Bachelor of Fine Arts - Screenwriting

Though film is an audio-visual medium, it all starts with the written word. Without the screenwriter, nothing goes up on the screen. At its best, film is a means for people to reach out to each other, to form a connection, to explore some complicated aspect of human interaction. The screenwriter is the one who begins this journey. Great screenwriters have a natural curiosity about themselves and the world, a love of storytelling, and a mastery of storytelling techniques to do all this in a compelling and entertaining way.

A screenwriter has a lot of power-and a lot of responsibility. Seeing a cast and crew of dozens work tirelessly to bring one's words to life is one of the most exhilarating things a person can experience. All of those people are there to serve the script, so the writer must make every page of that script count. To that end, the BFA in Screenwriting students learn how to create great stories, and to tell them with a confidence and clarity that befits a professional.

The core screenwriting courses of the BFA in Screenwriting are supported by a full complement of courses in the liberal arts and sciences designed to broaden the writers' education, feed their inquisitiveness, and give them the critical, analytical, and communication tools needed not just to be great writers, but also more fulfilled human beings.

The eight-semester BFA in Screenwriting offers a well-rounded collegiate education in the Arts and Humanities, and Social and Natural Sciences, with a comprehensive study of, and practice in, the art and craft of screenwriting and related filmmaking disciplines.

Overall, the first six semesters concentrate on developing the tools required to create believable characters and stories in the three major fields of Screenwriting (Film, Television, New Media). The final two semesters concentrate on using these tools to create compelling, professional-caliber scripts and films.

In the liberal arts and sciences, students complete the majority of the required Foundation Studies in the first two semesters. Courses taught in the area of Foundation Studies focus on communications, analysis and deductive reasoning. Students practice critical thinking, scholarly research, writing and reading. These courses build a foundation for more specialized subjects requiring advanced written and oral communication skills in later semesters. The skills mastered will prepare students for the advanced coursework of constructing an authentic voice in their writing projects. Coursework in Physical and Mental Wellness provides focus on the theory and practice of lifelong wellness in a stressful workplace.

Subsequent courses in the liberal arts and sciences bolster students' understanding of world history, political science, art history, social and natural sciences, mathematics, English composition, and literature.