Program Overview

Program Description

The Master of Fine Arts degree in dramatic writing requires each student to complete several polished, full-length dramatic works. The process is almost as important as the goal. During the first year, graduate seminars in theatre, film, and episodic writing train writers in the nature of dramatic situations, character, conflict, plot, structure, dialogue, and theme. Students are required to take introductory courses in play, screen, and episodic writing during their first semester and then write complete works in two of the three media by the end of their first year.

Curriculum

The curriculum includes:

• Graduate seminars in theatre, film, and episodic writing
• Introductory courses in play, screen, and episodic writing
• Production workshops
• Text analysis
• Professional training classes
• Advanced writing workshops
• Masterclasses in any of the three media of theater, film, or episodic

Program Requirements

The program requires the minimum completion of 65 credits, comprised of:

• Major Requirements
  • Writing Core
    • DWPG-GT 2062: Graduate Playwriting I (4 credits)
    • DWPG-GT 2066: Graduate Screenwriting I (4 credits)
    • DWPG-GT 2042: Graduate Episodic/TV Writing I: Specs (4 credits)
  • Select two of the following:
    • DWPG-GT 2063: Graduate Playwriting II
    • DWPG-GT 2067: Graduate Screenwriting II
    • DWPG-GT 2048: Graduate Episodic/TV Writing II: Pilots
  • Select one of the following:
    • DWPG-GT 2050: Advanced Playwriting (or Goldberg Masterclass in Playwriting) (3 credits)
    • DWPG-GT 2055: Advanced Screenwriting
    • DWPG-GT 2150: Advanced Episodic/TV Writing: Series
  • Select one of the following:
    • DWPG-GT 2060: MFA Thesis in Playwriting (4 credits)
    • DWPG-GT 2065: MFA Thesis in Screenwriting
    • DWPG-GT 2070: MFA Thesis in Episodic/TV Writing
• Writing Electives
  • Choose four of the following writing electives:
    • DWPG-GT 2015: Goldberg Masterclass in Playwriting
    • DWPG-GT 2017: Masterclass in Screenwriting
    • DWPG-GT 2047: Masterclass in Episodic/TV Writing
    • DWPG-GT 2080: Masterclass Across Mediums
    • DWPG-GT 2082: Writing Workshop
• Text Analysis
  • DWPG-GT 2630: Comedic Strategies (3 credits)
  • DWPG-GT 2631: Dramatic Strategies (3 credits)
  • Select one of the following:
    • DWPG-GT 2116: Play Story Analysis
    • DWPG-GT 2105: Film Story Analysis
    • DWPG-GT 2110: TV Story Analysis
• Production
  • DWPG-GT 2409: Graduate Drama Lab I (2 credits)
  • Select one of the following, or another production-related course by advisement:
    • OART-GT 2560: Fundamentals of Filmmaking I: The Art of Visual Storytelling
    • DWPG-GT 2082: Writing Workshop (Theatricality Workshop)
    • DWPG-GT 2074: Collaboration: Reloaded
    • DWPG-GT 2405: Loving Living Playwright
• Professional Training
  • DWPG-GT 2350: Business of the Business (1 credit)
  • DWPG-GT 2355: Professional Training (1 credit)
• Electives
  • Other Elective Credits (9 credits)

Sample Plan of Study

The sample plan of study is as follows:

• 1st Semester/Term:
  • DWPG-GT 2062: Graduate Playwriting I (4 credits)
  • DWPG-GT 2066: Graduate Screenwriting I (4 credits)
  • DWPG-GT 2042: Graduate Episodic/TV Writing I: Specs (4 credits)
  • DWPG-GT 2631: Dramatic Strategies (3 credits)
  • DWPG-GT 2409: Graduate Drama Lab I (2 credits)
• 2nd Semester/Term:
  • Level II Writing Seminar (4 credits)
  • Level II Writing Seminar (4 credits)
  • Writing Elective (3 credits)
  • DWPG-GT 2630: Comedic Strategies (3 credits)
  • Elective (4 credits)
• 3rd Semester/Term:
  • Advanced Seminar (3 credits)
  • Writing Elective (3 credits)
  • Writing Elective (3 credits)
  • DWPG-GT 2350: Business of the Business (1 credit)
  • DWPG-GT 2355: Professional Training (1 credit)
  • Production Course (3 credits)
• 4th Semester/Term:
  • Thesis (4 credits)
  • Writing Elective (3 credits)
  • Text Analysis (4 credits)
  • Elective (3 credits)
  • Elective (2 credits)

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have:

1. The ability to analyze diverse dramatic texts across the three mediums of theater, film, and episodic television, and apply what they have learned to their own writing.
2. Completed an original, full-length thesis work in one of the three mediums of theater, film, or episodic television, presented to a crit panel of outside professionals.
3. Completed a portfolio of original work that includes a thesis work and at least one other full-length work in a different medium.
4. The basic professional training and tools to prepare for a career as a writer.

Policies

• NYU Policies: University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
• Tisch Policies: Additional academic policies can be found on the Tisch academic policy page.