MFA in Creative Writing in Davis United States | University of California Davis

The Master of Fine Arts program at Davis spans two years following a quarter system (with three 10-week sessions annually from late September to mid-June). This comprehensive program combines coursework with a thesis requirement, emphasizing interdisciplinary learning and strong faculty guidance. Students specialize in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or hybrid/multi-genre writing, completing a minimum of four graduate workshops—including one outside their primary genre (though many opt for additional cross-genre workshops). The curriculum features extensive literature courses, including specialized Seminars for Writers, alongside graduate-level literary studies offered by the English Department. Many participants also pursue relevant coursework in disciplines like art history, comparative literature, linguistics, and performance studies.

Our distinctive MFA blends creative workshops with literary studies, allowing students to workshop across genres and complete theses in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or hybrid forms. Second-year students gain teaching experience by leading undergraduate Creative Writing courses under faculty mentorship, sharing their expertise with emerging writers. The UC Davis graduate creative writing program offers a two-year MFA degree grounded in literary study and creation while embracing connections to other arts, exposing students to diverse artistic perspectives and professional writing models. Specializations include fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and experimental forms combining multiple genres or media.