aerial view of San Diego beach

Why Choose Our Program?

At SDSU, we believe our Creative Writing program is uniquely situated to provide writers with an exciting, informative, personalized—and affordable—path to attaining their MFA.

Inspired by Experiences

Inspired by our place in the world, the program provides a rich and diverse experience that goes beyond the classroom.

A Beautiful Location

Our campus is situated in the heart of San Diego, the site of early Californian history, and only minutes from the U.S./Mexico border.

A Global Approach to Writing

Our international approach is reflected in our course work and faculty expertise.

A History of Excellence

Established in 1989 by Poet Sandra Alcosser, SDSU became the second MFA Creative Writing program in California.

Editors Choice Master of Fine Arts Creative WritingNamed one of the best MFAs in the U.S. by Wiley University Services.

 

In the Spotlight

Kayla Rodney

Kayla Rodney

Kayla Rodney is a poet and aithor of Swimming Home (Unlikely Books, 2020). She’s a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana, San Diego State University, and received her Ph.D. from the University of Florida.  She teaches and is an Instructional Designer at Clayton State University, Morrow Georgia.

Kim

Living Writers' Series

The Hugh C. Hyde Living Writers' Series at SDSU is one of the longest continuously running series in the nation. The series has featured an impressive slate of award-winning authors, many of them who are alumni of our program. All of the events are free and open to the public.

Bill Luvaas

Bill Luvaas

William Luvaas is an award-winning author of four novels. He has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Edward Albee and Ludwig Vogelstein Foundations. Luvaas is Online Fiction Editor for Cutthroat: A Journal of the Arts. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Lucinda, an artist and filmmaker.

 

Take Note

 

Robert Lang

Congratulations to Robert Lang for earning a Fulbright U.S. scholarship. He graduated in May from the Master of Fine Arts creative writing program and will pursue further studies in England. Lang put forward a novel community arts initiative to combat bias and support neurodivergent and other underrepresented communities.  His goal is to help these populations produce art that represents their lived experiences, increasing awareness and understanding of the connection between the arts, neuroscience and behavior.

 

Sandra Alcosser with Sarah B. Marsh-Rebelo (A study area on the second floor of the Arts and Letters building has been dedicated to Sandra Alcosser, the longtime director of the creative writing and poetry program. Sarah B. Marsh-Rebelo (’12, MFA in English and Comparative Literature), a generous donor, proposed and funded the creation of this dedicated space in honor of her first poetry professor and now friend, Professor Alcosser. The area is officially named the “Professor Sandra Alcosser Poetry Nook” and serves to celebrate Alcosser’s enduring commitment to her students of poetry.

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