MFA Program Requirements Screenwriting

Screenwriting

• Study in the only accredited program taught entirely by working Hollywood screenwriters
• Learn essential tactics for both feature film and television writing
• Become well-versed in the business of screenwriting before you go knocking on studio and network doors

There is no other form quite like screenwriting. More than a talent. More than a career. Writing for the screen is a calling. It's not merely what you do - it's who you are - a storyteller, defined by your passion for language, by your belief in the power of the image, and by your dedication to the unique art of the screen.

The MFA in Screenwriting concentration at Western State College immerses students in the study of writing for film. Our low student faculty ration stands as a testament to our belief in the importance of an individualized program of study, and an intimate, supportive community to your growth as a writer.

As a student, you can expect to study with renowned instructors and mentors all of whom are active writers with years of experience not only as successful screenwriters and producers, but as teachers of their craft. You master the forms and structures of television and film as you cultivate your own voice and vision. You receive instruction in writing the visual narrative, three-act structure, and four-act structure, character development, thematic development, genre, story arc, dialogue and voice-over. You study and analyze the history of classical and contemporary screenwriting texts and the resulting films.

Your classes and workshops include not only the study of the known structures of screenplays, but the active exploration of new forms and possibilities through your writing and the writing of your classmates. while the program emphasizes the Hollywood or independent feature-length screen play, the curriculum also includes television drama and situation comedy writing. You're introduced to screenwriting contests, festivals, and the art of marketing your work. Your instructors' connections and expertise is at your disposal. You learn how to translate your vision to the page, how to market that vision, and ultimately, how to realize its final form on the big screen.

The MFA Concentration in Screenwriting requires 60 credits:
CRWR 600     Summer Orientation 3 credits
CRWR 662     Story, Conflict, Character, and Genre in Screenwriting 2 credits
CRWR 663     Screenwriting Competition, Representation, the “Option” 2 credits
CRWR 665     The Narrative in Picture Form 6 credits
CRWR 667     Screenwriting Genre 6 credits
CRWR 671     The First Feature-Length Screenplay of Less Than 90 Pages 6 credits
CRWR 672     Television Drama and Situation Comedy 6 credits
CRWR 676*   The Character Voice-Over 6 credits
CRWR 677*   Screen Pacing and Tempo, Chronology, Flashback, Flash-Forward, and Montage 6 credits
CRWR 691     Screenwriting Master’s Thesis Project I 6 credits
CRWR 692     Screenwriting Master’s Thesis Project II 6 credits
CRWR 694     Thesis  3 credits
*In place of either CRWR 676 or CRWR 677, choose one of the following:
CRWR 606     What Do You Know (about Fiction)? 6 credits
CRWR 607     The Truth and a Good Story: Research for the Fiction Writer 6 credits
CRWR 636     Metrical Traditions  & Versification I 6 credits
CRWR 637     History of the English Language  and Teaching Poetry 6 credits

Screenwriting as a Second Area of Emphasis

Students pursuing this concentration as a second area of emphasis must earn 30 credits within the concentration as follows:
All four of the following:
CRWR 600     Summer Orientation 1 credit
CRWR 665     The Narrative in Picture Form 6 credits
CRWR 667     Screenwriting Genre 6 credits
CRWR 694     Thesis 3 credits
Supporting courses in consultation with advisor, 12 credits
One of the following:
CRWR 661    Film History and Analysis; the Visual Narrative 2 credits
CRWR 662    Story, Conflict, Character, and Genre in Screenwriting 2 credits
CRWR 663    Screenwriting Competition, Representation, the “Option” 2 credits

Students may count CRWR 665 if taken already to fulfill the out-of-concentration course required by the primary area of emphasis.