The University of California Riverside offers a bachelor's degree and an MFA in creative writing. Master's students can also select a concentration in writing for the performing arts. Students in both programs take workshop courses where participants discuss their work, and reading courses which look at various aspects of literature. Undergraduate students complete general education requirements as well as creative writing courses in poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction. Graduate students submit a writing sample and project proposal along with transcripts and recommendation letters. The master's program requires students to complete workshops, graduate seminars and thesis courses.
University of California Riverside
900 University Ave.
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-1012
creativewriting.ucr.edu
The MFA in creative writing at Saint Mary's College offers concentrations in poetry, fiction or nonfiction. Students benefit from small classes and visits from professional writers and editors. The curriculum consists of writing workshops, seminars, electives and a thesis project. The workshops give students a chance to discuss their work, while literature courses review works by a variety of authors. The thesis consists of a collection of poems, short stories or essays or a book-length work of fiction or nonfiction. Admission is based on a review of undergraduate transcripts and writing samples. Prospective students need not have majored in English as undergraduates, and Saint Mary's College notes that it has accepted students ranging in age from 22 to 65.
Saint Mary's College of California
1928 Saint Mary's Road
Moraga, CA 94556
925-631-4000
stmarys-ca.edu
The MFA program in writing at the California College of the Arts encourages students to combine their writing study with study of other artistic disciplines. Students take workshops in photography, painting, and architecture in conjecture with their writing courses. In addition, MFA students have the option of completing a dual degree in writing and visual and critical studies. Writing students take workshops and seminars in a variety of genres including poetry, fiction, nonfiction and screenwriting. In addition to undergraduate transcripts, recommendations and a personal essay, prospective students submit an online portfolio of writing samples.
California College of the Arts
1111 Eighth St.
San Francisco, CA 94107-2247
415-703-9523
cca.edu
The University of Davis offers an MA in English with a creative writing emphasis. Students in the program can focus on poetry of fiction, and can take classes with doctoral candidates. UC Davis admits 12 to 14 students each year and master's degree candidates take workshops, theory seminars and literature courses, in addition to completing a master's thesis. The thesis is formally presented at a public defense. Students in the creative writing program also participate in a reading series and produce a literary journal.
University of California Davis
1 Shields Ave,
Davis, CA 95616
530-752-2257
english.ucdavis.edu