Program Overview

Screenwriting (MFA) Program

The MFA in Screenwriting is the terminal degree in writing for film and television. The program culminates in the successful completion of the MFA thesis screenplay or teleplay.

Program Overview

The MFA Screenwriting Degree has now been split into two concentrations. Students are required to choose one of the following:

• Comedy Concentration, Screenwriting (MFA)
• Standard Concentration, Screenwriting (MFA)

Degree Requirements

• Complete a minimum of 68 graduate credit hours in the designated degree program.
• Complete all graduate courses and requirements listed in the designated degree program.
• Earn a grade of C- or better in all graduate courses of the designated degree program.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Satisfactorily complete the thesis project as determined by the student's Thesis Committee.

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Describe standard structural paradigms and narrative techniques utilized in the writing of feature films and television shows.
• Assess the narrative strengths and weaknesses of a given piece of scripted content.
• Apply a professional creative process to the development of film and television story concepts.
• Prepare a story pitch for a screenplay or pilot that meets professional standards.
• Write screenplays and teleplays using standard entertainment industry format.
• Complete the first draft of a feature screenplay or television pilot on deadline.
• Rewrite an original screenplay or teleplay based on critical feedback.

Concentration Requirements

Comedy Concentration, Screenwriting (MFA)

First Year Course List:

• Fall Quarter:
  • SCWR 474 Evolution of Comedy (4 hours)
  • SCWR 400 Foundations of Screenwriting (4 hours)
  • SCWR 470 Creating from Abundance (4 hours)
• Winter Quarter:
  • SCWR 451 Developing the Television Series (4 hours)
  • SCWR 401 Writing the Feature I (formerly DC 402) (4 hours)
  • SCWR 475 Advanced Comedic Storytelling (4 hours)
• Spring Quarter:
  • SCWR 452 Writing the Half-Hour Series (4 hours)
  • SCWR 402 Writing the Feature II (formerly DC 403) (4 hours)
  • SCWR 500 Writing for Film Thesis Development (4 hours) or SCWR 550 Writing for TV Thesis Development (4 hours)

Second Year Course List:

• Fall Quarter:
  • SCWR 471 Creating Comedic Characters (4 hours)
  • SCWR 501 Writing for Film Thesis I (4 hours) or SCWR 551 Writing for TV Thesis I (4 hours)
  • SCWR 476 The Business of Comedy (4 hours)
• Winter Quarter:
  • SCWR 479 Comedy, Joke, and Sketch Writing (4 hours)
  • SCWR 472 Improvisational Scene Construction (4 hours)
  • SCWR 502 Writing for Film Thesis II (4 hours) or SCWR 552 Writing for TV Thesis II (4 hours)
• Spring Quarter:
  • SCWR 441 Industry and Pitching Seminar (4 hours)
  • SCWR 403 Rewriting the Feature (4 hours) or SCWR 454 Rewriting the Original Television Pilot (4 hours) or FILM 499 Internships in Media and Design (4 hours)

Standard Concentration, Screenwriting (MFA)

First Year Course List:

• Fall Quarter:
  • SCWR 400 Foundations of Screenwriting (4 hours)
  • SCWR 425 Genre Storytelling (4 hours)
  • SCWR 440 Developing the Pitch (4 hours)
• Winter Quarter:
  • SCWR 401 Writing the Feature I (formerly DC 402) (4 hours)
  • SCWR 404 Inclusive Screenwriting (4 hours)
  • SCWR 451 Developing the Television Series (4 hours)
• Spring Quarter:
  • SCWR 402 Writing the Feature II (formerly DC 403) (4 hours)
  • SCWR 452 Writing the Half-Hour Series (4 hours) or SCWR 453 Writing the Hour-Long Series (4 hours)
  • SCWR 500 Writing for Film Thesis Development (4 hours) or SCWR 550 Writing for TV Thesis Development (4 hours)

Second Year Course List:

• Fall Quarter:
  • SCWR 403 Rewriting the Feature (4 hours) or SCWR 454 Rewriting the Original Television Pilot (4 hours)
  • SCWR 407 Screen Adaptation (4 hours)
  • SCWR 501 Writing for Film Thesis I (4 hours) or SCWR 551 Writing for TV Thesis I (4 hours)
• Winter Quarter:
  • SCWR 406 The Art of Scene Writing (4 hours) or SCWR 405 Advanced Writing on Assignment (4 hours) or SCWR 455 The Writers' Room (4 hours)
  • SCWR 442 Studio Development (4 hours)
  • SCWR 502 Writing for Film Thesis II (4 hours) or SCWR 552 Writing for TV Thesis II (4 hours)
• Spring Quarter:
  • SCWR 441 Industry and Pitching Seminar (4 hours)
  • FILM 499 Internships in Media and Design (4 hours) or SCWR 490 Topics in Screenwriting (4 hours)

Thesis Project

MFA in Screenwriting students must complete a thesis project which consists of a feature length screenplay or an original television pilot, pitch deck, and series bible. Thesis projects must be at a level of quality that warrant representation by literary agents and managers. Satisfactory completion of the thesis project is determined by the Thesis Committee.

Thesis Committee

Students will be assigned a Thesis Committee that consists of two faculty members and their thesis course instructor who will serve as Thesis Chair. This committee serves as mentors and ultimately judges the thesis project as "pass" or "rewrite".

LA Quarter

MFA in Screenwriting students may apply to participate in the LA Quarter. This ten-week immersion program is structured around living in Los Angeles, taking classes on a historic studio lot, and interning at high profile companies that align with students' professional aspirations. If selected to participate, students are required to enroll in SCWR 441 Industry and Pitching Seminar and FILM 499 Internships in Media and Design in Los Angeles.